I know I comfprt eat and I know why I do it

[FabulousBakerGirl]

How do I break the cycle?

tough one - i do it too and have managed not to the past 2 weeks.

are you ads?

I'm watching because i desperately need an answer to this one.

Identify your triggers - what unpleasant feelings lead to you seeking comfort in eating?

Try to remove those triggers. That is probably quite difficult, so try to think of an alternative comfort solution (a hot bath/a good book/some hard work etc).

Lots of things make me comfort eat, I obvioulsy need to stop me feeling those things or nip them in the bud quickly.

well my triggers were

stress
tiredness
anger
hunger
breathing....

i think it really hard to specify and once you start it ishard to stop.

personally i cut down on ads, started doing the food focus thing and lots of exercise.

being fat triggers lots of my negative thoughts so it is a total catch 22.

My GP says it is nothing to do with the ADs but since I have been on them I have found it really hard to lose even a pound.

My triggers are

boredom,
unhappiness,
tiredness.

Yes, you need to recognise all the stressors you have and try to reduce them AND to find other sources of comfort.

Eg if you are often tired, go to bed earlier...

Can you find a replacement? Identify the times when you tend to do it most (or the trigger behaviour/situation) and set up something that you can divert yourself to? Maybe move your kettle to be next to the fridge and splash out on some nice fruity/sweet tea or posh coffee. Then work hard at diverting yourself every time you can. THe obvious one is to empty your fridge and cupboards of everything unhealthy and prepare some veg/fruit so you can only have those. This approach requires willpower whilst shopping too. I have found out that, actually, the children do survive if I do not buy crisps, snacks etc so I have taken the excuse away from myself IYSWIM.

Don't get hung up about the times you don't divert just think, ok, next time I will do it and congratulate yourself each time you manage it.

Sorry if this is not helpful, I have only experienced fairly mild comfort eating with fairly mild reasons behind it so I hope my ideas are not patronising or silly.

if you exercise you will feel less tired, also certain foods will make you more tired - cake, bread etc.
boredom - again with teh exercise, go swimming or running instead of eating biscuits
unhappiness - i have no answer or else i wouldn't be here i would be sunning myself on my private island living of my happiness franchise.

what ads are you on?

I don't buy any crap for me but I do bake yummy things for the kids. Yesterday I made cinnamon crunch muffins and ginger and choc chip cookies. I get cross when I have been good by not buying any chocolate and then cross at my self when I want some and it seems like the end of the world when there isn't any in the house.

I am going to do so many lists once DS2 goes for his nap.

I comfort eat alot. I think I am actually addicted in a way, no matter what I keep saying to myself I text DH to bring home X, Y, Z on the way home. One main trigger for me is letting myself get too hungry , I cannot eat fruit on an empty stomach and crave rubbish. I am going to try leaving a bown of already cut fruit in the fridge so in the evening I will pick at that to keep hunger away and stop me eating rubbish (easier said than done!)

JustCallMeaGoat - this is sadly a real vicious circle; you have to find it within you to eat healthily and reasonably until you manage to lose a significant amount of weight (say 3kg / half a stone) at which point the rewards of not comfort eating become apparent, and it becomes easier not to do so...

The kids eat a fantastic diet and some cakes and bicuits are not going to hurt. Baking makes me happy.

well i have lost 1.5 kilos in the past 2 weeks so i am hoping i am over that initial hump. i have a picture of my size 10 trousers on teh fridge!

I am on citalopram.

I was eating for comfort but I joined the 10/10 thread a few months ago and am now comfort eating fruit. I have lost half a stone with no effort and I feel proud for doing something positive for my body.

I am unable to fix what is causing me stress atm, so I accept my need for comfort and just try a healthier way of doing it. The first few weeks, I missed th goodies, but I really have lost the taste for them now.

i am on fluoxetine and when i was on 40g i was crazy with teh comfort eating i really had no control. i halved the dose and started running which is working for me.

The stupid thing is I love fruit but hardly eat any as the kids usually scoff the lot. Feel like I am taking food from them if I eat it but I know that is part of my food issues of not being fed as a child.

fabulousbakergirl - come and join us on the WLR thread. I WAS you back in jan, all your triggers were my triggers, but the support of the thread, and most importantly the user forum on weight loss resources has really, really helped me (2 stone lost already). It is hard,but writing down everything you eat, drink, exercise really, really helps. As does the incentive of having a "weigh in" every week with the others on the theread. There is also a diary section to chart how you feel and when, I was using that daily at one point, but as I have progressed, I haven't had to use it as much.

Please come and join us!

apologies for crap grammar and speeling in that post

What is the WLR thread please?

I Comfort eat too, I've just spent £40 in tesco and half of that was stuff I didn't need but wanted cos I'm pissed off and it was all pretty much chocolate.
I had a bad day with ds yesterday and know that's why I'm feeling crap but there isn't anything I can do with his behaviour so bring myself down more and eat