Need to lose 2 stone - addicted to sugar

[Thecatgotmytongue]

I need to lose 2 stone and I'm definitely addicted to sugar, I eat lots of chocolate and sweets.

I've zero willpower, but really want to lose weight. I've followed a low carb diet before, but don't know if I can manage now. My weakness is comfort eating and the last year has been extremely tough.

Anyone like to join me for motivation? Maybe we can exchange recipes, ideas? Weigh in together?

I'm 12 stone 3 and would like to get down to 10 stone 7 or less. I'm 5'7 and 51 years, so age is not on my side!

[StickTheDMWhereTheSunDontShine]

Logging definitely helps with motivation.

I've also noticed that, because I've listed myself as lightly active, the more walking I do, the more of that I'm allowed back as calories. I get no extra under 5k steps, as I guess that is already allowed for. A typical 8-9k day gets me about 120 extra, a 11k day about 220.

I went to Edinburgh at the weekend did loads of walking. By 14k it had given me 500 calories but, I finished the day atv16.5k and 1000 extra.

I slumped in an armchair and shared a well earned bottom of wine with dh, that night!

[Thecatgotmytongue]

That's a lot of walking! Well done. I hope you had a nice time.

I'm not feeling great today, so going to have to try extra hard to avoid comfort eating.

[stressedandalone]

My message yesterday seems to have disappeared I had s good day too. Small handful of nuts for breakfast, chocolate snack, rivita and cheese for lunch, and pasta for tea. I was allowing myself an evening snack, but bought it in advance so had eaten it by 1pm didn't drink enough water or do any exercise, but baby steps.

I had a pudding at lunchtime today as well as chocolate for snack, but had chicken salad so was feeling unfulfilled (not hungry, just craving carbs) hopefully I can curb my cravings with gradual withdrawal. If not it's going to be cold turkey in July...

[Thecatgotmytongue]

I've not been great today .. Had crisps this morning,a ham sandwich for breakfast and lunch,a digestive biscuit and 3 milky coffees. Chicken salad for tea ... I feel like I need a glass of wine, but that's more calories.

[Thecatgotmytongue]

Didn't end too badly after all .. I had a third of a small glass of wine, but no chocolate and my dinner was a massive salad with chicken breast and a tiny bit of rice, took me slightly over my calorie allowance, but this is much much better than usual.

I caught sight of myself in a shop window this afternoon and couldn't believe how much my stomach stuck out .. It's no good, I have to crack this.

[stressedandalone]

Bad day for me. Missed breakfast. Are chocolate. Had to leave work with a migraine. Slept al day, ate more chocolate

[Thecatgotmytongue]

Aww sorry to hear that stressed, hope you feel better now.

I've actually had a good day. I've lost a lb, not much, but better than nothing. I'm within my calorie allowance.

I missed breakfast because I got up late, had a Count on Us ready meal for lunch, salad with half an individual quiche and a little rice for dinner and snacks of a Nectarine, a pack of wotsits and a Freddo chocolate.

[stressedandalone]

Thanks TheCat. Glad you are doing well. I've just had my morning kitkat so far today, haven't eaten very healthily, but low sugar, which is my first goal. I can kick the other stuff much more easily, but it makes a good crutch when my body demands sugar... I am on my own with DD this weekend and she is the sugar police (unnatural child, who doesn't like sweets!) so I will have to behave myself...

[Thecatgotmytongue]

I've not had a good day food wise today. Started with white bread and butter, then a friend brought sausage rolls for lunch, then I had pizza as a special treat with dd for dinner after going clothes shopping for her. Finished off with loads of chocolate this evening

I'll start again tomorrow!

[stressedandalone]

Me either. I had 4 portions of sugar in the end and didn't eat the healthiest meals. I'm away for the weekend, which should in theory make it harder to be good, but DD hates me binging on sugar so will keep me honest!

[Thecatgotmytongue]

Have a nice weekend.

What caught me out yesterday was not being able to say no to people ... I need to stick to what I intend to eat.

[stressedandalone]

Well, as expected, DD the sugar nazi kept me under control all weekend. Until I got home and ate two big bags of sweets . Cold turkey for me tomorrow

[Thecatgotmytongue]

I've had a bad day .. I was at a birthday party and there was bread and crisps and cake! I'll write it off and start again tomorrow ...

[stressedandalone]

First day of cold turkey and I'm missing my 10am choccy bar

[bibblebobblebubble]

I went cold turkey at the start of 2016 - definitely the way to go. A few lapses of course and as soon as I lapse I realise I can't do moderation (just like any other type of addiction) so pretty much resigned to staying off biscuits, chocolate and cake for good in terms of day to day diet- making limited exceptions e.g. kids birthday cakes, events, holidays.

[bibblebobblebubble]

By the way I feel waaaaaaaaaay better and more in control - it's so worth it

[stressedandalone]

Thanks Bibble, was just coming on to say I'm still clean, but everyone else here just ordered fizzy drinks. I was really good and didn't join in but now I have to watch them all with cans of coke. (I don't usually drink much in the way of fizzy drinks, but am so desperate for sugar I'd take a fix wherever I can!)

[Thecatgotmytongue]

Stay strong stressed, it's just sweet fizzy stuff

I've just eaten for the first time today, got up late, and was extremely busy. I've just had some fried up left over new potatoes with sour cream, a slice of bacon and a fried egg for brunch with coffee.

Not sure what dinner will be yet, I've got a chicken to roast, might do that with some veg.

[stressedandalone]

Still not had processed sugar, despite a trip to the shop whilst hungry. (But I took my mini sugar nazi, just to make sure I didn't crack at the 3 for a quid bags of sweets) don't have anything in house and it's raining hard so I think I'm safe tonight

[bibblebobblebubble]

Honestly after a while the cravings almost go and I don't really think about it - it's just something I don't eat. I still have fruit and I make sure I have nice savoury snacks around. If I get the nibbles in the evening, I can quite easily have a couple of crackers and cheese and be done with it, but if I were to have a couple of chocolate biscuits it would be a different story... sugar does funny things to the brain, I'm sure.

[Thecatgotmytongue]

Well done stressed

I have had some chocolate, but all in all pleased with myself today. I haven't eaten loads and only had a couple of pieces of chocolate.

[KindDogsTail]

There are quite a few books about what to eat to make it much easier not to crave sugar.

Sugar itself makes a person crave more sugar, especially if it is eaten on its own as a snack. It is not just white sugar and sweets, but refined flour, white rice etc. and refined fruits like orange juice, smoothies instead of whole fruits.

If you follow the advice (which would be to eat enough protein and vegetables and complex carbohydrates three meals and two snacks a day) your blood sugar swings settle down and you will stop craving it.

Try reading the book The Food Doctor Diet by Ian Marber. It explains about sugar very well. But there are lots if you look under something like 'Quit Sugar' or "Sugar addiction'. The 8 week Blood Sugar diet is what some people are following on here.www.mumsnet.com/Talk/fasting_diet/2653712-My-big-fat-800-calorie-blood-sugar-diet-diary-all-welcome?
But if there is any possibility you have an eating disorder there is a warning that that one is definitely not for you.

[stressedandalone]

Day 2, no sugar but not much in the way of breakfast today so this morning is going to be tough as I sit next to "the chocolate drawer" at work. (We work in the middle of nowhere so have a drawer full of snacks in case anyone gets hungry)

[Thecatgotmytongue]

Thanks kind, I'll take a look. 800 kcal is quite extreme though. I'll have a look for some books.

[stressedandalone]

Yes thanks kind, and I'm thinking about it too cat. But I'm a really fussy eater so I often struggle with diet plans as I can't eat most of what is suggested.

I keep meaning to post my weight up in the mornings so I can track any weight loss here, but I'm just to dopey to remember. I hate weighing myself in the evening as it tends to fluctuate so much more.

I've just been prescribed anti depressants by my doctor as I'm very close to a breakdown. This could either make me not give a stuff about eating, or not give a stuff about dieting....