Yeah, it seems like these habits are based in wirings in our brain that
have formed to make frequent habits second nature, eliminating our need
for conscious will and thereby saving some energy. Luckily, you had
enough will power to throw that cookie away! I might think to myself,
"Oh, I don't want to waste money, and I'll just take a small bite of
it..." and eat the entire thing before I knew it. As a testament that
old habits *can* be kicked, I've eliminated all junk foods from my diet
for the past few weeks. I used to stop by this wonderful yogurt joint
every day, and not only have I not gone for weeks, but when I crave that
kind of sugar rush, I just eat an apple or drink a diet root beer (which
is super-sweet, and I've got a massive sweet-tooth...).

Annabelle

Great job! Not only did you recognize the habit, next time you should
be able to stop it before the purchase and save yourself some money
for the new clothes you are going to need! ;-)

As for how long it will take to break the habit totally -- who knows?
But you are definitely well on your way!

Ally
212/196/160

Now now, don't be so hard on yourself.  Changes
are hard like you say.  Look, you put it in the trash
and didn't eat it after all.  Next time you're tempted,
you'll get this mental image of yourself doing that and
say, why should I waste the money if I'm only going
to put it in the trash.  One step at a time!!

Once I ate a powdered sugar donut without even realizing it 'til I was at
the last bite and my fingers were covered in powdered sugar.  Now, before I
eat everything I ask myself 'are you really hungry' and 'is that what you
really want to eat' (btw, the answer is always 'no' to a donut ... I'd much
rather eat a handful of pistachios or peanut butter on a banana ... more
filling and more satisfying).   It'll happen for you. It takes a while and a
concerted effort to break a habit.
Teri

I wonder that all the time.  I will pick something up and just put it in my
mouth without thinking, and once it's in there, I'm like sh.t!  The other
thing that always gets me is if someone offers me food or a goodie of some
kind, and I just automatically say yes.  Who turns down free food?

det

I hear you.  Where I work there is a 7-11 type place across the street.
   In the afternoon, some people often take a break and walk over
there.  I have learned to either leave money at my desk or take exact
change for what I am getting (I sometimes get a diet coke but that is
rare now that I bring my nalgene bottle to work with me.)

You have made a great step today, ok you bought the cookie, but it
went into the bin. Earlier you  probably would have eaten it. Congrats
on developing a new healthy habit, now it is time to take it one step
further. Don't beat yourself up, be proud of yourself!!!
Michelle : Ozzie in Switzerland
69.8/59.5/61kg