Tips for Willpower?

[Tisgrand]

Does anyone have any tips to help me get a bit of willpower? I'm late 50s and have always been a size 12/14 but I can see my weight creeping up in the past few months, although I dont seem to be eating any more or anything different. Dunno what that's all about!

Anyway, every week I promise myself that I'm going to eat healthily, small portions, no snacking etc. and that I'm going to do a long walk every day. At the end of each week I could cry because nothing has changed.

I always used to be slim so never needed to watch my weight and I never dieted, whereas most of my friends can slim down for a holiday or a special event; they can count calories no problem.

I think the first thing I need is to change my mindset, eg instead of thinking 'have another slice, you deserve it' I need to be able to think 'you don't need it' and walk away.

Can anyone help with suggestions on how to stay strong mentally?

don't buy any snacks in your main shop so it's a hassle to go to a shop especially for that snack.

I brush my teeth after my evening meal so I am reluctant to eat in the late evening.

If I am considering eating something indulgent I take a good look at it first to evaluate if it will "hit the spot". I remind myself how many times I've bought a piece of cake in a cafe that turned out to be boring/stodgy/dry, not worth the calories.

And lastly I tell myself that I deserve to be healthy and fit and it is counterproductive to fill myself with food that won't achieve this.

Just eat meals. Don't eat in between. Cakes hardly ever taste as nice as they look. Crisps just make you hungrier.
If you are craving cake or chocolate or anything, have it instead or as part of a meal.
Plan your meal so that you can control the portion size.

I save all my treats for the evening when I sit down and kids are in bed. So look at the cake / crisps / chocolate and think 'I'll have that later' then when later comes enjoy the treat.

In short I go through the day, eat my three meals but I don't snack until the evening and then it's not a huge amount.