I found an answer!

[CrimsonMama]

So after all my struggling to lose weight despite dieting and loads of exercising I have discovered my missing ingrediant!!

Love! Lust? Dopamine??

I started trying to be happier by accepting myself as I am. But I cant truely be happy with my size. But I tried and I lowered my expectations (even losing a couple stone be better than none).

I joined a dating site and put true pics to show Im no skinny bird lol

And the attention Ive had has been quite amazing. Very ego boosting. And theres one guy I am talking to and really really like. Prob more than he likes me. But the buzz and tingle sensations I get everytime I get a message is greeeat. I havent wanted to eat and (I do eat but bare minimum compared to what I used to). Its like finally the answer to controlling my hunger which was always the downfall with dieting. Im still going gym and exercising. A while back I switched from doing it to lose weight to doing it cos I enjoy it. So that helped it stick.

Anywayyyys my issue is... I love this dopamine high (prob some other hormones too). But I cant rely on it coming from men online or attention etc.

How the hell do u get dopamine in other ways? Obv from chocolate 😆 which is usually my downfall too. But I cant even say when I last ate some since this new fixation???

Also just goes to show how much hormones really do control us and our ability to lose weight. If I struggled to eat less calories before because my body needed them whyyy would it be able to switch off my hunger just like that???

[Sharmian350 Restart April 2024]

your dating journey sounds like a real ego boost. Regardless of whether you find lasting love (if that is what you want), I am so glad you are enjoying the feeling of being a bit special to someone.

I met a fantastic man on line, we had a really good time and were together of 7 years or so. Eventually we went our seperate ways romantically, because we wanted different things. But we are still friends and I will always cherish the time we had and how I could feel good in myself.

At 50+, not thin and suffering from poor mental health, I never thought I would find love, but I did.

The lasting love I found was for myself. I really feel that you will find the same xxx

[CrimsonMama Restart June 2023 in reply to Sharmian350]

Thats a beautiful answer! Thank you 💖