I have LOTS of clothes and they're beautiful

[JustAPawn]

but because I am 1 stone overweight, I can't wear them or look awful on me. I do not want to go up a size and buy a whole new wardrobe. I am 45 years old and I feel I should find the will power somewhere to stay a comfortable size 10 which is what looks and feels right for my height (5.1").

But it seems the older I get the less tolerance for hunger I have. I mean, I find it physically painful!! I despise myself sometimes for not being able to shift a poxy stone that will make me feel SO much better and allow me to wear the clothes I already have. My sugar cravings have literally taken over my life I feel, as I'm not much of an overeater, is just that I eat sugar, and lots of it.

[mumofsnotbags]

I feel your pain.

I'm in exactly the same situation, I have 2 wardrobes full of clothes that mostly do not fit me so I end up wearing the same jeans and t shirt combo everyday, and the sugar cravings..... They've just got worse since I had ds a few years ago, I see to reach for chocolate as a pick me up rather than something that would fill me for longer and be more healthy.

What I'm working on at the moment is cutting back on Carbs and eating more protein (think atkins diet but not as strict). I find if I want a crumpet for breakfast I have it but mostly I have a protein shake, then for lunch Ill have a salad and for tea I will have something with the family - Lasagne, chicken curry etc. Just cutting down a bit on the carb portions.

If I snack its on fruit or cheese or ham and I don't rule out chocolate, But what i find is if I get a bar of galaxy or similar I will eat the lot in one go, So now I buy green and blacks bars and keep them in the fridge and when I feel like I want some I just break off a square. Its so better tasting, more cocoa so better quality and I don't get the same urges to eat the whole bar anymore. It actually made me realise how many chemicals there are in the cadbury types chocolate to make you want to eat more and more.

As I say I'm still working on these areas and its only been 2 weeks but already lost 4 pounds. I'm determined this year to be able to wear my old clothes by August for dp's birthday.

[ginorwine]

Mum - I get that urge with chocolate !! I didn't realise it had stuff in to make you want more ??!!!!

[Ledkr]

Same here.
The worse thing is that this thread has made Me think that I have didn't the last 3 yrs buying bigger clothes to "make do" with so not even nice stylish pieces!!
I'm going to go shopping.

[JustAPawn]

ginorwine, the stuff is called SUGAR !!

mum thank you for your reply. I feel I have to be all or nothing with sugar, as a little opens up the floodgates and I have no control. But of course if I have none I feel deprived so then I binge.

[KittyBennett]

I feel like this. I find low carbing is a great kick start as you see good results within a month.

[KittyBennett]

With chocolate whilst low carbing I had a small Aldi bar of dark choc every night.

[BillStickersIsInnocent]

Yes me too. I have an important event in 6 weeks time and have a perfect outfit in my wardrobe but am too fat to wear it.

My job involves a lot of driving and two bad sleeping DC means I'm knackered most of the time so far too easy to eat crap.

I'm in week 6 of couch to 5k so feel fitter but need to sort out the diet.

Going to return to my fitness pal and start tracking.

[stripytees]

This was me for the past year or two. In March I started the 5:2 diet combined with cutting out added sugar and simple carbs (like bread). I've lost 12 pounds so far and I'm back in many of those lovely size 10 clothes! It's been so worth it.

Sugar does make cravings and hunger much worse. If you eat mainly protein and veg, hunger is perfectly manageable every now and then. At 5ft1, a bigger chocolate bar will have about a quarter of your daily calorie needs.

[SpecificOcean]

I didn't diet at all - just cut out sugary drinks. That's about 200+ calories a day. Sometimes I have them if we go out, but not regularly.
Went from a 12 to 10 over a few months and have stayed that way.
I do a lot of walking, but did that before.

[Chillycamper]

I've been trying to do the same since Christmas, inspired by beech holiday this summer.

I find I have to watch out for eating to combat fatigue/get an energy boost. This really makes me crave sweet crap.

When I was younger I could shift half a stone with minimal effort now it feels very effortful! I just think it's easier to put on weight and harder to lose it as I got to mid forties.

What I'm doing now is trying not to eat wheat as it doesn't suit me really and this cuts out the biscuits, cake, delicious baguettes etc. I'm having to portion control for first time ever. I make sure I take fruit to work for snacks and save something nice for my 3pm dip in energy.

I used My Fitness Pal for just a few days but it was helpful to think about regular exercise. We have rehomed a pair of dogs and having to do a brisk walk once or twice a day depending on who's willing to help has made a big difference to fitness and fatigue.

I'm 5ft and nearly 1inch and it's hard to carry much extra weight well. I'm probably half a stone over where I want to be now but it took from Christmas to now to shift the half stone I've lost. Maybe it's because all the extra muscle in my legs is heavier than fat LOL

[AwayAndRunUpMaHumf]

I could have written this! I eat far too much rubbish, I think I need to plan better. The other day I was hungry, and had a can of coke, a ripple and about half a block of Wensleydale with cranberries I have no willpower

[Itsalldramarama]

Yes I was going to the same about low carbing ! Difficult for the first day or two but then the sugar cravings will go :) just started again after a terrible sugar binge ! Almonds and a protein shKe for breakfast , I can easily shift a stone in a month and it is the easiest eating plan I can stick too because I know how counter productive cheAting is ! I know how frustrating it is just wanting to lose a stone or in my case just another 10 lb to be a comfortable 12 especially when people say you don't need too but it's how we feel . Got loads of summer clothes to fit into and can't afford new ! Try low carbing and using my fitness pal to track ..

[theowlandthebear]

I thought I would do a bit of an experiment and cut out refined sugar (and artificial sweeteners), wheat and then a couple of weeks later dairy followed. I've lost a stone without going hungry.

The fact that I still have honey, dates and other sweet tasting food has made it a lot easier, I don't have bucket loads, just enough. In general I feel a lot less hungry and don't crave the sugary stuff that I did before. To be fair I have probably cut down on fruit too and upped the amount of green veg I eat.

Cutting the wheat cuts out the bloat (for me anyway) which means that certain trousers fit way more comfortably, after x4 DCs I need all the help I can get with my tummy.

I thought about it and realised that at 40 I had spent the last 25 years on some sort of diet or other, but always eating wheat and sugar. I thought I would try a complete change.

[Itsalldramarama]

Try this as a kick start:)

It's quite hard to get into, but with the results I've witnessed myself, its completely worth it.

It works on the principle of eating good fats and protein. You'll notice through this menu that there are no Carbs or sugar. After the first three days of sticking to the diet religiously, you'll enter a state of Ketosis. This is when your body realises that its no longer getting the sugar and carbs that it can work off straight away, and begins to use your own body fat as energy. You may notice a slight head ache on day three as the transition begins. Once you're into Ketosis, your energy levels even out, and you no longer get the 'sugar low' or that full tired feeling after a large meal.
This diet works on 4 meals a day.......

So, the menu:

MEAL ONE:

-3 whole eggs - boiled, scrambled or poached. You can add salt and pepper (black pepper a great fat burner) but you must only have the eggs as they are - no milk if you're scrambling.
-1 tbspn of peanut butter - NO ADDED SUGAR!!
If like me, you don't like peanut butter, then you can scramble your eggs with a teaspoon of olive oil. Its important to have the oil as that's your good fats for that meal.
If you're still struggling, have 6 nuts*
(basically, you need the protein and fats, that's the purpose of this meal)

MEAL TWO:


-200 grams of turkey breast*.
-14 almond* pieces - not salted.

• (optional) a cup of green beans or broccoli pieces, or green cabbage. (I tend not to bother)
  

OR...........a protein shake and your allowance of nuts*

MEAL THREE:

-Tin of tuna or two tins, dessert spoon of mayo, mixed with a handful of green cabbage and a small red/white onion. (or a cup full of spinach, or green beans)


MEAL FOUR:

-2 Whole eggs and tbspn of peanut butter. (again, if like me you struggle to eat this, I swap it with a protein shake and 5 nuts, for us girls that like something sweet on an evening - strawberry protein shake hits the spot!)



OK, So that looks pretty boring right...? well here's some alternatives to make it a bit more interesting!!!

Meal alternatives for meal three
You could have........

• An 8oz steak and a poached egg on top. Or for good fats try half an avocado with your steak instead. Again, a few greens, but not too much.
  

-200grmns Salmon and broccoli. ( I found that smoked cod, chucked on a length of foil, wrapped up and cooked in the oven in its own juices was lovely)

• 200grms turkey with avocado, and greens
  

• 200grms chicken breast....with greens
  

• any WHITE fish, with the usual veg/greens.
  

*I marinate my turkey well in advance. I literally buy a pack of turkey, throw it in a large mixing bowl and add....Garlic, ginger, cumin and lemon juice. By day three its amazing! I blast mine in my George foreman grill for ten mins and jobs a 'goodun'!

* NUTS- you can use.....Walnuts, cashews and my 'fav' (but uber expensive) Macadamia nuts.. Macadamia nuts have the highest good for you stuff in them - omega oils and all sorts, its just the price! if you do use Macadamia nuts, halve your 14 pieces intake to about 6, or you'll have too much fats.

The Greens that you're allowed....
-Spinach - raw or cooked
-white cabbage
-green beans
-trimmed beans
-broccoli
-white/red onion.


Marinates for meat/fish
-Lemon juice
-garlic
-salt n pepper
-fresh ginger
-parsley
-cumin
-cinnamon


*THE DO NOTS....!!!!*
-No fresh lemon squeezed on after cooking (it has sugar in it)
-No cucumber
-No tomatoes ( this is fruit and fruit is a no no!)
-No Bread (carbs)
-No Milk
-No potato
-NO SUGAR
_No fruit drinks - fresh or squash
-No Soya sauce (has complex sugars in it)
**NO ALCOHOL***......However.....I did Google this, thinking it was rather harsh... and you can have a couple of VODKAS as this is pure and has no complex carbs in it. But you MUST use diet tonic, ginger ale or diet coke or lemon aid - these all have no sugar.

Ideally you need to do this diet strictly for two weeks, then once a week you are allowed a cheat meal for your tea. You can have what ever you wish. I'd advise not to kick the ass out of it and have a three course meal, as otherwise what was the point in being so strict... but definitely, have a good scrummy one course of your choice!!!

[Greengardenpixie]

I am the same. Not helped by anti-depressants. My cravings are usually around my period too. Usually a week before and on the week. I think i do suffer slightly from pica. I have never eaten chalk but cravy chalky crunchy things. I end up eating lovehearts to combat this and thats not helping. I also have a stone to lose. Its not much but i find it hard to motivate myself. Its depressing when you weigh yourself and the scales dont budge or you are heavier!!!! especially when its when you have been trying so hard not to eat rubbish all week. I feel demotivated and say, what the hell.

[LadyFannyOfOmaha]

This is me too, a wardrobe full of lovely clothes that are slightly too small. I have to wear the few things that fit over and over. I blame perimenopause, but that's just an excuse.
I think life gets more stressful as you get older (I'm late 40s) working full time, looking after the home, dealing with teens and elderly parents. It's just too much and I binge on rubbish to combat my feelings of being overwhelmed. At least I haven't turned to alcohol.
I know what foods to avoid, but I just can't help myself, I'm a junkie for the sugar/fat/salt combination.

[MuttonCadet]

I was in exactly the same position. I stated weight watchers on the 10th January and have lost 2 stone - everything fits again.

I don't think it matters what diet you choose as long as you can stick to it.

[JustAPawn]

Sticking to anything at all is the issue with me. First of all, I can't find the motivation to do it and when I do, I don't have the willpower to carry on for longer than a day, sometimes even less. This I find puzzling and disgusting about myself. Why can't I go through short term pain to achieve long term happiness?

Itsalldramarama, thank you for taking the time to put that eating plan in here for us. Whenever I get nuts, I eat the whole packet in one sitting. Whenever I get peanut butter, I eat it with a spoon and only lasts a week. I don't help myself do I?

[Itsalldramarama]

Nothing wrong with peanut butter straight from the jar !:) just not on bread ;)

[Goodbetterbest]

Have a look at the Harcombe diet - it has a 5 day detox to start with and it really does knock your sugar cravings for 6.

I did it last week (having spent a fortnight shoving refined, sugary products in my face and feeding the candida imbalance in my gut which caused the craving). 5 pounds down and kicked the craving into touch.

[stripytees]

Why on earth is cucumber on the no-foods list? It's basically just water and fibre.

[Itsalldramarama]

Granted cucumber is relatively low carb - 3.6 per 100g but this is just a kick start that works for me with simple basic low carb high fat and medium protein , I lost over 2 stone in 2 month then follow basic keto with Macros of 5% carb 30 protein and 65 'good fat "
Lots of info on the net to work out tue individual macros to calorie intake , weight etc
Once familiar with it of course more foods can be added
Just a simple plan that's effective to give a boost and results and easy t follow
I haven't put all the weight back on in over a year but currently doing this to lose the little bit I've put back on after a bit of a waiver and sugar binge !
Feel so much better on low carb ! No bloating and more energy ! Just sometimes I cave in ! But back on track ! Lost 4lb this week :) ( I don't own scales as I would be on tj every day so use my mums on a Sunday !

[thecatsm0ther]

Same situation here, except I need to lose more, 1.5 to 2 stone I think. I have no means that fit me and so much flabby wobbly spare tyre, I hate it. I'm 50 and it seems to be difficult to shift. I'm also addicted to sugar, can't seem to get enough of it.

I have to do something about it!

[Eliza22]

The problem for me is that I never keep it off and at 53, I just can't seem to whip up the enthusiasm for yet another diet.

Last year, I felt really fit and it was lovely being able to wear anything, feel comfortable and having confidence but I was then quite unwell and had to stop my running and the weight just rolled back on. I'm 5ft 6" and 11.5 stones. I need to be between 10 and 10.5 so OP, I feel your pain. It is hard and it is demoralising to yo yo up and down. I'm off on holiday at the end of July so I really have to DO something....

[burnishedsilver]

Read Run Fat Bitch Run. Put on your trainers and head out the door. Dieting is way too hard.