comfort eating

I got down to my goal weight in the summer of 2012. then, I quit smoking in November and gained 20 pounds back. I'm so dejected about the weight gain (and some other things going on in my life) that I am finding it impossible to lose this weight. i'm eating donuts and cookies and ice cream and basically junk. Even on days I do well, by bedtime I am shoving food in my face like I'm starving, even though I'm not. I have stopped weighing in regularly because I do not want to see the weight gain on the scale. But none of my clothing fits. I have to force myself to go to the gym, and I am half-hearted there at best. I'm so freaking sad about it. I don't want to go anywhere because I feel so fat and gross and disgusting.

i don't know what to do to snap out of this. I don't have anyone to talk to. My husband thinks it's stupid and that I'm just lazy with no willpower. My friends just tell me I'm pretty just how I am and to not worry, which is untrue but nice to hear. How can I stop myself from blowing my diet every single night??

Replies

  • Nobody?
  • Katiejo97
    Katiejo97 Posts: 13 Member
    Weird as it sounds, I made a deal with myself-whenever I want to eat because I'm mad, sad, depressed, stressed ( I've found all kinds of reasons to eat)-I exercise instead. That way I get rid of my "whatever" mood AND burn calories instead of eat them! I'm usually so tired after I forget about the urge to eat.
  • trudijoy
    trudijoy Posts: 1,685 Member
    trial and error.... i found comfort eating food that is low calorie, that satisfies me, and I eat that :)

    TBH my main comfort food atm is actually water. before that it was dried apricots. I learned to see old comfort foods (corn chips especially) as treats, and I'm pretty happy about that :)

    It's all about experimenting :)
  • Adirafox
    Adirafox Posts: 107 Member
    Maybe you could do something with your hands, like knitting, cross stitching, etc?

    For now, it sounds like you should get rid of the trigger foods. If you husband wants them, tell him tough because he says you are being lazy :grumble: so he can drive wherever and get himself a single serving.

    To add to the exercise idea, when you want to snack, maybe take a walk around the block? It IS exercise, but it doesn't feel like it, and maybe you'll get past the craving.
  • trudijoy
    trudijoy Posts: 1,685 Member
    Maybe you could do something with your hands, like knitting, cross stitching, etc?

    This too...I do nail art. Keeps me busy for like an hour and I can't use my hands because I don't want to smudge the polish
  • hi i am new to this. when i started i weighed 74kg and im trying to get down to 60 kg. i started my weight loss by cutting out sugar and lost 1kg in the first week. then nothing for the next 3 weeks. i then decided to cut out all the stodgy carbs like bread, pasta and rice and lost another 1kg in the fifth week and again nothing for the following 3 weeks. i have been doing power walking with jogging intervals and weight training (not religiously) but still cant get the scales to move. it's becoming quite frustrating considering im eating so much better but still cant get down to below 72 kg. im also drinking a heap more water than i ever did. im eating around 1200 calories per day of mostly fruit, vegetables, turkey breast, almonds and either beef or chicken.

    can anyone suggest ideas as i seem to have plateaued and am only just back to what i weighed before christmas. i usually can get down to 69kg without even trying letalone cutting out foods and exercising. i hate exercising so i am really pushing myself but feel if i dont start losing weight soon i will become completely unmotivated and go back to my unhealthy eating habits and not only put it all back on but probably some more! 2 kg after 8 weeks just doesnt seem worth it!!!

    i have been told to eat 5 small meals instead of 3. i struggle with breakfast because i am just not interested in eating when i first wake up but am forcing myself to have a handful of raspberries. is this right or should i just eat when im hungry and listen to my body?

    i am in my healthy weight range at 177cm tall but like most people would like to lose a few kilos and know that i can get back to 65kg at least which is where i was at the beginning of 2012. so i put on 9 kilos in a bit over 12 months. i am 33 years old so understand everything starts to slow down but seriously this is ridiculously slow!

    any help or advice on what i should i try to change things up and get the weight to shift would be greatly appreciated!
  • trudijoy
    trudijoy Posts: 1,685 Member
    hi i am new to this. when i started i weighed 74kg and im trying to get down to 60 kg. i started my weight loss by cutting out sugar and lost 1kg in the first week. then nothing for the next 3 weeks. i then decided to cut out all the stodgy carbs like bread, pasta and rice and lost another 1kg in the fifth week and again nothing for the following 3 weeks. i have been doing power walking with jogging intervals and weight training (not religiously) but still cant get the scales to move. it's becoming quite frustrating considering im eating so much better but still cant get down to below 72 kg. im also drinking a heap more water than i ever did. im eating around 1200 calories per day of mostly fruit, vegetables, turkey breast, almonds and either beef or chicken.

    can anyone suggest ideas as i seem to have plateaued and am only just back to what i weighed before christmas. i usually can get down to 69kg without even trying letalone cutting out foods and exercising. i hate exercising so i am really pushing myself but feel if i dont start losing weight soon i will become completely unmotivated and go back to my unhealthy eating habits and not only put it all back on but probably some more! 2 kg after 8 weeks just doesnt seem worth it!!!

    i have been told to eat 5 small meals instead of 3. i struggle with breakfast because i am just not interested in eating when i first wake up but am forcing myself to have a handful of raspberries. is this right or should i just eat when im hungry and listen to my body?

    i am in my healthy weight range at 177cm tall but like most people would like to lose a few kilos and know that i can get back to 65kg at least which is where i was at the beginning of 2012. so i put on 9 kilos in a bit over 12 months. i am 33 years old so understand everything starts to slow down but seriously this is ridiculously slow!

    any help or advice on what i should i try to change things up and get the weight to shift would be greatly appreciated!

    I don't think you're eating enough. Have you worked out your BMR and TDEE? http://thefitgirls.com/tdee-calculator.aspx has an easy calculator and I would suggest you start with working out your TDEE and then eating a number that is lower than TDEE / higher than BMR for a while.

    Don't be afraid of a bit of fat either. As in dietary fat. It's good for ya.
  • trudijoy
    trudijoy Posts: 1,685 Member
    hi i am new to this. when i started i weighed 74kg and im trying to get down to 60 kg. i started my weight loss by cutting out sugar and lost 1kg in the first week. then nothing for the next 3 weeks. i then decided to cut out all the stodgy carbs like bread, pasta and rice and lost another 1kg in the fifth week and again nothing for the following 3 weeks. i have been doing power walking with jogging intervals and weight training (not religiously) but still cant get the scales to move. it's becoming quite frustrating considering im eating so much better but still cant get down to below 72 kg. im also drinking a heap more water than i ever did. im eating around 1200 calories per day of mostly fruit, vegetables, turkey breast, almonds and either beef or chicken.

    can anyone suggest ideas as i seem to have plateaued and am only just back to what i weighed before christmas. i usually can get down to 69kg without even trying letalone cutting out foods and exercising. i hate exercising so i am really pushing myself but feel if i dont start losing weight soon i will become completely unmotivated and go back to my unhealthy eating habits and not only put it all back on but probably some more! 2 kg after 8 weeks just doesnt seem worth it!!!

    i have been told to eat 5 small meals instead of 3. i struggle with breakfast because i am just not interested in eating when i first wake up but am forcing myself to have a handful of raspberries. is this right or should i just eat when im hungry and listen to my body?

    i am in my healthy weight range at 177cm tall but like most people would like to lose a few kilos and know that i can get back to 65kg at least which is where i was at the beginning of 2012. so i put on 9 kilos in a bit over 12 months. i am 33 years old so understand everything starts to slow down but seriously this is ridiculously slow!

    any help or advice on what i should i try to change things up and get the weight to shift would be greatly appreciated!

    I don't think you're eating enough. Have you worked out your BMR and TDEE? http://thefitgirls.com/tdee-calculator.aspx has an easy calculator and I would suggest you start with working out your TDEE and then eating a number that is lower than TDEE / higher than BMR for a while.

    Don't be afraid of a bit of fat either. As in dietary fat. It's good for ya.

    oh and also i hate breakfast but i make myself eat it and it seems to give me more energy....
  • I look at whatever comfort food I want and think of every single time I've over-eaten or felt fat. If I still want it I go try on a pair of jeans that are too tight or look at some of my thin pictures. I also have a weightloss pintrest that I work on instead of snacking.
  • i have a photo at my heaviest that is a good reminder as to why im doing it but im so impatient!

    i am eating fat in the form of almonds and i eat the fat on meat. weekends i tend to eat differently because im out socialising etc - i'll have a roast dinner instead of steamed or a pasta dish. and i always splurge on bacon and eggs mid morning.

    my tdee is 2081 and my bmr is 1514. but i have read on one of those 12 week challenge things to limit my intake to 1200calories. ???