Can’t stop eating!

[Laurapanda]

Hi all,I’m new here!

4 years ago I lost my dad who I was very close to. At the time I turned to food to cheer me up and unfortunately eating badly has become a very bad habit of mine.

I understand the need for eating healthy meals etc and eat well at meal times (I always make all of my food from scratch) however I just cannot stop eating junk food in between meals. When I do our weekly shop (just for me and my partner,who is very fit and healthy) I rarely buy “naughty” goods so if I have had a bad day at work etc and fancy something bad to make myself feel better,I will go out of my way to go to a supermarket and will easily eat my way through a family size bag of crisps or a big bar of chocolate.

I know that this is a really unhealthy habit but I just can’t seem to stop. I’ve put on about 3 stone since my dad died and I really have to lose weight now - not just to look better but also because I’m 30 and don’t want to be in poor health if my partner and I consider starting a family in a couple of years.

Thank you x

[Minniewinny 5 stone Maintainer]

Great to have you join us Laurapanda

I feel for you, I learnt comfort eating when my mum died.. Grieving takes time and we all adjust differently. If you are now at the point to take control back.. you will be well supported on here. We are not the only ones x

Enjoy the forum...

I'd like to invite you to join our Newbie Club, which we trust will be a good place for you to connect with other members, who like you are also just starting out on this forum. Please post a few words to introduce yourself and respond to others there, you'll soon realise the encouragement and support this forum offers.

Here's the link:

healthunlocked.com/nhsweigh...

Cheering you on to reach your goals 🎉🎉🎉

[MrJoshua 7lbs]

Hello. I hope you find this site helpful. You have such a good insight to your situation which is such a vital thing to have. This is a wonderful site so all the very best.

[Hidden]

Hi and welcome to the community!! I'm sorry for your loss. I eat when I'm upset or overwhelmed. It's difficult but I just keep trying because I enjoy the changes. I have two more stone to lose. Together we can do it!! Good luck to you.

[Hidden]

Big Hug to you x

[BridgeGirl Administrator 2 stone]

Hello Laurapanda, you've taken the first step, and you have a good insight into how you're working against yourself.

You're in a good situation in that you're sharing your home with someone who isn't looking for those fillers and "treats", and you're young and haven't had the excess weight for all that long (some of us have been lugging the pounds around for decades

I know breaking habits is harder than starting them, so it's a question of cracking that "I'm off to the supermarket" impulse and finding other ways of being kind to yourself - one of them being getting back to a weight you know is right for you.

Good luck!

[Bernieis8]

You are very honest and recognise what you are doing

Is it worth addressing your feelings about your loss perhaps you could talk about that to someone and that might reduce your need to eat

The advice to avoid the extra junk is sensible, as you go for something unhealthy remind yourself of what you hope for

Better health and then perhaps a baby

So carry on home without the rubbish and congratulate yourself and soon it will become a habit

Hurrah🎉👏🎉

[87down]

Hi Laurapanda like many of us on this forum I have spent years rewarding my misery, pain, frustration, depression and achievements with chocolate and sweets or cake. Breaking the habit is hard but I think I am starting to win as it's finally sunk in that I don't even enjoy those things particularly so just what is the point of keep stuffing it in! I started off buying more expensive chocolate thinking it was better for me it actually made me realise just how sweet the ordinary chocolate is so I treated myself less often as it was more expensive and if I bought dark I could even make it do 2 sessions - a major thing for me! I also then found cream cakes less appealing and too sweet. Now I can avoid the chocolate/sweet aisle at the supermarket at the garage I can look at it and imagine the sweet now sickly taste and feel happy that I can leave it and it's getting easier to do. On a bad day even if I feel the old urge to have something it no longer appeals when I go to buy something or by telling myself it's not good fuel for my body I can walk away. I may feel momentarily disappointed that I m not getting my fix but I make myself think of something else not food related . Remember your dad would want you to be happy and enjoying your life even though he is no longer here to share it, the last thing he would want is for you to be unhappy. I'm sure you are able to crack this. You could ask your GP for bereavement counselling it helped my mum when my dad died. I wish you well on your healthy lifestyle journey Laura 🤗🤗