For me, one of the biggest challenges of dieting is food displays. Whether it’s those luscious looking doughnuts where I buy my morning coffee – or the tempting candy bar display at the grocery checkout counter – bad foods are always in front of us. If you are especially hungry when you see those displays, the temptation to buy can be overwhelming.
Food displays can be one of the ultimate tests of willpower. Let’s break it down – one willpower hurdle at a time.
Battling the Chocolate Frosted Doughnut
I haven’t had a doughnut for years, but I am always drawn to them. The doughnut that called to me the other day was not only chocolate frosted, but had some sort of chocolate cookie dough inside. And sprinkles on top. Be still my heart.
As with all willpower battles – there is a nanosecond of truth. The clerk may be looking at you as a calm person order- ing coffee, but a dieter’s inner turmoil when faced with an appealing – but lethally bad – food is tumultuous. In a split second, a dieter can take the high road “just coffee” or the failure road “and two of those doughnuts.”
Here’s the deal around successful dieting
When I was a child, my mother always criticized those who chewed gum: “Like cows chewing their cuds,” she would say. So I grew up taking a dim view of “gum people,” especially those crass bubble blowers and gum smackers. Gross!
