Weight loss Depression

By the time I eat less, I feel emotionally blue over the period of weight loss
For keeping myself away from my favorite food and eating unsatisfactory low-carb food.
My stomach gets hungry quickly and my mood changes instantly.
How can I balance my mood during the period of weight loss?

Replies

  • TBear0864
    TBear0864 Posts: 2 Member
    This may sound different but you should pick up some shelled peanuts like the kind you would get at a baseball game. They take some time to eat, they taste good and they fill you up and reduce your cravings for anything else. I eat them when driving home about 20 its enough to not want to stop for fast food on the home which I've been doing for the past year. lol
  • SherryTeach
    SherryTeach Posts: 2,836 Member
    What you could do is avoid giving up the food you really like. Just eat amounts of it that fit into your calorie allotment. With the exception of fast food, which I gave up, I didn't give up one other thing that I enjoy eating.
  • GiGiBeans
    GiGiBeans Posts: 1,062 Member
    If you are eating low carb be sure that you are eating extra fat - that should keep you feeling fuller. Strawberries with lots of whipped cream, avocado, nuts, brie cheese, bacon.
  • triciab79
    triciab79 Posts: 1,713 Member
    Food means a bit more to you than it should. I used to get really angry when someone got my order wrong. I would get cranky if I had to wait longer than expected for dinner. I would be upset if even the slightest thing didn't taste the way I wanted. Food = emotion. Food should never equal emotion. You have to develop non food related coping mechanisms. When someone deals with their emotional issues by drinking we don't say, drink just enough to function. You cannot cold turkey give up eating but you can cold turkey give up emotional eating.
  • ccourcha
    ccourcha Posts: 316 Member
    Hangry it's the word ll
  • dakotababy
    dakotababy Posts: 2,406 Member
    I could imagine that if you are an emotional eater, and you are no longer turning to food to cope with emotions...that the emotions are starting to surface. Check for any underlying issues (depression, anxiety, etc) and start looking for alternatives to cope. With that being said...

    I would be depressed too on "low carb" diets. Calories in/Calories out.
  • AsISmile
    AsISmile Posts: 1,004 Member
    Some of the tips mentioned earlier are great.
    What I would add is that you need to find something else that makes you happy/ distracts you from the craving.
    Do you work out? it works wonders for all the happy hormones.
    Also, in those weight loss tv shows they often say that when you are having cravings you should go outside for a walk. It is a good distraction + gets you away from all the bad foods you might still have in your house.
  • KANGOOJUMPS
    KANGOOJUMPS Posts: 6,474 Member
    some times indulging in some wild sex helps.
  • LivingtheLeanDream
    LivingtheLeanDream Posts: 13,342 Member
    edited June 2015
    You have posted in the maintaining weight section. But that aside, its about frame of mind, this shouldn't be seen as a diet but a change of lifestyle. Its about eating as much as possible yet still losing weight if thats your goal.
    You shouldn't feel depressed about being on a 'diet', you should feel energised and positive that you are doing something positive and that will lead to a healthier you :smile: If you're hungry fill up on more protein and fats, that REALLY helps.

    Are you eating enough? are you drinking plenty of water? that really helps. Also get moving when you can, its so uplifting and energising and I just know you'll feel the better for it :smile:

    And why go low carb if it makes you feel that way? its not for everyone - weight loss is all about CICO.
  • sijomial
    sijomial Posts: 19,809 Member
    Simple!
    Don't avoid food you like.
    Don't go low carb if it makes you feel down.

    Eat the foods you like with a moderate calorie deficit.
  • amberwh59
    amberwh59 Posts: 3 Member
    I would say change your thoughts. Really pretend to enjoy your food even if you don't and think of it as a strong person take on the challenge belive you can do it! Enjoy it and then write down how it made you feel really and truly. Who do you want to be? Don't let food control your emotions, easier said than done but really belive you can enjoy it and you will
  • ndj1979
    ndj1979 Posts: 29,136 Member
    if low carbs leaves you unsatisfied then why are you doing it?

    also, if eating less food makes you depressed, then it sounds like you have an unhealthy relationship with food and you may want to get some help for that….
  • TimothyFish
    TimothyFish Posts: 4,925 Member
    Eating low carb tends to mess with people's heads. Personally, I wouldn't do it. You can eat at a calorie deficit without going low carb.
  • JayRuby84
    JayRuby84 Posts: 557 Member
    It could be you've been restricting your calories too much. Are you eating enough?
  • nxd10
    nxd10 Posts: 4,570 Member
    edited June 2015
    I try NEVER to eat food I don't like. And I always eat anything I really want. I just don't eat that much of it. I eat ice cream every day - really good high cream ice cream. I just eat 1/4 cup, because it's delicious and it makes me happy. I split a piece of rhubarb pie with my husband yesterday because it was fresh and looked delicious (it was). I still was under a couple hundred calories yesterday.

    We are both good cooks and work really hard at having delicious food every night. But most of that is really healthy, because it's home prepared with fresh ingredients. I love veggies, make fantastic salads (which are a lot more than limp iceberg lettuce and pale tomatoes), and love grilled and broiled meat.

    I eat more when I eat tasteless food, because I want is enjoyment, not nutrients. And when the food is bad, I keep eating I think in the subliminal hope that I'll get the stimulation I'm looking for.

    I lost 41 pounds and have maintained 3 years.

    Life is too short to eat bad food.
  • Gska17
    Gska17 Posts: 752 Member
    JayRuby84 wrote: »
    It could be you've been restricting your calories too much. Are you eating enough?

    This maybe? I know I felt the way you're describing after a long period of eating at 1,240. I just couldn't do it anymore so I raised my allowance by 100. That small change made all the difference.
  • paris458
    paris458 Posts: 229 Member
    I read cashews actually help with depression and anxiety. you could try. sometimes I am sad I just cant eat whatever I want but when I see the results that makes me more happy than food ever could. try working out, once you are in a routine you wont be feeling sad about not eating you will be too dedicated to your new results.
  • alfiedn
    alfiedn Posts: 425 Member
    I eat low carb for medical reasons. It's not necessary otherwise. However, I will say it took me 3-4 weeks to learn how to balance the diet so I could feel satiated. I was eating SO MUCH FOOD with so few calories that I was constantly hungry! Balancing my diet with more nut butters, seeds, oils, etc. helped a lot. The amount of vegetables I had been eating was astounding, but it wasn't keeping me full even while my stomach felt like I couldn't take another bite.

    I also agree that you should make sure your calorie goal is high enough.

    All that being said, unless you have medical reason, I don't see any purpose to avoiding the foods you love as long as you eat them in moderation and work them into your calorie goal.
  • RaspberryTickleChicken
    RaspberryTickleChicken Posts: 629 Member
    CatieBd wrote: »
    By the time I eat less, I feel emotionally blue over the period of weight loss
    For keeping myself away from my favorite food and eating unsatisfactory low-carb food.
    My stomach gets hungry quickly and my mood changes instantly.
    How can I balance my mood during the period of weight loss?

    Wrong Forum ... this is for maintainers

    Having said that, you're not providing a lot of detail info here.

    What are some examples of your "favorite food?" Dunkin Donuts? Fruits?

    Do you regularly exercise?

    When going low carb or lower carb the key is to substituting it with other items to make you satisfied for longer. Think high fiber veggies & lean proteins can help stave off the hunger.

    "My stomach gets hungry quickly and my mood changes instantly." --> Again makes me wonder WHAT and HOW MUCH you are actually eating.

    And some people are just more carb sensitive. Being a woman we just tend to have a higher affinity of needing more carbs - thank the hormones. Remember, lower carbs doesn't mean NO carbs because THAT is just not possible. VERY few things are carb free.

    If you are feeling like crap on the current eating regimen then change it. Chose healthier carbs like fruits, whole wheat. Not everyone can do low carbs ... I can't and I won't. In you are SO miserable then whatever progress that you make now is not going to stick.

    Try to educate yourself & read THIS The key to long term wt loss success is not quick gimmicks here or there, but to really change behavior so that by the time wt loss goal is reached all the new healthier habits are automatic daily staples instead of 'oh crap what do I do now to maintain?' Key takeaway from the article is " ... more likely to succeed is gradual change, made in a much more sustainable way"

    Just something to consider.

    Good luck!
  • alley292
    alley292 Posts: 9 Member
    Eat in moderation don't deprive your self of the foods you love just don't eat a lot of it it's not what you eat its how much you eat
  • coreyreichle
    coreyreichle Posts: 1,031 Member
    One thing that causes mood changes during calorie deficits is not getting enough protein. Not enough protein leads to problems sleeping, moodiness, and a general malaise.
  • ellesMFP93
    ellesMFP93 Posts: 43 Member
    Low carb should never mean no carb. Stick to low GI carbs like sweet potato, quinoa, grainy breads and legumes. To start with going low carb is SO HARD, particularly because your body is adjusted to the level of glucose coming in. Low GI carbs will take longer to be broken down into glucose, being released slowly into the blood stream, meaning you don't get the spike in blood sugar that you would with high GI foods.
    Eating low GI carbs and increasing your fat and protein intake will help with the hunger. Low carb does not have to mean unsatisfactory foods! I eat low carb and eat bacon and eggs, no pastry quiche, bolognese with quinoa, salad with lots of full fat cheese, avocado, meat and pepitas. I hope this helps a little. I find the book 'The Fat Revolution' really helpful as well! Good luck!
  • CatieBd
    CatieBd Posts: 12 Member
    You made the point elles. Thanks for everyone's help. Though I realise this has been posted on the wrong forum, but no way I can change it now. Sorry about that.
  • elleelise
    elleelise Posts: 33 Member
    sijomial wrote: »
    Simple!
    Don't avoid food you like.
    Don't go low carb if it makes you feel down.

    Eat the foods you like with a moderate calorie deficit.

    YEP. What he said! ^
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