A weight/diet one

[fatpatsthong]

Hesitated about posting but I never get much response anyway so may as well write it down.

I lost a big chunk of weight (4 stone plus) a few years ago. Have regained a stone from my lowest weight which was at the very top of my bmi anyway so current bmi is about 28 and a size 14. I am mid 40s and short - 5 3.

I have regained this weight because although I changed some habits I didn't change them all. I am an absolute sucker for cake and cheese and like big portions. I eat incredibly fast. I pick at left overs. My job is stressful with long hours and a long commute.

I want to lose this stone. I can feel thighs rub and a roll of fat. However, I have never found weight loss easy and my last couple of attempts have seen me reduce myself to tiny levels of food (around 1000 calories) with no results.

This is starting to fuck me up a bit - I have an obsessive personality with an anxiety disorder plus am struggling a bit with some other bits. Last time I felt like this I ended up in a very very bad place.

But I feel flabby and unhealthy. My main reason for weight loss in the first place was health and whilst I'm ok with a bmi around 26, I'm not with 28. I have family history of diabetes and 2 pre teen dds to show a positive example to.

So what do I do? Crash diet to shift it (have done the blood sugar diet to great effect but regained as I like my carbs), try to be gentle with myself, go for some more mindful eating stuff or what.

I have no idea I really don't. All I know is I don't want to put anymore weight on and I don't want to obsess.

Be kind to yourself. Youre a little bit over want is comfortable for you. Just take some small steps, cut down on portion size a bit, reduce snacks, make some small healthy changes. It sounds like you know that crash dieting doesn't work so don't put yourself through it!

Reducing your carbs will probably help. Eat mostly protein and veg with a little bit of fruit and good carbs.

I can so relate to you OP although put another 10 yrs on and a little higher bmi. My weight gain causes huge problems with my relationship too so added pressure and every day I'm going to start but willpower dwindles.
Am watching with interest

So, you know your particular challenges:

Stressful job - could you start to try out different stress management solutions to see if you can find one that you like? Anything from mindfulness to yoga to knitting to swimming - doesn't really matter as long as you like it enough to stick with it. I am trying hard to re-train my brain that when stressed it needs a glass of water, not a biscuit...it's a work in progress!

Long hours and long journey - I hear you. It's only twice a week for me but I have a 4 hour round trip on those days. If I don't remember to stick something in the car (banana, Alpen bar etc) I am at risk of garage food. But I try to go for cooked chicken if that happens. And to remind myself it's highly unlikely I'll die from 2 hours without food, no matter how bored and tired I am

I like food, I like to feel full, I like a loaded plate - and I can do that as long as I'm careful about what's on there. TBH that helps later to remind me I don't need a snack because I had a generous meal. I try and allow myself one snack a day - so mid-morning I have to decide if I am happy to have no snack after DC bedtime (no!) and that makes me grumpily focus my mind.

Once a week I do a batch of random veg soup with whatever needs using up plus a load of garlic - that helps too when it's late and I'm starving.

I'm 5 stone down and struggling with the final and 6th. It's really hard, you have my sympathy.

Due to your obsessive nature and anxiety personally I would look at adding things in, instead of limiting yourself on a load of things you enjoy.

Maybe try for 2 weeks drinking X amount of water per day and x amount of portions of fruit and veg ( depending on your current consumption). Increase after a given time frame and maybe increase some more calories burned.