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Weight loss chat

A space to talk openly about weight loss journeys and challenges. Mumsnet hasn't checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. You may wish to speak to a medical professional before starting any diet.

is there a cure for emotional eating ? I have gorged myself stupid yesterday.

18 replies

shaketheshame · 09/08/2012 13:13

I'm treated for depression ? 9 months ago I used to be a very heavy drinker (a 2 bottles a day)...Now I'm better and I'm doing ww and I'm losing some weight but it really goes off slowly. I also run about 3-4 times a week.

My problem is sometimes I feel down and all I want to do is eat..yesterday I had :

Breakfast :

Porridge with banana and blueberries (so far so good)

Then I went for my weekly therapy and it was a hard session went home then

Lunch :
White milk lion bar
Haribo maomam (Full bag)

Dinner :
Maltesers (Full family bag)

I have tried to control myself but I just couldn't :-(

OP posts:
Olympia2012 · 09/08/2012 13:16

Why was all that in the house in the first place?

shaketheshame · 09/08/2012 13:27

It was in the house in the first place..I went to the shop :-(

OP posts:
shrinkingnora · 09/08/2012 13:37

I really understand where you are coming from. You're eating to change the way you feel so you need to do somthing else to change the way you feel. When you are feeling ok, try writing a list if suggestions so you don't have to think too hard when you're in a bad way. It sometimes works for me if I give myself permission to binge after I have done something good - eg if I go for a run/drink two pints of water/call a friend and I still want to binge then that's ok. Usually after I have done the thing I no longer want to binge.

shaketheshame · 09/08/2012 13:44

Shrinking - its a good advice you are giving. What I do is having an internal debate with myself and the unreasonable side of me often win !

OP posts:
shrinkingnora · 09/08/2012 19:16

Yep. been there am doing done that. I don't know what the answer is really. I have found that the Paul McKenna method is really good but I can't seem to get back in to it. The point being to actually listen to your body and eat only when you're hungry. I definitely comfort eat but I also eat to punish myself. Which is bonkers.

foreverondiet · 09/08/2012 19:58

Yes definitely need to stop buying anything you don't want to eat and never ever go to supermarket hungry! Eat massive steak and salad before you go...

Also need to eat proper food as then less likely to binge on rubbish.

Also try reading "Eating Less" by Gillian Riley. Good strategies to deal with comfort eating. I have found it very useful.

shaketheshame · 10/08/2012 19:32

Thank you for your help, I'm looking at the eating less book !

OP posts:
PinkCustard · 10/08/2012 19:44

I'd say Paul McKenna's method would be really good for you too - get yourself a copy of the book/cd from ebay (they're dead cheap).

Italiangreyhound · 15/08/2012 00:31

Hi Shake

I am so sorry things are tough for you at the moment.

I have struggled with my weight for 20 plus years but finally have some hope that I am on the right track having seen a clinical psychologist on the NHS. She told me I can do it, and I believe her. It is not impossible and the more I eat healthily the better I feel and the less I am tempted to eat rubbish food or over eat. It is not easy but I feel so much more positive.

You can do it, you can conquer this eating, I feel sure, - maybe you need some help to do it.

I really hope you will get whatever help you need.

Could you get some counselling for your depression? I think it might help to support your good strategies for healthy eating. It may be that you need to work out where the depression comes from or it may be that you know where it is from and need to move on, and not allow it to control you.

All the strategies of stuff like not buying food you don't want to eat etc, not shopping when hungry, and stopping before you over eat are all really helpful.

I wonder if the motivation to change has to come for a large part from within you - that is something that Gillian Riley talks about in her book "Eating Less". Because when you feel tempted to eat rubbishy food that has virtually no nutritional content, if you are doing it for others etc, you can be tempted to just give in. If you are doing it for yourself then you will have more motivation I hope ? maybe you need to love yourself enough to treat yourself right. You are worth it.

Nurture and look after yourself.

It does really help to know about the nutritional content of food etc and what is good to eat. If you don't know this there are probably lots of books or classes or groups that can tell you what is healthy. My problem was not this; I know what is healthy but just ate junk and lots of food! I could not resist temptation. Now I can, I learnt that if I just said no to food sometimes then the feeling of wanting it actually went away! I have started to make healthy choices, like an apple instead of a cake. NOT all the time but most of the time. I still have a long way to go! I am obese, not just overweight!

Shake, my advice is don?t debate with yourself. Decide ahead of time what treats you will allow yourself and enjoy them. If someone turns up at work or whatever with a load of cake you weren?t expecting, just say no thanks, you weren?t expecting it, you don?t need it, so politely decline. I used to eat cake for everyone?s birthday at work and I really didn?t need it! Anyway, I am rambling, I wish you all the very best with your journey.

Italiangreyhound · 15/08/2012 00:32

PS I am watching The Biggest Loser USA on Pick TV, I am Not doing what those guys are doing (it?s not recommended to do all that without checking with your GP!) but I am just using it for inspiration.
TV listing here:
www.radiotimes.com/programme/dbcr/the-biggest-loser-usa
It is very inspirational! (Well to me at least but as I say you can?t do what they do, they are being monitored etc!)
The Biggest Loser Danny & Darci Cahill on Joyce Meyer! www.thedannycahill.com/

Italiangreyhound · 15/08/2012 00:42

Oh sorry just noticed you said you are having therapy, so you are working on it all.

This is maybe a hard time when you are working through stuff, keep lots of healthy food around and ask your therapist for help with dealing with these emotions as you work through stuff. Healthy soup is a lovely filling comfort food, better than Maltesers I think. Yes, I know, I love Maltesers ! But I love myself more. Stay strong.

Well done on all that running.

Slow but sure is the way to go with weight loss. Don't be too hard on yourself. I am sure you can do it. I must stop rambling! Apologies!

Wiifitmama · 15/08/2012 09:40

I second the Eating Less book. I just discovered it recently and found it really helpful. I lost all my weight (110 lbs) but found maintaining really hard. I was cycling between binge eating and then losing any I had gained (usually around 8-10 pounds) again. The book has really helped me see things differently and get On an even keel.

shaketheshame · 16/08/2012 08:48

I have been good the past few days...when I had a craving I ate a fruit...when it was a really bad craving, I had one or two squares of dark chocolate and it worked. I still have 2 stones to lose and I lose 1 stone and a half since january so very slow progress... I eat very well overall but often I ruin all my effort by eating a bag of rubbish in one seating ! I'm waiting for pay day to buy that book !

OP posts:
SteelTownGirl · 16/08/2012 22:04

Hi all, I have been reading this thread with interest as I have a bit of a problem in this department.
Could I recommend a book I have been reading recently which I've found helfpful

www.amazon.co.uk/Runaway-Eating-8-Point-Conquer-Obsessions/dp/1594860386

I had it out of the library and then got my own copy so I could work through the exercises in my own time.

ItalianGreyhound - hello - do you remember me from the Eating Less thread a while ago? It is nice to come across you again and to hear how well you are doing.

I am finding things a little difficult at present. As per usual I am about 10lbs above my ideal weight - not doing well, grazing, picking, eating mindlessly so will be looking for some encouragement and motivation and practical tips from this thread

Best wishes to you all x

SteelTownGirl · 16/08/2012 22:11

Shake - you are not alone. I have read in detail your posts and have huge sympathy. I have had several depressive episodes in recent years and I turn to food when stressed and feeling low. Try not to beat yourself up! Your two squares of choc and a piece of fruit is a great idea and one I'm going to adopt so thanks for that.
Just got another book off my shelf - again you could get it from the library - The Compassionate Mind Approach to Beating Overeating by Ken Goss
Very helpful - the approach is to be compassionate to yourself at all times.
Just an idea.
Eating Less is also very good. As you can see, there was once a lengthy thread about that approach alone.
Wishing you well - as Italian says, you definitely are worth it.

Italiangreyhound · 16/08/2012 23:23

Shake well done. You sound very strong. Keep it up, you are worth it.

Steeltowngirl YES I remember you. 10 pounds does not sound like a lot, take it slow and try and not allow it to undermine your general sense of well being. I think eating healthily and getting exercise will work well for me and I have a LOT to lose so 10 pounds sounds great. well done for getting to this weight, so good, be positive.

shaketheshame · 17/08/2012 08:14

Thank you all !! I appreciate the books recommendation, I'm off for 2 weeks so I'm going to have the time to read ! I'm really determined to beat this habit in any way I can... I beat my smoking habit, I beat my dreadful alcohol habit (I was on 2 bottles a day until 9 months ago)...so I have to find a way to beat this unhealthy habit...I'm really worry about my youngest child as she is showing sign of compulsion eating...she asks for some food all day and she has tantrums if she doesn't get what she wants...So I have to do it for me and the dc to show them a good exemple set for life !

OP posts:
Italiangreyhound · 17/08/2012 22:04

Well done, Shake all the best.

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