Comfort Eater!

I eat very healthily at work and drink plenty of water. Its when I get home that the trouble starts! I feel like I'm rewarding myself for getting through the day and I regularly eat a bag of crisps and recently ate four bags, one after the other. It's like an alien invades my body and all rational thinking vanishes. Then I have dinner. I am more than full, not a bit hungry but I still find myself reaching for a biscuit and just a tiny bit of cheese that is really an enormous bit of cheese. Need to get this under control and squash the alien!

[moreless Administrator 7 stone]

Hi and welcome, Eliza

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.

Take a look at the 12 week plan, as a lot of people have been successful with it, making sure to enter your details into the BMI calculator, to get a calorie allowance tailored to your personal requirements. 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

[YellowRose55]

Hi Hidden

Welcome to the weight loss forum.

Take a look at the Welcome Newbie post in the Pinned post section at the right hand side or at the bottom if your on a mobile. Have a look at the nhs 12 week plan, many members have had success following this plan. Use the BMI checker to work out your daily calorie allowance.

Below the Pinned posts are the Topics where members share a range of weight related subjects.

Take your measurements at the start together with a photo so you can see the changes on the days the scales don't move.

We have daily weigh ins so why not come along and join us. You can find the weigh ins on the Home page in the Events section on the right. Just click on the post in Events and record your start weight and any loss/gain or maintain for the week.

To get the most of the forum be active, share tips, recipes and experiences. Read some of the posts they are very motivating.

Have a good first week.

Rose

[Folliegirl]

The beauty of the NHS 12 week plan is that it helps reset your mindset about food ... I was a notorious comfort/boredom eater, but I am retraining my brain: 1) I drink a pint of warm water straight down (half cold+half boiling) and make a coffee, then wait for 10 minutes to see if I'm actually hungry. That gives me enough pause to work out if whatever I was planning to eat is 'worth' the calories and whether I will still be within my calorie target.

2) Peppermint tea is my go to drink in the evenings once I've had my evening meal, it makes everything else taste revolting and really helps stave off the munchies!

3) I use MyFitnessPal to easily track calories, it really helps me to plan my food ahead, so I know what to look forward to.

You can do this, good luck 🌹

[Hidden in reply to Folliegirl]

Thank you for the encouragement and good advice. Good night.

[Loulourw]

I feel you. Perhaps 'reward' yourself with a pre planned 'treat.' Fill up on fizzy water and flavour it with sugar free squash if you need. Get all the raw veg, chopped. Slather some rice cakes in low fat cream cheese. It's harder to change those habits but you could put some alternatives in place perhaps

[Wadestreet]

I know what you are going through. I am the same way after work. I am so relived that am home and can be relaxed and made good choices at work. so relaxed that I can't stop myself from the cupboards/fridge. Chop up vegetables a few different ones so you do not get tired of one thing and a couple of fruit. I know once you start on a no-no you cannot stop yourself and it does not matter what you eat before and how full you are you eat twice as much to fill you again.

[Hidden]

I would love to hear from anyone whose efforts are hi-jacked by the menopause. Anyone found a link between food and hot flushes? I know that loosing my excess weight will be a huge help but I get terrible fatigue with the hot flushes and it all goes to pot as I reach for crisps/chocolate to cheer me up! Not the ideal action to take. I want my life back, help! I need a boost of encouragement !

[Lakeswimmer]

Oh yes, that's my alien too! Not so much the cheese but definitely the biscuits after dinner! I've tried two tactics. Firstly, excusing myself from the dining room whilst the kids eat dessert (they need the calories, I don't). Secondly, I tell myself I can have a biscuit if I still want one 30 mins after finishing dinner, but I have to wait 30 mins. I'm always surprised by how my craving has gone away by then.

[Hidden in reply to Lakeswimmer]

But how do you boost your will power to last the 30 minutes? I get home from work and undo all the good I've done during the day and then feel very low so I eat more! Then I feel disgusted with myself. It's like I am two people - totally motivated to eat well at work and a complete mess once I cross the threshold in the evening. I have good intentions but that's not enough. Thanks for advice. x

[Lakeswimmer in reply to Hidden]

Day one was literally using a timer, drinking water and keeping busy to distract myself. Day two was reminding myself that I CAN DO IT! Don't get me wrong - I have blips, but reminding myself I can do it and it works for me helps me get back on track. You could try spending the 30 mins on this forum spurring others on? I haven't used that yet, but might try it myself! Good luck

[Hidden in reply to Lakeswimmer]

That is a fab idea. Think I will try going for a swim straight from work to try and break the cycle. I am finding this forum very inspiring. Thanks.

[Lakeswimmer in reply to Hidden]

Cool idea. Once you've done one day, you know you can do two... Go for it!

[Lakeswimmer]

My 'alien' is upon me right now and I thought of you. I'm fighting it off, knowing about your determination to swim your alien away. Thank you

[Hidden in reply to Lakeswimmer]

Not so good today. It's 23.27, just stood outside in my PJ's to cool down a hot flush. Can't sleep so just tucked in to a cream egg. Delicious but very weak willed of me. How many minutes running on the spot (or how many times around the block) to burn off the calories?🤔🍫

[Lakeswimmer]

Never mind, there's now one less cream egg temptation in the house! Don't give in to buying up the discounted post-Easter chocolate at the shops to replace it - they nearly got me with that one! Would eating grapes be a more cooling alternative if you get sweet cravings with the hot flushes?

[Hidden]

You got it in one! Hoovering up the Easter chocolates, which were substantial! You are also right about the grapes. They are a tad expensive but I will buy them this week. I AM worth it! 🍇