Habits - Deserting Desserts

           Over the course of the rest of this semester, I will be trying to give up one of my bad habits. Habits, like drugs, can be hard to stop. In doing this experiment, I will hopefully gain a better understanding of what addicts go through when trying overcome their addictions through personal experience.

I observed a few of my bad habits over the course of the last two weeks. After reviewing them, I have come to the conclusion that I eat way too many desserts. With the Marketplace having a large selection of desserts at every meal, I can never seem to pass them up. My best friend, Brittany, and I go up after each meal and select a dessert. It’s just part of our normal meal routine. My specific goal is to give up desserts entirely. By giving up desserts, I am changing my daily routine. This will also have an impact on Brittany. I plan to no longer go back up with her to get dessert. This way, I am not tempted to select one. I’m curious to see whether or not she will continue to get dessert without me. Brittany will be the support I need to overcome my habit. She knows about my goal and will be there to help me hold true to it.

This is an assignment for class, but to me, this is more than that. I am hoping it will help me better myself. Over the past few years, I have not been comfortable with my appearance and weight. I have been committed to going to the gym and trying to lose weight. I believe that giving up desserts will truly benefit me. I am 100% committed to my goal. I would rate my commitment a 10 out of 10. 

Photo Link: http://media.lunch.com/d/d7/248511.jpg?2

         Week 1:

Progress: 

This week was harder than I expected. However, I did not give in to my temptations. I did not have a single dessert all week. I believe I was so successful because I am very committed to my goal, and I have the support of my friends. 

Triggers of the behavior: 

In the Marketplace, I am very tempted to grab a dessert when I see one of my favorites. Thankfully, I was able to overcome my urges with the help of my friend Seth. He prevents me from giving into my urges. He tells me "No" and offers healthy suggestions instead.

Needed changes to my plan and support network: 

I am lucky to have such a good support system, and I believe my plan is working so far. Right now I do not feel that any changes need to be made. 

My thoughts:
Cutting out sweets from my diet has not been as easy as I thought it was going to be. I find myself craving them often. I truly feel that food can be an addiction.

Week 2:

Progress:

This week was pretty easy to make it through without dessert. However, I went home for the weekend. One of my friends and I went out to eat and after he wanted to get ice cream. I told him about this project and how I was giving up dessert for the semester. We still really wanted something else to eat. We decided to go to YoFresh which is a frozen yogurt place. I got low fat frozen yogurt with kiwi, strawberries, and raspberries. I would still consider this to be a dessert but I’m proud that I at least picked a healthy option.

Triggers of the behavior:

At home, the triggers to eat dessert are much stronger. I’m not surrounded by my friends all the time when I go to eat. I am more accountable for my eat habits since I have no one seeing what I’m eating. My mom had made cupcakes and they were sitting on the counter when I got home. I was very tempted multiple times to just eat one but I refrained.

Needed changes to my plan and support network:

My support system at school is much stronger than my support system at home. My parents do not offer me much enforcement for my goal. I had told my mother about this project yet she still offered me a cupcake. When going out to eat I am also very tempted to eat unhealthy. 

My thoughts:
Cutting out something that was just part of my routine has been tough. Eating food is so easy to do without even thinking about it. Over the course of this experience, I am becoming more conscious of what I am putting into my mouth. 

Week 3:

Progress:

This week was the easiest week so far. I was not even tempted to eat desserts in the Marketplace. I believe this is due to the fact that it is becoming a routine not to eat dessert. Getting dessert is something I think less and less about.

Triggers of the behavior:

I believe a lot of my triggers stem from being off campus. When I leave campus, I am not as conscious of what I am eating. If I go out to eat, I just get whatever sounds good. My friends wanted to go to Rita’s over the weekend and I went along but I did not get anything. These temptations are the hardest to resist.  

Needed changes to my plan and support network:

I am holding strong to this goal, but I need more enforcement when I am off campus to eat healthy. Working on this support system is important and will help me eat healthier over the summer when I am back at home.

My thoughts:
I am taking this goal very seriously because it could really help my health and weight loss goals. I hope that addicts of all other kinds can find motivation to stop their addictions. However, I can appreciate how hard it must truly be. Giving up desserts has not been the easiest, and desserts are not even that addicting to me.

Week 4:

Progress:
This week was the easiest week so far. I said that last week, but it is true this week too. I do not even feel hungry for dessert anymore.

Triggers of the behavior:
I am only ever even a little tempted to eat dessert when it is one of my favorites. This week, there was eclair cake. This is one of my absolute favorites, but I passed it up.

Needed changes to my plan and support network:
I am holding very strong to this goal. I do not feel like I have to change anything.

My thoughts:
This goal means a lot to me, and I feel better about myself. I feel like my exercise makes more of an impact since I am not working to burn off extra calories from desserts.

Update!

Over the past few weeks I have made some great progress! My urge to eat sweets has greatly reduced, and I have not given in to any temptations. Most days I do no even desire dessert. I would say that I am currently in the maintenance stage. 

Update!

Over Easter break, I was home with my family and I was surrounded by sweets and desserts. I unfortunately relapsed. At home, I was around people that are not as supportive of my goal. Instead of encouraging me not to eat desserts, they offered me them. There came a point where I could no longer say "No" and I ate peanut butter eggs and other candy. Now that I am back at school, I am getting back on track with my goal. I feel like I have failed, but I am pushing forward and starting over. I have made great progress, and I am not going to let one slip up send me spiraling back into my old habits.

Update!

Since my relapse, I have not been taking this habit change as seriously. I have really cut back on the desserts, but I eat them on rare occasion when they are my favorite. For example, cannolis are my all time favorite and I had one in the cafe this past week.

Final Update!

See Summary of Habit Change post.