in not being able to stop eating, despite knowing I should lose weight

[Grinchywoo]

I am getting fatter by the day. My BMI is still in a healthy range, but i feel and look so lardy.

Despite this getting me seriously down, I can't stop eating shite! I actually dont know what to do (maybe joining to gym would be a start) The way I feel at the moment, I would rather be fat and happy.....but I am only 28 - I want to dress like my friends on nights out and feel good about it

stop buying shite then! it really, really is that simple.

if you are hungry, drink a pint of water... or eat something that has some good nutritional value..

i know the drill off by heart on this, but am in same position as you, just slightly older.
you are using food to fill the space that isnt being filled by something else. what you need to do is replace the food with something else that makes you feel the same way. often the gym does this because it makes you feel better ab out yourself and you dont need to eat so much. but if you dont enjoy the gym, then it will just be a futile excerciese
try the eat only what you can make from scratch diet. It will work fabulously well as long as you stay away from baking, and are not a fantasticly fabulous cook.

and put the myfitnesspal app on you pc or your phone.. it is a brilliant way to make you realise you do not need to eat so much

GRinchy, I'm with you,. It's a vicious circle, crap food means more tired means crave sugar....means feel tired means crave sugar.

My suggestion is to look at Paul McKenna, it's a way of eating as opposed to diet,. In fact I might read it tonight.

Because eating crap is addictive, it's easy tastes nice and usually very easy to grab.

I know that feeling. The bad food tastes soooo good and the good food is just meh.

Have done a million failed diets and the only times I've ever managed to lose weight is post-pregnancy. And that's not an option again!

This week I'm writing down everything I eat, hopefully having to own up to myself when I stuff myself with biscuits might make me a bit more controlled. Wish me luck!

Fat and happy is all very well, but are you actually happy as you are? For me when I'm stuffing food down myself without regard for the consequences, it's a pretty good sign that I'm not very happy.

I agree with the suggestions so far. Don't have snack food in the house, cut back on sugar, try some exercise (doesn't have to be the gym if you don't enjoy it, even getting out for a brisk walk every day is better than nothing).

same boat here.

for me it is down to boredom and lazyness. crap food is too easy to eat. open a packet of crisps and the peckishness is gone. it's expensive though. have you ever added up how much you spend on junk food? it's scary.

I know just how this feels .

It is hard, but if you take control of your eating habits now, you won't end up as far down the line as I am, needing to lose around 6 or 7 stone.

My weight crept up as I settled down, had bouts of depression, food seemed like my only comfort then.

I lose a stone then gain it back which is horrible- but I know it's because I haven't dealt with my past yet, and I haven't filled that void which Itry to fill with food.

Relying on ready made food tends to make me gain weight as well, so if you can, try cooking from scratch. I often find if it's something I've slaved over making, I don't feel as hungry for it somehow so I eat a bit less than I would if I'd bunged a pizza in the oven.

Funnily enough I like eating ice cubes so sometimes have a few in a glass instead of a snack! I still get that crunchy feeling, and feel like I've eaten something, but without all the calories.

Good luck.

one thing i have found that has helped is, rather than stop eating junk, i've given myself a specific time frame in which i can eat junk. i allow myself crisps and chocolate at the weekends but not duriing the week. it worls because i know tthis is better for me but i am not depriving myself of a treat totally.

Booy, I spend a bloody fortune on chocolate-our local shop is very expensive and it costs upwards of 75p for a normal sized chocoloate bar. This makes it seem better value when you buy the huge bar as it's not much more cost wise (much worse for the waistline though!)

Might be an idea to try and forgo the chocolate and put the money I would have spent on it into a jar- bet I would save loads even over a month or two.

Exercise burns calories. Doesn't have to be a full-on workout. Just a walk will do.

Don't buy unhealthy treats to keep at home. If you fancy a bar of chocolate when you're out, fine, treat yourself. But not having them at home means you can't be tempted late in the evening, etc.

Increase your protein to carb ratio. Proteins may have higher calorific values, but they keep you feeling full for longer and help you to burn the calories more effectively. I do NOT advocate cutting out carbs altogether as there is no need, but you DO need to balance it with protein and make sure that the carbs you ARE eating are mostly unrefined (e.g. brown bread, wholewheat pasta, brown rice) rather than refined which your body basically treats as sugar and creates a vicious circle of sugar craving.

Avoid fat-free products at all costs. They simply replace fat with sugar and recreate the sugar craving problem associated with refined carbs. Studies show that people who eat a lot of diet foods actually tend to GAIN weight longer term.

Buy a skipping rope. When you get a craving, do 10 jumps (and build up to as many as you can do). Cardiovascular exercise temporarily kills appetite and has the added benefit of being good for you.

Good luck. If you stick to this, you'll find it gets magically easier after the first few weeks once your body has kicked the sugar addiction.

Yes you are but so am I!
My downfall is chocolate, with a slightly lesser cheese problem. But mostly chocolate. I have managed to give up alcohol but the chocolate is the sticking point. and too little exercise. But I'm working on that - getting a group of like minded ladies together to play badminton :)

BTW - I took my own advice and did all that and lost 3/4 stone while still eating bars of chocolate and bags of crisps several times a week. I think it's a mistake to deprive yourself of everything you find enjoyable. Whereas if you make the small but long-term changes described above, you'll find your body wants the treats less often anyway but you can still have them when you really fancy them. What' not to like?

phish i caught myself on in september when i realised i was spening upwards of £20 a week on junk in the local shop. they have a minumim spend of £5 if you are paying by card and i never have cash so when i took a craving for crisps i would just grab a load of other junk to make it up to £5. i was doing this several times a week.

Yes I do that too! A couple of times a week. Need to knock it on the head now though, I've got better things to spend that money on.

Think the shops know they are onto a good thing with that minimum £5 spend.

You say you'd rather be fat and happy...but obviously you're not happy otherwise you wouldn't have started the thread.

It's easier to convince yourself you're happy and just carry on eating..than do something about it.

Once you've taken the step and lost some weight, I'm sure you really will be happy. It's worth doing

oh they totally know what they're doing with that £5 spend thing.

One of the best ways I found to satifsy a sugar craving... caramel snackajacks. They are brilliant and not too unhealthy.

Swap ice cream with frozen yoghurt, it is just as creamy and tastes just as good, but with a fraction of the fat content.

Have one of those Options hot chocolate drinks to curb a choc craving. They are only 40 calories.

The £5 minimum spend makes sense. Businesses get charged for customers who use their cards.

Draw money at the cashpoint rather than using a card in the shop, or buy something else to make up the difference. A magazine maybe...

I know some people do have bad eating habits because of psychological issues but I often am a bit when people say eating is to fill a void etc.

I eat a lot because I like food - I have no issues, am happy etc etc but I enjoy food that tastes nice, I have a big appetite - one of my favourite things to do is go out for a 3-course meal. I am not filling a void etc - I just like chocolate, cakes, cheese...Yes, I probably do have a sugar addiction but is this so bad?

As it is, because of this, I go to the gym 4 or 5 times a week in an attempt to stave off weight gain due to what I eat (not always successful as my weight is pretty stable at a size 14 at the moment).

Yes, I can diet (and I do try to regularly) but I find it boring, the food is bland and just does not taste as nice as stuff which is 'bad' for you.

No advice OP but I am the same but have accepted that is just the way I am.

squeaky i do buy stuff to make up the difference...more junk

there is a cashpoint but it charges you £1.50. that's £1.50 i could be spending on crap food.

i joke of course (maybe)

Avoid fat-free products at all costs. They simply replace fat with sugar and recreate the sugar craving problem associated with refined carbs. Studies show that people who eat a lot of diet foods actually tend to GAIN weight longer term.

This with bells on. And avoid aspartame too (in diet coke and other fizzy drinks & yoghurts amongst others). For exactly the same reason. Plus they do strange things to your brain if you are sensitive to them - give me nightterrors.

Oh I like food- but I know that my problem with it is using it a comforter and it is a psychological thing. It's not a case of just liking food a lot or having a big appetite.

Some people do just love food and overeat because of that, but not all.

I can see it may seem like an excuse when people use the term filling a void, but for some people it is the truth. It's the only way I had to escape from certain situations as a child and it's not a habit that dies easily.

Squeakytoy. Options contain aspartame I beleive. Not such a good thing...