What’s helped you?

GettinFit4my3 · April 2022

I’m struggling. I lost weight and then gained it. I lost it on my own and gained it on my own. Now I’m going to the dr and he’s put me on adipex but it’s not working. I have thought about going to a counselor for emotional eating but I can’t get into one. What has helped you? Any specific fad diet? Any book you really liked? A movie? Over the counter vitamin supplements? Smoothie diets? What have you tried that you thought really helped?

cupcakesandproteinshakes · April 2022

If you are an emotional eater I would try listening to the first few episodes of weight loss made real podcast by Cookie Rosenblum. She uses a psychological/ behavioural approach. She’s not a great advocate of counting calories. It may not be helpful for everyone but I like her concepts

ReenieHJ · April 2022

Finding MFP and listening to the smart people here has helped me more than anything else.

Honestly. I've learned so much that I thought I already knew, but obviously didn't.

I've definitely had my ups and downs throughout the 2+ years I've been here. But I've found the best thing is keeping track of calories and increasing movement.

I'm a junk-food junkie at heart, everything from cheeseburgers/fries to Drake's apple pies.

But when I started seriously following the calories of everything I was eating, I realized how much more food I could eat when it contained a reasonable amount of calories. I tend to keep my diet simple and basic; for me it's much easier to follow than trying new things, which always makes me want to try more new things, which invariably leads me way off kilter. Make sense? IDK but that's just me. Growing up we had to finish dinner before we could have dessert. That, along with some genetic code that seems to crave sugar/fat within my family, gave me an enormous sweet tooth and that's what I used to binge on.

You have to find tricks to steer you away from all those craved foods, unless you're a lot better with the moderation thing than I am. One cookie? HAH Give me the whole package.

So I guess, my tricks have been to keep those types of foods out of the house and if dh wants them, he can hide them away for himself. I build my diet around lots of veggies and lean meats, tuna, eggs, lean dairy, some fruit, very little carbs such as breads/pasta/rice. My saving grace is Stonyfield nonfat plain yogurt which I doctor up a little with SF syrup and blueberries. My downfall is anything peanut butter related and I'm cutting way back on that stuff because it's very high cal/high fat. Instead I eat peanuts in the shell. It takes me a lot longer.

BTW fad diets are never a great idea. I've tried quite a few and you lose 10# the first week or 2, then very little each week after that. Sustainability is key. Unless you mean something like the Mediterranean Diet? But to me, that's not a fad, it's good common sense eating.

Good luck in finding something that works for you!! We're all unique so find your individual unique path, healthfully.

littlegreenparrot1 · April 2022

I stopped beating myself up about it and started by focusing on habits that I knew were good for me.

Walking to the shops, doing exercise that I liked because I wanted to - not because it was some kind of punishment for the size of my backside.

More fruit and veg - in quantity and variety, more cooking from scratch. Thinking about it so that I would make one pot of something that would be dinner and a couple of lunches. I had to have a rule for a while, dinner had to be something my mother would recognise as proper food! A piece of toast and a packet of chocolate biscuits didn't cut it.

More self care, oddly going to the hairdressers regularly seems to be a bit of a trigger point for me. If I'm doing it I'm taking good care of myself, if I stop doing it other things start to slide...

These things made me feel better. Better nutrition, time in the fresh air, behaving like it is worth taking care of myself helped to lift the fug a bit. It becomes positive reinforcement, I feel better so I do more, so I have more energy and so it goes. Eventually that led to some weight loss, it took a while to get to that. I had to fix some of the other things first.

Xerogs · April 2022

I made a conscious choice to change and just stick to it. I found out what the foods I was eating before were doing to my body and what I needed to eat to repair the damage I had done. I had to find a way of eating that was sustainable and life long. I really got to the root of why I was over eating. I've eliminated ultra processed foods, sweetened drinks, alcohol, and added sugars from my way of eating. I mainly stick to a whole food way of eating for the most part. The most processed things I eat are organic tofu, tempeh, and peanut butter as a treat.

I don't necessarily follow his protocol but the Carb Addiction Doc on YouTube pulled the wool from my eyes in terms of my own addictive personality in relation to food.

Regular exercise and meditation has helped a great deal in terms of reducing stress and organizing my daily thoughts. My job offers a heart healthy plan for a year so I signed up for that as well.

Also reading and sharing on this forum as well as logging daily help keep me on track.

spiriteagle99 · April 2022

I lost about 50 lbs from my high of 177 12 years ago. I have maintained that loss for about 10 years.

For losing weight it was two things: 1) I realized that although there was a lot in my life I had no control over, I did control what I put in my mouth, therefore the only thing stopping me from losing weight was me. 2) I lose well by restricting carbs. I have a bad sweet tooth and a tendency to indulge way too often. By limiting my carbs and only allowing myself an occasional treat, I was able to lose weight. I am not happy limiting carbs all the time, because I enjoy fruit and bread and desserts too much, but by paying attention, I learned which ones I can happily give up and which I really enjoy. Protein fills me up but I find it boring after a while, so low carb only works for me for a few months, not forever.

To keep the weight off, I did two things as well: 1) I became a consistent logger on mfp. I write down everything, good or bad. That way I can't ignore it when the occasional treat becomes frequent or daily and I weigh often enough I can stop myself from regaining too much as soon as I get over my allowed top limit. By tracking both exercise and intake, I have learned how to tell when I can and should eat more for energy and when my appetite is just boredom. 2) I found an exercise I enjoy that I can do almost every day and that I want to improve so I can get more out of it. Since the exercise burns calories, I get a lot of flexibility in my diet, which is where the logging comes in. I know how much I can eat to fuel my exercise and health without eating too much.

eleng0413 · April 2022

I don't recommend taking medications for weight loss. From my experience, they work so well because they decrease your appetite. Once you stop, your appetite returns to its former state and you'll gain the weight back.

I'm having the same issue, reading these posts is super inspiring.

LiveOnceBeHappy · April 2022

You mention not being able to get into a counselor. I assume you mean you can't get in soon enough for your comfort. Maybe go ahead and make the next available appointment? Even if it's 8 months from now. The 8 months will pass, and you'll be glad you made the appointment! Once you're a client, you should be able to make more frequent appointments. Best wishes.

rosebarnalice · April 2022

cupcakesandproteinshakes wrote: »

If you are an emotional eater I would try listening to the first few episodes of weight loss made real podcast by Cookie Rosenblum. She uses a psychological/ behavioural approach. She’s not a great advocate of counting calories. It may not be helpful for everyone but I like her concepts

A couple of other good emotional eating/body image podcast are "No Sugarcoating" by Amber Romaniuk and "The Breakthrough Emotional Eating" podcast by Kristin Jones.

westrich20940 · April 2022

I'd suggest continuing to try to get into a counselor. Keep trying, keep getting on waiting lists, etc.

I'd also simply focus on getting out and getting more active. Like, even just a 20 min walk each day. Not fast or hard, just outside in the fresh air and sun. This can have a pretty noticeable positive effect on your mental health.

If you feel the core issue is emotional eating/binging, then I'd suggest getting that sorted first. Before worrying about counting calories, etc.

mjjkidwell · April 2022

Ive been going to a nutritionist and its been helping. I do better with programs telling me what to do rather than what to avoid. I do best when i plan a day and log it all in the morning and stick to it. Even the cheats, log and plan for them and enjoy them.

Feel free to add me. Ive been off mfp for a few years but back now to get back to my goal weight.

What’s helped you?

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