I've lost my sweet tooth as well. Used to like chocolate, candy, cookies, etc. I gave them up totally after realising I wasn't very good at having just one piece of chocolate. It seems easier to decline/refuse before you have any, rather than having some and then trying to draw a line.
My tips:
Er, that's it for now. Good luck!
My tips:
- Try to avoid chocolate, candy, and cakes completely. Do not rely on having a small piece and then refusing further servings unless you know you have really strong will power.
- Avoid compensatory behaviour. You tell yourself you'll have the donut now and exercise tomorrow - but will it really happen? How hard to you need to exercise to burn all those calories anyway? Could be more than you think... If you have to compensate, switch it around the other way. If you know you have an event to go to, moderate your intake in the days before hand. (But don't skip meals before an event, the food will probably be more calorific and if you drink alcohol on an empty stomach...!)
- Food diary. You might be eating more than you imagine. People's recall is notoriously bad. Write it down. All of it - even the little snacks.
- Do not diet. A diet is the wrong psychological framework. The psychology of dieting is all about denial. It is also short term and often goal orientated ("I will lose 14lbs before the summer"). Almost all diets fail in the long term (the test is whether the weight is still off five years later). Instead go for a lifestyle change. You are after something permanent that you can sustain. (N.B. There are exceptions to the above, e.g., if you have T2D or a doctor has put you on a rapid weight loss diet prior to major surgery)
- Plan your meals. Never go shopping while hungry. Set a budget and buy the essentials first.
- If going low carb, give quinoa a try (pronounced "keen-wah"). It is a seed but can be used in place of a grain. It is a complete protein which is unusual in plants, so good for vegetarians/vegans. It is expensive, but remember it is protein and you'll get quite a lot from a 1lb bag. (Wash well before cooking, season with lemon juice or mint to freshen the flavour. Google a recipe - don't just boil it up and expect it to be nice.) If you are rolling your eyes at the thought of quinoa, blame the hipsters for making it fashionable.
- Green tea
- Use chilli generously. If your food is well flavoured and you eat it slowly, you will notice yourself consuming it rather than just swallowing huge mouthfuls. Avoid sweet chilli sauce or you'll just be adding sugar. Use real chilli (fresh, frozen, or dried). Do not drown food in yoghurt, cream or cheese to cool down the chilli, that also defeats the point!
Er, that's it for now. Good luck!