Parents arnt supporting!

Some people are uncomfortable with change, especially when other people change for the better. Your step dad is just trying to test you, prove him wrong and keep up your good work - nothing tastes as good as being happy with yourself feels!

If you have money to buy your own food, can you actually buy it yourself instead of just giving them money and asking them to buy it?

As for the unhealthy food they're buying and then not eating, there's a few suggestions - have a proper talk with them about it and see if you can make them see your side (calmly, reasonably and not shouting or whining or saying "it's not fair"), throw it away or hide it if they definitely aren't eating it, or just boost your willpower and don't eat it. For willpower boosts, there are lots of things to try, pictures of clothes you want to fit into in your wallet, on the fridge, on the cupboards etc, an elastic band round your wrist can act as a "reminder".

Actually I've just remember I saw a cookie jar last week that shouted "step away from the cookies" when you opened it :laugh: you could always stick the unhealthy stuff in one of those!

You've got to get a job and move out. Harsh I know but it sounds like it's time and they might be pushing you to get out too. I know it's tough, and it's a tough world out there but once you're responsible for you it will be better. Good luck......follow your path

I kind of have this problem with my parents, my dad got diagnosed with arthritis last year so my mum completely changed his diet to try and help with the symptoms which is great! The only problem is that they eat alot of seafood and things I don't paticularly enjoy, I find it hard to get into the kitchen to cook anything for myself as they spend alot of time in there. It ended up I was having to eat what ever was thrown at me usually about 8pm which is far too late for what I needed with my diet.
My dad has always been bad at bringing cakes and sweets home and because I couldn't get to make a meal I found myself snacking on these empty calories.

What I suggest, when you've got the house to yourself or some free time, get a load of carrots or veg you like raw and chop them up into sticks, carrots are paticularly good because they are sweet and beat some cravings, also if your craving chocolate, spinach is paticularly good because of the amount of iron in it and its suprisingly tasty. Keep them in the fridge so when you're craving snacks, grab a handful. You could also pre make your meals in this way so you just need to heat them up.

You have to look at it from your parents point of view also, they know you're unhappy with the way you look and possibly feel some responsibility for giving you the realtionship you have with food, if they brought you sweet treats when you were younger they are probably just bringing them home because they have made you happy at some point. You could also broach the subject with your step dad and just tell him that you are really struggling to stop snacking and you need a little bit of support, ask if he could cut down on the amount of sweets he brings home. I'm sure he will respect you for this.

Just look at all points of view and explore your options, hope this helps.

Well I think that you should start managing your own food and make a deal with your parents that they buy you healthy food as well. Then you could make your own healthy meals. Eating healthy requires some time. I'm studying full time as well, but since I've started to look after myself I know I have to pay attention to what and when I eat.
Remember resisting temptatioons is very important. It's always gonna be like this. Your parent or friends offering you unhealthy snacks and so on. And you'll have to resist those temptations. Of course, If there is an occassion, you can have something like cake or chocolate, you don't have to completely disregard this food, just eat it wisely and in small amounts. Remmeber to enjoy your food~
I think in some time you'll be able to manage all of your food preparation, and forget about that cake in the fridge ;D
And yeah, my firends is like your parents, keeps telling me I look good, when I actually don't. And my mom is offering too much food when I'm visiting her, even though she knows I'm trying to lose weight. But stay strong and try to resist those things, try to get out of the house, do some activities, etc.

I'm 20 and have had some problem with my parents, too.. well my mum really. I moved out three years ago, not for those reasons, but just because the university i went to was quite far away and simply the act of getting more responsible because of it has eased a lot between my parents and i. I totally agree that having a talk with them is the best start. Maybe during dinner sometime when you're all together and just ask them why they're doing it, they will have to give you an answer whether it's true or not, you can work from there.

I also agree that if they don't eat it, just throw it away. They'll see it's a waste of money and stop buying it. Then, anything they buy for dinner, even if it seems unhealthy can be made less or more healthy by the way it's prepared. Show them they can't stop you, and show them how responsible you are, it helps!

Hi Chloe, this does sound like a tricky situation, but you're 18 now, you have to start taking responsibility for yourself.
It sounds to me as though you have two options:
- stop at the supermerket in your lunch hour or after TAFE and buy your own food. Make time to cook a few times a week, you don't have to do something different every day. I know you are busy studying but maybe you could get some books or notes onto audio books and listen/review while you cook. Or just accept that you will have to go to bed half an hour later to build in time for meal prep.
- if you just can't see this working, then you will have to eat what they eat - watch your portions and buy some extras (ready to eat salad mix for example) to add to the meal if you need to.

You sound pretty good at ignoring the junk - great work, keep ignoring it, say a polite "no thanks", don't nag or conplain and perhaps they will get the message that you ate serious about eating healthy and stop wasting money on junk.
I can't imagine why they ate bring so obstructive, but just because they want to play this way, you don't have to! Be grown up, ignore the games and choose your own path to being healthy.
Good luck!

Unfortunately you can't stop other people bringing tempting food into the house if they want to. You just have to keep on resisting it. Have you tried talking to them? Asking them why they keep bringing this food into the house for you when you don't want it? If all else fails then you're either going to have to make time to go shopping for yourself or eat what they provide unfortunately.

My parents aren't either, but then at 33 I don't really expect them to be.

Go food shopping after work? Get up earlier and go food shopping before work? I know your situation isn't perfect, but you're not accepting advice given to you, it's not that people don't ~understand~ your situation (which really isn't that bad at all given the facts you've given us), it's that you are making excuses when we offer you practical advice to resolve your issue. If you want it, you'll find a way.

If you think someone's buying bad food for you to eat then you don't have much willpower. My brother always buys junk food but I never eat any of it.

Oh and BTW my family never supports me either. They just ask me when I'm going to start gaining weight again.