Feeling hopeless

[Cherryblossomtree2]

Hi,

I feel completely hopeless and wondered if I could please ask for some advice. I am really struggling with my weight. 5 ft 4 and I weigh 13 stone. A few years ago I lost weight and got down to 10 stone but it has piled back on. I’m so ashamed of myself. I restrict myself from certain foods and then end up binge eating and feeling really guilty afterwards. Stuck in a very vicious cycle with it. Please if any one has some advice that would be appreciated. I think it’s emotional eating because I am a lone parent, currently isolated since moving house and feeling lonely.

I should add my weight has always been up and down. My lowest weight I think was 8 stone about 5 years ago. I feel so drained.

I completely understand where you're coming from. I recently signed up to WW and its working for me for now. You have to be in the right frame of mind though otherwise you won't stick to it. I'm losing weight slowly but its the only thing making me lose weight in years because I've given up on everything else!
I know people on here don't like swimming groups which I totally understand but I've got a holiday coming up and I needed help. I do feel WW is better than slimming world as you still have to measure your portions whereas slimming world seemed to be a free for all to me. I'm sure it works for people I just didn't like it

This is not your fault. It really really isn’t. There is a lot of evidence to suggest the body has a “set-point” weight that it strives to get back to, and will do all kinds of things towards that end - increase hunger hormones, slow down metabolism. Dieting makes this worse by making your body think there is a famine, so it tries to hold on to weight even more.

And, of course you are eating to cope with difficult emotions! We all need something, and there’s a reason food is called “the good girl’s drug” - you need to meet your responsibilities, you can’t be strung out on alcohol or heroin. Comfort eating isn’t ideal, but it’s perfectly normal & to be expected (certainly until things pick up a bit!)

I recommend the podcast Maintenance Phase and the book Why We Eat Too Much for further info/advice.

PS I’m the same height and weigh more than you, i deal with it by just living my normal life, wearing clothes to flatter and being relaxed around food 😊

I do get insecure about it (as you might be able to see from previous posts), I don’t let it rule my life on the whole though.

Thank you both for your replies.
@Fenella2000 thank you for your advice, I will look into the podcast and book.
I think I have got myself stuck in a rut because I have been a SAHM for over two years and since moving in to a new area I have felt incredibly lonely. Next month I am due to start volunteering whilst my DD is at nursery and I’m hoping that will help as it will distract me, usually whilst she is there I feel bored and alone and turn to food for a pick me up. I really need to stop it ruling my life so much. Can I ask what type of clothes you wear as I can never find anything that seems to flatter me, I just feel uncomfortable in everything I wear!