enough! what has happened to my willpower?

[StealthPolarBear]

Quite a few years ago I lost a lot of weight. I was over 16s and lost loads, at my lightest I was 10.5 s. However it's now creeping on, and I'm nearing a weight I said I'd never be again (13s). I know all this. I start these threads every few months. Why has my willpower deserted me.
I've logged back on to mfp and goals are to start logging and to do level 1 of the shred most days.
why am I struggling so much?

[QuimReaper]

That was supposed to be "Ye Gads"...

[QuimReaper]

But yes, it's bound to slow a bit now you've got your initial drop. What would you be happy with?

[Out2pasture]

Plot it plot it plot it so you see the trend.
Trying to get dh out the door and get going on our daily hike....

[StealthPolarBear]

Are you in the UK? ??
Yes you're right. I need to plot it. If ,d

[StealthPolarBear]

If I carry on like this ill be a size ten by end of November :o

[Out2pasture]

I'm in western Canada :), my daughter lives in the U.K.
So plenty of time to fit in my hike.
Calorie count for the day turned out well although only 16% from protein.
I dream of my new wardrobe as I go uphill.

[name2change4this]

Only read the first few posts so far, but wanted to post to say that I get it, and could also use some support.

I've been big most of my life (I'm 40), and hit almost 19st at my biggest and I'm only 5'3".

At that point (6 years ago), after being told I'd probably be dead in the next few years , I managed to get down to 10st 12lbs over the course of the next 18 months or so.

I saw a dietician for a year of that and she was very helpful, but said I'd ruined my metabolism with dangerous diets.

My weightloss and change of attitude was kick started by the doctor's warning and then being really ill following one such fad diet, and I couldn't eat without being sick and was in pain for several months, which gave me those all important results on the scales; and more importantly, it shrank my stomach so that I couldn't eat very much. That combined with working with the dietician (and that magical switch in my head, which for a change, was on the right side) led to great success.

I have a lot of excess skin left, which I've found very hard to deal with and I think that's part of reason for the weight gain (subconsciously) because I still feel fat and I hate the way I look without clothes.

For about 2 years, I didn't really have any trouble keeping it off, or refusing all these lovely foods (it didn't bother me at all and I didn't feel like I was missing out); I think I liked how I looked more ( in clothes anyway), and I enjoyed the compliments.

My partner is large himself and he's a feeder. He's always buying me stuff he knows I shouldn't have and I'm finding it harder to refuse. They do say misery loves company!
I'm also a big emotional eater (boredom, stress, anger, you name it, lol) with the first 2 being the main ones.

Over the last year and a half, I've put on 2 stone, and I can't seem to shift it. I'll lose 3-5 lbs, but then it slips back on.
My willpower and drive seems to have deserted me and I'm really scared I'm going to end up at 19st again. I know I'm eating too much crap (biscuits and crisps), but I can't seem to stop.

Any help appreciated.

OP, sorry that I don't have much advice for you.

[name2change4this]

I also can't exercise due to ill health. I'm feeling tired all the time, very down in my mood and so fed up of myself.

I remembered one tip my dietician gave me though:

When you're full, but before you actually feel full, your body sends out subconscious signals to make you stop eating.

So if you find yourself sighing/ huffing whilst you're eating (especially as you bring the food to your mouth), STOP eating as your body is trying to tell you that it's full.

It's a very subtle sigh so look out for it. Also, eat slowly, so your body has time to register.

[StealthPolarBear]

Name2 what weight are you now? I do think you need to accept that you can put on some weight (even if that's not what you'd ideally like) without going up to 19s. At my recent heaviest I was still a good 3.5 stone under what I was in 2010. That's still a huge improvement in my chance of death and disease.

[reader77]

This really interests me too and I sympathise. I've accepted that my body can't tolerate sugar and processed carbohydrates- I literally crave them and can't stop eating them if I have even a little. It's incredible how much I can eat of biscuits/ pastries/ white crap. I've gone cold turkey (again) and bingo...I'm back in control. I eat normal portions and don't have cravings. I used to feel like a greedy pig for not being able to control it but I honestly now feel something else is going on connected to processed carbs which really helped eliminate the self disgust that also led me to comfort eat.

[reader77]

I should have also said: it's not JUST will power. The will power is only in the first three or so days off cutting out the sugar/carbs. After that: in control. Amazing.

[name2change4this]

Yeah, the best I've ever felt is when I was on the Atkins diet. I've also never eaten so many veggies as I did then. I had so much energy and felt fab. I definitely have a problem with carbs inc. sugar and find it difficult to stop once I start.

I'm currently around 13st (I vary between 13st 5 lbs and 13st). My family thought I looked gaunt at 11 st, and the doctor reckons my extra skin weighs between 1st 1 & 1/2st.

[Dowser]

Some excellent posts and insights here. Sibling s post was very good.
I have got to be in the zone or I just can't do it.
Not getting into last years wedding dresses has done it for me.
I'm in, but can't wear them iykwim
I have a lot of digestive problems that work better without gluten dairy and sugar which is in all the nice things.

So to improve my digestion I cut them out of my diet

I have the occasional treat. If I eat well most of the week then a piece of good chocolate is not going to hurt.

I'm doing intermittent fasting, leaving as many hours as possible overnight. Without food.
I alway have an onion omelette every day for breakfast. If I'm away from home I take hard boiled eggs with me and will shun hotel breakfast s that I've paid for at times if I just feel they are going to be detrimental. Not so bad if there's eggs, bacon and beans, mushrooms and tomatoes but no good if it's all continental rolls, jams, sugary crap.

Once I'm comfortably in my dresses I reckon I can sustain this as it will be my life's choice.
My dh likes to cook, I like to let him. He's giving me huge portions. I halved the turkey curry the other night and just ate that.

So now having cut out all the detrimental stuff I'm now looking to portion sizes.
I don't believe in getting weighed either.

If you don't want to bloat up you might need to drop the gluten. Dh makes a fab pizza with chick pea flour .far tastier than dough pizza.

[Dowser]

Oh and reading the slim persons thread was very very interesting.
Most of the naturally slims aren't over eating. They seem to have that switch that helps them to cut down and cut out naturally.

[Stellar67]

Reading posts. Well done stealth!
Yes quim, soups should be my friend with a cold but I am bad for adding a salted buttered roll or two.
Have been having omelettes for breakfast and ignoring the bread.
This thread is a breath of fresh air.
Where is the slim people thread? I'll go and search.

[StealthPolarBear]

Mmm yesterday not good though I didn't binge. Have shredded today so hoping it marks a better start. Yes we need a link to the slim persons thread. My cousins are naturally slim, one does a load of exercise as she enjoys it (I'm sure she was adopted) ans the other does lots of exercise though I suspect she enjoys it slightly less and doesn't overeat because she knows how to take care of herself. I wish I could get there.

[Dowser]

Here's the slim persons eating thread

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/_chat/2771504-Please-can-a-slim-person-talk-me-through-what-they-eat-in-a-day?

[Stellar67]

Thank you Dowser.

[Stellar67]

Just checking in. I've been mindful of what is going in and feeling quite good about it.
Planning next weeks meals. I feel better knowing what we are having.

[Ellieboolou27]

I think meal planning is the way forward, I've spent most of this wkend making lentil soup, beef goulash and chicken cous cous so I have my meals ready for when I'm home from work, my problem is I don't eat "proper" food so I'm always picking, I'm so fed up with diets, been in and off one for last 20 years,

[Out2pasture]

I've been making okay food choices but have had difficulty logging it therefore i'm probably underestimating my calories and not taking in enough protein.
I had guests on sunday which threw me off my rhythm till lunch today.
I had guests scheduled to come stay the weekend which would have made exercising and careful food choices difficult but they may have to cancel.
my weight is slowly going down which is good.

[Bloodybridget]

I'm interested in what pps have said about a "switch" that starts them eating less, and being "in the zone", as that's how I've experienced weight loss for years now; it really has been like a switch goes on and suddenly I'm ready to eat sensibly and cut out the crap. I've lost 20lb or so like this . . . several times . . . and then after a few months at a weight I'm very happy with, I start eating a bit too much again, slipping in the odd croissant mid-morning, a slice of cake, and at some point the switch turns the other way and I'm eating for England and always thinking of the next thing I can shove down my gob. And so all the weight goes back on, and I'm very unhappy about it and cursing my stupidity.

So I used to think I was completely at the mercy of the "switch", that I couldn't really control my eating habits and that it was inevitable that I would never be a healthy weight long-term. BUT this year, having put on a few pounds, I told myself I did have a choice about whether I went on gaining weight or stopped overeating and lost it; that I did have willpower, I didn't have to go through that cycle again and again. And actually I think changing my "script" has made a difference.

[Msqueen33]

My willpower went awol a few months ago. I managed to shift two stone at the beginning of this year over a few months then June time (significantly I suppose we had another of our children diagnosed with autism) it all went to pot. I have back issues and the weight going back on has made it a lot worse.

I'm a binge eater and an emotional eater. I snack badly too and I know I just need the strength to stop it because once habit sets in it kills the cravings and that makes it easier.

It's six weeks till Christmas so I've said I'm going to aim to shift a stone. I'll definitely be more comfortable then.

I've always had issues with my weight and go up and down. My family all have weight issues and I can look at chocolate and put on a pound. For me it's a never ending battle.

[Stellar67]

Waiting to hear about a job and have eaten rubbish every night this week because my nerves are all over the place. What can I do instead?

[Out2pasture]

Hi stellar, I understand guilty of that on many occasions. Tea works for me, if I catch myself in time. If I've not eaten too much during the day and might genuinely be hungry I'll make a mini meal with meat and veg. All in an attempt to avoid cheese....yes cheese is my weakness ;(