Why delayed gratification works better than denial when not snacking.

Denial:

I want the ice cream.

No.

But I want it.

No.

It's in the freezer. I need to defrost the freezer soon. I should eat the ice cream.

No.

But when? If not now, when?

I don't know.

I'm going to have to eat it eventually, I might as well eat it now.

Good point. Might as well.

(Evil smile).


Delayed gratification:

I want the chocolate.

Wait until lunch time. That's only two hours.

OK.


Now to the untrained eye it looks like both outcomes ultimately end in eating the food. But I think delayed gratification does cut the snacking because if I didn't delay eating the chocolate I would probably eat chocolate both then and AGAIN at lunchtime.