With the way my mind works, I get bloody-minded when some one tells me I *have* to do something (or not do something), even if I know they are right, and go out of my way to do the opposite! Maybe it's the same for you? If so, maybe you need to acknowledge that the doc may be right?! Then ask yourself if he/she is right, do you want to change? Trying to diet, when your heart is not in it....Well is not going to end well, is it?!?!
Have a look at the NHS 12 week plan. It's full of hints and tips to get you going. Personally, as I have a lot to lose (9st 7lb to lose when I started 5 weeks ago. 8st 6lbs left to lose now!!!!) I am still on week one.
If you think it's for you, download the myfitnesspal app. It's great help for counting calories. It will also calculate how many calories you should be eating....you will probably be surprised how much you can eat!!!!
I love my chocolate too, so I build it in to my diet. Pre diet I'd have a huge bar of galaxy. Now? I have a Cadbury Chomp bar cut in to about 20pieces sitting in my freezer. It's 110 calories and as its frozen chocolate coated toffee....it can last me all night!!!
Hiya, your post reminds me of one a couple of months back where Dave talked about his " inner toddler" having a tantrum when it's told no you can't have that! I think your inner toddler is rebelling at being told she can't have chocolate and sweets! It's really hard to get yourself in the mindset of giving up something you enjoy, but if you do it you will soon feel the benefit, then you'll be doing it for yourself, not just because the gp told you to. I went cold turkey on sugary junk, I know it's not an approach that would suit everyone, but it did work for me, and after the initial cravings wore off they didn't come back, and I could appreciate natural sweetness in fruit salad and veg much better. Good luck ☀️
Hi Joan, welcome to the forum. This is such a supportive place that if you spend loads of time posting and replying to posts, you'll soon have more motivation and resolve. Have a try! And good luck.😄
I was stuck in a cycle of over-eating too and just kept going and going without thinking about the consequences. One of the things that really did it for me was watching a lot of programmes about obese people, their struggles, the health conditions they had developed as a result of being so overweight, the daily struggle to do things most people would take for granted, having spouses or offspring as carers, and the fact that it was threatening their lives. Instead of burying my head in the sand, it made me face the reality that it could make me very ill or even kill me off if I kept going the way I was. That sounds harsh to say, but at my weight, it's perfectly true. I had to make a choice whether I wanted to try to lose weight and hopefully extend my life, or whether food and overeating was worth dying younger for, because if I kept going the way I was, that was a very real possibility. When you look at it like that, it's motivation enough to get going. Hopefully you aren't at the stage I reached and won't ever get there...the sooner you start the better as you will have less weight to lose, whereas if you sit back for a year you might have gained an extra stone to have to lose in the future, if that makes sense. Sorry if this post sounds severe, but for me personally I was in a bad place with over-eating and it took something as stark as that to wake me up and spur me on to get started. I didn't think I could do it, but after my wake up call, here I am a few weeks into doing it and about a stone lighter - so I know you have it in you, you can do this! We are all in this together.
On a lighter note, this is actually a fun forum and the folks are great and very supportive. They are full of ideas and tips, so keep posting and commenting, I'm sure it will help to motivate you - it really helps to know there are others facing the same battle with food!
Good luck on your journey...whatever changes you make now, however small, it's all a step in the right direction...take it one day at a time and don't beat yourself up if you fall off the wagon, just get right back up the next day and move forwards.
It has to be your own decision, but we are here to support you if you want it!
Good luck!
One of my weaknesses was wine. I have given it up completely because I don't want one glass to send me off track. Maybe cut the sweets completely because sugar is similarly addictive. It is your receptors you have to beat. I think once you are through one week you will be able to build on that.
I noticed someone mention a post I made earlier about how cravings are like a toddler throwing a tantrum screaming in your ear, crying "I want some, I want some, I hate you, give me some chocolate, I want some chocolate NOW!!!" - you get what I mean
And it seems like once your mind is made up there is no alternative - you become laser focused on chocolate (or whatever treat you love) and there is nothing and no one that can change your mind - not even yourself.
I am not someone who can have a little or keep a bit in the freezer - and I know that works for some people - but for me? Nope - my need to binge monster tales over I am afraid so I need to make sure I just don't keep that stuff in the house.
Get serious and just throw out all the rubbish. Its your life we are talking about so you need to do some drastic things.
Decide what your first goal is going to be - 5 kilos, 10 pounds? ANd put that number up on your bathroom mirror, beside your bed, on the fridge - wherever you can see it.
Download the myfitnesspal app to your phone and start logging your food - its free and easy to use and gives you a calorie goal.
Commit to doing 30 mins exercise every day for 30 days - even if its just a walk in the morning.
I have started listening to a podcast called Cut The Fat - they have about 100 episodes online and each episode has some interesting and motivating information for those of us battling the bulge.
When you start doing things towards losing weight you will find your cravings easier to handle.
And I can honestly say that each time you say no and force yourself away from bad food the next time does get a little tiny bit easier.
Plan, plan, PLAN! Never allow yourself to be caught hungry and without a healthy snack or meal close by. Its when this happens that we fall into bad habits so plan your eat9ing for the week, order your groceries online and get them delivered and do 30 mins prep every morning towards making sure you have what you need for the day.
You have to be kind to yourself. If you slip up don't whip yourself for days, accept that you are human, figure out what went wrong, imagine a brick wall being erected around that day and start fresh.
In some ways it is harder doing this when you live alone as there is no-one to motivate you. BUT you also only have yourself to feed, so you can choose what you want to eat and eat it when you want to eat it - big pluses.
I find that it is the smaller meals that are a problem as before the diet I would have a sandwich or something on toast and now I know that bread as it is carbohydrate will pull against the good things I eat and stop me losing weight. However tonight I somehow do not want a plate of stir fried veg or bacon and eggs yet again. So I sit here thinking whether I can get by on just drinks tonight as it is weigh in Monday tomorrow. Maybe I will go mad and have toast for breakfast after the weigh in lol.
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