Ditching diets

[nell15]

I wonder has anyone given up on diets? I've got to the point after years of different diets over 20 plus years and not being any slimmer than when I started out. My eating has become so chaotic and my thinking disordered that I don't know what's right or wrong with eating anymore.

I've been reading about various approaches like mindful eating, intuitive eating, eating less by Gillian Riley, susie orbach's work. It all makes sense. Has anyone tried any of these and lost weigh and kept it off?

I just want to lose weight without thinking too much about it and then get on with my life.

[nell15]

Anyone?

[nell15]

???? Is anyone here????

[Ellieboolou27]

Hi nell
I'm the same, been on every single "diet" read all the so called help books, still fatter than what I was when I was 9 months pregnant!
I think I've lost touch with what normal eating is!

I'm at my heaviest 12.10 and the more I think of losing it the more I eat. I. Going to do my fitness pal as I need to get back into the habit of eating normal food and logging everything seems to work. I tend to "be good" all day then at night I become a binge eater.
I too have been on a diet on and off since I was 13 and I'm 38 now so can't offer much advice, just to let you know your not alone

[ToastMakesMeHappy]

I could have written your post! I have no idea where to turn - I am getting desperate, even just half a stone to start with would be fab. My weight just stays the same no matter what I try

[FinallyHere]

I found the original book from Gillian Riley, www.eatingless.com very helpful, treating overeating like anyother addiction. There is a more recent book, a shortened version, https://www.amazon.co.uk/DITCHING-DIETS-weight-maintain-ebook/dp/B00AO6ITGW/ref=sr11_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1358509501&sr=1-1

Anytime i find myself rebelling and eating more, i find rereading these helps me get back on track.

[nell15]

Hi - thanks for replying. This is my story - what's your dieting story? What's people's experiences of intuitive eating or no diet diets etc
I'm 5' 7" and 12st 10. After doing loads of diets, I'd got myself into such a state of disordered thinking and eating that I decided to follow a plan in which I ate what I wanted but no snacks or sweets just three meals a day and some treats if it's a weekend or special occasion - a bit like the No S diet. I did this for about 4 months and I haven't put weight on BUT I haven't lost any!!

I noticed recently I was rebelling and craving sweets, and my evening meal was becoming bigger as I kept to no seconds - I heaped it all onto one plate. So I started to think what to do next and I too turned to the book Eating Less by Gillian Riley, but I find I can't quite get into it despite me reading and re-reading her books. Next I read about intuitive eating and amongst my embarrassed vast collection of diet books I found Susie Orbachs book On Eating and I've been reading that - it's quite a short uncomplicated book and she talks about 5 keys - I'm trying to stick to the first 3: eat when you're hungry, eat whatever you think you need, stop when you're full. I've decided to do this for 3 weeks as I read that this is how long it takes to develop new habits

On paper this all looks like I've got a plan - I started it yesterday and already I've come up against a slight problem. As I tried not to eat til I was hungry which meant I didn't eat my lunch til 4pm and then I sat down to dinner with DH at 7 30, and I wasn't hungry, so I can see this might be a problem if I wait til I'm hungry and I don't want to not have my evening meal as it is my favourite meal

[Thefitfatty]

I've been doing this for about 9ish months. Really listening to my body and what it wants. Sorted out some issues with binge eating. Focusing on exercise. etc. I did lose 30lbs initially, but have plateaued out at about 12 stone and I'm sitting comfortably there. I feel good, I think I look good, I'm healthy.

I think the thing about intuitive eating is that you need to come to terms with the fact that you're unlikely to lose massive amounts of weight and that a good bit of learning to love and appreciate your body as is goes into it.

[nell15]

Hi thefitfatty thanks for that and well done on your weight loss. Did you follow anybody's book or approach in particular - any suggestions or advice to offer? Nell

[Thefitfatty]

Nope no books. I read some articles about it on a few sites, and read some body positvity blogs. I started to think about why I binge eat and went to see someone. I ended up being diagnosed with ADHD and realizing that I eat when I'm bored or out of impulse was pretty eye opening.

Mostly, I've just learned to look at myself in the mirror and say "You're fucking awesome just the way you are"

Perhaps it's just me, but I find myself punishing myself less with food and getting less cravings when nothing is off limits and I have no diet to fall off of.

[Thefitfatty]

Actually, I think the biggest thing, was no longer making weight loss a goal. It was about feeling good and treating my body well. I didn't care if I lost a pound.

[nell15]

That's really great thefitfatty do you only eat when you're hungry? I find if I can't do something I'll end up rebelling. It's silly really cause I'm rebelling against myself.

[Thefitfatty]

Most of the time I only eat when hungry. On the weekends I might have some popcorn in the evening when I'm not hungry just to snack on, but generally I only eat when I need to.