i need help!! i cant stop eating!!!

Yummypunknpie

Ive been dieting on and off my biggest problem is that when i get stressed out i tend to eat a lot ....i need motivation but i dont know where to get it from ...i start to diet and in about i week i fall back into my old habits ...if any one can help me or tell me how i can stop eating less please I NEED TO LOSE WEIGHT!!!my weight and other problems have me getting fatter by the minute.

selig0730

try a stressball or eating fruit and veges so when your stressful you would eat healthy.

DGHayden

It isnt about a diet, it's about changing your life. That means that you need to find a new way to eat healthy foods that you like to eat and can eat for the rest of your life. it isnt about getting skinny and then going back to eating whatever you want. it does not work that way. You have to make the decision that you CAN make a change but more importantly that you ARE going to make a change. Just take it one day at a time. One of my favorite quotes by Karen Lamb is "A year from now you will wish you had started today."

amtru2015

Try putting a big piece of paper on your fridge and pantry that just says NO. It helps me sometimes at night when i get bored and want to eat while im watching TV. Or if a picture would motivate you, put that up there. Another thing that has helped me is when I want to eat something and i know i dont need it, I ask myself would i still eat it if i was standing in front of the mirror naked? Honestly, when you overcome this problem, you will feel sooooo good. Every time you say no, it builds your will power. You got this!!

insightdean

I know what you mean. I binge for a day ... feel bad and then binge again the next day and feel too full. So I just had some pasta and veal. Yes, yummy but I probably had two portions. Reference my food chart today. I am really full now so I suspect I won't be hungry again for another 5-6 hours. Ways I handle this.... Between now and then, I will probably drink a few glasses of water. I might work out in 5 hours from now. I might take a nap in 6 or 7 hours from now. Each of these techniques works for me.

Going forward of course, I am going to have to first measure the portions (takes too much time but it must be done), then eat a little more slowly. Have some water along the way. Perhaps take a short walk around the block thereafter. I will be tempted to have the second portion but after one hour, the brain figures out that I am full and I no longer need it.

Another thing that you might do. Oatmeal. Plain, no sugar. Available to substitute for a meal, lunch and/or dinner. It is a filler and will not add too much calorie wise.

Finally, given these peculiar eating habits, if you do not eat fruits and veggies, supplement with vitamins. If you do like veggies, try a day of veggies steamed all day. Good luck and HANG IN THERE!

jbjujitsu

How bout this... JUST STOP! I dont mean to sound harsh, but we all, including myself, find excuses for things when we really DONT want to change. Change is HARD. And its always easier just to do the things weve always done. When you are ready, I mean REALLY ready to change, you will.

If we want something bad enough, we will find reasons. If not, we will find excuses.

Renee253

It really helps if you carefully log all the calories on your food tracker! Just the act of doing that has helped me greatly! Also try adding more fiber to your diet. You can painlessly do this by getting a powdered fiber supplement to a smoothie or yogurt or just about anything. It helps to fill you up. Also drink plenty of water, at least 8 glasses a day. When you are feeling emotional try meditating to calm yourself. Read inspirational stories about weight loss, make a vision board with cut-outs from magazines of people who look like you want to look, or wearing clothes you would like to wear, or doing things you would like to do. When you are tempted to overeat, look at your vision board and imagine yourself attaining your goals. Visualization is a very powerful tool and can help you to maintain focus on the things you want. Best of luck to you...you can do it!

Crochetluvr

Ive been dieting on and off my biggest problem...

Stop right there. Dieting off and on IS the biggest problem. Take it from someone who has been dieting off and on for 40 years. You're body gets SO confused when you yo-yo. Its gets harder to lose.

Joining MFP is a great start. Use that food diary to PLAN your meals. Dont eat, THEN write it in. Write your whole day in and see how many calories you are eating. Too many? Subtract some things. Too few? Add something. You CAN do this. Its not easy but if you are really determined, you WILL succeed.

sarah29uk

I'm exactly the same and it's so soul destroying when you give in and eat something you shouldn't - especially when you've been trying really hard! The only time when I'm not thinking about food is when I'm out walking! I try to go for a lengthy walk every day, and I'm making it so I'm out there longer because I find I'm not hungry when I'm walking. If you need a quick sugary treat try a meringue nest at only 50 calories, team it with some strawberries and you're laughing - a fab low calorie desert that tastes yummy! I'm also a big fan of the Cadbury's Highlights Hot Chocolate, at only 40 calories they cure my craving for chocolate in an instant - and they last longer than a chocolate bar! Good luck

spindowntime

When you are dealing with a problem like emotional eating, losing weight will be close to impossible UNTIL you tackle your emotional problems head on. For me it has taken a lot of self-exploration, emotional eating self help books, and loving myself where I am before I lose the weight. It has also been a journey that has taken a few years. I am now finally at a place where I am back on MFP without constantly judging myself and my every move. There will be days when I overeat, but by focusing on healthy foods and the macro and micronutrients my body needs most I am feeling hopeful and seeing progress! Feel free to message me if you want book titles or more emotional eating chat from someone who understands.

Someone who tells you to "just stop" clearly has had no experience with emotional eating.

abeachlady

How bout this... JUST STOP! I dont mean to sound harsh, but we all, including myself, find excuses for things when we really DONT want to change. Change is HARD. And its always easier just to do the things weve always done. When you are ready, I mean REALLY ready to change, you will.

If we want something bad enough, we will find reasons. If not, we will find excuses.

So true, so true!

You should not think of it as a diet. It is a life style change and an opportunity to be healthy. When you decide that is what you want above the unhealthy foods and habits you will do it.

wendibartel

I am right there with you. I have been so busy planning my wedding, getting married and trying to get life back in check the past two months that I have lost all motivation. I have been overwhelmed and stressed. Add on top of that getting home late because my sons in activities. Makes it difficult to cook and excersise. I am out of energy

I hope that things start looking up for you. Here is one from the slacker. Do a search on crockpot meals they have some yummy meals listed that allow you to eat lots of yummy food.

MrsRando

I chew gum. That helps me a lot. It also helps me with eating out of boredom.

sweetgeek793

I try to be aware of what I'm putting in the shopping basket so that there are lots of healthy choices lots of fruit and veg so its always handy if I don't buy high calorie food we cant eat it.

I also try to make sure that when I'm cooking I only cook enough for that meal so there are no leftovers. its not always easy as we have three kids in the house so lots of pack lunch snacks roaming around the house but I buy different snacks for them and low calorie snacks for the adults.

Still new to this site but my husband and I really want to be fit and healthy and tracking what I eat here really helps me to be honest with myself about what I eat.

valerie521

Try putting a big piece of paper on your fridge and pantry that just says NO. It helps me sometimes at night when i get bored and want to eat while im watching TV. Or if a picture would motivate you, put that up there. Another thing that has helped me is when I want to eat something and i know i dont need it, I ask myself would i still eat it if i was standing in front of the mirror naked? Honestly, when you overcome this problem, you will feel sooooo good. Every time you say no, it builds your will power. You got this!!

LOL... if I stood in front of the mirror to eat my meals - I would be sooooooo thin and scarred at the same time LOVE IT

patchesgizmo

bump

Tina1970s

Weight Watchers uses the line - NOTHING TASTES AS GOOD AS THIN FEELS !!!! Try telling yourself that when your tempted

AliciaNorris81

A friend of mine posted this and I have it printed out and taped everywhere in my house:

If hunger isn't the problem, then food isn't the solution.


You need to change how you think. I used to plan my day around when I was going to eat and what I was going to eat. No more! I plan my day as it comes and when I am hungry, I know I am going to eat soon and I make myself busy. Before: I could eat all day long. I could put a whole pizza away like a champ. Now:. I just eat a serving of whatever it is that I am eating and I am done with it.

Maybe pop a piece of gum in your mouth when you are stressed and find something to keep your hands busy. Get some colored floss/string and make some bracelets, get some clay and make some beads, or just read a book.

Good luck to you!

lynheff

forgive yourself and start over. Guilt will just discourage you. Tell yourself that the failure you are concerned about is so yesterday--or last meall or last hour.. I find that just as keeping an exercise log really motivates me to do just a little more every day or two and reminds me of how much I was able to do just last week, keeping a good food diary ( like at MFP) motivates me to eat just a little better. If I ate 1800 cal today, I will try to just to 1600 tomorrow and give myself a gold star for every success. It is hard but You can do it. Good luck.

2012asv

No matter what rout you take to get away from this problem, it all comes down to your willpower- Recognizing when those feelings are arising and actively going against it.

There have been countless times I picked up *fill in the bad food* looked at it KNOWING I shouldn't eat it...I would start to justify why it's ok to eat it.... but before I could talk myself IN to eating it, i tossed it right in the trash!! Another thing I've done is distract myself with other things that make me happy- like painting my nails or watching a funny comedian on TV or even just stepping out for a walk. The key is to find OTHER outlets besides food and then applying them.

It is hard, but not impossible! Wishing you luck! :flowerforyou:

fitandstrongmommy

you need to look at it not like a diet but a lifestyle change. Sometimes you will have bad days. Plan you meals ahead of time and make sure you have fruit and veggies in the house for when you want a snack

CherokeeBabe

Diets = Temporary.

Lifestyle Change = Permanent.


There's so many threads on this site that will give you tons of help, info, recipes, advice and motivation, just look around. You can enjoy the things you love, in moderation, without making you give them up cold turkey. You can find more filling foods, snacks and plans to be able to let you eat 6 times a day and still lose weight, and recipes to fill you up and leave you rubbing your tummy with happiness without making you guilty.

wantstolooseweight

Its hard, Its damn hard.... You need to try to find a different way of dealing with the stress when i want to go in the fridge now because I'm sad or emotional or stressed I make sure I go to the gym first (even if its only for half an hour). Have healthy options in so if you have to eat you can only eat something healthy. Make a list of alternate things to do and stick it to the fridge and work your way through it before you actually open the fridge.... 1. go for a walk, 2. Drink a bottle of water, 3. have a long indulgent bath/shower 4. watch a TV programme/read a chapter of a book but one that wont stir your emotions back up one that completely takes you out of yourself and has no connections with your own reality

Take baby steps, focus on one thing at a time... Look at whats making you stressed and change it... its hard but from someone who has just walked out of her job from stress I feel so much better. It takes time, and you need to try to take baby steps to put it right.

I hate to be blunt but the only person who is responsible for your feelings is yourself.... so the only person who can change it is you. Focus on yourself, be a little selfish if you have to be, work out what makes you happier and more relaxed and you will get there!

2012asv

If hunger isn't the problem, then food isn't the solution.
!

^that is great!! I love it

Michele7091

If we want something bad enough, we will find reasons. If not, we will find excuses.

This is awesome. And so very true. I have tried dieting so many times...and one day I realized I had to change my habits for life not just temporarily. For me its all mental and until I had my mind made up, I was just starting and failing over and over again.

betteringmyselfeachday

Step one- What causes your emotions that lead to binge eating? Part of losing weight and this journey, is to re-train your brain. opt for water, and make yourself wait 20 minutes, if you still want it then have some, ie: small piece of cake not the whole thing. Next time you attempt to opt for food think of these things:
*What I eat in private, I wear in public!!
*Fat lasts a lot longer than the taste!
*Stop rewarding yourself with food, you are NOT A DOG!
Step two-Create a list of why you are doing this? There must be a reason that will literally make your food do a u-turn in your mouth!!
Step three- Do a weight loss simulator image, shows you at your current weight and at your goal weight.
Step four- make small steps to better yourself each day. IE: today I will log all food; then I will log all my food and stay under calories; then I will log all my food, stay under calories, & walk 10 minutes, etc.
step five-continue to use MFP, both to count calories, for support, and for advice. It will become your best friend.

once you begin seeing the scale go down, it will be a motivator in itself.

I have been in the same boat, where I attempt to try every fad diet and quit shortly after. One of these times you will reach a point where you will be so determined,so ready to make a difference. I promise you will get to that point.

Feel free to add me if you need some accountability and support!: )


best of luck to you!

angieface123

I'm a stress eater as well i gained 15lbs since I decided to go back to school. Start off by adding in exercise into your day, find a class at the gym, go hiking, bike riding, anything to keep you active. try not to eat any carbs at night, it will be stored at fat. eat all your carbs in the morning so you can burn it off throughout the day. and most important.. when you go out to eat with friends or whoever, automatically but half of your food in a to-go box. this will just train you for portion control. eat slowly and you'll get full more quickly. hope this helps!

bhankiii

When I started this latest attempt at dieting last New Years, I did one simple thing. I quit eating sugar. None. At all. I went through the pantry and threw out everything that listed sugar, or corn syrup, or cane juice, or dextrose, or sucrose, or fructose, including my sugar bowl. My food cravings went away at once. I also noticed that everything tasted incredibly good.

It's been over 6 months and I've lost over 40 pounds of my 70 pound goal, with no relapses and no binging. Later I made a couple more adjustments. I gave up eating anything with preservatives in it. Which means I cook a lot more now. I gave up adding salt to anything I cook and try to limit my sodium to < 500mg. Finally, I started fasting two days a week (Tuesdays and Wednesdays). That sounds extreme, but it turns out that fasting for a couple of days each week has great benefits for your body, and your brain (you can look it up). And, unlike trying to starve yourself constantly, your body doesn't adapt to fasting. Fasting means < 500 calories a day, so for me that's coffee and an apple or two, or a few bites of yogurt.

But, if I have to recommend one thing only, GIVE UP THE SUGAR. I've always failed at diets because of the food cravings. And when I gave up sugar the cravings were gone the very next day. One weekend a month I'm in a family situation where I have to eat "normally". The cravings return instantly with the sugar, and leave again instantly when I return to my normal eating.

Good luck!!!

denetta24

i've gone through so much in a year and a half that i ate and gained over 40 lbs. i'm overwhelmed, frustrated, and sad. i am so aware that food is my comfort now, but i've just learned that this week. now, i'm trying to learn how to undo this. i need to lose weight due to my BP issues and not wanting to hear from my doctor again. also, in this past year, my 13 year old daughter has been diagnosed as morbidly obese. i know it's because she learned this behavior from me. i've gotta do it for myself and her, i just gotta know when, and how to start. i don't have much support on this journey, and i need it so badly. my husband is thin, and my 15 year old son is a very muscular football player. i'm wanting to be one of those success stories of someone who loses over 100+ pounds. also, patience is not my virtue. like i said, this is something i've just learned and i'm working on it.

thanx

Denetta

denetta24

your post was so motivating. i needed to see that.

thank you

Denetta