Willpower issue

[Ceros]

As I understand, the two of the most common problems that arise from a lack of willpower are

- Lack of investment in the things that matter.

- Excess investment in the things that don't.

Right now I need some help with the latter. Here is my situation:

Suppose I buy a weeks supply of cashew nuts (700g). I'll put them in a jar and decide to eat no more than 100g each day so that I'll be able to enjoy them throughout the week.

And then I'll end up eating 200g within an hour of buying them. And 200 more before the day is over. So my weeks supply of cashew nuts will end in less than two days (gave me some awful flatulence, too).

A friend suggested that I only buy a days supply at a time, but that's not an actual solution but a quick "trick" that avoids addressing the problem.

My goal is to create a mindset where such a situation will not happen. I want to be able to look at that 700g jar full of cashews and not feel even a slightest bit of temptation to go beyond my 100g limit.

Any ideas on how that can be achieved?

[Swede]

You could try to associate eating cashew nuts with negative feelings:

Cashew nuts might be delicious but they could also be greasy, salty and give a very uncomfortable feeling if you eat to many. Actually, it is like eating pure butter, it tastes awfully thick nearly disgusting. You can hardly stand that salt flavoured pure fat and you can't digest it properly either. What you long for is something fresh and uplifting, not this untasty crap.

Something like this?

[Brutha]

Why do you buy the Cashew nuts in the first place?
What is the benefit of having 100g cashew nuts each day?

[Shorebird]

Ceros and brutha

You both are really funny. I don't know why but I am still laughing.

Ceros, so do you actually buy cashewnuts for a week or it was just an example? I hope you don't buy the salted ones as Swede thinks.

[DayInTheLife]

Originally Posted by Ceros

My goal is to create a mindset where such a situation will not happen. I want to be able to look at that 700g jar full of cashews and not feel even a slightest bit of temptation to go beyond my 100g limit.

Any ideas on how that can be achieved?

You will always feel temptation. If your goal is to get rid of it, you will never get there. Temptation comes to everyone, but refraining from indulging in what tempts you is an achievable goal.

All you have to do is learn to identify the feeling of temptation, and let yourself feel it when it arises. It is not the temptation itself that is problematic, it's the action you take in response to it.

When you see the cashews, you're always going to think "Hey, I want some cashews." This will probably never change, but that's okay, it's just a thought. Just observe that thought, and decide what to do. Be aware of the mind's tendency to rationalize reasons to indulge in gratifying yourself (by eating cashews), and expect more thoughts to pop up. Decide on a non-cashew activity to perform and go do it. When thoughts of cashews pop up again, acknowledge them, then let them go and return your attention to what you are doing.

The important thing is to not resist thinking about cashews. If you view thoughts about cashews as bad things you want to avoid, you will be inclined to go and eat cashews to get rid of the tempting thoughts. Think about how insane this is: what you fear is in your head and you have no control over it! Luckily you can choose not to fear your thoughts by letting them pop up and observing them.

This is why people give into temptation -- to relieve the pressure of resisting your thoughts about what tempts you. Not because the cashews are so appealing that you lose control over your body.

Thoughts will come up, you can't stop that, but you can learn to let them go without much trouble.

[shoe]

I will use this approach when thinking of smoking and just eat 700g of salted cashew nuts instead?

[AlexG]

I used to have this cashew problem. I switched to peanuts. Problem solved.

[ThoughtAddict]

Originally Posted by AlexG

I used to have this cashew problem. I switched to peanuts. Problem solved.

I had it too! I switched to heroin.

In all seriosity, though, I've got this problem this Jordan almonds. What helps me is mindfulness. Usually, I just don't savor the almonds when I'm eating them compulsively. Yet the reason I eat them is because I know I enjoy it. So my fix is to only have them when I am fully aware of eating them. I make it an activity. No vegging out, watching a movie and throwing them back. Oddly, enjoying them sates the craving and makes me crave less.

[free spirit]

I've found a useful solution to similar problems with over indulging on food, is to eat the cashew nuts. You should eat as many as you want as long as you really enjoy them. Eat them slowly and taste each and every one. Enjoy the salty goodness! As soon as you stop enjoying the taste so much (which will happen when your body has enough food), stop.

So the key is to eat as much as you want, as long as you are enjoying them, and the way to enjoy them is savour each bite of food.