using food as a crutch, any ideas on how to kick it?

Hello all,

I've had all sorts of issues over the years, since difficulties getting pregnant, breast cancer (all good 3 years cancer free) and finally fibroids! The last 7 years have been a big roller coaster and I am finally trying to come through the other side, the only thing stopping it is the weight loss. I want and need to loose weight to finally go through IVF, but I've used food as a comfort to get me through all of my issues that I don't know how to go without it.

I feel that no one understands what's like and all I hear is comments about how big I am... I try to brush them off like it doesn't matter but it hurts inside. I think I kept strong through all of this, but I guess in the end something's gotta give and it was my weight.

Any suggestions or ideas on how to kick start getting rid of this crutch?

thanks

[moreless Administrator 7 stone]

Hi and welcome, Alex

You're not alone with using food as a crutch, but it's learned behaviour that can, with practice and patience, be unlearned.

I'd like to invite you to join our Newbie Club, which we hope will be a good place for you to connect with members, who are also just starting out. If you just post a few words to introduce yourself and respond to others there, you'll soon break the ice. Here's the link

healthunlocked.com/nhsweigh...

Wishing you all the best

[Tiggerr]

Hi Alex and welcome. Really sorry to hear about everything you've been going through. You've done so well to stay strong through it all.

There will always be ding bats who can't understand how much they hurt others with their words or actions. I wish there was a real solution and ignoring them may be as good a solution as any other.

Still, you've got a pretty important motivation to help you stay strong as you now strive to change your lifestyle.

Just to let you know that there are lots of very nice, helpful & knowledgeable people here that will always be around to be a new kind of crutch for you until you are able to walk by yourself.

Feel free to post any questions or thoughts at any time, as it helps to talk.

Good luck!

[KazziG]

Hi Alex

Sorry to hear about your rollercoaster, there will always be people who put their mouth in gear before their brains I'm afraid. It easier said than done to ignore them, but the victory will be yours and you have come to the right place.

Willpower is challenging, but if you give in to one comfort don't beat yourself up or give up just be more determined with the next urge.

I read somewhere recently to have a glass of water instead when you feel like eating.

Making your comforts healthy will reduce your calories.

Come into the forum and have a rant may help.

I am rooting for you on your journey, good luck. x

[pcrw]

Hi Alexa

It sounds like you have been through the mill over the last few years but nonetheless are ready to get even fitter by losing weight. Well done.

Just try one day at a time and as you succeed each day you will be forming new habits. They say it takes 40 days to change a habit.

Once you start calorie counting it is clear how much all those extra snacks add up to. Try distraction when you feel the urge to eat for comfort rather than nutrition . Have a bubble bath. Go for a walk, tidy a drawer, phone a friend, post your thoughts on here, wash your hair, you will be surprised how the urge to eat will pass. As you start losing weight you will find that exciting and pleasing and this will lift your spirits too,.

All good wishes and I am sure you will succeed

[HubbysMissMouse]

I'm sorry that you have had to put up with all of this horrible things but I do know the sort of things you mean with the comments. Many of us on here would have received them at some point. I have even had a so called friend say to me your too fat for your height. She knew that I had always wanted to lose weight and was always trying to eat less to lose weight, but never seemed to get anywhere. I was fuming with her really. How can she even say that if she was a friend and knew I had always tried most diets but never succeeded with them. It did really hurt. I had many people make comments about she must eat loads when I hardly ate anything but I have now found out that this was why I was never losing weight. If you don't eat enough calories your body thinks your starving it and turns what you do eat into body fat and this weighs more than eating the extra calories do so it stops you from losing weight and sometimes puts weight on instead. Please don't make this mistake during your journey and good luck.

[Hidden in reply to HubbysMissMouse]

Thank you for your reply and for sharing your story! Friends are supposed to help in this occasions but somehow they fail to so! Guess they are not real friends! Thank you again for your support! It meant a lot to me xx

[Hidden]

Thank you for all of your comments ! Somehow reading through this page and others suggested made me feel so much better! Absolutely loved the keep busy suggestion! It's simple but never thought of it that way!