To think I'll lose weight this way?

[MrsNextDoor]

I'm around a stone overweight. I'm pretty active...ride my bike on average 50 miles a week and also walk about ten.

My general diet is great...loads of salad, vegetable curries, soups, vegetables...bit of fruit....lean chicken once a week.

HOWEVER.

I also eat a large pack of Maltesers about once a week plus sometimes a large bar of Galaxy....so that's two days a week with a tonne of chocolate.

ALSO I often have one day per week when I'll sit and eat a 6 pack of Walkers crisps or a large, family bag of Sensations....some weeks I've done the 6 pack twice.

ALSO one visit to bakery a week for fat laden cheese pasty or cake.....and three sugars in my 6 cups of tea or coffee.

If I stop the crisps, chocolate, sugar and bakery...as I have done for the past week...will I lose weight and how soon?

Tell me if that amount of crappy food has been really affecting me.

[penguinplease]

That sounds like binge eating, do you know why you do it.
You will lose weight if you stop that, crisps in particular are really bad for dieting.
No one can tell you how fast but losing weight is 70% diet and 30% exercise

[Lagoonablue]

That's a lot of crap food. Yes stop eating it and you will lose weight. Use the My fitness pal app to plot your intake and calories used. ?ou can see where the problem is when it plots your food intake by group.

[Mrscog]

Yep, that lot adds up to about 3500 calories which is enough to lose about 1lb per week - I'd have thought you'll shift the weight pretty quickly - 8-12 weeks.

[HoneyDragon]

If you just switched the three sugars for half a teaspoon of Stevia, that would make a noticeable difference.

Sugar is my nemesis too I've never managed to give it up completely but did cut down a lot.

[MrsNextDoor]

Penguin I used to be anorexic and then bulimic. I've never really managed to get a healthy handle on it all.

[Branleuse]

Yes, id have thought it would either make you lose some weight or it would stop you gaining and stop such a massive assault on your blood sugar so regularly

[HermioneWeasley]

You don't even need to cut them out, just to cut down.

As someone else has said, that sounds like binge eating. Are you really tasting and enjoying the last maltesers in the bag as much as the first?

Do you know why you do this on certain days - hunger, stress, boredom, habit?

[MrsNextDoor]

Thanks everyone. It was hard after I got over the eating disorders to TRULY get over them iyswim.

[BlueberryWafer]

Cutting out 70% of that junk food will probably make you lose weight, but will definitely improve your health which is surely more important.

[MrsNextDoor]

Hermione no....I don't enjoy the last ones....nor the 5 extra bags of crisps...I don't know what triggers these days.

[microferret]

OP, that does sound like binge eating. If you want to stop it the best way is to buy a book on cognitive behavioural therapy for eating disorders and then see a therapist specialising in CBT. It worked for me - I swung between anorexia, bulimia and compulsive eating for 10 years but I now eat normally and am a healthy weight.

I am happy to offer further advice or help if it is needed.

[MrsNextDoor]

Blueberry yes....my Mum has just been Dxd with Diabetes...that worried me and galvanised me.

[MrsNextDoor]

Ferret I've managed a whole week with no sugar and no crisps or choc. I feel confident I can do it....

[microferret]

To answer your original question, yes, if you can cut out this behaviour you'll almost certainly lose weight - although it may be slow. However slow weight loss is nearly always more meaningful and long-lasting, so have patience.

MrsNextDoor, have you tried CBT for your problems?

[MrsNextDoor]

No Ferret....I've just used my mind...and talking to DH about it all....I've upped my cycling and tried to get more active with my crafts which in the past have been a good way to keep happy...it's worked for a week now...

[BellMcEnd]

Wow. Well done!

[MrsNextDoor]

thank you Bell I think it's odd to face up to it all and see my binging as a hangback from the dark old days of my eating disorders.

[microferret]

CBT was a revelation for me. I never thought I would be well but it changed everything. I can eat anything I like without being triggered. I think you would do well to buy a good cbt book on amazon and then see if you can find a good therapist either with the nhs or privately. What you have can be cured, permanently, and it is a real illness, so don't struggle alone.

Eating disorders are quite simple, although they seem unfathomable. Once you understand exactly how they work, and why you are engaging in such seemingly self-destructive behaviour, the spell is broken. With a little practice the thought processes which lead one to binge and starve can be reset. I remember the first time I resisted the impulse to binge, and it was an incredible feeling to know that it could be done. I really do urge anyone who has this problem to tackle it at the root with professional help, you will be glad that you did.

[microferret]

Mrs - but also well done, and keep it up, I didn't mean to suggest your efforts were not meaningful, they most certainly are! I just read into what you said about not feeling completely free.

[MrsTedCrilly]

Yes you will definitely lose if you cut the junk, the rest of your diet sounds super healthy! I'm losing weight quickly by eating what you're having (meal wise) as it's very light on carbs.. Also the exercise you're doing is fantastic. I'm a binger too so I know what it's like! We know it's bad for us, but have it anyway.. The only way I can achieve my goal is to cut out the rubbish completely and have healthy snacks instead. Going cold turkey means it is out of your life and you don't need to think about it. Good luck!