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Low-carb diets

Share advice and experiences of following a low-carb diet.Mumsnet hasn't checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. You may wish to speak to a medical professional before starting any diet.

Original poster

Emotional Overeaters - Anyone want to join me in losing weight

79 replies

3mum · 08/07/2014 18:08

So clearly I am not going to be slim in time for Summer, but I have decided that I am going to embark on a weight loss journey now anyway.

Realistically I'll be doing this for at least a year as I have about 4 stones to lose. I have always been an emotional eater, but a shitty marriage and an even shittier divorce have seen me turn to food for just about everything: entertainment, company, self-soothing, rewards, self-abuse, you name it, I do it.

I don't want to be that person any more and I know I need to change not just my eating habits but how I deal with emotions too, which is a very scary thought.

Anyone in a similar boat interested in joining me for mutual support? I'm planning to follow a low carb approach, but I think the route you follow is less important than actually doing something and sticking to it.

OP posts:
lucyintheskywithdinos · 16/07/2014 13:50

I've found that lower carb eating has helped with my emotional over eating...I think for me it is principally due to eating vastly smaller amounts of sugar.

My body works best of a diet of mainly vegetables with some fat, protein and fruit. I imagine that won't suit everyone though.

fourforksache · 17/07/2014 09:57

today the kids were awkward getting ready & i've had a bit of a minor row with the husband, so the toaster is calling me. But I know it's just because I'm upset so I'm trying to ignore it :-(

yumyumpoppycat · 17/07/2014 10:24

Hope you feel better as the morning progresses and sort things out with your dh.

Mornings are getting me down here too at the moment, I think a lot of it is tiredness partly because the weather is so muggy at the moment. A banana and dark chocolate helped me out yesterday. Not low carb but equally not my comfort default of toast either.

I think getting off mumsnet and getting on with sorting my messy house is the main thing that will make me feel better right now, not the coffee and almond butter I am being drawn to!

DalmationStripe · 17/07/2014 13:00

Oh I'm so glad I found this thread. This is me. I'm not over weight or anything but I did start low carbing yesterday as I'm a bit flabby and would like to lose a bit of weight.

My main problem is boredom eating. In a sahm to a baby and toddler and I have no friends or family nearby so I just stay in the house every day. It gets so boring so I just eat, near enough, all day long.

My main problem
Foods are chocolate, biscuits and bread. I just can't get enough.

I've had a really boring morning and I really just want to make some buttery toast with some chocolate digestives to follow. Hmm

yumyumpoppycat · 17/07/2014 14:57

dalmation is it very out of the way where you live, are there any toddler groups you could go to? They are a bit manic and usually have biscuits but still ;) My littlest is 3 we have done very little today as just toooooooooooooo hot!

fourforksache · 17/07/2014 20:06

yummy, thanks Smile managed to avoid junk but only by avoiding eating altogether! going to have something healthy for tea.

fourforksache · 17/07/2014 20:08

dalmatian, boredom is a big reason for snacking for me too. I agree with yummy, being stuck at home on your own every day is going to give you problems. hope you can find some way to cut down the isolation, it's very hard. Sad

DalmationStripe · 17/07/2014 22:24

I've just re read my last post and I sound a bit tragic. Grin

Four and yumy, I live in the middle of nowhere and I don't drive so it's a bit harder to do things. I do go to the weekly toddler group, but it's stopped for the summer. Hmm I need to occupy myself to stop myself snacking. I've
Done well today though.

Four, what did you end up having for your tea?

Victrix · 17/07/2014 23:08

Today I had cups of tea and rows of knitting instead of chocolate. Quite successful Smile

fourforksache · 18/07/2014 09:04

victrix - well done!

Dalmation - I ended up having a chorizo & pepper omelete with lettuce, it was really nice but I was snacky after & did munch half a bag of peanuts.

Overall, a win, I think as I didn't auto-toast Grin

I was thinking about your situation, Dalmation, it is similar to the position I ended up with. 2 babies, 15 months apart, can't drive, mobility issues of my own meaning the distance I could get out was limited. It made me really depressed. I think, looking back, I wish I'd made more of an effort with other mums & invited people round just to try to relieve the boredom and isolation. It's so easy to get in a rut & next thing you know you don't even want to step out of the door.

Sinfandel · 18/07/2014 10:43

Just a quick hello - it would take a longer post to talk about my issues with food and emotional overeating etc.
I'm now 6st overweight. I would be happy to lose 4st. I've realised that for me, the issue is that I have to deal with the emotional overeating, because until I do, I'm not going to lose weight. Or maybe I'll lose it but I'd never keep it off.
Anyway, enough about me for now, glad to see this thread.

fourforksache · 18/07/2014 11:01

Hi sinfandel, glad you posted, think we're all pretty much the same here. where are you up to on sorting this problem out?

Imliketotallyummm · 18/07/2014 11:08

How does everyone else deal with stress? Mine is stress due to dh's unemployment and financial worries and also stress at work due to having to do colleague's job on top of my own - she is off sick for 6 weeks. My current way of coping is eating chocolate peanuts!! Shock

fourforksache · 20/07/2014 15:42

chocolate & wine have always been my stress busters, not quite sure how I'm going to cope cutting down on both!

Imnotaslimjim · 22/07/2014 03:08

Not doing too well, weighed in tonight (I'm on slimming world) with another gain (3rd in 4 weeks) and I'm right back to the start again. Line drawn, deep breath and begin again sobs into coffee

fourforksache · 22/07/2014 07:29

Jim, sorry to hear that, did you feel like you'd been sticking to the SW diet or do you know where it went wrong?

Imnotaslimjim · 22/07/2014 19:45

I do know where it went wrong, and I'm seriously facing a few demons today

Its been tough, I've had a row with my sister about negative language (she told me I'd failed because I said chocolate was allowed) and all hell broke loose. We've had a good chat, with a couple of friends, and ultimately they've all said they will help and support me

Does anyone know, would the dr be able to help with the emotional side of it? When I asked for help with weight loss, he offered Orlistat!!

fourforksache · 23/07/2014 00:32

Jim, yes, it's possible the gp could refer you to counselling. I'm on a weight management program at my hospital & they've got me to go on this. To be honest, I'm not hopeful about it. I've had 3 sessions now & it's all been delving into the past, I haven't learned anything yet & it's made me feel more upset. I think I have another 7 sessions to go, really hope it begins to get useful.

How did you go today with eating? I've been having a bit of a go cutting out all wheat & sugar & it seems to have made cravings lessen though I've not lost any weight over the last week.

Imnotaslimjim · 23/07/2014 00:54

Thanks for that, I think I'll go and see him and see what can be done

I think I've done ok food wise today. I had cornflakes for breakfast and ham salad for lunch. My sister had a party for her DD, and I had 2 pieces of quiche, egg only. Then came home and had scrambled eggs and beans for my tea. Only feeding me and too hot to cook proper food lol. I've just made cupcakes and have had a couple of spoons of buttercream, but not as much as I normally would

I gave up wheat a few years ago after being diagnosed intolerant. Don't think I could give up sugar though. Are you finding it hard at all? I crave food constantly, if I'm not eating I'm thinking about what I can have and I know that isn't normal. I need to get back to only eating for fuel not for comfort or because it tastes nice

AdorableAbbie · 28/07/2014 16:33

Hi, 3mum.
I'm definitely one emotional voracious eater.....before!

I now have my appetite controlled and am eating moderately. I'm taking Liproxenol max, a dietary food supplement which suppresses my appetite. I decided to take it because no matter what I did before, I can't seem to stop myself from eating. I find it a big help til now.

I already lost a stone and 6 pounds and aiming to lose more. Summer or not, we're gonna do it!

fourforksache · 28/07/2014 22:27

hi abbie, waves at the rest of the auto-toasting club Wink

Been doing better the last week with cutting out most carbs (bread, rice, pasta, sugar, spuds). Had no binges this week unless a bag of peanuts over 2 days counts.

no weight loss yet but feeling less controlled by the food if that makes sense.

Imnotaslimjim · 30/07/2014 17:07

Been to see the Dr and he had started referral for CBT, so hopefully that will help. I weighed in on Monday with a 5lb loss so I'm over the moon. Wanting another 3lb off then I'll be back to where I was before I started to gain.

Sinfandel · 01/08/2014 16:04

I'm struggling. I was trying to cut down on the carbs a bit, did well for a week then completely lost the plot yesterday.
I have tried EVERYTHING to deal with this and can't seem to find the key to stopping.

How's everyone else doing?

Imliketotallyummm · 01/08/2014 17:17

Sinfandel, I struggle too, but mainly with sweet stuff, not bothered about potatoes, pasta etc. I find the only thing that helps me is to give it up completely. I can't cut back, it just creeps back in, so I have to stop eating carbs completely. I've just given up again, as the weight had piled back on! Blush

Imliketotallyummm · 01/08/2014 17:18

Imnotaslimjim, I think I need CBT too to deal with quite a few issues. What reason did you give the doctor? Was it about eating problems? (Hope you don't mind me asking).