Relationship with food

[Keep_Going]

I need some advice on not overeating, bored eating, etc. I didn’t think I overate much but my weight just keeps going up and it makes me so depressed. I am going to talk to my therapist and doctor soon so please don’t recommend that. I’m just looking for some friendly people to give their advice on what had helped them.

[TTmummy]

Hey, I do the same, I would suggest having less snack food available, or at least putting it away in cupboards or containers that make it hard to just pick at. Have healthier options like fruit around. Try to be more mindful of if you are hungry or just needing a little boost. Try the 20 minute rule, if you can hold off 20 mins the craving for something normally goes if it's not actually needed. Try to have more to drink, preferably water. Sometimes hunger is actually thirst. Hope these little tips help. I struggle with food as well, so hope you address the underlying issue soon.

[BrentW in reply to TTmummy]

I like that 20 minute rule. I shall try that myself.

I have something shameful to admit. We put peanuts out for the birds. I have been known to snaffle a few while filling their feeding container.

[Keep_Going in reply to TTmummy]

thank you so much for your reply! The 20 minute rule is a great idea and I’m going to be starting that today!

[Aken]

Ok, so, I had diabetes and my Dr. said, well, you are not eating any processed sugar, but your A1C is still to high, so, he put me on a diet of one carb per Week! That meant no potatoes, no rice, no chips and I am a snackoholic, so, what I did is change to a healthy diet. I ate all the fruits and veggies I wanted, drank plenty of water, that is especially important and boom, within a matter of months my A1C was back to normal limits and I kept up this healthy eating, ate as much as I wanted, except no processed sugar, no highly processed foods, and just a few carbs per week as my treat. Now, I don’t take diabetes medications and my blood sugar stays down naturally. If you can’t pronounce the ingredients on the list of ingredients on what you buy, then don’t buy it. All of those additives make us sick.

I know this was a radical change in my diet, but you do feel better. Also, I know you have heard it a thousand times, but exercise really helps. It burns calories and gives you a better mental status. I like doing things like taking a walk, swimming, gardening, stuff like that , I hate going to the gym, it is just to boring for me.

The old saying ‘You are what you eat’ is more truer than we could possibly imagine.

Hope this helps,

Ken

[Keep_Going in reply to Aken]

thank you for your reply! I probably do need to make sure I know what I’m eating and putting into my body more than I do now. I haven’t been exercising recently but am starting to pick that up again even if it’s something as simple as going for a walk

[misspetunia]

I've had food and weight issues my entire life so I really understand. Its good to keep talking about it. I used to be in a support group, Overeaters Anon. That was a wonderful way to get out of the embarrassment and low esteem of food and weight issues.

I keep a daily food diary because I'm so unconscious about snacking. It really helps to be aware of what you are eating. And I try to be non-judgemental about it, just very neutral "Ok, I ate half a loaf of bread, I probably didn't need that".

For a time, I was off of all desserts and wheat- that helped me to lose weight. I can't diet or count calories plus I think its proven that dieting doesn't work in the long run. But I can change my eating by eliminating foods like wheat and sugar. Its different from dieting for me because I have the freedom to eat anything else plus I see it as a life long way to eat.

But of course I'm not perfect, the holidays came along and I indulged and gained weight, now I'm back to gluten-free and no desserts. I can have fruit, dairy, oats, smoothie with fruit and yogurt and other treats that are better for me.

I am trying to quit eating after 7pm so that I am fasting for 12 hours per day. This really works! It can be hard to break those old habits of eating in the evening but really its worth it . I feel much lighter after even a few days of not eating in the evening. I have a hot cup of tea or water in the winter just to have something in the evening.

Also my thyroid medication was reduced and I began using estradiol/estrogen vaginally. Both hormone changes caused weight gain. Also the worst is prednisone, I gained weight fast on that drug. So you might look at hormones/meds that might be working against your efforts. Good luck!