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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Can't stop eating

63 replies

eyeballpaula56 · 16/01/2025 23:25

I am 12 stone and 5'7 with a BMI of 26ish so technically overweight but not so much that I could get medical assistance.

I have such a greedy, ridiculous attitude around food. I just crave beige, convenience food always. Today I had 2 sausages in a wrap, bread with cheese, loads of crisps, constant picking at crackers and nuts. Had a relatively balanced tea with one veg but only because it was a Gousto meal!

Everyday I promise myself I will change my habits for my health more than aesthetics but when it comes down to it and I'm hungry I just don't want fruit and yogurt or any of that. I want carbs and stodge.

I buy fruit for the dc but never eat it. I sit at night feeling disgusted at what I've eaten but that feeling only comes when I'm full and satisfied from eating junk!

I'm worried about my health but really can't fathom how people eat healthily and nutritiously everyday. I need a massive overhaul and don't know where to begin, doesn't help that I'm a rubbish cook.

Does anyone have any tips?

OP posts:
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BunnyLake · 17/01/2025 20:32

@MushroomBrioche Thanks. I’m actually already subscribed to their email but found their bread etc to be a bit expensive compared to normal products. Would you say it was worth the extra expense?

Didimum · 17/01/2025 20:27

Stop trying to fix your diet and start by addressing the real reasons you overeat. Eating is a mindset, it’s not willpower. Look up Hannah Watkins coaching.

MushroomBrioche · 17/01/2025 20:23

@BunnyLake please see reply above re low carb bread and pizza bases.

anonymous98 · 17/01/2025 18:32

No advice I'm afraid, but solidarity. I am a very similar height and weight, so technically overweight but only slightly. Currently trying not to go and buy chocolate.

TheWholeMealBaby · 17/01/2025 18:29

eyeballpaula56 · 17/01/2025 17:56

Nope don't exercise although I'm always on my feet rushing around after children and cleaning up etc.
My job however is very sedentary.

In that case you must have an amazing metabolism!!
I am super jealous but wish you the best regaining control of your eating.

DonutDogBasket · 17/01/2025 18:10

knittedosocks · 17/01/2025 06:17

I think that you are right in that your body is actually craving these substances.

If you truly want to cut down I think a good way is to make such foods taste bad to you and in my experience you can do that by going cold turkey.
If you cut out the foods you feel aren't great for you , and replace them with less processed ones, so instead of having chocolate bars have honey and yoghurt for instance, then after a while, if you try one again, the bars really do taste bad.

I know it sounds silly but if for instance you like eating biscuits, instead of buying them try to make your own for a while, then the packaged ones really won't do anything for you and because making from scratch requires time and effort, you don't tend to have as many.

No they don’t. Believe me, they don’t.

BeMellowOchreZebra · 17/01/2025 18:00

@eyeballpaula56 I was a carb addict although never overweight as I do a lot of exercise. It left me feeling lethargic and wanting more.

I got one of those nutribullet things so often have a smoothie (veg, fruit and protein stuff) instead of carb overload. I feel so much healthier.

eyeballpaula56 · 17/01/2025 17:56

TheWholeMealBaby · 17/01/2025 16:32

Looking at what you eat @eyeballpaula56 I'm surprised you don't weigh more than 12st to be honest (do you exercise a lot?).
I don't eat half of what you get through and weigh considerably more so in a way you are quite lucky!

Nope don't exercise although I'm always on my feet rushing around after children and cleaning up etc.
My job however is very sedentary.

OP posts:
Suomynona · 17/01/2025 16:33

@eyeballpaula56 have you considered coaching? I can recommend a fab online coach.

TheWholeMealBaby · 17/01/2025 16:32

Looking at what you eat @eyeballpaula56 I'm surprised you don't weigh more than 12st to be honest (do you exercise a lot?).
I don't eat half of what you get through and weigh considerably more so in a way you are quite lucky!

thebear1 · 17/01/2025 16:18

5ft 8 and 12 stone 10, been losing and gaining the same 10 pounds. My downfall is sugar, I like healthy meals but consume 100s of extra calories because of sugar.

gamerchick · 17/01/2025 16:15

A way I heard that made sense was that your body has a minimum protein requirement, so it'll just keep asking for food until it's met.

A few tweaks to diet is all that's needed really.

BunnyLake · 17/01/2025 16:12

Kimke · 17/01/2025 15:42

Cinnamon powder (morrocan tagine) couscous with sultanas, herbal teas and sweetpotatoes, coconut milk curries with white rice have some sweetness.
Peanut butter tastes sweet to me even when sugar free, its nice on sourdough bread or with veg/apple sticks.

Actually, when I do get a craving or am sick of the savoury mouth taste, I’ll get a spoon of peanut butter and lick it like a lollipop 😁 I tried eating a spoonful in one go but it clogged up in my throat, so I won’t be doing that again 😯

Kimke · 17/01/2025 15:42

BunnyLake · 17/01/2025 11:42

The problem for me isn’t just cutting the carbs it’s the constant savoury food. I just don’t want everything I eat to be non sweet. I don’t like obviously sugary things (no sugar in tea or coffee, no sugary doughnuts etc) but the constant savoury mouth taste just gets on my nerves.

Cinnamon powder (morrocan tagine) couscous with sultanas, herbal teas and sweetpotatoes, coconut milk curries with white rice have some sweetness.
Peanut butter tastes sweet to me even when sugar free, its nice on sourdough bread or with veg/apple sticks.

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 17/01/2025 15:20

I am like this too.

I don’t crave sweet things but lots of savoury food, including carbs.

I just can’t bear the feeling of hunger or feeling unsatisfied. I can’t concentrate on anything when I feel like that.

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 17/01/2025 15:19

Volumedelachanel · 16/01/2025 23:46

Really interested in your comments re PCOS and craving carbs. Is there a connection? I have pcos and love my carbs. Really struggle with losing weight.

Me too!

fivebyfivebuffy · 17/01/2025 15:18

@BunnyLake light squirty cream on the jelly pots is good, or a protein shake (get like a chocolate brownie flavour) blended with ice as well

Midlifecareerchange · 17/01/2025 14:07

MushroomBrioche · 17/01/2025 06:18

I'm exactly the same so now I always make sure I have low carb bread, low carb wraps, low carb crackers, low carb pizza bases etc so I don't feel deprived. They cost a bit more but it's worth it to be able to have a bacon sandwich or pizza or cheese and crackers or fajitas any time without gaining weight. Most of them freeze (apart from the crackers) so as long as I make sure I've always got them I don't fall off the wagon so much now. The other thing I do is blend a high protein shake (there's a delicious vanilla one that tastes like the Mcdonalds vanilla milk shake) and keep it in the fridge and have a sip every time I get a hunger pang between meals. The protein kills the hunger quickly.

Could you tell me which one this is please?

BunnyLake · 17/01/2025 12:28

fivebyfivebuffy · 17/01/2025 11:57

Greek yoghurt? I have it with berries and cinnamon, or grate dark chocolate over it
If you're going low cal rather than low sugar then crush up a meringue with it, or have a solero for about 100 cals

I have Greek yoghurt with fresh blueberries and/or raspberries every morning for breakfast. It’s just later in the day when I get sick of the savoury options (even though I actually prefer savoury over sweet generally). My taste buds just get bored with it. I am going low cal and low sugar, I bought some 10 cal jelly pots last week and that has helped.

fivebyfivebuffy · 17/01/2025 11:57

BunnyLake · 17/01/2025 11:42

The problem for me isn’t just cutting the carbs it’s the constant savoury food. I just don’t want everything I eat to be non sweet. I don’t like obviously sugary things (no sugar in tea or coffee, no sugary doughnuts etc) but the constant savoury mouth taste just gets on my nerves.

Greek yoghurt? I have it with berries and cinnamon, or grate dark chocolate over it
If you're going low cal rather than low sugar then crush up a meringue with it, or have a solero for about 100 cals

BunnyLake · 17/01/2025 11:42

The problem for me isn’t just cutting the carbs it’s the constant savoury food. I just don’t want everything I eat to be non sweet. I don’t like obviously sugary things (no sugar in tea or coffee, no sugary doughnuts etc) but the constant savoury mouth taste just gets on my nerves.

PureGypsyGold · 17/01/2025 09:20

Volumedelachanel · 16/01/2025 23:46

Really interested in your comments re PCOS and craving carbs. Is there a connection? I have pcos and love my carbs. Really struggle with losing weight.

Yes PCOS causes insulin resistance which makes you hungrier, harder to lose weight and makes you crave carbs as it messes up your blood sugar regulation. Taking Metformin helped me control my appetite and lose a bit of weight, I'm still overweight but now I'm chubby instead of FAT so it's an improvement.

ThinWomansBrain · 17/01/2025 08:45

Are you eating because you're hungry - or
out of habit
routine
because it's there
because you deserve a treat?

Equally, I eat too much and need to follow this advice more... but asking yourself if you're hungry before you eat/grab food can help.

amoreoamicizia · 17/01/2025 08:38

Popcorn, vegetable crisps, high protein yoghurts, protein bars.

Protein bars are junk! As are many, or even most, "protein yoghurts".