Really struggling with eating too much! Addictive perosnality

[Itshotoday]

I posted on the diet forum too.

Is anyone else struggling? I’m working from home for most of the week and work continues. Stress of the commute And drop off to childminder etc has been removed Which is fantastic. I still am working though (thankful for having a job) and sometimes my job is still stressful and full on. I have just lost all willpower. I usually wouldn’t keep chocolate etc in the house by my husband is working full time from home and likes lots of the stuff I overeat on. It’s not his fault he didn’t buy it all for me! Yet I’m diving into the sugar and carbs by 10 am.

It doesn’t matter if I have eggs for breakfast or porridge this isn’t a hunger thing Or to do with the nutritional Quality of my meals. I’m just turning to food. I don’t have any willpower.

I’m have tried various strategies but have to say I’ve even been tempted to drink earlier in the day - which I’m avoiding as sort of think overeating. I never used to eat milk chocolate or biscuits as I found they only ever used to make me want more and weren’t satisfying - I would eat bread, dark choc etc. Now all I want is carbs and would eat a packet given the chance! I don’t want one, I want the lot.

Anyone else really struggling when it comes to food?

This isn’t meant to be a moan as generally everything else is good. Apart from my terrible willpower.

Also using food as a crutch/comfort/delaying tactic. Pretty sure I’ve gained a stone & a half since lockdown.

Mostly in cheese, wine & biscuits 😖

Ah - tiger bread. I could polish that off.

Dinomum - I feel your pain.

I have to say carbs do cheer up in the moment it’s not like I’m thinking this is so awful * imagines high when scoffing. There just isn’t much of a stop button.

Ok let’s do it - quit the sugar and see what happens by sugar my skimmed milk too

It’s just too easy to give in and give up isn’t it

I have the same personality OP, and came off bread due to my slather on butter, eat, pick up another slice, problem. It was bloody hard. I get up in the morning and drink water and eat an apple before an egg or something non carb (I don't fully cut out carbs though). For some reason that seems to trick my body into binging on healthy food. I make sure we're crammed with fruit, seeds, yoghurts. I freeze yoghurts so they take longer and freeze grapes too. At the weekend I go for broke and eat unhealthy but I don't feel too bad cos I feel I've earned it. Then Monday morning I push myself back into it all. People say a diet is no way to live but actually once I'm over the first half of Monday I love the feeling of not feeling bleurgh and guilty! This probably isn't what you wanted but just in case it helps.

Yes, it works for me. I've done it longer term, to lose significant amounts of weight, but also for shorter periods when I've needed to reset after a blip. Like I had Easter Sunday and my birthday in the same week, and just ate whatever, whenever, so the week after I had 2/3 days of strict low carb, and got back into a better pattern again. The stricter you can be, ironically, the easier it is to stick to. When you start allowing yourself little bits, it very soon spirals back into carb frenzy again.

And like others have said, I feel SO much better when I'm not on carbs. I sleep better, my mood is better, I have more energy. Carbs give an instant rush (which is why they're great in an emergency) but they also give you an awful slump.

OP I’m like you. The only thing that works for me is low carb but you need to be proper low carb - a few mouthfuls of high carb/sugar will change a weekly weight loss to a weight gain because if you don’t keep in Ketosis ( fat burning) you are effectively on a high fat high calorie diet. It’s not like WW/SW/ calorie controlled diets where if you “cheat” one day you can make up the next. Low carb doesn’t work like that.

For me it works because I love cheese eggs cream meat and fruit gives me terrible heartburn so I don’t eat a lot. On low carb, I use grated cauliflower for rice aNd shredded blanched cabbage for pasta. But I love both of these anyway so it’s not a chore. I find after about 4 days my appetite goes (body stops craving carbs) and I’ve got to remind myself to eat!!

couple of things to try ..

(i) Drink 300-500 ml of water before you eat .. 10 mins before is fine.
(ii) Stick with the porridge for breakfast (after the water)
(iii) Gym's being closed does make it more difficult - but I really would encourage an outdoor jog .. get the fresh air in your lungs, get the wind in your face - it doesn't have to be far or fast - instead concentrate on your form - foot placement - foot strike - take different routes - listen to music or a podcast..
(iv) if (iii) is really a no go then go for a walk/ power walk instead - kinder on the joints and good for the head and body.
(v) Allow yourself to snack - just switch to carrot sticks/ apple sticks/ etc .. it will still fill and do you the world of good too..

Part of the breaking of the cycle is to avoid what you know isn't doing you any good - and you have already identified that there is an issue - that's the best start there can be ..

I try and avoid what I would consider bad carbs .. and at first I wasn't keen - these included many foods that I thought I liked - the reality was, these were just foods I was used to ...

I decided to ditch White bread (in fact most bread TBH), rice, pasta, potatoes and breakfast cereals (all of them apart from weetabix, all bran and bran flakes)..

I also dropped beef and pork ( to a large degree at least)

Instead I cook with Quinoa, lentils, tomatoes, peppers, mushrooms, White fish, Salmon, chicken, nuts, any and all veg .. I make sauces with yogurts and not butter/ cream etc ...

... oops got carried away a bit/ wasn't meant to read like a sermon!

anyways give a few of the above a try and see how it works out!

What I should’ve mentioned is a lot of low carbers do intermittent fasting. I do 16:8 most days. If I were very tired or due on then I might feel I need breakfast. 95% of the time I don’t eat until lunch.

I find it easy to not eat til lunch now.
I give myself goals like doing some exercise, sticking the laundry on, having a shower, having a black coffee and doing some work.
Before I know it, it’s 1pm. Sometimes I’m in the middle of something and i forget that it’s time to eat.
Never before had I ever forgotten to eat. I used to be amazed when people would say they forgot to eat. Like, how does that happen? Now I know

I’m also a lover of bread. Fresh crusty bread with cheese is something that I could live off and not get bored.

Start the day with a three egg cheese and spinach omelet cooked in butter. Then come and tell us how you feel.

OP, you are not alone!

I'm having a comparatively easy lockdown compared to many. But I'm making it harder for myself.

I started out by eating much less sugar, but over the last 2 weeks it has gradually crept in (a little taste of a pudding made for the kids, an ice cream because we deserve a treat) resulting in a full blown sugar binge yesterday.

And I feel physically and mentally awful today.

In desperation I've just started reading a Kindle book "The Compassionate Mind Approach to Beating Overeating".

I have no advice, but I know your pain.

Ah thank you for all the supportive messages.

Rosey peas so sorry to hear your struggling too. I remember years ago breastfeeding and having a very sick baby, I didn’t go out much and ate a lot then too.

Yes today I failed again. Yesterday I thought everyone was right I got to midday having fasted then had a lovely curry without carbs just loads of broccoli. I felt awesome but perhaps ate a bit too early as was woken at 5:30 (not by choice) and a child appeared in my bed during the night, by 7 am thought I’ll just have one almond butter sandwich and coffee using up the skimmed milk. Down hill since then before starting work. I was dreading working just didn’t feel I could fire on all cylinders today. Husband (yes let’s blame him) brought back a French loaf. I didn’t achieve much at work as absolutely sluggish and craving carbs all day - failed.

It’s disheartening as I’m now feeling I failed. It’s silly I’m probably just v v tired. I think they were shocked at my rubbishness at work too!

Ah well had a moan. Now need to heed the advice again. Rosey I’m finding impossible with lots of high carbs in the house (maybe make them less accessible?). I find if there’s food in front of me I eat it. Many centuries ago at uni I was like a rake because there was no food in front of me I was broke and so I didn’t eat so much - simples.

Take care and stay safe all. Thanks again going to read through all posts again.

"Just have one" doesn't work. When you've had one, the carbs will make it so much harder to stop. You'll have one biscuit, and before you know it you've eaten the whole packet.

Two days, no carbs. Concentrate on it. Learn to be hungry and not immediately reach for food. It's not long, and at the end of it, the cravings won't be there.

@Itshotoday
You were probably better at work than you think. Or maybe people were just thinking "maybe Itshotoday is coming down with covid"

I am starting again today. Not eaten yet but have had coffee with a tiny splash of skimmed milk and sweetener.

Yes, you're right about making it less accessible - I read something yesterday that said something like "Leave the struggle at the store" and that really resonated with me. If I don't buy it, I can't eat it.

But when I'm buying it, I tell myself it's for the kids! I have eaten and replaced their treats many times. Need to get them to store treats in their bedrooms!

In the weeks before lockdown, as fun things began to be cancelled - parties, holiday, clubs - I started cooking more exciting evening meals with desserts. So the evening meal became "entertainment".

Several weeks later I am sick of cooking and we've lived on oven chips, pizzas etc. All carb based. I have eaten far fewer veg and I daren't weigh myself.

But today is a new start and I'm doing ok so far.
Will check in here later, once I've had healthy lunch including veg!

I know it's possible, I've done it before and I feel so good on lower sugar/ carb.
Stay safe everyone.

Well I have done pretty well today - no sugar!
Have had small portions of healthy carbs and ignored everyone else's food. Really pleased with myself.

Hope things are going well for everyone else.

Hi Roseypeas, well done. I had naturally avoided sugar for years and it has sneaked back in over the past 12 months. I didn’t want to be that one at work that avoided the cake.

Turns out now I’m a Cake monster I don’t even like it that much it just seems a great option when stressed and bored. Is it just me, or in the moment sugar gives one a bit of a rush, a high. I actually feel in a really good mood immediately and straight after a great load of sugar. Maybe I should turn to him instead 😀 I love your “leave your struggle at the store”. It’s not just sugar though, the other day at 3pm I was digging into peanut butter...... I’m an animal

Fantastic, well done you. How did you manage to avoid the lure of sweeties??

One step at a time. I actually wonder how many sweet treats we really need for our kids - especially when I end up scoffing them.

So interesting about evening meal that’s exactly what we did. It was exciting and I really started to look forward to meals. It was also lovely to have the whole family together. It became Too much. Of a focus though. It’s sort of an obsession now. The children need to eat regularly ofcourse but if I’m not careful I can spent all my free time in the kitchen. I was thinking of getting some cook meals (extravagance, I know). To just take away thinking about meals all the time. I love cooking but breakfast lunch and dinner for the whole house, and snacks + work + dealing with shopping stress during covid it’s becoming a bit of an all consuming (see what I did there!) task.

My hubby does not overeat (beer is the nemesis for him) but he loves to have bread, sugary cereals, biscuits all things I will naughtily steal (I told you, I like blaming him). He just has a stop button he will say wow I’m full ... whereas after cake etc I’m thinking “I want more”. This must be partly psychological as this desire has been much worse during lockdown.

Ah well today is a new day. Although trying to avoid carbs I’ve had some skinny milk in a coffee - I have to adjust to fulller fat as I’ve never liked the taste.

Trying to think of indulgent meals that will satisfy me as much as bread... that are quick and easy at lunch time (?)

My worst time is 3pm every day this is the point I feel exhausted and my mood is low so I will watch for that one.

Bridget yep for some reason during lockdown I don’t “just do one” it’s weird I seem to have lost the satiety factor.

How are others getting on? Also just to say thanks to everyone such a supportive thread.

@Itshotoday I am having skimmed milk and sweetener in coffee. Helps with my sugar cravings. I'm doing it in stages - I'll have to stop the sweetener at some point but it's helping at the mo.

I had a large bowl of veg soup and a boiled egg for lunch yesterday. Not exactly indulgent!!

Are you my twin?- I bought a couple of meals from Cook last week! I was also spending all my free time in the kitchen, or looking up recipes. I even made our mincemeat for Xmas!!
Our whole family could do with a break with food/evening meal obsession. But what to replace it with? We don't all have same hobbies or watch the same TV, so the evening meal has been a lovely family time.

I'm thinking that I could put a bowl of salad out at every meal, alongside the main course - even if no one else eats it.

Hope everyone else is doing well.

Mincemeat blimey you definitely won the most organised award. How funny you got cook meals too. How did you do today? I think putting a plate of salad on the table is great either way - it’s healthy for everyone. It’s a win win.

I Can understand a small amount of skimmed milk at breakfast. I’m going to try skipping again as it led to me feeling more sleepy this am.

I find Monday’s hard (as I do Tuesdays Wednesday Thursday Fridays sat and Sunday 🤔) with eating. Monday is always a challenge if I’m honest. I don’t know about you but I love, I mean love being with kids but I’m trying to work and really sweetly They’re doing work and showing me it but I’m finding it challenging focusing with distractions.

So today, I knew the risk yet was cramming cereal by the afternoon. Crunch nut cornflakes. Damn them.

I’m actually worse than I’ve ever been for carb cravings and indulging these but I’m so tired, have a lot of work to do and usually not so accessible and I don’t have to think about food so much when I’m working. Hubby has breakfast and lunch at work , kids at school for lunch now I have to think about it for everyone whether i feel like it or not.

I think this might all be due to bad sleep!

What a wally. Hope you and all mums-netters are feeling more together and with it than me today!

Well I've had a couple of hard day's without sugar - exhausted, could barely concentrate on anything.

Hoping I'm out the other side now - I remember reading somewhere that day 4 is the hardest and today is day 5.

I keep telling myself that life is easier without sugar! I know that I feel calmer without it. And ultimately it's healthier for my family.

I've created the idea that mummy shows love for everyone by making interesting meals. Which I need to change to mummy.shows love by preparing extra veg.

My sleep is also dreadful.- not had more than 6 hours a night for about 3 months now. For now I'm focusing on sugar, but I'll be cutting down on caffeine next, in the hope that I can wind down before 2am

I have also had a peanut butter moment!! But it was low sugar, so not too bad.

Hope you're doing ok today - I'm feeling more positive than I have in several weeks, and that's partly due to reading this thread giving me the nudge to change

I'm still here, posting for.accountability.

Stayed off sugar again today - day 5 completed. Had a few moments but managed.it.

Feels pretty pleased. Really need to find alternatives for carb based meals.

Day 6 and feeling grumpy, tearful and angry.

Only a few hours of day 6 left to go.

Well done Rosey. Have u tried the Low carb bootcamp on here?
Are you due on ref the mood?

Rosey peas - it sounds like you have been doing really well! You said your sleep wasn’t great. I know with me, if I’ve not been sleeping well it’s not always the next day that I feel it. I wonder if you’re currently exhausted post sugar high and well frankly if I cut out the caffeine too I would be feeling awful.

Have you taken out all bread / pasta? So sorry not to have responded sooner. Hope you’re ok today. X

Hi gus, can I join? 3 stone overweight, staring LC tomorrow with a big fat omelette