Struggling to get back on the wagon

[TheChild]

I have been LCFH since Jan 2019 and in total lost 9 stone. I thought I had really cracked it and found a way of eating that solved my emotional binge eating problems. I found losing the last 2 stone very difficult and found that whilst I was still eating the same thing, I wasn't losing weight due to calories being at maintanence level. So I started tracking my calories and macros to keep losing weight (I am still just into the overweight BMI catergory so it's not like I don't have more weight to lose, I could do with losing a couple more stone!)

Over the past few months I went from being my lowest weight of 11 st 11lbs (cutting calories and doing LCHF + OMAD to get there) but the strictness of it meant I was "cheating" more and having days of binging on sugar.

As a result I have gained a stone back. I know its not the end of the world but I look in the mirror and I REALLY notice that extra stone, I can see I am bloated and my new jeans are uncomfortable to get into whereas before they fit just right.

How can I get back into the right headspace to crack on and lose the extra sfone and then some? Even if I just lost the extra stone and then went into maintanence I would be happy. I had over 2 and a half years of not being tempted by shit food and now its like its all I think about. Sugar is my trigger food and when I start I can't stop. I can't just have 1 chocolate bar and then put it behind me, the rest of the day is basically a write off and I use it as an excuse to binge to the point I feel sick.

The next day I will go back to OMAD to try and reign it in, which again leads to feeling more deprived and triggering yet another binge day a few days later.

It doesn't help that I'm getting married very soon (too soon to be able to lose the extra stone in time--unless I removed a body part!) and I feel rubbish in my dress!

Please someone give my head a wobble!!

Bumping

Have you ever considered therapy for the mental health side of things? Do you think you are self sabotaging because your self-esteem is low?

You've done tremendously well to lose such a huge amount of weight. That's like another person that you've lost! So you obviously know how to do it and you're good at it. Possibly your head space is holding you back?

Be kind to yourself x

Also, OP, I broke my low carb diet this evening. Basically I didn't have enough to eat earlier in the day and gave in and had a chocolate bar.

Chalk it up to experience, forgive yourself and move on. Tomorrow is another day. Can you distract yourself by going for a walk or phoning a friend if you feel the urge to binge?

Wow. oP that is amazing

I think OMAD is too hard to stick to. Can you split it into two smaller meals eg lunch and dinner?

I don’t know I’m afraid, as I struggle with the same thing.
It’s very frustrating as weight loss aside, I know I feel mentally and physically better when eating low carb.

Things that sometimes help me -

Structured eating - back to basics with 3 meals a day and 2 snacks. Planned out in advance

Not getting too hungry (triggers binge)
Recognising will need to eat a larger quantity until am back on the wagon (ie won’t be able to go straight back to what I was eating when I was in ketosis, body will need to adjust)

Making sure too many bad habits haven’t crept in eg existing on dark choc, raspberries, almonds and prosecco

Avoiding artificial sweeteners (that might trigger cravings)

Getting rid of carby stuff in the house and making sure I’ve done a low carb shop-up

How soon is your wedding?

@orchidsonabudget

How soon is your wedding?

This Wednesday 😂😭 I did an emergency dash to John Lewis and bought a waste sincher that has worked wonders. Temporary fix, just wish I hadn't gone off the rails and lost my way with it, then I wouldn't have neededthe bloody thing!!

@NautaOcts

I don’t know I’m afraid, as I struggle with the same thing. It’s very frustrating as weight loss aside, I know I feel mentally and physically better when eating low carb.

Things that sometimes help me -

Structured eating - back to basics with 3 meals a day and 2 snacks. Planned out in advance

Not getting too hungry (triggers binge)
Recognising will need to eat a larger quantity until am back on the wagon (ie won’t be able to go straight back to what I was eating when I was in ketosis, body will need to adjust)

Making sure too many bad habits haven’t crept in eg existing on dark choc, raspberries, almonds and prosecco

Avoiding artificial sweeteners (that might trigger cravings)

Getting rid of carby stuff in the house and making sure I’ve done a low carb shop-up

This is what I need to know, I knoe WHAT to do, its just sticking to it and staying away from the food that makes me want to binge. I do think starting OMAD was a mistake, as it was after that that I started binging again. I don't think it's good for someone with eating issues 😔

@Waveafterwaveslowlydrifting

Have you ever considered therapy for the mental health side of things? Do you think you are self sabotaging because your self-esteem is low?

You've done tremendously well to lose such a huge amount of weight. That's like another person that you've lost! So you obviously know how to do it and you're good at it. Possibly your head space is holding you back?

Be kind to yourself x

I did consider whether speaking to my GP was an option, from what I had read of other people's experience there doesn't seem to be much support for binge eating, unless I paid privately. I wouldn't even know where to start. I think the binging is part a response to OMAD and the horrible hunger that caused, but also because I feel resentful I cannot eat like a normal person and have ice cream if I want it as an occasiomal treat. Not because of the low carb, but because I always use 1 cheat as an excuse to make it a cheat DAY and I literally then do not stop eating crap. I have no self control and act like a pig.

Sorry I am just ranting away now 😁 also, my MN app does not seem to like paragraphs so my apologies if this just appears as one big block of words.

You have done so well to have lost so much weight! I've recently lost a stone doing low carb and what helped me was joining a keto recipes group on FB. There is so much support and ideas on there. For example, through it, I've discovered M&S low carb granola & crackers & Livlife bread in Waitrose. These have been absolute game changers and have made it so much easier to do this time!

I really feel for you and feel very similar.

For me it always seems to go wrong when I get a bit too ‘greedy’ in terms of weight loss rather than just focusing on the fact that I’m not bingeing and am at least maintaining weight.

Then I’ll think I’d love to lose another 1.5 stone so I restrict more and that’s when my body seems to rebel and push back against it and the bingeing/chaotic eating starts again.
Going to bed every night feeling bloated and guilty and swearing to myself tomorrow will be different ☹️. So sick of it and like you thought I’d cracked it

@NautaOcts

I really feel for you and feel very similar.

For me it always seems to go wrong when I get a bit too ‘greedy’ in terms of weight loss rather than just focusing on the fact that I’m not bingeing and am at least maintaining weight.

Then I’ll think I’d love to lose another 1.5 stone so I restrict more and that’s when my body seems to rebel and push back against it and the bingeing/chaotic eating starts again.
Going to bed every night feeling bloated and guilty and swearing to myself tomorrow will be different ☹️. So sick of it and like you thought I’d cracked it

This pretty much sums me up. If I can lose this extra stone and a few more lbs to get to my goal weight (and at the top end of a healthy BMI) I swear this time I will be happy with that. I know what I can eat to maintain my weight which still allows some dark chocolate or blueberries and yogurt, and then I won't feel deprived and will instead be eating a healthy and balanced diet.

I think after the wedding I will make a 2 week plan that is low carb but not necessarily low calories, I need to get back into the fat burning swing of things!

Have a wonderful day tmw. And don't worry about it. Focus on what you've achieved

@orchidsonabudget

Have a wonderful day tmw. And don't worry about it. Focus on what you've achieved

Thank you 😊 we are having afternoon tea, which is one of my favourites so I will definitely enjoy it!

How was the wedding op?

@orchidsonabudget

How was the wedding op?

😊 I wouldn't have changed anything about it!

Back on the bandwagon yesterday and started with a session at the gym, followed by 3 healthy, low carb meals and plenty of water. I think I will have a few weeks the low carb bootcamp with strictly no sugar so I can hopefully kill the cravings and get back into fat burning mode.

Feeling very determined 💪