Struggling to find anything I can stick to.

I feel like I've tried everything and I can't find much I can stick to!

Calorie counting makes me way too obsessive and bit of a nervous wreck

Portion counting is good in theory but in practice I find it tricky as things often overlap food groups and I don't know how to count them.

I've tried just eating three balanced plates of food during the day on weekdays and that worked reasonably well except I keep craving sweets in the evening (when I get tired after work).

I'm just finding it difficult to find something I feel I can stick to! I have huge quantities to weight to lose so it needs to be something I can stick to for at least several years, but I haven't managed to stick to any of the above for more than a couple of weeks?

[BadlyDrawnBadger 7lbs Restart March 2025]

Have you tried slimming world's methods? From what I remember there's loads of stuff that's just "eat as much as you want" some stuff that's "you can have this thing once a day" and then stuff Iike chocolate can be included as long as you count just those bits? I was rubbish and never stuck to the 1/3 plate must be veg, so just ate way too much potato/rice! But might work for you?

[Hidden in reply to BadlyDrawnBadger]

I really like the whole splitting my plate into quarters like my dietician suggested, but then I get to issues such as porridge or homemade healthy versions of pizza. I don't see how I can portion those out as "plates" and I don't particularly want to just cut them out altogether ...

[BadlyDrawnBadger 7lbs Restart March 2025 in reply to Hidden]

I guess with the homemade pizza thing, you probably need to look at them as ingredients on the plate before you put it all together. So if the pizza dough ball would cover a 1/3, the veg toppings should be at least another 1/3 and then meat/sauce/cheese etc the other? No idea with porridge! I might be talking rubbish though! I've only ever been able to deal with calorie counting or I screw it up. But I know what you mean about being obsessive. I'm hoping that once I get into good habits I can chill out on the MyFitnessPal front.

If you're seeing a dietician could they not do a two week menu for you or something? To give you a starting point of what kind of stuff and portion size you should be having?

Also worth checking out the 12 week NHS plan whatsit as they've got meal plans on that - which definitely includes porridge!

[Hidden in reply to BadlyDrawnBadger]

No it was a one off appointment with a dietician that my endocrinologist sent me for. And yes, I think you're on the right lines. I think a bowl of porridge made with milk plus perhaps 2 portions fruit would make around a balanced plate.

[Claz]

i eat low carb... it takes a bit of getting used to but ive been doing it for a couple of months now and is easy to follow. i dont calorie count either. i eat good fats (butter/cream etc) and never feel hungry. i limit my carbs to eat after exercise only so i do exercise most days.

good luck with finding something that suits you x

[IndigoBlue61]

I've nothing to add to the excellent answers here but want to wish you good luck 😊

[fiftyshadesofJ]

I am feeling exactly the same. As soon as I make a commitment to particular diet a dark cloud decends over me and the cravings and anxiety are all consuming. My feelings of defeat and failure exacerbate my craving trigger, yesterday I ate a tub of Hagen Das, guess if it was easy we would all be slim

[Hidden]

Maybe just start with a few tweaks to your normal routine? If you take sugar in tea drop by a teaspoon...when having a snack just one biscuit or piece of fruit instead. Start with committing to a 10 min walk everyday. It can be so overwhelming if you try do lots of huge lifestyle change all at the same time and then feel negative when we don't succeed. Be kind to yourself.