New here

[marleysang3l]

Hi everyone, I'm new here. I have yo-yo dieted my entire life lol. I'm 26 now and I gained about 30 pounds over 2020-2021. I really want to lose weight and I've done it before but I realize I have an unhealthy relationship with food. I have no problem working out even though I sometimes get gym anxiety. My question is how do you build a healthier relationship with your food? Kind of open ended but open to anything.

[Lytham 3 stone]

Hello and welcome, great to have you with us. Personally I feel it makes life easier when you enjoy your new lifestyle, maybe it could be time to change your plan?

We hope you'll be joining us on all the Events, Challenges and Clubs that we run, especially a weekly weigh in and the Daily Diary, the best places to give and receive advice, support and bucket loads of encouragement.

Here's the link to Pinned Posts where you'll find them all, Good Luck and hope to see you around! x

healthunlocked.com/weight-l...

[Hidden]

Hi marleysang31,Reading your post, two things come to mind: firstly I think it’s a bad idea to cut anything out completely because it makes those foods extra desireable and you end up feeling deprived. I’m talking about things like chocolate, crisps etc. So plan for small portions of those things every day.

Secondly, if you eat when you’re bored, angry, upset etc you need to think of other ways of dealing with it. I know that’s a lot easier said than done, but maybe if you thought of other ways of dealing with those emotions before they occur so you create yourself a sort of emergency plan. I eat when bored so I have a list of things I could do instead, like phone a friend or play with the dog. They are all easy low energy things.

I don’t claim that those two suggestions will now completely fix everything thing but maybe, hopefully, they are a little bit helpful.

I also think it’s important to reward yourself, in a non-Food way, for every little achievement. Wish you all the best and hope to see you around on the forum.

[Hidden]

Hello marleysang, welcome to our friendly community. You won't find anywhere better for advice, support and encouragement. There's so much going on here, you won't be bored but will meet a great bunch of people who help to make weight loss that bit more fun.

Good luck with your journey and best wishes.

[Dyptique 4lbs in reply to Hidden]

Tru dat!

[Dyptique 4lbs]

Hi! I'm also only a week old on Weight Loss Support and I can't speak highly enough of the friendly support and empathyI have found here, and I'm sure you will, too.

Your question is not a small one, and something I guess we are all working through all the time.

For me, the key is to eat food that balances quantity-with-enjoyability-with-health value - if I eat food that I enjoy, then I am far less likely to fall into my old ways of being dissatisfied with my meals and diving head first into the nearest Tesco trifle for sensory stimulation or because I'm plain hungry. Finding the food you love and that you find stimulating and satiating is key - *and different for all of us*. I absolutely love, love, love Japanese food, and a typical meal with one soup and three other dishes, including pickles, is perfect for me because I get lots of variety, tastes and textures in each meal, it's generally modest in caloric value but often contains a small portion of something fried or fatty - great for feeling treated and staying full throughout the evening. I still can't have certain foods in the house because there is no way I would eat them in moderation (chocolate anything, I'm looking at you), but I don't feel I'm losing out because my meals don't leave me craving more.

I'm definitely not saying everyone should eat my particular diet, or would enjoy it, but whatever you DO choose to eat needs to be planned to some degree and include variety with flavours and textures you LOVE, and be balanced for YOUR body - whether you do better on a low carb/high protein diet, one that prioritises fresh veg and fibre or some balance that you discover works to keep you enjoying your food, not feeling hungry, deprived or punished and means you look forward to eating without guilt and within sensible guidelines. I think it's absolutely OK to take some time to work that out, and lots of us try a range of different dietary regimes before we find one that fits us and is sustainable.

Wishing you all the best on this journey - you are far from alone, and we are all navigating the same path to one degree or another.

[Hidden]

The aim is to keep trying and not give up. Set small goals and not be too hard on ourselves. Reward with non food victories and slowly keep chipping away.

[TheTabbyCat Administrator 10 kg in reply to Hidden]

Hi Hidden and welcome to this amazing forum.

I suggest you spend some time clicking about to find your way around. It's easier if you have a lap-top as there are several threads. If you’re using another device I strongly suggest that you use the web page as opposed to the app at least until you know your way around.

Have a good read of the pinned post “Welcome Newbies” and follow every thread.

Here’s the link to the pinned posts,

healthunlocked.com/nhsweigh...

Here’s the link for the “Tour” of the forum. If you haven’t already taken it.

healthunlocked.com/?tour=true

I strongly suggest you read and contribute to the Daily Diary and participate in a Weekly Weigh in.

You will find there's loads of tips about better eating, from other members. Sharing your daily menu not only helps you stay committed, it can help other members too.

Good luck I hope to "see " you around.

[Hidden in reply to TheTabbyCat]

Thanks