Diary of a Fat Man in a Wheelchair - Things that Cause us Temptation

One of the biggest motivators that leads me down the path of unwanted temptation is stress. Stress makes a lot of people eat. That’s because food tastes good (depending on what you eat) and people feel good when they are enjoying a delicious meal. I admit it. I used to eat when I felt stressed. That’s probably part of my problem. It’s normal, to eat when stressed. I think that, like craving sleep, it’s a natural reaction by your body. Food is familiar so your body craves that familiarity as much as it craves the taste.

I’ve been under a remarkable amount of stress lately. You can read all about it here or here or here if you’re so inclined. Why I’m stressed really doesn’t matter as much as whether I decided to cheat on my diet or not. I know I haven’t been keeping as up to date on what I’ve been eating, but I’m going to vow to try to do better. I’ve received some good feedback about this article series. I’d love for all of you to share your thoughts on my journey and your own personal weight loss journeys with me (and everyone else who reads this) in the comment section. It can be beneficial to lose weight together and I’d love to make some friends who have the same goals I do.

That being said, I am proud to report, I have not cheated. Yesterday, I ate a lean pocket for one meal. I’ve been especially enjoying the chicken quesadilla and chicken Parmesan varieties. I also like the flat bread chicken wraps, a lot by lean cuisine. I could live on that. I’ve also been eating progresso soup. Ash also bought me a can of Campbell’s low calorie gumbo. It was actually pretty good, as I had it two days ago. For my other meal, I had porterhouse steak.

I know that this probably isn’t the healthiest form of meat, but next to a small salad, I hadn’t had many calories for the day. With just the meat and salad, and no side dish of potatoes (like I used to eat), I was getting some much needed protein and I was enjoying my most favorite food on the planet.

All in all, with a 90 calorie snack pack of peanut butter Quaker oats mini delights, some of Ash’s low calorie, homemade steak sauce with my steak, and a 100 calorie pack, I came in at around 1280-1300 calories. (Note: I also am only drinking water unless otherwise noted) I’m finding it almost difficult to hit 1200 calories, especially when I haven’t been waking up early enough to enjoy breakfast. I know I need to make sure I have three meals a day, and I promise to try to do better in that area. Of course, I worry about eating less than 1200 calories a day.

I know the average person eats a 2000 calorie diet. Here I am eating 800 calories less, and I struggle to even get that many. I’m surprised how easy it is to cut calories. I’m also trying to measure fat content, nutritional value of foods, and making sure I’m getting enough vitamins and minerals. All of it can be difficult to figure out. I guess that is another reason why it is just so much easier to grab junk. It’s convenient. It’s easy to make (no fuss, no muss) and it does, often, taste good.

Still, eating junk doesn’t help your body. It doesn’t help your self-esteem. You aren’t getting the nutrition you need. Your body feels sluggish. You gain weight. Going the easy route really isn’t easy after all. That’s why I’ve stuck to my diet. I’ve resisted temptation, as terribly hard as it is (and trust me, it isn’t easy). I’ve kept my promise to myself to lose weight, and though I cannot weigh myself, I’m beginning to see and feel the results.

So, I began to think about what other things might help us to resist temptation. It isn’t easy to stick with it, especially if you’re not in the same mindset I seem to be in. My girlfriend, Ashtyn, is also on a diet. Today, she told me she wanted McDonalds and I told her no. I felt if she gave in now, she’d revert back to our old ways of eating. I’m proud to say she listened to me, begrudgingly at that. Still, I think, somewhere, deep down she is proud she stuck with it, even if the immediate results of her diet aren’t as promising as the longterm ones.

So here is my list of advice, to help you resist temptation.

Take a Picture - I needed a reality check so I took a picture of myself. I was not happy with how I looked at all. If I feel the urge, I take a picture of myself with my cell phone, then I look at it. If you have better access to a mirror, than I do, I suggest going to your mirror, whenever you have a craving and looking into that mirror. Ask yourself, is eating this fatty food and possibly gaining weight, not losing it, really worth the splurge? I guarantee you’ll have second thoughts. Another great tip is to take a picture at the beginning of your diet, and post it on your fridge. Any time you go to get something to eat, you’ll be reminded of why you’re on a diet to begin with.

Write in a Public Blog - Part of my motivation in keeping with my diet comes from writing this blog series. I would be embarrassed to report to all of you about how I refused to resist temptation and splurged. I would be disappointed in myself and feel bad about it, so every time I put something in my mouth, I think about the fact that I’ll be writing about what I’ve eaten each day and reporting on whether I cheated. That’s a great motivator.

Heck, if you don’t have a blog, why not post regular comments on someone else’s weight loss blog? I know whoever is losing weight would be grateful to know they aren’t alone and would love the company in losing weight.

Exercise - If you get a craving, go for a jog, hop on the treadmill, or do some other form of workout. It doesn’t have to be a long workout. Just take enough time to consider whether cheating is really worth it. Eventually, your body will begin to feel better, and the more you workout, the more opportunity you will eventually have to splurge on a very limited basis.

Dieting doesn’t have to be difficult. Giving into temptation is easier than you might expect, but with a little planning, and some effort on your part, the pounds will start to melt away.

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