Breaking bad habits, share your tips please...

[HRH008isback]

I'm a size 16 and want to get back to a 12. I'm 43 and 5ft5 and have an office job, 2 kids at school. I've successfully done low carbing in the past but now, i just can't make it stick.
At work i'm fine, and i stick to low carbing with no problem. At home, though, it's a different story...working from home, or at the weekend, i just keep snacking deliberately on carbs and sugar. I have an omelette crammed with veg for breakfast, then make a chocolate mug cake... I seem to be stuck in this awful habit and am just getting fatter!
Help, please, share your mantras, mind tricks, anything.
Btw, i exercise... Running and yoga average 3 sessions per week. I'm strong, but covered in a fat blanket.

[PurpleDaisies]

I struggle with this sort of thing too. I have to basically remove the biggest temptation foods from the house. Late night snacking is the worst problem for me so I've started cleaning my teeth after my last meal which has made a big difference. Minty crisps are disgusting.
I try and keep healthy snacks around, like ready cut up fruit or measured out portions of nuts so I don't eat the whole bag.

The best thing I did was to start more detailed meal planning which included healthy extras so I knew what I'd be snacking on in advance and was more likely to stick to it. It really isn't much fun to start with but once you're in good habits it gets a lot easier to stick to.

[WishIwasanastronaut]

My story is very similar. In the last week, I have gone cold turkey by removing all sugary food/bread from the house. Howeve, here's the catch - my DCs have not been here. I think you should throw away all refined flour and sugar and replace it with alternatives (eg chick pea flour; coconut flour; stevia). In that way, when you crave something, you will not be able to have your usual fix and the healthy alternatives seem not quite so addictive.

[trixymalixy]

I'm like this too. I do loads of exercise, eat well while I'm at work, but once I come home it all falls to bits.

It's not sweet stuff I fail on though, it's savoury. I never have any chocolate or biscuits in the house.

I come home with good intentions and then DH has come home with crisps and dips and a bottle of wine or we're knackered and get a takeaway.

[HRH008isback]

Ah, phew, it's not just me then!
I like the teeth brushing idea... I think i'll do that straight after breakfast, thanks!
I could definitely buy wholewheat flour from now on... That would cure the cake mug addiction, thanks...

Keep ' em coming!

Off to the gym, back soon!

[MumSnotBU]

Chuck out the mugs?

[HRH008isback]

Like your thinking Mum

I can drink coffee straight from the machine, just pour it directly into my mouth. I live abroad and the tea here is crap anyway... So I don't actually need mugs...

Genius.

[DownWithThisTypeOfThing]

Yes cold turkey here too

I keep some low calorie desserts in the freezer that need defrosting - I then have to make a judgement on how much I want to eat them and more often than not I'll decide I'm after an instant fix so will have an Apple instead.

Frozen raspberries are great too. I eat them from frozen - they defrost in about two seconds on my tongue but being a bit crunchier than fresh raspberries they take longer to eat but give that nice sweet boost.

I've made massive steps in strengthening my will power but I now know I can't and won't resist Pringles. They are devil food and I can't stop until they're gone. I know now they can't be in the house.

[DisillusionedGoat]

I only eat crisps, cakes, biscuits, chocolates, sweets, on mine and the kid's birthdays Christmas and new year's day.

It's very tough at first, but, it gets easier the longer I avoid them.