Help - can't stop eating ice cream.

I have developed a potential addiction to ice cream. Although I do not over indulge, I don’t exceed my calorie limits, and the only changes in my weight have been negative, I really want to cut it out of my diet. I had ice cream for lunch for the past four days (I attribute this to the gorgeous weather here).
I am not looking for replacements. I know plain yogurt and frozen fruit exist, but I just can’t seem to avoid the temptation!

I need some definite strategies for putting down the spoon.

Well I just remember how unhealthy it is when I am about to put it in my mouth and say hmm nevermind I have worked to hard this far to let food control me. What works for me is that I tell myself I eat to live and don’t live to eat then it works for me all the time. At the same time I do have planned days where I can have a little bit which is fine and also let myself eat things I usually don’t eat during the week on the weekend. Don’t try to deprive yourself of something you love just figure out how to control it and make plans for it. In plus it makes it seem so much better and rewarding when you plan for it IMHO. Hope that helped! One last way I use to use is throw a piece of gum in your mouth or eat something spicy and drink a ton of water. I think another smart thing you already have done is come to your fellow gyminee’s to help keep you on track and motivated. That is what I do first as well, good job there you already know it is a bad habit that needs to stop that is the first step!

I had that problem. I was a total Coke slushee addict. It sounds like you want/need to go cold turkey and I think that’s a VERY good call.

First – get it out of your house
Second – Avoid (as much as possible) places where you usually buy it. In the grocery, don’t go down the ice cream aisle if you can help it.
Third – Set a goal of 3 weeks with no ice cream. Get a calendar, mark the days.
Fourth – Plan your meals, particularly lunch. If it’s not part of your plan, don’t eat it.
Finally – Decide on something healthy you will do whenever you want ice cream. This could be things like…drink a glass of water or milk, go for a walk, write in a journal, eat a piece of fruit.

Hope that helps. It’s been more than 6 months since my last coke slushee. I was actually afraid to have one again once my cravings subsided, because I was so addicted I thought they might come back. I can now walk into the store where I bought them without instinctively checking the machine to see if they have my flavor and whether it’s ready to serve. So it did take a while.

Good luck to you!

http://lookinggoodmom.blogspot.com

You know what is good and no bad for you, try McDonalds low fat icecream cone! Approximately 135cals and 3-4 grams of fat. Better than most and I love it!

@lauren171
Never trust McDonalds you have no idea what they put in it. ;)

I agree with lauren that the lowfat ice cream cone at McDonalds is actually a decent cheat. Stay FAR, FAR away from the triple-thick chocolate milkshake, though. Transfat city!

But it’s a little too accessible for my tastes. Too easy to run through the drivethrough and get a cone, and have it eaten before I get home. See now, that’s a problem! So I save it for the very rare treat, and get the hot fudge sundae so I have to wait until I get home to eat it (and therefore can’t hide it from anyone in my house).

Thanks for all of the advice.
I do want to go cold turkey and I really like the idea of a calendar. I just printed one out. I am a very visual person so I think it will work well for me.

Luckily, I don’t enjoy going to McDonald’s nor do I like their food so that probably won’t be a problem for me.

Again, thanks for the support :)

I’m a sucker for 100 calorie fudgcicles myself. Well, ice cream in general but that is the thing I allow (for the most part).

I try to keep it to one night per week (typically a “maintenance” day) but unfortunately I am not alone in the house so it’s not always that easy. If I eat ’em I just try to burn the calories off with some “reward” exercise. Heh.

There is no reason why you can’t enjoy your life – just practice moderation in all things. A little ice cream won’t hurt you; just not every day for lunch. Find a different habit! I used to go out for lunch almost every day, now I enjoy making my own lunch. I used to get a candy bar everytime I got gas. Now I pay at the pump and don’t go inside, period. If I need something they might sell there, I go to a “real” store. I just changed my habits.