So overweight yet I can’t stop eating

[Person246]

I have changed my username for this post. Basically I am massively overweight and obese (weigh just over 16 stone and I am 5”7).

I tried mounjaro for 7 weeks and then gave up.

Eating makes me happy. It makes me feel good. It provides comfort. But for literally the 5 minutes I am eating it.

I don’t know how to stop. Where to start eating better. What changes to make. I know it’s making me depressed but I can’t seem to just get out of my rut.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated 🌷

I honestly feel like hypnotherapy would help. It got rid of my driving phobia. I passed my test aftwr a few sessions and drive. I'm going to find one to help me stop thinking about food.

Thank you everyone. Going to read through the responses properly. But yes I think I need to give MJ another try.

Do you mean November 2024?.
Five stone since then is amazing.

Have you ever tried OA? It's like AA but for overeating? I think the principles of it are quite strict to try and help people kerb food addiction. But the groups might be helpful and you don't have to speak if you don't want to.

You can still find pleasure in eating but it's just about controlling portions and binges.

I'd say try the WLI again if you can afford it and it didn't make you violently sick. I hope the anxiety meds are helping too?

I wish you the best x

Overeaters Anonymous. There are zoom.amd on person meetings. Treat the disease not the symptoms...

What are you eating? Processed food is designed to be addictive and easy to over eat. Food is also comforting and often associated with childhood memories of reward or comfort.

We don't just tell smokers or alcoholics to just stop, there's an understanding it's an addiction and needs a process.

Personally I'd stay eating as often as you need but gradually move to more natural foods then see where you are.

I think MJ is a bit of a band aid. It’s great all the time you’re taking it, but it doesn’t address the reason you’re over eating in the first place. Which is fine if it’s just the odd mars bar a couple of times a week because you just really like chocolate, but if you’ve got to the stage where it’s affecting your health, it probably goes a bit deeper. I have long believed that if obesity was treated more as a mental health condition and less as a lazy person’s condition, the NHS would save a fortune in obesity related conditions and people would keep the weight off when the diet stops. A really long winded way of saying I think you should seek CBT if you can.

Try slimming world

Sending you a much needed hug!!
I completely understand where you’re coming from. I’ve struggled with my weight for years and I’ve tried different diets, personal trainer, classes etc but nothing has stuck. My heaviest was 16st 4lbs and I started feeling really unwell and sluggish all the time.

I recently decided to start walking more as I live in an area that has some beautiful scenery and now I adore walking. At first it was really difficult and after about 20 minutes I’d feel tired and light headed but I walk for 1.5-2 hours every morning now and I’m really feeling the difference in myself.

I lost nearly 15lbs and then put 5 back on during holidays so I’m back at it now. I’m also making better choices with my food but I’m not denying myself anything.

Find something that you can commit to like walking or dancing and start there. It only has to be baby steps. If you do too much all at once, you run the risk of burning yourself out and falling off the wagon. Make one change and when you’re comfortable in your new routine, make another.

You’ve got this xx

The best thing that helped my overeating was stopping eating refined sugar.

That was in September. I’ve never over eaten since then. After 45 years of it.

l might have the odd bit now and then, but l can leave bars of chocolate or biscuits alone. Before l would have eaten them all at once.

What about joining your local gym and finding new recipes that are healthy but still yummy that you can experiment making at home? Do you have any kids? Would you consider trying mounjaro again? Or perhaps speaking to your GP about this would help as they be able to offer you a different type of support like a nutritionist that can help you with a meal plan and a complete overhaul of the habits that are bringing you down. Please don’t lose hope, you got this!

I was in your position exactly a week ago when I decided to change things I’ve now lost 8 pounds

I highly recommend the book intuitive eating as a great place to start with improving your relationship with food.

I am the same as you but around 6 stone heavier. Wish I could try Mounjaro but just in too much debt to afford it.

I lost 3.5 stone by following the Noom app and have kept it off. It's changed my life and my habits, so I don't need to use the app anymore - unlike MJ and others,wjich you seem to need to take forever. I'd say best advice is just to commit to one thing at a time, stick with it, and don't be too hard on yourself when you mess up - just carry on trying to do better. Maybe start by greatly upping your water intake, and trying to have water insteadof snacks, and a glass of water before meals. It helps with feeling of fullness and with digestion.

In a week?

The Noom app is entirely in line with this approach and avoids the cost and waiting lists for CBT. But I agree with your general view!

I don’t do apps at all, so I didn’t even think about them, but anything that works on the cause and doesn’t cost the earth has to be positive!

When you’re overweight/obese and do a crash diet it’s quick to lose weight. I dropped a stone at my partners over 9 days.

Yes but I wasn’t weighing at the cake time so tbh less than that but it’s still a significant weight loss

thing is people seem to have big weight losses first week of any diet

Sadly if you can't or won't do it in Mounjaro, you won't do it.
It removes strong feelings of hunger.
It removes cravings.
It removes food noise.
In short it gives you tools to lose weight which have never existed before. If you won't work with that as an aid to get the eating under control then there is no advice to give you.

I could not disagree with this more.

It does nothing to address the root cause. Unless you do that, you’ll put the weight back on the minute you stop the medication.

It addresses the root cause by regulating hormones and blood sugar.

No "diet" addresses the route cause of obesity because obesity has metabolic reasons. Diets are simply calorie reduction whatever they are called and whether it involves low carb, shakes, fasting or anything else.

Yes without MJ if you start eating badly you will gain. Just like every other "diet".

The difference is that with Mounjaro you are more likely sustain a calorie deficit long enough to actually lose enough weight to make a difference to your health rather than crashing back to over eating after a couple of weeks having lost very little. That is cyclic and destructive.

I have been "off" for many months now and haven't gained an ounce incidentally.

Can you batch prepare a load of healthy food in meal and snack form where you can eat massive amounts and it doesn’t matter?

Cucumber, tomato and red onion salad is always ready to go in my fridge. Add a scoop of protein: ham, chicken, boiled eggs, chickpeas, butter beans, tuna. Have some things like teriyaki sauce, or some oregano to add flavours. Feta cheese or pine nuts are good to add. Then eat as much as you want.

Well this isn’t true is it? Many, many people have lost weight and kept it off without using weight loss drugs