Im addicted to food really struggling...

Without looking at your diary one suggestion I can make re: portion sizing is to buy a food scale. I got one a few months ago for $6 from Kmart and its awesome! It's great to know that my cereal in the morning is an exact portion size. It also helps your estimates for when it's not on hand too because you know what you're comparing too. Other than that, feel free to add me or other friends so you can stalk their diaries and steal some ideas for yourself

When I started in January I was the same way. For me the key was making changes in small steps - not all at once. First thing I started with was fluid intake. What are you drinking? Is it loaded with HFCs? If so, reduce what you currently drink in half with water and substitute healthy alternatives.

For example I would easily drink 10 -12 oz of OJ every morning thinking it was "healthy" - then I came on MFP and got an eye opener as to how MUCH sugar I was taking in. I immediately limited it ot 4 ounces and mixed in water for the same volume - did not miss it at all. Now I don't drink ANY store bought OJ - tastes too sweet to me.

Lots of other subs you can make in same way - unsalted nuts in place of chips, almond milk in place of regular milk, chicken in place of red meat (although I still like good, butcher shop steaks), 12 grain bread instead of white bread. etc.

Its about being smart and finding delicious, healthy alternatives as opposed to depriving yourself - I almost see it as a game now - I love going to the market and seeing what healthy alternatives I can use - and I have found that I mainly shop the perimeter of the market now - I rarely go to the center aisles.

If you have not see this - watch this 60 minutes report - I guarantee it will motivate you:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t9MH_tks_wE

When I started in January I was the same way. For me the key was making changes in small steps - not all at once. First thing I started with was fluid intake. What are you drinking? Is it loaded with HFCs? If so, reduce what you currently drink in half with water and substitute healthy alternatives.

For example I would easily drink 10 -12 oz of OJ every morning thinking it was "healthy" - then I came on MFP and got an eye opener as to how MUCH sugar I was taking in. I immediately limited it ot 4 ounces and mixed in water for the same volume - did not miss it at all. Now I don't drink ANY store bought OJ - tastes too sweet to me.

Lots of other subs you can make in same way - unsalted nuts in place of chips, almond milk in place of regular milk, chicken in place of red meat (although I still like good, butcher shop steaks), 12 grain bread instead of white bread. etc.

Its about being smart and finding delicious, healthy alternatives as opposed to depriving yourself - I almost see it as a game now - I love going to the market and seeing what healthy alternatives I can use - and I have found that I mainly shop the perimeter of the market now - I rarely go to the center aisles.

If you have not see this - watch this 60 minutes report - I guarantee it will motivate you:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t9MH_tks_wE

A very interesting report, thanks for sharing!

Hi there (waving) I did NOT read your diary, but I wanted to chime in & say what has helped me... A great grasp of nutrition is a big key. I try to stay away from the GMO stuff & pre-packaged stuff like it's a plague. I have juice now as a rare & special treat, or I add a few onces to water 50/50. whereas I used to drink juices like water. I have to weigh & portion my food, because my brain usually says a portion for me is enough to feel 2-3 people. the most important thing I think that I have learned is that PROTEIN will kill my hunger. if I eat protein I am satisfied & don't need to eat ANY carbs. A dietition told me about www(dot) bariatricChoice(dot)com. I started buying protein supplements that the people who CAN NOT eat real food eat. one of the best I like is called SYNTRAX natural nectar. it is a tasty whey based protein powder (23g protein, 0 fat & 0 carbs) that mixes with water. I can use it as a snack or a meal replacement. I also found a great protein powder Hot cocoa drink (ProtiDiet) that satisfies my craving for sweets & kills my hunger at the same time. if I keep my daliy protein intake up, I don't get the desire to eat carbohydrates (which is my great downfall) and I don't have the desire to eat icecream (which is my heroin). oh, speaking of my ice cream addiction...i have started buying bags of frozen blueberries & eating them partially defrosted (think of it as big giant blueberry dipping dots). I also get a huge bag of frozen fruit mix: strawberry, mango, pineaple & peaches at my local Wal-Mart. I always have fruit in the freezer to make sugar free sorbet or just eat it half frozen like mini popcycles. anyway, those are my tricks & maybe they will help you. I hope so. remember to walk, walk, walk. I call my legs; Doctor Left & Doctor Right. humans were not made to drive around in cars! (did you watch the movie; Wally?) for all but the last 100 years or so, humans have WALKED to go anywhere. I just have to put on my sneakers & go outside. My dog is my walking coach. she keeps me at a good pace & is always ready for a long hour walk. If it's too hot or too cold, I get on my treadmill. I prefer the outdoors though. Swimming is a great calorie burn & I go swimming whenever possible. I wish & dream of the day I will have access to an indoor pool for winter months! maybe someday...

Sometimes when I plateau with my weight it helps to increase my calories for a couple of days...I guess that's the idea behind the eat more weigh less thing. Also, increasing water and fiber or changing exercises may help...don't get discouraged! 12 pounds is a great loss!

i still eat the same foods just small portions i dont eat chips an cut down on alcohol i have lost 3 stone doing it this way

A) Try buying a good scale as mentioned earlier, it really helps.
Look up "portion plates" or use smaller dishes when serving meals. It's silly, but humans have been consistently shown to want to "fill" their plates because the larger dish makes a portion look smaller. Try serving yourself dinner in a saucer.
C) Drink a cup of hot tea or broth shortly before dinner.
D) Start drinking green tea, it's a known apetite supressant.
E) If you have issues with liking really fatty or sugary foods, check out hungry girl. While I'm not a fan of some of the "fake" foods that she uses, it makes a great first step because she'll take foods you really like and let you make them in a less bad way. It just makes things easier, especially in the beginning when your body still wants what it wants.
F) Don't give up. Seriously. Every time you fall get back up on your horse and keep going.

A) Try buying a good scale as mentioned earlier, it really helps.
Look up "portion plates" or use smaller dishes when serving meals. It's silly, but humans have been consistently shown to want to "fill" their plates because the larger dish makes a portion look smaller. Try serving yourself dinner in a saucer.
C) Drink a cup of hot tea or broth shortly before dinner.
D) Start drinking green tea, it's a known apetite supressant.
E) If you have issues with liking really fatty or sugary foods, check out hungry girl. While I'm not a fan of some of the "fake" foods that she uses, it makes a great first step because she'll take foods you really like and let you make them in a less bad way. It just makes things easier, especially in the beginning when your body still wants what it wants.
F) Don't give up. Seriously. Every time you fall get back up on your horse and keep going.

I don't know if it helped the OP, but I LOVED this. I already boxed up all our dinner plates so now I eat off a dessert plate and even that seems almost too big, I might try to find saucers. And I haven't checked out the website yet but it sounds perfect for me right now. Thanks!

I've only been on MFP for 3 weeks, but since joining, I've started taking things that I would normally cook and adding something healthy to it or making substitutions to lessen the calories. I'm also addicted to Skinnytaste.com. She has very good recipes that are "normal" foods modified to be healthier. Some really good stuff on there... In just 3 weeks of doing this, I noticed a difference in how I feel and my cravings are slowly going away. I was really craving Pizza Hut yesterday so I bought some, ate 2 slices (normally I could almost eat a medium pizza by myself) and I felt so bad for the rest of the day and the pizza didn't taste as good as I remember. It was validating to me that I'm now giving my body what it needs and the food I used to pig out on doesn't taste like it used to.