I’m always hopeful for the following start of a new day/week/month/year that this will be the new me. Iv usually failed by the evening of the first day.
I've been obese for years, I am just right now crossing the line back from "obese" to "overweight" having lost 3 stone so far, and still losing.
I just wanted to pick up on what you said about failing on the first day. I've found the first day the hardest of all, the second and third day hard too, but once you are over that hump, it s so much easier.
I was allowing myself the occasional small sweet treat, but every time I did that, I was suddenly back to the struggle of the first few days.
I am now eating no sweet things at all, and almost no carbohydrates. Once you are in the swing of it, it is so much easier.
This is not a list of instructions for you, don't think I am telling you what to do! This is just a list of suggestions that have helped me!
- power on through the first few days - force yourself, once you are through that barrier, it so much easier. And once you know the main struggle is only going to last a few days, not months, it is easier to get through them.
- no sweet things or sweet tasting things at all
-find a low calorie flavour you really like, and add it too the boring things - mine is mustard
- huge plates of vegetabes and salad, even if it is boring, and takes a long time to eat - it fills you up - I have just microwaved a huge plate of spinach for breakfast, and put a little bit of mustard on it, I am full, almost no calories at all.
- protein, like ham or eggs, filling, and nutritious.
- online activity trackers - very encouraging to see small improvements, ditto online weight and calorie trackers.
- speak to your doctor again, and ask for help, my doctor was able to give me some suggestions, such a a cup of instant low fat horlicks is 100 calories, nutritious and filling, this has been helpful when I've felt hungry because it fills me up very quickly, much better than biscuits or cakes, but it does make me sleepy!
- join a cheap sports club, do a little bit of running etc, they won't push you too hard, and will take an interest in your progress, which is motivating.
- never write off a day or give way to an out and out binge - if things have gone badly wrong think damage limitation - yes I messed up badly 10 minutes ago, but no need to compound that by continuing with this bag of crisps.... every time you stop and throw away the junk food helps.
- find a flavour tea you really like - mine is ginger. I drink it without milk, making it and drinking it takes up eating time.
- as others have said, if really hungry in the evening, go to bed!
- This is pretty disgusting, but have a mental image you hate, and transpose that on to the food that is tempting you. Mine is maggots or vomit. I look at the tasting tempting cake and imagine there are maggots in it, or that it is sitting in someone's vomit.