I need a total diet overhaul

[FaithAscending]

Hello, I'd like some advice on where to start! I eat way too much sugar, I struggle with binge eating (mostly sugary foods) and lean towards processed foods and carbs. I think to myself that I should eat better but then I find myself eating jam on toast for breakfast! So where do I start?

My specific needs/wants: I don't want to do a really low calorie diet. The deprivation just encourages me to binge. I want to eat well, I can cook no bake-off candidate! basic foods from scratch. I want to fill up on protein so I don't reach for the carbs. Due to IBS, I don't eat wheat and can only have limited lactose. I'd really like something that gives me a meal plan to get me started....any ideas? I'm open to paying for a meal plan or buying a book.

Just make small changes at a time, for example swap the toast & jam for eggs, tomato, spinach & mushrooms. Switch a sugary snack to berries, bananas & Greek yogurt. Don't go too hard too fast or you'll struggle, make new habits and they'll feel like normal soon enough. Try to eat mindfully, ask yourself do I really need this? Don't buy the junk so it's not there to tempt you! Google "clean eating meals" and look for unprocessed good whole food meals, maybe try the Whole30 plan.

Thanks for the reply. I'll look at whole 30 and clean eating. I'm going to batch cook some soup this afternoon.

I'm currently following the meal plans in "Always Hungry?" by David Ludwig, which is basically a high fat low carb plan. It does involve a fair bit of cooking but I'm in week three and it's much easier now (and batch cooking helps). I lost 6lbs in the first 2 weeks and seldom felt hungry, the portions sizes are big. It does include a lot of veg and berries plus dark chocolate so not as restrictive as some plans but nor does it promise rapid weight loss. I feel very well on it with sugar cravings well-controlled.

That sounds like the kind of thing I'm looking for...don't want to go to far on the low carb - last time I did that I got a kidney stone and ended up hospitalised for a week! But yes berries and dark chocolate could work. I'm not looking for rapid weight loss (it's never sustainable), but combined with exercise I'd like to tone up and lose weight. I'll look at 'Always hungry?' Thanks.

I'm not really sure why a low carb diet would have caused kidney stones - did the hospital explain why that would have been? However, if you were eating a high protein diet, that might have been the culprit.

A low carb diet is a high fat diet, with only medium protein.

Yes I was eating high protein at the time. It really was awful!

Medium protein and high fat low carb. Honestly 'cured' my sugar habit, and IBS. Have a look at the bootcamp pages.

Will do! Have already downloaded a sample to my kindle :)

Good luck!

Cadi thanks for recommending Always hungry?. I've read the book and it rang true for me. I've ordered the food to come tonight and start on Monday. Wish me luck!

The wraps we sell are worth a look too - xxx

Have a look at Paleo. Whole30 is the hard fast method derived from Paleo but Paleo is much easier and sustainable fir life. No wheat or grains or processed sugar nor dairy but maple , coconut/almond milk and lots of yummy meals.

Is this Gumtree? Great sales pitch KittyJayne ......xxx

Yeah I reported that. I'm not getting sucked into anything like that!

I reported too and on a few other threads that the person had posted.

How about downloading the my fitness pal app. Let's you track your intake. You can calculate your cals and experiment a bit with what proportion fats or protein works for you. You can focus on improving things like upping protein or lowering sugar intake as you go. Tracking is a pain but you can scan packaging and once you are set up with most of the things you eat it's faster

I tried MFP and I've only just quit WW. I hate tracking and I find it makes my quite obsessive (I have additional issues including ASD).
My issue is I start the day with refined carbs and I continue for the day! I'm going to try the Always hungry? because it'll kickstart me with a different approach with food ideas and hopefully stop my carb carvings.

cravings!

I get hungry when I eat refined carbs as in sugar, bread etc. When I eat fats protein and veg/some fruits, I don't.

If you don't like counting/tracking, then Bootcamp could be for you - the next one starts on 16 May, if you're interested!

We've been following the Always Hungry book for about 3 months now.
There is a lot of work involved in cooking, prep etc. However, I've been feeling great, lots of energy, better moods. No cravings when I stay on plan.
And my IBS and lactose intolerance have improved. (AH includes quite a lot of dairy, but with substitutes suggested. I was afraid of all the dairy at first, convinced I was going to have to stuff myself with Imodium if I ate any of it. I started eating Greek yogurt with live cultures and now I'm eating all types of cheese, double cream, milk, greek yogurt all with no problem. Oh and sour cream on my Mexican the other day! )
Bread is still a challenge for me. If I stay off it - it's not allowed on Phase 1 and 2 of AH anyway - I feel tons better and stay on plan. I haven't really had any cravings or much hunger, as long as I stay away from bread. Also my IBS returns when I eat it.
I was initially put off AH because of all the time in the kitchen. There are alternate meal plans to help in this regard.
Good luck!

That's really good to know Darren! I'm going to prep all the sauces this evening and maybe a couple of the meals since I'm working long days Monday/Tuesday.

BIWI I will look at bootcamp.