I am 12 stone and have been told need tonloose weight to stay on the medication I am on. I exercise regularly (swimming,walking) but admittedly eating is my downfall. Love cake!
Any tips for getting over the mental barrier of dieting OR any food tips on what to eat as snacks that keep you going? Has anyone gained success from this?
Thankyou all xx
Hi Jenny. Good luck with the new habits. I am managing to lose weight by using the NHS plan. I'm also a chocolate fan so I've banned it for now and I have a toffee when I get that sweet urge. This forum will help you find your best approach and give you a morale boost. Let us know of your small or large triumphs.
Good idea with the choc - thankyou midnightdancer
Hi and welcome, Jeb 
Take a look at the Pinned posts section to the right of your screen (bottom if you're using a mobile), read the Welcome Newbie thread, then move through to the challenges, where we hope you'll find at least one that will appeal to you
Move down to the Topics, to find a variety of threads, collated into specific topics for ease of access and we ask that you also 'file' your own threads, so that others won't miss your important news
Have a look at the 12 week plan, as many people have been successful following it. Don't forget to take your starting measurements and a 'before' picture, as they can be very motivating on days that the scales refuse to co-operate
We run daily weigh-in's and you'd be very welcome to join us. The threads can always be found in the Events section, to the right of the home page, bottom on a mobile.
We've found that to get the best out of this community, we need to be active on the forum, as it's where we exchange information, get motivation and inspiration and make friends. We hope that you'll join us here, regularly, too
It's only left for me to wish you well on your journey
I don't like the idea of diets either but I don't count calorie counting as a diet since I am only eating to my recommended daily allowance though since I am eating less to loose weight then technically I am on a diet but I am quite happy to overlook that since when I reach my target weight of 55Kg then I will continue to keep to my recommended daily calorie allowance. I suppose calorie counting may be the best option for you since you maybe able to persuade yourself you are only eating what you really need rather than what you think you need! With regard to the treat of cake- you can include the cake as part of your daily calorie intake for a day, Probably not a good idea to remove it totally remove it from your diet but restrict how often you have it in a week and gradually reduce the frequency. Also look at the NHS choices calorie counter and see which cakes have a lower calorie content and aim for them. Some people can go cold turkey but my will power is not that strong!
I think it is hard if you are not in the frame of mind to want to diet, as you will lack the motivation to stick at it.
Can you use your need to stay on your medication as a motivating factor, at least to begin with? As you lose weight, you could then find that you are motivated to continue as you will feel better, and can fit into smaller clothes, which is always morale-boosting.
Re snacks, I am not a fan of them, personally, and try to stick to 3 meals a day, and make those meals generous enough to keep me going. Many people find having a couple of healthy snacks a day works fine for them, but I think the danger in even healthy snacking is just that you are in an eating mindset all the time, and it is quite easy to slide from healthy to unhealthy snacks.
There is evidence now that gaps between meals seem to be good for us, and we should not eat constantly throughout the day. However, if having a couple of healthy snacks helps you stick to it and gets the weight coming off, then go or it! Healthy snacks are basically fresh fruit or yoghurt, or a very very small handful of nuts (nutritious, but high in calories, so can't have too many.
Re cake, really it's best to avoid it. Or you could give yourself permission to have one lovely slice that you take your time over and really enjoy every time you lose 7lbs. The very occasional slice won;t do you much harm, but if it's every day, you will struggle to shift weight.
Temptation tips? 
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Snacking Tips ?
Newbie seeking encouragement/advice.
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