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

deffo a relationship with food thing isn't it.

then you get me, who puts on the weight, and sibling who doesn't.

dd has treats, but is skinny. at her age i started to get very plump.

see I KNOW i should drink more water, to lose water, i need reprogramming.

piratecat things haven't changed much really

People tend now to give their kids snacks to keep them 'occupied' when shopping, on a journey or anywhere they want them to behave

Squeaky that myfitness thing looks great...I've just found a link for anyone that wants it.

www.myfitnesspal.com/welcome/learn_more

I still skip breakfast.. I just do not feel hungry in a morning unless I am on holiday and have a buffet in front of me

I often dont feel like eating most of the day but I force myself to have something. I buy packs of ham, turkey etc.. and will much on that. Where previously I would munch on cheese, toast, etc.

Those belvita biscuits are also brilliant if you have a craving for a biscuit rather than breakfast, and I do like those.

I agree with the water too. That was another of my bad habits. I rarely get thirsty.. I will have a coffee when I get up, and can easily go till evening then without another drink.

I line up half a dozen 500ml bottles of water and work my way through those every hour now.

thats one every hour... not all 6 at once!

this thread is helping me realise to realise iyswim!!

I normally put on a few lbs after xmas. not at xmas but the dark months afterwards. by june it seems to have come off naturally.

not this year tho, I wonder why? I can honestly say my eating habits haven't changed. is it age (mumbles 42). I asked my mum (prob the wrong person) and she reckoned it does this with age.

I think having it indoctrinated into you (if you did like I did) when young that you need to finish everything on the plate is a terrible lesson for a child, as it's something you have to "unlearn" as you become an adult.

The children should be taught how to eat until full then stop!

I have found this book very helpful:
Why Can't I Stop Eating
Debbie Danowski & Pedro Lazaro
ISBN 1-56838-365-7

time for another read

I am overweight, not medically apparently, but more than I've ever been without bf or being pg. Funny thing is before dcs I was underweight, a lot. A size 4 and sometimes a 6. So I've always had a poor relationship with food, never eaten because I'm hungry it's always whether I fancy it or not!!

I'm with you on thye thrirst squeaky.....

In my 20's my weight regularly yo yoed but no amount of knowing what I sould eat made a blind bit of difference. I honestly think if you want to eat eat then deal with the consequences you will get fat so do more exercise then eat less. In my 30's I settled down and just run and dont over eat now. Dieting is waste of time though.

Your BMI is still within the healthy range. I think that's something you need to celebrate - you do not look to others as you feel you look yourself. Perhaps you need to get a grip and not let it go up any further (try cutting out, eg, bread and pasta). You are 28, your weight is healthy, you probably look gorgeous to everyone else. (I'm 51, just over BMI and struggle to keep it where it is and would love to be in your shoes). At 28 I can remember thinking I was unattractive and wanted to be thinner too - looking back I was nuts. Be confident, celebrate and enjoy yourself.

Plan your meals, shop online and start cutting out the majority of shit first. Nobody gets fat by eating a bar of chocolate on a Friday afternoon - its eating one every afternoon that piles the weight on. So plan your meals and snacks for a week and see if you can stick to it. Dont go for low fat / diet options - go for sensible, filling meals. That would be a good starting point.

Here, here marriedinwhite.

If your BMI is healthy, I would try to not think of 'dieting' but try to get in the habit of eating more healthily. Don't buy crap (ie biscuits, crisps etc) as part of your weekly shop or you will just nibble them when you're poking around looking for something at night.

Buy wholemeal/wholewheat versions of everything possible - ie bread, pasta, rice. It fills you up for longer. Buy skimmed milk. Use frylite instead of pouring in the oil when you fry things. Have porridge (with skimmed mil) for breakfast - it fills you up loads longer than cereal.

Little things like that make loads of difference.

If your main problem is eating shite, then stop buying shite.

Go shopping when you're not hungry in the slightest.
Have a list.
Stick to the list.

Personally, if there's shite in the cupboards I crave it, and eat it.

If there isn't, I don't even think about it.

I have lost nearly 3 stones since May. I agree with Squeakytoy, you have to stop thinking of 'going on a diet' to lose weight. Instead try thinking of 'improving your diet' to give your body what it needs.
As someone else mentioned upthread, I have tried to increase my protein [not that easy as I am vegetarian] and decrease my carbs. Personally I wouldn't try anything as extreme as the Atkins diet. To me it is just finding the food that you like and preparing it in the healthiest way.
eg, I use a non stick frying pan and spray oil for cooking. That way I can stir fry , cook omelettes and so on.
Also, experiment with herbs, spices and different flavourings. I used to use the low cal salad dressings and mayonaisse, now I prefer lemon juice.
Most importantly, find a form of exercise that you enjoy doing. I recently restarted swimming and I absolutely love it. I love the buzz of improving my performance. I love the way my body is getting fitter and stronger, that is what motivates me to carry on.
That is a million times better than eating a packet of crisps [and I was a major crisp lover].
Best of luck OP. You can do it. You just have to allow yourself a chance to get used to it.

Low calorie food really doesn't have to be bland or boring. I cook a lot of homemade curries that come in at around 200-250 calories per portion and are anything but bland. I've got a curry book and cook the non cream based recipes using frylight instead of the recommended oil slick. If you're just eating plain steamed fish and vegetables then you're going to get bored and feel deprived pretty quickly but if you add in some herbs and spices it can be delicious with barely any extra calories

ThingsThatGoFlumpInTheNight I am definitely lardy - I am 11st 9 and 5ft 9, I am not toned in the slightest and I have a wobble stretchmarked belly that looks like a wet sponge and thighs to match

eurgh, I hate my body

I've lost weight recently (one stone 3 lbs) by not stocking any rubbish food in the house. I might have the odd treat when I'm out but that might be twice a week these days. I avoid sugar though as I was previously existing on the sugar highs. In the evenings I reach for fruit and am trying to drink more water. It's quite nice to feel less interested in food. Zumba is great for burning calories by the way. Great fun too.

The way I kept myself motivated was to get a pair of jeans just one size smaller than my size.. so that was a 16, back in March.. I bought them at the charity shop as I didnt want to be wearing them too long.. Once I got into them, I bought a size 14... that took another month... and I can now get a size 10 over my (considerably smaller) backside.. and I can fasten them, just about. I am not in a huge rush to get into them though.. so long as the 12 keeps fitting me ok, I am happy. Not losing weight now doesnt bother me, I just dont want to pile it back on.

The feeling I get from just being able to go into a shop, pick up a size 12, and fasten the waistband is bloody brilliant. I havent been able to do that since my late teens... (coincidently the time I discovered a liking for lager, takeaways, and got a job which involved sitting at a desk or in a car for 12 hours a day or more)...

Wow, squeaky that's amazing you must be super proud.

I have many similarities to you. same age etc. Athough I am over weight basically from over eating/eating crap for 1 and 1/2 years.

Last week I joined slimming world and this tuesday was my first weigh in, i lost 6 1/2 pound in one week. This week I feel proud, have more will power and can feel my confidence creepy back. I walked 6 miles last week, i dont do exercise normally but I feel great and positive im changing for the better!

I have been wanting to stop but had a hundred and one excuses why i liked eating crap all the time. The only advice I can give (and being 3 stone overweight I'm in no position to give advice, is..) just do it, you can and you will feel better for it.