How do I stop eating (took a break from diet for Christmas).

[MellowNewt]

Have managed to lost 50 pounds through diet and exercise (no jabs). I had developed a really bad relationship with food. I wfh most days so just had an absolute obsession with Deliveroo as a way to stimulate myself. Coffee and pastry for breakfast, pasta for lunch etc.

I actually was surprised with how this food obsessing actually went away quite naturally when I started being more mindful with eating.

I have been maintaining since June. I don’t really follow a diet plan but make sure to make good choices without too much hardship- ie eggs for breakfast.

However, I told myself if I could be good until Dec 20th I would allow myself to indulge over Christmas. And indulge I did. Mostly on cheese and sweet treats (loads of bakers in the family). Plus wine.

It’s somewhat concerning because I genuinely had come to prefer healthier choices. But now I feel like I’m back to my old ways. Two days in a row I’ve said I’ll be good and straight away I’ve got up and had Yule log for breakfast.

How can I get back to normal?

I know I haven’t completely fallen off the wagon as we have a fair amount of Xmas chocolate left and I’m not bothered. Old me would have demolished the lot. I just don’t fancy it.

I definitely have gained weight as my ribs are no longer so prominent. But I still fit into my jeans. For now.

Any advice?

I have PCOS and was prescribed metformin to help with insulin resistance for infertility. It really stopped the food noise - which is caused by sugar / insulin spikes and troughs. I lost weight really easily. Im not TTC now but am considering seeing if my dr will prescribe it again for the metabolic benefits (I have high cholesterol and a family history if heart attacks so feeling hopeful) I know you're not up for their jabs but metformin has a much longer safety profile with minimal risks unless youre a heavy drinker. Might be worth a thought?

I have had panettone for breakfast for two weeks because "oh it needs eating up". Now my arse looks like a large panetone. So I threw out or force fed DP all the remnants of our Christmas treats. It was the only way. Can you go cold turkey OP?

I don’t know if it works for you, but I find coming at it from the positive health aspects really helps to keep me focussed.

I’ve just listened to a podcast on Cholesterol and although high intakes of saturated fat can increase cholesterol for some individuals, obesity and type 2 diabetes are also significant drivers. This instantly makes me consider the left over chocolate that I’ve been wolfing down 😄 and makes me want to eat better (which I do most of the time), but like you, do fall of the wagon from time to time.

You’ve done this once before and you can get into that mindset again, it’s just going to be tough for that first week.

I was on metformin for maybe a month when I was first diagnosed as a teen. Didn’t think it did anything so I gave up. So intrigued. Thanks for sharing will ask my gp asap!

I had laser removal on my beard and luckily my period is extremely regular so to be honest I have somewhat ignored my pcos. Think it will be good to be more proactive with it in 2026. I had the tell tale pearl rings when I was a teen

Have you heard the phrase ‘it’s not what you eat between Christmas and New Year that makes you fat, it’s what you eat between New Year and Christmas’? I think you need to stop worrying that you’ve sabotaged everything - get some exercise (not because it’ll help you lose weight particularly, you can’t outrun a bad diet, but because it will distract you and make you feel positive - even a 30 minute walk at lunchtime would help). Stop seeing it as a moral issue - you aren’t being ‘good’ or ‘bad’ - you aren’t kicking puppies you are eating a piece of cake.
It may be tricky with the cravings for a few days but you can refocus on healthy food - I wouldn’t necessarily try for the same things though. Salads are a summer thing - make your meals hot and nourishing. Soup doesn’t work for me at all, I’m starving as soon as I finish, but I know lots of people like it. Try some different things.

I genuinely had come to a place where I was choosing to eat soups and salads out of actual preference.
It sounds to me that you had got it right. You not only lost weight but kept it up.
The only thing is the idea that food is good or bad and the idea that relaxing the rules means going mad. You ate differently for a couple of weeks, that doesn't mean all is lost. It's no different to eating more on holiday for a week. It's temporary.

The idea of throwing away food is difficult to get your head round but the cost has gone.
Are there others in the family who would eat it all? I disagree that no-one needs these foods in the house because most people moderate their food intake but still include what you class as "bad", just not in large quantities.
If you went on jabs imagine how much that would cost in comparison. I agree with others, bin the stuff you can't resist and replace it with your new favourites (that aren't cake).

The processed food can go in the bin or it can go in you OP. Which do you value more?

Yourself or the bin?

I think it's probably just going to be a case of forcing through it. Get yourself back on track tomorrow, plan all your meals for a week and stick to them, it might be a struggle for the first week or so but you know yourself how quickly those cravings will leave once you've got over them.

Good luck, I'm also trying to start a new diet from tomorrow and I am starting from scratch, I don't have much confidence in myself but I have about 2.5 stone to lose and I feel like it's achievable, if I continue putting weight on I think things will start to feel totally hopeless.

Give yourself 3 days of eating as much as you need to eat to not feel hungry, BUT it must all be low carb, high protein, high fat, high fibre. Then go back to eating a calorie deficit, that 3 days should be just enough to take the edge off of the carb craving and help to reduce the hunger.

Carbs - especially bread, rice, pasta - are just dense calories for me. They make me hungrier in the long run and I pile the weight on. I can have chocolate or sweets and still lose weight but having carbs is a no no if I want to reach my target.

I also just feel better when I haven’t had them. They make me sluggish and my muscles ache.

I bought a really nice flask, and made loads of ice in the freezer.
Every morning I fill the flask full of ice then top it up with cold water.
I drink as much as possible and top it up regularly. Keep it with you whereever you go.
This helps take the edge off any ravenous hunger for me.

I would also have a really good think about what it is about your healthier meals you really like? For example, I realised I love the herby and roast-chicken-y aspects of salads. So when I make a salad, I make it with those things so that it feels more like a treat rather than a shit boring salad 😂

It’s. Out finding what works for you. In my case, it’s Thise complex carbs. Meals without them don't satisfy and I actually feel quite ill if I cut them for more than a day.

I think this is a superb idea. I will switch to no carbs but give myself some grace with the quantities for a few days. And try to cut back to what I had become accustomed to. Easily said after I just made a leftovers panini with cheese. Why do I do this to myself??

I absolutely adore marinated tandoori chicken, roasted veg and guac.

Wishing everyone on a health journey, whatever that entails, the very best.

Could you pre-make tomorrow’s meals so that it is as easy to grab them as it is Christmas food? Perhaps some overnight oats, some homemade soup and then have ingredients to make an easy meal? Have some ready chopped veg & hard boiled eggs in the fridge for when you want a snack? Fill a jug with water & lemon and have that in easy reach? And really try and avoid sugar. It may only take a couple
of days to re-set yourself again.

Remember how great you felt when making good food choices, recognising that you have done the most painful part already and just need to reinforce your decisions to invest in your long term health. Weigh yourself daily to get early indicators and reinforce your positive progression and return to making conscious choices that you know are going to make you feel great again- self love and compassion if you have the odd slip up. Well done on all the fantastic progress you made in 2025! You can do it again. Best of luck.

Oh and don’t forget the water! First thing that slips for me when I fall into carbs and it’s the most impactful change when it comes to losing weight. It helps you feel full, helps your muscles heal so they don’t retain water, it’s used by the process that breaks down fat. I have lots of hot sugar free squash in the winter to keep me warm while also hydrating.