advice

[Darren1811]

Hi, I am 46 and currently weigh 159kg, at my worst I weighed 208kg and got down to 108kg but over the past 2 years I've gone off the rails and it's amazing how much has gone back on. I am finding it very hard to stay motivated and feel as though food is constantly calling me. does anyone have any tips on how too ignore the food gravings and how too boost my energy and motivation

[lucigret]

Hi Darren and welcome to our friendly and supportive forum

Well done on still retaining some of that excellent weight loss

Have you been calorie counting and have you been eating enough or are you hungry?

I would go and take a look at the NHS BMI calculator and see what your own personal calorie range is. Start toward the higher end, make sure you aren't eating diet low calorie foods, but are eating satiating good fats and watch your carbs. A great place to go for support on the forum is the Daily Diary - if we can see what you are eating then we can be more helpful - here is the link

healthunlocked.com/nhsweigh...

You could also start right now by joining in with today's weigh in - this may help you to feel more motivated - healthunlocked.com/nhsweigh...

Take a look at our easy to do exercise challenges in Pinned Posts and come and join us for a bit of fun and competition with yourself from week to week.

To help you navigate the forum, we've put all the information you'll need in a newbie pack and here's the link

healthunlocked.com/nhsweigh...

Please take the time to read it carefully, so that you're able to enjoy everything that we have on offer.

We ask that you also read this important information about internet privacy and security, especially as you have left yours unlocked.

healthunlocked.com/nhsweigh...

We would like to make sure that you are aware that your name and contents of your post are searchable on Google, Facebook and Twitter if you leave your post unlocked or reply to unlocked posts.

Please could you tell us how you found us?

Wishing you all the best

[Darren1811 in reply to lucigret]

Thanks for the reply lucigret, I found this forum from an internet search. In answer to the question “ are you eating enough or are you hungry” the truth is I’m eating way to much and once I start I just constantly crave food and never really get to the hungry stage.

[lucigret in reply to Darren1811]

I have been there and done that. Some of the foods we eat, especially white carbs, spike our insulin and then we just want to eat, hungry or not. I used to have toast and margarine for breakfast every day and once I started to eat, I just wanted to keep eating. If I had no breakfast I would be fine. Now I have scrambled eggs made with butter, or fried egg and fried avocado made with olive oil, a couple of pieces of bacon and some melted cheese or a bowl of full fat Greek Yoghurt, oats, seeds and berries. I feel full and satiated until lunch time and rarely have cravings for anything.

You might find this an interesting read -

phcuk.org/wp-content/upload...

There is another link you might like, but I can't put my hands on it at the moment, if I find it I will come back

[Darren1811 in reply to Darren1811]

Thank you, It has felt Liberating just put in the words out there and Reading replies and not feeling alone

[PippiRuns 3kg in reply to Darren1811]

This forum is the best place ever 💚🥦

[Bungiecat]

You have made the first move by joining here take small steps to change food habits I started by making sure I had breakfast every morning and started small exercise sessions at home Gail

[Darren1811 in reply to Bungiecat]

Thanks for the supporting advice

[PippiRuns 3kg]

Welcome Darren. I would also like to congratulate you on the weight loss that you have managed to keep off. 49 kg is quite a bit!

I agree with lucigret that a good place to start is to find out what amount of calories you should be eating to lose weight slowly but surely: nhs.uk/Tools/Pages/Healthyw... More often than not, people are surprised to see how much they are actually “allowed” to eat.

Not all calories work in the same way in our bodies and if you tend to have cravings, I would suggest you reduce sugary and starchy foods and make sure you get enough veggies, protein an healthy fats.

I would also recommend tracking what you eat using for example MyFitnessPal at least until you know what calories your preferred foods contain. It is very educational. At least it was for me.

Join a weigh in (just chose a day that fits you) and come back weekly for accountability and support.

See you around!

[13Valerie]

Welcome Darren

Looking forward to seeing you around the forum.

Sounds like you are craving rather than hungry. Reducing white carbs and sugar will help with that. Best wishes 😀

[Redspot]

I wonder if your cravings are related to sugar or fatty foods both of which turn on my craving switch..

I lose the cravings by cutting sugary foods and eating wholefoods.The relief is fabulous.

Good luck with your journey

[Ali_B62]

Those tricksy foods, they keep talking to you from the cupboard! Have you done an overhaul of your supplies swapping biscuits etc for more veg and fruit etc? I can now keep the naughty food in the cupboard for my son to eat but I keep bread in the freezer so that I can avoid too much carbs. Welcome and healthy eating to everyone!