Willpower! Let's talk each other down from our cravings!

Rungirl137

I think most of us know what we need to do to lose weight. My problem is willpower. I'm a big time emotional eater. I love sugar and it is my comfort (chocolate, doughnuts, pastry, Reese's peanut butter cups....the list goes on). The last year I've tried Atkins, Paleo, Slow carb all with little success. The one thing that did help me when I first gained weight back in University was calorie tracking and running. I figure I'll go back to what works, but I need some help with my cravings!

Alphabuena

Stress eating will make neither of feel better about ourselves.

mfpanyko

Several thoughts come to mind... Are you allowing for occasional indulgences? I find that being too restrictive leads to over-indulgences. Having planned extravagances keeps them from being off limits. Thinking of foods in terms of good foods vs bad foods does not work for me.
And mantras help me: If hunger is not the problem. Food is not the answer. Or I think HALT- am I hungry? Angry? Lonely? Tired?
And having regained a lot of weight at one time due to a really difficult time and a lot of emotional eating, I can tell you that it didn't help. It just gave me a weight problem along with the original one.
And lastly, the book The Beck Diet Solution has helped me immensely. Not a diet but rather a book to help us be successful dieters. I still refer to it and I'm 4 years at maintaining my goal weight.

Rungirl137

I'll definetly check that out. I know that my problem is emotional eating. I'm also going through a hard time as a family member is having some serious health issues. It causes my anxiety and cortisol levels to go through the roof which I always soothed with chocolate. I'm only 14 lbs from my goal weight, but I want to get on top of it now before it gets out of control.

StatesboroKeith

Following. Night time emotional eating has been a real issue for me. Looking for advice/strategies to combat this.

merekins

Try reading The Power of Habit. He discusses how willpower is more about replacing/changing habits and how to figure out your triggers and routines to change them.