Snacking!

[Liz1990]

Hi, I'm new here so it's all confusing atm, basically I need to lose 4 stone but my big struggle is I don't exercise (have bad anxiety) and I snack on ALOT of chocolate! Any healthy alternatives? Or anybody managed to quit chocolate? x

[Hidden]

Welcome. I can relate. I have bad anxiety and I'm on meds that make me fat. I quit chocolate but can't stop drinking cokes. Good luck and welcome.

[Liz1990 in reply to Hidden]

I'm also on meds, hoping it doesn't hinder weightless!

I drink diet coke, is that as bad as full fat coke?

Thank you 😊

[Hidden in reply to Liz1990]

I think there better on sugar and calories but of course water is so much better. I'm getting better with that.

[Liz1990 in reply to Hidden]

I've started drinking some water and limiting diet coke to 2 cans max per day, I feel drinking it helps me stop craving chocolate so much

[Hidden in reply to Liz1990]

i think i remember watching something that said depending on how much you drink diet is just as bad for weightloss. I think it was Secret Eaters. suppose everything in moderation

[Liz1990 in reply to Hidden]

Surely it's got to be better than drinking full fat? (Not that it matters as don't like full fat coke)

[Hidden in reply to Liz1990]

something to do with the way it reacts with the body to store fat i think but you have to drink a lot. Like a few cans or 2l+ it was a while ago. I dont like diet so its just pure sugar for me not that we drink a lot.

[Liz1990 in reply to Hidden]

Ah ok, I'm limiting it to a max of 2 cans per day anyway and trying to drink more water

[Hidden in reply to Liz1990]

I think that is fine. I need to try cut sugar in tea which i can do but just prefer the sweet taste. Not a fan of water myself unless it is bottled but that can be pretty expensive. do you think weak squash would be and ok substitute as well a an infusion bottle.

[Liz1990 in reply to Hidden]

Gotta be better than full sugar drinks!

[IgaT in reply to Hidden]

Go for infusion water. Just add some cucumber, or mint, i you like sweet maybe strawberry, but don't add too much

Try also calculating how much sugar you drink in those cokes per week. Make yourself a challenge, and check how much sugar is in 1 can, note every time you drink a coke, then calculate how much sugar you drink per week. Now, take a bowl and place plain sugar that is equivalent of it in transparent bowl (or other dish). It can be really eye-opening.

While trying to reduce coke, think of increaae water, e.g. 1 cup more per week.

[kiwikyd-nz in reply to IgaT]

I think 4 grams of sugar equals 1 teaspoon. Once I found that out I was checking the labels on everything I bought in the groceries and found myself putting things back and walking away.

[IgaT in reply to kiwikyd-nz]

That's great! When I started to count calories I put away many treats. Bit to keep myself sain, I allow myself for tiny bit every 1-2 weeks.

[Hidden in reply to IgaT]

i have a 500ml bottle coke a week at dog training as i sometimes dont have time for dinner and need the suger. unstable suger for years but not diabetic. it is just the taste of tap water. Hate it and im in scotland, we have good water lol hece the squash. i drink it weak tho. but will give the water thing another do

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

my spelling sucks today. has been an issue for a couple of weeks.

[IgaT in reply to Hidden]

0.5L of coke per week is not much I don't think you need to worry about it. Just count it in your daily allowance.

With water, try adding some stuff to it to change the taste, e.g. lime, lemon, cucumber, mint, whatever you want. Just google infused water for ideas

Good luck

[IgaT in reply to Liz1990]

You can try drink at least 2 cups of water per day, and increase it every few days or every week by 1 cup. Probably it will slowly exchange coke, and naturally limit coke consumption, as you will be too full to drink it

Concentrate on water (can be infused), not on limiting coke - it will come slowly, gradually, and more permanently I used to hate plain water, now I'm drinking approx. 0.75-1.5L per day, if it's hot much more.

Good luck!

[Brumosa Maintainer in reply to Liz1990]

I recently read the abstract of medical research which concluded that people on anti-depressants were just as likely to lose weight on a calorie-controlled intake as those not on meds. Hope that helps. Also the Happiness posts on here could be helpful to you? Don't rush at it, your body will slowly adjust to living without chocolate. I am eating far less sugar than I was 4 weeks ago, and now a teaspoon on stewed fruit is enough for me. Could you exercise at home? All the best,

[Liz1990 in reply to Brumosa]

Having anxiety is exhausting just doing day to day activities so find it hard to find the energy as I'd only be able to do it in the evenings (my 6 month old won't sleep through the day) by which time I'm knackered 😕

[YellowRose55]

Hi Liz1990

Welcome to the weight loss froum.

I don't have chocolate as it was never what I craved, mine was savoury snack. Why not start by cutting it down to a once a week treat but a small bar then slowly stop having it.

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.

Have a look at the Daily Diary which you can find on the Home page in Events. It is where all the members are sharing their daily plans on what they are eating and any exercise they are doing. This thread will give you some ideas on how to start.

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 today. 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

[Liz1990 in reply to YellowRose55]

I've literally been eating so much chocolate every evening that I've gained 1 stone in a month! So I suppose cutting down slowly will be better than carrying on that way!

Thank u, will have a look at everything, just trying to get to grips with this lol

[ritaliz]

Just joined myself as we speak and I have a bid problem with chocolate as well😟

[Liz1990 in reply to ritaliz]

So hard isn't it! I need to find alternatives, and fruit just doesn't cut it!

[Lauratb 4lbs]

I've just joined today! I'm suffering with post natal anxiety myself and it's so hard to get out isn't it? I know excersise is important just can't bring myself to do it!! I'm a total sugar addict, I'm thinking of going cold turkey, no sugar at all!

[Liz1990 in reply to Lauratb]

Yep that's exactly how it is.

I've tried going cold turkey n find I have a huge binge after a few days! 😞

[Lauratb 4lbs in reply to Liz1990]

I'm sat eating crunchy nut corn flakes for a sugar fix so not going well!!

[Lauratb 4lbs in reply to Liz1990]

Is there a way to make a group or make a challenge, can't see on my phone! We could make a no sugar support group!

[Liz1990 in reply to Lauratb]

I don't have a clue still trying to figure all this out haha

[jopo in reply to Lauratb]

You may like to check out my sugar free challenge post Lauratb and Liz1990 . You'll need to go on my profile and look through my posts.

You'll be amazed what else manufactures call sugar and that it is highly addictive.

[Liz1990]

Ok so today I failed miserably 😞

[lucigret]

Best way I have found to stop eating chocolate is to have a mug of Options Hot Chocolate 40 calories a mug, comes in different flavours, I love the mint one and it curbs my chocolate craving very well.

[Liz1990 in reply to lucigret]

I will try that, thank u

[lucigret in reply to Liz1990]

Your welcome. You could also try having an alternative, like almonds, I know they don't taste of chocolate, but they are crunchy which I now find more satisfying 20g = 120 calories and yes I know some small chocolate bars have the same amount, but the difference is almonds are good for you. Also a teaspoon full of peanut butter is tasty and feels like a treat, if you like it and is also a good fat to eat. Can't remember the calories of the top of my head though. You don't have to stop the chocolate completely if you don't want to. To start with try every other day without any and gradually build it up.

[Liz1990 in reply to lucigret]

I think the gradual decrease would probably work best for me, my problem is I'm an emotional eater and have anxiety and depression so it's a viscous cycle 😕

[lucigret in reply to Liz1990]

You can do it, I have also suffered with depression and anxiety but have now got it under control by understanding myself. I have used self meditation tapes to help me relax and I found having a bottle of water with me all the time and taking sips when I was anxious helped, as does sucking a polo, I have no idea why, but it works for me. You just have to find what works for you. It didn't happen over night but with persistence I have all but beaten it. I do still get periods of time when I feel down and I won't say I never feel anxious, but I recognise the signs now and can almost stop it in its track. There is a very good challenge on the forum here called the 'happiness challenge', it can be hard work but I would fully recommend having a go. Take a look at it and see what you think. If your interested either look down through the newsfeed, I think the picture is of Giraffes or I will put a link for you.

[Liz1990 in reply to lucigret]

Thank u 😊

[IgaT]

I was a chocolate addict, I still struggle to say 'no' to it. At home I have only 100% dark chocolate that I leant to like. I went cold turkey for all sugar few times for couple o days up to a week, which reseted my taste, so I can feel sweet in different kind of food. Not only those packed with sugar and milk chocolate. Over last year, I became lactose-intollerant, which helped my transition.

My perfect snack: apple with peanut butter (without any addittions, I think it's 98% peanuts, or plain pekans or cashew nuts. I am now checking fennel, just cut it and eat it, maybe a little hummus as topping. Not to feel deprived I allow myself to eat up to 2 biscuits per day, the less the better, and now I don't need it every day I am very proud of it. I tend to buy the healthier biscuits, not so packed with saturated fats and sugars (just by label comparison).

If I really crave chocolate, I eat the super dark one. I suprisingly discovered that my chocolate craving can be silenec by can o tuna in spring water. Yeap, I know how ridiculous it sounds.

And I increase my protein consumption. I add marinated tofu, or steammed edamame, feta cheese, or can of tuna to my lunch salads. And it is working

So more protein and healthy fats

[Liz1990 in reply to IgaT]

Thank u, unfortunately I hate peanut butter 🙈 not keen on dark chocolate, but that's a good thing I suppose as I can swap to that in the hopes I'll stop liking any! Haha

[IgaT in reply to Liz1990]

I hated dark chocolate and I thought peanut butter taste wierd. But my taste changed over the time. So just keep trying new, different kind of taste. Stay away for some time 1-2 weeks from your normal treats to reaet your taste buds.

Keep experimenting, keep trying

[IgaT]

Regarding exercises, maybe you could walk more? Do you count your steps? There arw many feee apps to do so, or cheap watches on ebay. For 1 week, just check how many you usually do, and then just try to increase it slowly, maybe 500-1000 more per week, so you have 8000-10000 per day.

I don't know your condition, but on couch to 5k (C25K) NHS programme are many people with many different kind of health condition. Ask your doctor and maybe ask there on forum

All the best!

[Liz1990 in reply to IgaT]

I don't exercise as have pretty bad anxiety so will only leave the house if I really have to (appointments etc)

[IgaT in reply to Liz1990]

What about going out with friend?

Or home YouTube workouts? I recommend FitnessBlender, as they have free workouts on different levels, and some of them equipment free

[Liz1990]

Whipped double cream? I though that was bad to have?

[Bekahlea]

Hi, sorry I know my reply is nearly two months too late but I thought I'd share what I do. I suffer from anxiety so I don't go out either. What I have managed to do is buy little bits of equipment here and there to build myself a small workout routine. I have bought myself an aerobic stepping block, a second-hand exercise bike (£15 from a Facebook buy and sell group) and my mum kindly bought me a yoga mat. I only exercise now when I can and I try to at least do it three times a week and I do 30-minute sessions following youtube videos.

In regards to chocolate, I allow myself one bar at the weekend as a reward for making it through the week. I treasure that bar of chocolate and I make sure to enjoy it. I have also found that frozen yoghurt or a yoghurt pot of any kind acts as an evening treat for myself and it kicks those sugar cravings in the butt.

Hope this helps