Comfort eating help

[justab0utsurviving]

Bit of background - whole life a size 10/12 . Went up to 14/16 during pregnancy/post natal. Got back down to size 10/12. I am usually pretty good and doing physical exercise and I understand portion control and healthy eating having stayed slim and healthy for the vast majority of my adult life. Was also in the military for 11 years so was always doing exercise.

But at the moment, I just can't seem my stop my self eating crap. I know why - husband just deployed for 6 months and I have a very full time stressful job although I can do it from home. 2 kids infant school age. Kids have a spot in school as husband is a critical worker (yes I know I am not but honesty I wouldn't survive if they were home with no respite)

I need to snap out of this depressive fog I am in at the moment and stop eating crap, stop buying crap etc. My weight has slowly crept up over the last year and now I am def at least a stone over weight. I know once I see a downward shift on the scales I will really get into a healthy eating regime but I need something t kickstart me.

I was back on track before Xmas and had lost 5 lbs over a few weeks but I am just on a downsward slope with my inability to get a grip on my current eating habits.

So first, someone give me a slap round the face to snap me out of it and second can anyone recommend something to kickstart my diet - I know they are not long term solutions but something simple and easy that I can do for a few weeks to get me back on track.

Firstly be kind to yourself. No slapping here dude. We are in exceptional times and need to be gentle not beat ourselves up.

Secondly (and I'm sure I'll be disagreed with) how do you feel about low carb? When I am I comfort eating mode I want carbs - stodge, sugar, beige. I struggle to moderate.

If I low carb, after the first shitey couple of days that craving really goes and I find it much easier to make better choices.

I personally don't advocate proper low carb but a couple of weeks of reasonably strict where I have basically protein and veg then increasing them to one portion a day. So I'll have low carb breakfast if I eat it, and lunch then a portion of rice or noodles or something, ideally brown ones with dinner.

I find this basically kick starts weight lose and restricts the comfort eating quite a lot.

Thank you. I have been thinking the same. I might try Atkins for a few weeks to get me started.

I’m not going to slap you around the face. Comfort eating, especially at the moment and in your situation, is a totally natural and common reaction. You’re not taking drugs or drinking to excess, you’re using food, which is one of the least harmful substances to ‘abuse yourself’ with and at least has very little impact on anyone else. So stop beating yourself up for a start. Stress makes you want to eat more, and telling yourself you shouldn’t be eating is causing you more stress!

I’ve just started intermittent fasting and I’m finding that really helps with my evening comfort binges! Knowing I have to stop eating at eg 8pm means that after this time I can have a herbal tea etc but no food until tomorrow lunchtime. However, I know that tomorrow lunchtime I can have whatever I fancy. No rules or restrictions, just being sensible, stopping when I’m full and not eating any differently to how I normally would at that time of day. I then have dinner about 6pm, maybe a snack later and then another 16 hours with nothing. It’s easier than it sounds as you’re asleep for half of it. And the rest of the time your blood sugar levels are stable because you’re not snacking all the time, so you don’t really feel hungry.

Don’t know if I’ve lost anything yet - only done it for a few days, but it’s one of the very few diets or ways of eating I’ve tried that doesn’t make me want to shoot myself already

Buy some gum and low calorie snacks like carrot sticks, diet fizzy drinks, rice cakes and fruit. This helps me when I want to mindlessly snack! GL

Sorry to start with i am male...i have been overweight many years ago..did not last long...i got into a habit of coffee during the day and normally a big dinner around six...done that for most of my life...very hard worker self employed most of the time...you want a slap...lets face it comfort eating must be dumped...alcohol,gambling,drugs,shop lifting,sex,social media...etc etc,,,any of thease you are classified as an addict..so its not comfort eating you are a food addict...there are people who have a large frame,heavy bones,glandular disorder,muscle bulk...if you are none of those then you are carrying useless FAT...its a drain on you,your family,national health and often unnoticed your business or employer...so cut the excuses...fat is fat...get moving,eat less and the only proven dietry help needed that actually works is chewing gum...look it up and dont give up...most life changes come from within...kick your own ass...good health to you