Is it really possible to change your mindset around food?

[Llamasally]

After failing tonight at yet another attempt at IF, I’m starting to doubt if I can ever shift this weight.

I’ve been very lucky to be naturally slim all my life, sporty, eaten whatever I wanted and never gave it a second thought.

My last pregnancy I got very severe SPD and was on crutches. It was also lockdown. I became very miserable at being so physically restricted and isolated and comfort ate. Then had a difficult birth and PND. All culminating in me now 7 months after the birth still having 1.5 stones to lose and getting absolutely nowhere.

Not only have I never dieted or restricted myself, but I’ve grown up with unhealthy messages and role modelling around food. Basically that eating copious amounts of unhealthy food is the answer to both positive and negative emotions, problems, tiredness, thirst, boredom…you get the picture.

I don’t recognise my body anymore and it’s making me very unhappy, and my self esteem is going down the pan every time I say I’m going to get back on it today then fail again. I am well educated and understand about nutrition and what I need to do, I just seem to have this mental block and can’t execute it.

Has anyone managed to change their attitude to food to lose weight and maintain it (the weight loss and the mindset!) I need some hope and advice which I’ll probably then do nothing to act upon and carry on feeling like this.

I seem to have. I say 'seem' to because it's early days but 4 weeks in, food is no longer an emotional crutch for me.

It is a total food replacement plan. I have a lot more to lose than you and my doctor fully agreed the plan was worth a go.

But not thinking about food has been really freeing. I don't have to plan what I am eating. I go to the supermarket and buy for everyone else and don't have the 'I will buy healthy' only to then eat shit all week.

Not having to plan my food or thinking i should this....but I really want that instead has really helped. I have lost about 15% o what I want to in 3 weigh ins.

First couple of days were hard. But after that, it's been easy.

I got some blood test results in July which was the gun to make me change and I'm shocked at myself at how I've changed my food life around. I was heading for pre-diabetic and GP said work on it and come back in 3 months. I've always eaten what I wanted and exercised alot so was at an OKish weight. Through injuries and lockdown I went from size 14 to 18 with a BMI of 35. Anyway I now have lost 10kg and eating so much healthier than I ever did. I watch my calories, reduced cards, increased protein and basically cut out all the ceap except my cuppa and 2 biscuits st night. If you had told me 12 months ago I'd be eating (and enjoying) my meals as much as I do now, and don't feel hungry, I'd have laughed. I'm sleeping better, clothes fit so much better. I actualy threw out load of dresses, shirts and trousers this weekend. The key for me was plainly and simply - loose the weight by reducing carbs & recording my food or suffer my way into Type 2 diabetes and be unhappy with myself.

@Notsurewheretogo you mean like a slim fast type of product?

@Brissiegirl that is really great that you’ve lost all that! Probably focusing on the wrong thing here but I’m interested in your biscuits & cuppa- is this every night? Do you allow a treat every day like this and have still lost weight? I am wondering if - as this seems to be a mindset problem for me - knowing that I can for example have a few biscuits and still achieve the weight loss might help?! Or actually will maybe just be avoiding the root cause again? 🙈

[quote Llamasally]@Notsurewheretogo you mean like a slim fast type of product?[/quote]
Similar. But you don't eat a normal health dinner. It's the New you plan. So you eat only things from their plan. Which is why I like it. Just 4 of any of their food packs. There's shakes, soups, meals, bars etc. Whatever suits best.

You can do it where you eat a normal, healthy, dinner.

But as I say, I have a lot more to lose. My doctor, was supportive because being so overweight is obviously very bad for my health. I am allowed to do it for 12 weeks as its low calorie and then have to up my calories for 2 and have a check in with the doctor and some bloods done. Then can do it again, if its working and I am in decent health.

The mental impact was quite unexpected. Its onl after not having to think about my food that I realised how much time it took up. Its like no having to plan days in advance has gave me some brain space. I had an awful day at work today and wasn't tempted to eat rubbish food. Didn't even enter my head.

Its certainly not for everyone and its recommended you speak to a doctor first and get their guidance. But I have definitely benefited from a mental perspective so far.

I also did a total meal replacement plan and it definitely made a lot of difference to my mindset around food.

Yes I have 2 biscuits every night. It keeps me happy during the day with this to look forward to. Previously I'd have had multiple treats every day. I now eat proper food all day, have a good breakfast, lunch and dinner. Lots of veg, but reduced greatly my intake of potatoes, rice and bread. I drink 2 litres of water most days and walk 5km each day. Using my fitness pal app I see if I can sometimes have an extra serve of something but generally I find I'm full enough.

Previously if I was home alone I'd have eaten so much junk each day, that no one would see - chips, crisps with my white bread sandwich, cakes and biscuits, sweets were always in my handbag or car, desk drawer would have bars of chocolate. I really am shocked now how I've taken it on board and realised I had 2 choices but really only had one choice if I wanted to live. 10kg more and I'll be happy - my bloods are back in the normal range and GPS happy with me.

I look back at my childhood and it's quite astonishing.
Our plates were 6", 8" and 10". No bigger. Now sizes are nearer 8" 10" and 12".

The US invented calorie control in the 60s, but the values are obtained from a bomb calorimeter ie a closed system.

My late dm made me go on a 1000cal/day diet when I was 15, as I weighed just over 10 stone. I'd just dropped from playing lacrosse 5 days a week to 4. Also, I was 4 inches taller than her, and my back was 2 inches broader. It was the start of a yo-yo syndrome.

Incidentally I knew the doctor who was the hospital half of the Howard Nutrition Foundation and he insisted that the only sugar the brain needs is about 1tsp first thing. He said low carb was the only way as has been shown by Prof Roy Taylor's work at Newcastle. Sadly, some 20 years after his death, his dept of obesity at a University hospital now does bypasses and sleeves all the time, and he was 200% against them.

Looking at the things we ate, we ate well. But, no central heating until I was 14. Ice on the inside in wintet, and the sitting room fire only lit at 4pm. We didn't have a car, either.

When many women leave home they start eating more - I did. I worked full time, did a 12 hour day at tech 1 day a week and did all the cooking. I felt I'd earned it. Before I married, I ate more than my mother, but less than my father regarding potatoes and cake, a slice of home-made cake being our standard pudding, but a 2-egg cake, whereas I make a 3 egg one and divide in 2.

I'm starting to round down to 25g not up to 30g for an ounce. Might work!

@Brissiegirl this sounds a very sensible and sustainable approach and would maybe help break the bingeing.

@LittleOverWhelmed I recognise lots of this, especially the big portions and pudding with everything. Everything you say is perfectlu right. It is under my control. That’s logical brain talking though, try me again at 3pm 🙈 Thanks for the vote of confidence though 😊

Absolutely. Just completed the Wildfit 90 day challenge. As a vegetarian, if anyone had told me 6 months ago I’d be actively choosing not to eat cheese/dairy every day I’d have laughed in your face. Amazed at how it changed 40+ years of food psychology for me.

I have recently lost two stone over three months by using the Noom app and taking up running again. I've never really followed a diet plan before or if I have I've given up after a few days out of sheer hunger so liked the idea of Noom because it's more about psychology and attitude rather than following a diet.

I wouldn't have been able to do it if I hadn't had that moment of clarity that made me say enough is enough you need to seriously lose weight. I had put on a stone over lockdown and was already a stone heavier than I should have been before that.

Noom just seemed to really work for me and has changed my food habits completely. I'm not using the app at the moment as I'm now just trying to maintain my weight and didn't want to pay for the app if I'm not using it but I've got my subscription suspended until Jan 1st next year so that I can undo any potential Xmas damage.

I think you could achieve similar result by logging your meals on a fit bit or other health app but I liked the psychology /mindfulness aspect of the daily interactive articles.

The weight watchers app is the only thing that has worked to change my relationship with food. It gives you flexibility whilst focusing on making healthy choices (not just centred around weight loss). I love it.