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Comment by ppg677 | Hacker News Reader

"""If you want to stop eating sugar, throw it all away, and when you go to the supermarket go when you have just eaten, and avoid buying sugar and sugary products."""

So much easier when you live alone. My spouse buys sugary crap for my kids and then I have to resist all the time. Which I can't. Thus I am overweight.

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Well it sounds like you need to discuss things with your spouse. If she doesn't want to stop buying sugary crap, then ask them to put it in a locked cupboard, and them to keep the key.

If your spouse doesn't want to collaborate with you on your goals and things related to your health, then you have some serious discussions to have.

Here's a simple trick - stop shifting the blame on other people.

I really don't get your defeatist attitude:

1. You don't have the willpower to stop eating sugary stuff

2. You don't have the willpower to have a conversation with your spouse to stop buying sugary crap

3. Barring 1 or 2, you aren't talking to your kids to convince them to stop demanding less sugary stuff or aren't presenting them with tasty alternatives.

I'm sure in response to this I'll get a lot of angry replies to the tune of "it's not so simple" or "I don't have enough time for that" or "willpower theory is a myth".

I agree that will is required; the trick though is recognizing where to apply it. I think 1 is a losing strategy. 2 is an excellent starting point, but it might be blocked by another bad practice of some kind...so maybe that needs to be identified and fixed first. I guess the point is that, like that old joke[0], having the hammer is not enough -- knowing what bit to bang on is also critical.

[0]:https://quoteinvestigator.com/2017/03/06/tap/

Do you think you could communicate them that it's ok to have treats as long as they stay outside the house? Seems like they don't yet know or understand your underlying need to keep them out of the house.

Talk to your kids :)

Also, suggest lower-calorie snacks.

> Which I can't.

C’mon, just say no

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