I have been struggling with weight issues since I was a teenager. Beginning 2011 I put my act together and started planning my meals and working out. I was transformed and most positive people noticed. I wanted to reduce some more so I could fit into my 'after my first baby' clothes. (I have 3 children, turning 40 in 2012).

Midyear my interest in cake decorating grew. I was learning on my own getting tutorials online. I could not get time to plan my meals and cook as well as exercising. Worse still a lot of sugar finds its way into my system. Licking bowls, eating fondant and gumpaste bits, snacking on chocolate, dried fruit, nuts; eating cake scrapes and eating all experiments that do not turn out well.

Is there anyone who has managed to overcome sweet temptations? Any tips are most welcome. Thanks.

its not easy being surrounded by sugar is it!! i realised over time that i spent so much time it, my taste changed and i used to be such a chocoholic, now its savory things for me!

i keep my sink full of hot soapy water and a bowl of hot soapy water next to, once ive used my buttercream, its goes straight in the hot soapy water so im not tempted to lick the bowl! i also wrap any offcuts in plastic wrap, then once im all done and clean up, i bin them! it sends my mom mental, shes thinks its a huge waist, and rightly it is, but she forgets that thats the very reason she had to stop caking, she was eating so much cake she litterally doubled in size!

I do the same with my icings, as soon as ive used what i need, i wrap the fondant in plastic wrap, and keep it handy untill i know im finished the cake, Then it goes in the bin, unless its white and a large peice, then it goes into a ziplock bag and is tucked away in one of my cuboards!

If its really setting your sweet tooth off, it might be a good idea to chew gum or mints or something to help keep your mind off it

Talk about the thought of wasting! Sometimes when the kids are up they help with batter and cream. Then I won't feel like I have thrown food out. Most times I work late as I have another job. I want to make flowers and figures with leftover gumpaste/fondant but I have limited time. I will try gum, thanx.

One hint I usually would mention in my class was *brush your teeth* just before starting (Or put a dab of toothpaste on your tounge). It helps
Other's say chew gum. OR keep a lemon right by you and suck on it if any sugar finds it way into your mouth.
When I was decorating regulary I didn't have too much of a problem using the toothpaste trick but now that I decorate only once in a great while I find myself licking my fingers etc almost constantly

I chew gum.

I could not resist the leveled cake top scraps.
My boyfriend ( who never gains an oz. ) started toasting them in the toaster and piling them with ice cream which didn't help.
Now what I do is immediately throw the tops in the garbage so my temptation is gone.
I also make sure I eat before I start a cake. I go into what he refers to as " cake mode" and don't eat, drink, or stop for anything. I would start getting hungry so I'd swab some icing on some cake top , and make my meal of it so I didn't have to stop. Eating a meal 1st has stopped all of that.
...and gum helps me also.

I hear all of you, I've struggled with my weight all my life. Before I started caking seriously, I had lost 3 stone & have put it all back on & more & no matter how hard I try it doesn't want to come off again. Add to that lots of family & relationship problems & I reach straight for the cake, chocolate etc

I started making cake pops, to give away, so I wouldn't be tempted or wasteful & now I eat those too I see loads of new recipes that I want to try out & lots of my own ideas I'd like to try but can't beacuse I know I'll end up eating them too.

Melanie 1221 I'm like you, I will work all day with no break or meals & eat the scraps as I go along. I wil try your tip thanks

Someone suggested to me that I put the scraps out for the birds, as we get a lot where I live & as it's winter they need more food. So I think I'm going to give that one a try too.


Happy 2012 to you all

Well, you could do it full time, with overtime on the weekends to the point that you are turned OFF by the smell of buttercream? My husband is my taster because I just can't stand cake etc when I am working with it.

However, hours later when everything is cleaned up, then I can sit down with a small piece of cake, but when I am working with cake etc I just can't stand to eat any of it.

Also, I always keep ice water nearby and I drink constantly. My feet hurt very badly when I am dehydrated, so I drink a LOT. AND, the idea to eat before you bake is an excellent one. You always crave sweet, fat and salt when you are hungry and it's natural to nibble. So eat first and so you don't get that carb crash when you are working.

Tami

Hi,
I don't like icing and not a fan of buttercream so I'm ok there. I freeze any cake cut-offs then use them for cake pops for the kids and their friends, or for my hubby, his favourite trifle. Perfect and just the right amount to cover the bottom of a nice bowl, soak with Madiera or sherry, add fruit jelly, tinned fruit/ nectarines/bananas etc. Once it's set, layer with thick custard, let it set firm then top off with whipped fresh cream and crushed flake... yum yum!!! Only one problem, they're both very fattening but you can save it for a dessert/ treat for family gathering instead of snacking on the leftovers.

Eating before working would definitely help. Sometimes there is so much pressure!

Never trust a skinny chef.

That's my only input.

When I'm working in the kitchen I wear tight pants, a pair that makes me feel somewhat uncomfortable. This a constant reminder that I shouldn't eat.

OMG I so have the same problem! Cake is my most absolutely favourite thing in the world so it makes it so hard! I recently learned though, that it was fondant that was causing my migraines (that took about five years to figure it out) so that helps me to stay away from the fondant now at least.

There have been times where I am successful at not snacking... usually when the cake design isn't to stressful though, once the stress hits, I'm done for, lol! Anyway, I find brushing your teeth before really helps, not snacking on anything while working (because once I start eating it, I can't stop!), having a glass of Diet Coke beside me, and/sometimes chewing on gum.

Good luck to you! I'm so happy that you started this thread because I've got the exact same problem so thank you!

Sorry, by "not snacking on anything", I meant the cake/icing that I'm working on.

I to have the same problem. I don't bake all the time but when I do I can't stay out of the frosting or cake scraps. I always want to try new recipes and of course that requires taste testing. Right??
One thing I've noticed lately is I read somewhere I believe on this site about people allergic to the powdered sugar. Well I never gave it a thought until about a few months ago. I was doing all these test runs on my daughters cake with icing and kept getting a swollen throat feeling. I would try the frosting at different times to see if it appeared again. It did every time. Of course it hasn't been enough of a problem to make me quit eating the frosting.
I too had lost alot of weight before I decided to play around with caking. Now it's a constant battle to stay out of it. But I will try everyones advice. Glad I'm not the only one with this problem
Maybe there should be a CASA group (cakes and sweets anonymous ) group
Thanks

Talk about stress The_Sugar_Fairy. Sometimes I throw gumpaste/fondant in my mouth when what I will be trying out just does not come out! Got to try toothpaste too.

I had gastric bypass 10 years ago, was skinny-ish for 4 yrs, then started a bakery. Hello you unwanted jiggle! When you are around it all the time and have no time to make a meal it's super convenient. First rule, don't take the first bite. The first makes the next 10 easier. Next, if you have to taste something, taste and spit it out in the garbage. That will kill your appetite just looking at it! Next, think of it as a material, not food (Like plumbers caulk and drywall mud). Train yourself to think it's not edible. When you are cleaning with windex, you arent tempted to drink it because you know it's a material to get a job done. For new recipes, I take out the sample and promptly box up the rest for neighbors, the UPS man, or the next lucky person I see. Everyone loves free cake, even if it's naked. Lastly, think of the fondant, buttercream, etc as your profits. Those materials are not cheap and I'd rather have a new piece of jewelry than more buttercream. Don't go hungry by keeping yourself stocked with healthy snacks. Lastly, we watched a documentary called "Forks over knives" and it turned our minds around. We have been vegan for 4 months now because I know all the links that some foods have to cancer and heart disease. When I look at the warm chocolate cake, I think "that is going to clog my atteries". I want to be "skinny" but I want to be healthy even more. Best of luck to you all!

Wow! I needed that cupadeecakes, thank you.

had gastric bypass 10 years ago, was skinny-ish for 4 yrs, then started a bakery. Hello you unwanted jiggle! When you are around it all the time and have no time to make a meal it's super convenient. First rule, don't take the first bite. The first makes the next 10 easier. Next, if you have to taste something, taste and spit it out in the garbage. That will kill your appetite just looking at it! Next, think of it as a material, not food (Like plumbers caulk and drywall mud). Train yourself to think it's not edible. When you are cleaning with windex, you arent tempted to drink it because you know it's a material to get a job done. For new recipes, I take out the sample and promptly box up the rest for neighbors, the UPS man, or the next lucky person I see. Everyone loves free cake, even if it's naked. Lastly, think of the fondant, buttercream, etc as your profits. Those materials are not cheap and I'd rather have a new piece of jewelry than more buttercream. Don't go hungry by keeping yourself stocked with healthy snacks.

Fantastic movie, it made a huge difference for us too. I have been vegan for years , not super strict though ( I still ate sugar and a few other processed items ) . That movie took it to a whole new level for me and 'fat sick and nearly dead ' will scare the cake out of your mouth too

I struggle with this also. I lost 26 lbs last year and with all the holiday baking it was hard to resist the goodies. I allow myself a small taste of icing or a small piece of cut off leveled cake or one cookie bite from the end of the dough when it is too small for the cutter or a half of a cupcake. My husband and I will share a sample, as I always like his opinion, but want to be sure of what I am serving other people, without chowing down a meal. I am a sugar-addict so resisting all this is tough. I do this as a hobby, so it is not always in front of me, which helps. I also try to do my baking after I have eaten. The spiced pecans are still sitting here, however, and are disappearing one by one. Temptation lurks in my kitchen. Good luck.