Embarrassed - taking roommate's food

I have heard many people say that a great to avoid eating "bad" foods is not stocking it in the house. I have a roommate who is tiny and can eat whatever she wants. When I see her eating/or stocking her cabinet (she has her own cabinet for food). I crave it like crazy and inevitably sneak into her cabinet and eat it. I end up having to buy some new food to replace whatever I ate prior to her noticing but I'm terribly ashamed of this and don't know what to do about it. They're not the kind of cabinets we can lock down and we share the fridge. It's not like she's going to change her eating habits (as she eats everything in moderation). I just don't know what to do and find that this is sabotaging me.

Mon. Jan 9, 7:52am

That's a hard one. Sometimes when we know something is off limits, we want it all the more. I struggle with that quite a bit, not the cabinet thing but wanting things I know I can't have. Like when everybody brings in food, baked goods, etc and leaves them in the department kitchen. And the kitchen is where the copier and mail is, well you get the idea.

Find a way to tell yourself that that cabinet is even there. Be thankful that at least she doesn't leave it open or it has a glass front for you to actually see everything. That would kill me.

Tell yourself that there's poison in that cabinet. Put a picture of how you want to be on that cabinet and everytime you go to it, you'll see it. Let your roommate know how hard it is for you and that you'd like to post a picture on it. I'm sure she'd like to support you if you just let her know. Let me know what you decide and we're here for you! You're not alone!

Monday, January 9, 2006, 9:38 AM

When I was in college I had this same problem only I was the tiny one and one of my 5 roomates was trying to watch her weight. Our solution was my roomate asked all of us if we could take the food that was in the cabinet and possible put it in our room that way (out of respect for our privacy and property) she knew she would never go into our rooms and start taking stuff. When we shopped though we always shopped for the house not just one person and 4 out of the five roomates were eating junk food (what we called brain food back then)
Just ask your roomate nicely if she wouldn't mind puting her food in an extra dresser drawer (at least the foods that are cabinet friendly) if she doesn't have an extra dresser drawer maybe you can purchase her one of those rubbermaid file drawer things. I just bought a double on at walmart for 4.99 I'm sure a single one would be ever cheaper. Let her know what your goals are and that your trying to do everything you can to stay on track with losing the weight and maybe this way she can help you do it. I'm sure your roomate wouldn't mind doing this at least until you've reached a point where you are disciplined in not even wanting the snack food.
Good Luck!

Monday, January 9, 2006, 10:46 AM

If I were in your situation I'd come clean with her and have her install a "tot lock" until you can get over these cravings....

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0000488W1/qid=1136821597/sr=2-1/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_1/104-8232832-2427966?v=glance&s=baby

Another thing that I did the other day when faced with a craving - I 1. Looked up online to see just how bad one serving was 2. Spilled my guts on the note page of my journal. The craving passed and I was VERY PLEASED with myself for not giving in. The feeling of accomplishment lasts for days!!

Monday, January 9, 2006, 10:48 AM

I did this same thing when I was in college. It's great that you are looking for ways to deal with it. It may help just to have some semi-safe snacks for yourself so you don't go into her food. It will give you something in your own stash to go for rather than going for hers first.

Monday, January 9, 2006, 10:55 AM

I keep my trail mix in my room...

because my roommate can't keep her paws out of it. Learn from my mistake: Keep it in tupperware or a tin can from the get go! Nothing like Ants in your hairspray!

Monday, January 9, 2006, 5:06 PM

2 suggestions

I can completely relate. My husband can eat anything and remains thin. We have 5 pints of Ben & Jerry's in the Freezer. I don't touch it.
First, I keep snacks that I truly enjoy, that are good for me and are MY snacks (even though they are kind of "safe") - Almonds, low fat triscuits, pop corn, etc.

The second strategy I learned from my husband's friend who is in great shape. When he is around junk food, he says, "I can't eat that, it isn't good for me" and then he doesn't eat it. Works well in group situations, but not so much for the "sneaking".

Monday, January 9, 2006, 7:41 PM

10 chip husband!

I completely understand! If I don't want to eat ( Shouldn't eat it) it I don't buy it. My husband can buy all sorts of stuff and eat limited quantities.... Annoying because he can start running for a few weeks and lose 6 pounds - while still eating chips and salsa!

Monday, January 9, 2006, 7:52 PM

There is a reason you feel shame, you should actually use that feeling as a reminder not to do it again. I would come clean and tell her what you have been doing. Is she more then just a roommate, if so she will understand how hard it is for you and she might not mind putting it in her room. Another thing, if you want something bad enough to steal it, and that is what your doing, you should stop denying yourself and just have it and move on. If you continue to deny what you want you'll consume more then if you just had a little of it. Just make up for it, you have a candy bar exercise an extra 30 min. It might help to start looking at it like that. Figure out how long it would take you to burn something off and maybe you'll start thinking, hmm 280 calories, not worth the extra 45 min or however long. And do you really, honestly think she doesn't know? I mean are you eating all of it and then going to the store right after and replacing it or is this over a period of time?

Monday, January 9, 2006, 9:41 PM

I had a roommate once who was a bit of a binge eater, and would eat my food. My mom sent us a big popcorn tin full of 3 kinds of popcorn, a can of nuts, a couple kinds of cookies, etc. - tons of food! And I didn't eat much of it the first day, then I closed up the tin, and came back 2 days later, and it was ALL gone! And once I had a couple leftover slices of pepperoni pizza in the fridge, came back to have it for dinner, and again, GONE! I thought that was funny b/c she's a vegetarian! But it was really annoying at the same time!! Especially b/c she was skinnier than me! But that's beside the point...

The point is, she most likely knows what you've been doing, and she probably finds it annoying. If you confront the issue, and apologize, I'd imagine she'd be happy to try and work with you to fix the situation. I would have appreciated an apology and some honesty from my roommate, and would have gladly helped out, if that's what she wanted. Ignoring the situation may bring some hostile feelings into the living situation; I'd recommend apologizing.

Tuesday, January 10, 2006, 7:07 AM

get a poison sticker and put it on the cabinet

Tuesday, January 10, 2006, 3:02 PM

Thanks so much for everyone who responded.

As far as my roommate finding it annoying -- I think I mentioned that I was embarrassed by this. This isn't something I'm doing to annoy her.

Tuesday, January 10, 2006, 3:51 PM

from the poster with the bingeing roommate

I know you're not doing it to annoy her. I guess I didn't make my point very well. It was just that I've been in your roommate's position before, and if my roommate had come to me and said she was sorry, I wouldn't have held it against her (and therefore, you need not be too embarassed to say anything), and then we could've worked together for a solution. I realized you were embarassed, and saw that others suggested talking to your roommate, and I was concerned that, due to your embarassment, you wouldn't want to confront the situation. Again, all I meant was, don't be too embarassed to talk to her, it's really not such a big deal.

Tuesday, January 10, 2006, 4:26 PM

I totally understand this and have been there before several times. As hard as it is, i recommend you explain the problem to your roommate. Sometimes just acknowledging this outloud is enough to curb the urge. Your roommate will be sympathetic i'm sure, especially if you ask for her to help you out by either temporarily putting her snacks somewhere you won't have access, or by joining you in a commitment to healthy eating (she may not be into this, but it's worth a shot!). Ultimately you will be fighting your urges on this yourself, but if your roommate is aware that you need a little support, it may make it easier for you. Good luck!

Tuesday, January 10, 2006, 7:49 PM

I'd go with the tot lock, if possible. The magnetic ones are great and if you don't know where she stashes the corresponding magnet, you can't get into the cupboard.

Another motivator/craving stopper that a friend of mine uses - she has a running shoe ad taped to her pantry and fridge doors - it's a lady running and the line at the bottom says "I'm paying for a cheeseburger" - it really makes you think. I don't have the ad at home, but I think of that when I go to the fridge now and it makes me think if it will be worth it to inhale that ice cream or the cheddar and crackers.

Tuesday, January 10, 2006, 8:53 PM

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