comfort eating

[Babyramone]

Since the birth of my DS 3 I have steadily put on weight until just before got pregnant with DD(6 months) was size 16-18 and about 121/2 stone to 13 stone depending on time of month ect.
Luckly didn't put on much weight with my pregnancy but since DD's birth I can't stop nibbling. I now weigh more than I did when pregnant and am creeoing up to size 20.
If I'm honest I am really quite unhappy and think I'm comfort eating.
I know some people think this is nonsense and I should have more wilpower but I feel really stuck in a rut. My friend said she can't understand why I've let myself go as Although I'm 39 look late 20's early 30's and she said have lost my spark
I make healthy meals etc but at night just eat sweeties, chocolate and crisps like they were going out of fashion.
It struck my last night last I'm not even really enjoying or even tasting the food, I just chew and swallow.
My gp doesn't think I have PND but does think I have some depression.
Has anyone else had this problem and if so how do you break the cycle.
Not looking for quick fix (know have a long hall ti get back to my normal size 14)

No advice. Just wanted to let you know you are not alone. x

THanks

You need to find a replacement for the snacks you have become too dependant on

That's it really.

Healthy snacks. I know fruit & healthy things seem horrible compared to snacking on crisps & 'nice' things.

How about you take a pineapple, slice it & leave in fridge for snacking on. Pop some grapes in the freezer, they are like boiled sweets

Sainsbury's do low fat crisps so you won't feel deprived. Snack a jacks tend to be lower in fat than crisps also.

Have you thought of joining a slimming club?

Do you think that if you address the issues that are making you unhappy that may help to break the cycle and stop the comfort eating?

Do you need more help with dc? Do you need more time alone with dh? Interests outside of the house for some 'me' time? A holiday to look forward to?

I don't have much advice but wanted to see if I can help in any way.

I watched a prog on tv once about really savouring your food. Chewing for longer, enjoying every mouthful, giving your brain chance to register about what you're eating so you get the 'full up' signals and stop eating sooner. Could any of that help you?

{{{hugs}}} you sound like you need them

you'll get there though. Just take a step back and perhaps take the focus away from your weight and think about what else you need to do to make yourself happy. Then it might all start to work itself out from there xx

Good advice MLS, but I recognise the habit that babyramone has got into. I, myself can fall into it & out of it at the drop of a hat!!

That's why I suggested the slimming club. The one I follow is slimming world, where you don't have to count points in anything, you can eat as much as you like of certain foods depending on whether you are having a green or an original day And all the fruit you can snack on is entirely free

for more details look here

fireflyfairy2 was just about to post exactly the same thing and say good advice from you!

replacing snaks with healthy options is a really good idea, I'm sure in no time at all you'd get used to it and not miss the crisps and chocolate.

and a slimming club could be just the motivation babyramone needs to stick to the healthy eating

I'm going to hypnotherapy for this reason. I want to eat mindfully because I know when I don't I just shovel it in. But I can totally relate to your posts and sometimes just the relentlessness of being a parent is overwhelming and you blink and find an empty packet next to you

I agree tinker.. often I have sat & ate a packet of crisps, the kids might want something, so I go sort them out, then come back, the crisps would be done & I would have no recollection of ever eating them!!

Even having huge dinners & lunches can't help me when I am in 'binge' mode. I just need to eat.. doesn't really matter what, as long as my mouth is going!

Lately I have been 'binging' [sp] on grapes, chopped up pineapple & a tub of muller light!! lol

fireflyfairy2 - methinks you jest! My DH scoffs my food when I'm not looking too.

Oh I eat very healthily, just too much and not slowly enough. I also don't get enough exercise (except climbing up and down the stairs twenty times a day trying to get my DD to bed and by the time she's finally asleep, I'm knackered).

I used to binge in the evenings like Babyramone, but I'm actually too tired to do that now, it's as much as I can do to make a cup of tea and go to bed. For me it's boredom in the daytime and frustration because every day is the same and I know we have to go through this bit to get to the bit where she becomes a proper communicating child rather than a squally lump (she's teething at the minute and being a bit of a misery).

Babyramone, you sound so much like me, it's creepy! Over the years with two pregancies, I have put on 4 stone and I have the same urge to "treat myself" at the end of yet another mindnumbingly stressful day. So I eat. Crips are my downfall..and takeouts. I have started the Cambridge Diet a week ago and have so far lost 8lbs. It is not the most sensible of diets but it promises to be quick, and that might just work for me as I know (from the previous 500 attempts at dieting) that I simply do not have the willpower to stay on a diet for 1 year or so.
Btw., love your taste in music!! And Edinburgh is definitely on my list of places to visit..have never been so far!

Tinker.. I jest not

Seriously, there's nothing to curb the appetite more than a huge bowl of fruit!!

The secret is to allow yourself a proper treat once a week or so [mine is on a wed night after sw class] that way you don't feel deprived

FFF - I meant the 'you leave the room and you come back and your food has gone' bit.

I don't find the 'once a week' thing works for me, I'd actually prefer not to have any chocolate etc. than a little bit because I think you endow the food with special powers if you do that. I'm of the 'treats should be non-food based' school of thought. I'd far rather have a long bath, or spend an hour reading a book than have a kitkat TBH and in the long term I think that's better for me.

I know some people find it works but I think that (for me) would be one of the reasons I'd lose weight and then regain it. You get to think 'hey, I deserve this treat' and then when you aren't having it, what have you done NOT to deserve it IYSWIM. So you reach a point where you just go for it and have treats a couple of times a week, then every day and what do you know, you're back in your larger clothes again.

Or that may just be me.....

AARRGH have just spent half an hour wrting you all a nice note then I deleted it.
Deep breathes.... Start again.
Thanks everyone for all your great tips and support.
I thing i def need to find a healthier wat of snacking and will look into slimming club.
FFF thanks for link
Mylittlestar your so right I really need to look at why I'm unhappy and eat.
I have had quite stressful time since DD's birth. My mum who's only 58 has been diagnosed with a form of dementia.
It's beem a great worry and she has a partnwer who she along with kept my sister and myself in dark.
She now has mortgage arrears (they live in her house and he pays nothing, no rent, no bills just buys food but always out that days sell bys)and other debts. So am extremely worried on that level. Thanks for the hugs
Agree that parenting hard and so easy to decided to treat ourselves.
Michael had thanks also. Had wee peek at ypur profile, love your wedding photo like your hair. Mine is similar colour at least would be if I can ever get to a hairdresser.
At moment is more faded red with darkbrown/grey roots. YUK!!!
You'd love Edinburgh

Apologises for dreadful spelling

I would recommend a slimming club, I did weightwatchers, lost nearly 2 stone and a year later I have not put it back on. It totally changed the way I eat and also the way I feed my family. I tended to comfort eat because of boredom.
Are you coming to the meet-up in Edinburgh at the zoo on the 28th?

OO didn't know about Zoo meet up. Sounds good I'm a member so can pop along anytime.
Whats the details.

here is the thread