Do others find it hard to be home alone?

[Abitstressed]

Hi all,

I noticed when working recently my over eating stopped, I didn't have the time nor the access to food. However, today I had a day at home without a car, and was alone with my two year old, just us and a bit of a rainy day. I managed to polish off the entire fridge..p I dread to think how many calories there were and I have to say, I had lots of lovely cuddles from my son but I was a bit bored, and I think this combined with access to high carb foods (I'm also 2 days away from that time of the month- sorry!) was a bit of a no no.

I think trying to find solutions is the best way forward and I'm hoping together, as a team we may help one another. I have always found eating out for lunch-late afternoon with my son is great, I don't prepare food and there is a set time and place we eat and it breaks up the day when we have a long day together - my OH doesn't get home until after 19.30 on a good day. However, this isn't a great money saving tip!!!

I do wonder if just paying to eat at a cafe each day may be better than being a bit overweight!

Reverting back to to helping one another, we are obviously all foodies, I have met some people who aren't fussed by food, but they seek comfort else where. Being a foodie can be a positive thing too, generally speaking lots of us love all food, even the healthy stuff.

Another thing I have found that helps me is to actually just get out of the house, have a plan for the day. I think relying on willpower, for me, is futile, if I'm at home alone with a biscuit, bread cakes, at some point during the day I will think hmmm just one........... odd how the human mind can be so contradictory, I can do exercise, really not want to be overweight or just eat too much, yet in an impulsive moment I cave into that craving.

I'm sorry if I am a little all over the place with this message.. I just thought analysing what helps prevent overeating seems to be the way to go. I think most of us know the healthy way to eat... it's just practising it!

Good luck all xxx

I'm exactly the same OP.
I know that I'm more likely to stick to a healthy eating diet if I spend time out of the house.
If I'm at home, I'll just eat. I even resort to eating the kids little biscuits or dry cereal if I can't get my hands on anything else.

I also don't eat much when at someone elses house or if I've got someone over.
So, I've become very social! I try to arrange to meet up with people as often as I can and I try to go for a long walk with dd in the buggy every day. If we need a few things from the supermarket, I'll walk there and back which takes an hour. Otherwise, we'll walk to the park and the library which are also good walks.
I'm also planning on going swimming with dd but unfortunately, I feel too self conscious to get into a swimming costume at the moment.

I'm actually very fit. I walk loads, love going to the gym for a run on the treadmill (slow one!) or even going to a spinning class. I do dvds at home too (all irregular at the moment due to illness and tiredness) Unfortunately, I can't sort out my food which is why I'm still 2.5 stone overweight. Grrr! :)

Beechview I'm so glad you posted- thank you!

I am exactly the same, with my son's stuff, I eat the dry cereal and the bread! Tonight I even polished off his half eaten fishcake - I would like to point out he didn't want any more lol.

Now it's interesting you say about being social, the problem I have with that is everyone where I live tend to be super slim and healthy and do amazingly well with moderation, however, every time I go to someone's house they have cupcakes! I should be grateful, but I find that quite tough. Like I said before though, just being up and out helps, my son loves breakfast and is up early and I have found getting out as soon as possible after breakfast helps, as I tend to start to have a coffee and slice of toast....

I love walking too and we do a lot. I keep thinking I will take my one swimming too, but I have never really liked swimming, like you I don't love being in a costume and it always seems a bit of a faff... It's good to type this it makes me realise how lazy I am.

Oh I do sympathise with the weight, If you are like me - and I doubt very much you are as bad (!) - it's the too much a food at home bit. I think I'm just going to get out and buy what I need each day, but when I have tried to do that before my husband complains as he will suddenly have a biscuit craving!

The thing i find frustrating with myself is, I found going back to work, erm, challenging, but I have to say I didn't think about food at all.

You mentioned tiredness, that's a slight problem with exercise. i'm finding it ok to do it on the day but have noticed I'm much more tired the next day, even though I have been doing it regularly, this has been counterproductive for weight loss!

I agree totally about not thinking about food at work. I think if I worked full time, I'd be slim again!
I find it so easy to refuse all the cakes and crap at work. I can literally see its crap. They have those vile donuts (are they dunkin donuts? cant remember but Tesco do them) so often and every day is an excuse for cake but we also have a subsidised canteen that does proper healthy food.
I know what I'd rather go for so I'd rather wait til its lunchtime and have something decent.
I just cant apply the same logic for days at home! Its like I click into a totally different mindset.
My meals will be healthy but I can get through biscuits, cakes, crisps, bread, toast, whatever and seem to be constantly getting up to get something else to snack on.

Anyway, I've had enough so today I managed to stick to 3 meals and an extra of 2 homemade cookies.

I went out for a long walk then was expecting a friend at 2 so spent a while cleaning and cooking. I guess I was too busy to think about food!

I drank over 2 litres of water and think that helped too,

I work from home so have all those temptations in the kitchen on my doorstep, plus I have DD with me after school - preparing her snacks and dinner. What I find helps is setting strict rules for myself. They may be different for you, but the rules that work for me are:

• Fast once or twice a week (I do 5:2) - only eat evening meal on those days
• No snacking at all between meals on weekdays

So far, so good - I'm rarely tempted to even pick at DD's treats nowadays. Over 5 stones gone and still losing.

Oh yes, I agree with the water. I drink it whenever I feel the urge to nibble.