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.

Constant snacker here, so much so my mouth is sore! At least when I was at work I Could limit my snacking to break times now my days are one long snack fest!
Also addictive personality so when I like something I constantly crave it, I have a terrible sweet tooth and have hidden a secret stash in my laundry(kids never look there!) But hey it’s lockdown, got to find joy where I can!!!
To try and curb over eating I find having a tea or coffee helps

I think the restless leg thing can be due to vitamin deficiencies so if you stick with low carb and keep eating a variety of good veg and dairy, you might find it goes away. You can get most of what you need from dark green leafy veg like spinach and kale, Savoy cabbage etc and they’re all delicious sautéed with butter, garlic etc

Well done for giving the LC a go. I was sceptical as I’ve always found it hard to stick to, but having started on 20th May I’m now one pound away from a stone loss!! In a week and a half!!

Keep at it

I used one of those diet trackers when I needed to shift a few lbs. It becomes like a game - I’d end up thinking ‘am I hungry or just wanting to eat something?’. I found boiled eggs (the white only) was a good little protein boost.

I also tried those diet drinks but they made me feel bloated l.

The restless legs/cramps are due to electrolyte changes I believe.
If I remember correctly for each carb you retain 3 of water. When you stop eating carbs you loose that water which initially caused an imbalance in your electrolytes (this is what keto flu is).
You can buy electrolyte sachets which you drink but I just used a chicken oxo cube and drank it. Another good thing for electrolytes is bone broth but I've never tried it.
The insomnia is usually temporary as your body is adjusting to where it gets it fuel source from.

Addictive Personality isn't a thing.

It's a convenient excuse for people who struggle with willpower.

Yeah whatever I struggle with willpower 😉for certain food for sure. I suppose what we mean is I personally would rather not have a slice of cake as for some reason when I have some I want more, that craving wasn’t there prior to eating it. I don’t get this with Thai sea bass one my my favourite foods. I also found it hard to give up smoking and don’t drink as find it hard to stop.

However, to stand up for myself a little. I have studied, ran a marathon and sustained a reasonably ok career getting up at 5 am daily.... admittedly pre-child. So would argue not at a loss with willpower in other areas of my life.

Rosey - I’m sorry to hear you get this too, are you sure we’re not related or living parallel lives!

... covering my legs in vicks - in all seriousness when I’ve actually got that feeling I’ll do anything to stop it’s horrible and it makes me feel agitated - isn’t that bizarre!

I also read salts and calcium can help. Also read it can be a sign of anaemia

Markruffalo nearly a stone in 10 days wowsa.

Are you sleeping ok? What’s the mood like?

Thanks for the inspiration after reading your post I had avocado wrapped in turkey for lunch! It was a whole Large avocado so not sure I’ll be having weight loss But felt virtuous didn’t have the fresh baked bread rolls hubby brought home.

Lord front paw sounds like you found something that worked for you. I agree making it a bit of a game challenge is an idea. My husband tracks his weight using our WiFi scales and loves all the graphs and data it produces.

Girlintheframe thanks, I actually found some electrolyte tablets I had at home - yes really randomly. I am prone to leg cramps and this had been suggested before so I tried one today. I did notice it said zero sugar but had sweeteners

Saying your personality traits lend you towards not being able to resist excessive consumption of things just isn't correct.

Search online for "is addictive personality a real thing" it has well and truly been debunked by the scientific/healthcare community.

It's hard not having the second slice of cake/square of chocolate. Telling yourself that it's somehow more difficult for you than anyone else isn't the case and I think means you're less likely to try because you're buying into the idea that it's in part beyond your control.

So much poor diet stems simply from bad habits, I've previously developed a bad habit of snacking on crisps/nuts/biscuits in the evening and it is hard to break that habit but me starting the habit and toiling with kicking it has nothing to do with any personality traits I may have.

I agree and respectfully also disagree - curious for your thoughts on the paper below. Absolutely it’s not like heroin or cocaine addiction. Is it? I think binge eating has an addiction like component, I can Resonate with this. Perhaps personality is incorrect terminology maybe you’re right maybe it’s just a bad habit and of course every action we take we are ultimately responsible for and can’t absolve this by saying “that’s Just my personality” but I do think it helps, because For me personally it can make me feel more prepared. For me that’s helpful thinking, before I buy something or go to a party (latter not likely for a while!) to think I’ll find this a challenge how am I going to manage it. -“actually finding I don’t seem to do moderation with certain foods yet can with others...Turning to this support thread when I felt a bit crazy with food has been great but however you define it’s a compulsive urge.

I am aware of the literature surrounding it. I’m not trying to be awkward or justify something - I agree we take responsibility and own it for any action we take. I liken it, perhaps naively, to a Labrador and I see it with kids, some just love their food others you have to coax them into eating. Of course why each of us eats is individual. I can relate to snacking on too much but this can be different to going wild crazy for more of something because your brain is having some kind of frenzy!

What do you think of this though...

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30188514/

I’m genuinely interested in different points of view. I have seen a acquaintance go through Heroin, to alcohol, to food then exercise. Compulsive Personality.

For me ... thinking I don’t find it easy around cakes biscuits and bread whereby my husband can take it or leave it and cannot understand why I would eat these foods beyond hunger - Logically makes no sense to me! I find that hard to stop feeling worsen when tired, very stressed at work or have pmt. So is that habit?

I see your point though, telling yourself it’s just me takes away control, that’s not how I feel I thinks it’s realising your vulnerability and accommodating that rather than beating yourself up. Does that make sense? Probably not! I was once told I write too much... (rubbish?)

Sorry some of they doesn’t make sense - I try and type on my phone. I hopefully get what I’m saying.

I’m definitely finding it easier just saying “no” to coin a phrase to the cakes and biscuits

I am like you in that I can endlessly end! In the last weeks I have made some progress by eating as much as I like for lunch and dinner but nothing else in between, especially nothing sugary as that I find impossible to stop.

I am eating lots of lentils and chickpeas in curries, soups and hummus which I find filling, and also rice and pasta and bread but only as a side. I've tried low carbing but it doesn't seem to work long term for me.

I am not following it very strictly with "time off" every few days
(sometimes planned, sometimes by binge accident...) but still slowly losing weight.

@Itshotoday I definitely believe that having an addictive personality is a real issue. I've been in AA for many years and plenty of people there would cite food as their primary addiction - several friends are in OA as well, have been or still are anorexic, bulimic, compulsive eaters or exercise fanatics. And yes, might be in CA, NA or GA too. Cross addiction and sometimes leaving one behind means that they lean more heavily on another.

I don't have huge food issues but I know my weaknesses and find it simpler not to have, for example, chocolate biscuits in the house. I don't have alcohol either - not because I crave it; it's just easier not to have to think about it at all. Luckily I only live with my daughter so it's easy. I do understand the absolute compulsion that says "I've had one and I want more" and I do believe that's an addiction and not a lack of will power.