Help - I’m stuck in a rut and it’s affecting my weight and my happiness!

[Stuckinarut12]

I have been carrying around an extra stone for the last four years and don’t have the energy to lose it. I’m still getting sleepless nights because of my DC which leads to two things:
-no energy to exercise in the day
-over eating the in the evening.

My big problem is that - when they go to bed - I watch tv and OVEReat. I do it because I’m bored and also free! It’s my only “me” time and the only “me only” joy I get. I know I shouldn’t see food as “me joy”, but I do.

Anyone else been there? An emotional eater? What do emotional eaters do to lose weight?!?!

What can I do in the evenings instead?!

I want to be someone who’d have some calming herbal tea and not an entire bar of chocolate, plus whatever snacks I can get my hands on, but... I’m definitely not!

Anyone??

Can you get out for a walk in the evenings?
Do something with your hands like knitting?
At least you know your only eating from boredom so it’s a matter of changing your habits.
A nice gentle yoga session at home and get rid of all the sweet in the house so there’s nothing to reach for

I love the idea of an evening walk,bubba, but it won’t work for me as I live in a very built up neighbourhood where it isn’t lovely to walk, and a little stressful (I don’t like being out and about in the dark too much!).

Really like the idea of doing something with my hands! I’m not a knitter, hmm... will think of some other hobbies I could do like that!

Would love to hear any other tips on how to beat emotional eating!

I'm the same and I have to say it's easier to give advice than follow it. Try jigsaws (loads in charity shops) or read or adult colouring in/paint by numbers or a meditation app. If you can be as relaxed as possible by bedtime, rather than pumped full of junk, then your (interrupted) sleep may be more restful and you may feel your energy levels increase enough to start walking or something.

Now to take my own advice...

I'm not really in a position to be giving weight loss advice because I'm hugely overweight but for keeping your hands busy could you try colouring in? I always have something on the TV I'm having paying attention to whilst doing some colouring. Have my own special pens that DD isn't allowed to touch 😄

I love this idea of colouring in! Maybe five years ago, someone put one of those books in my stocking and I loved it! Obviously haven’t touched it or anything similar since, but really need to try and find a “better” way to my evenings than eating and telly’ing...

I have an unopened adult jigsaw I could try and get into also...

I totally get this OP, I’m 100% an emotional eater and see my evenings as ‘me time’ after I’ve put my lo to bed. I lost 4 stone last year and found that chewing chewing gum helped (specially Hubba Bubba as it’s sweet), drinking diet fizzy drinks and also doing something with my hands, I made pompoms, did my shopping list, ironing, anything to occupy my mind! I also started hoola hooping which is fun and quite a good workout. I would say not to put too much pressure on yourself in January, do what you can but the lighter evenings will help. I know chewing gum and fizzy drinks aren’t healthy but they’re better than a whole chocolate orange which I was partial to!

Some things that helped me... I stopped buying and keeping snacks, desserts, crisps etc. The few weeks when I kick started my diet, I went to bed early... so didn't watch tv after Dc were in bed and therefore didn't snack. Even if I didn't get sleep, I would watch something in bed and we have never taken food up into bed. Or would browse the net. It was really motivating to see a few pounds drop every few days. When I gained confidence that I could control my snacking, I started to watch tv, but would always with a drink like sugar free fizzy or tea or coffee.

amymel2016 I love the idea of chewing gum, making Pom poms and hulla hooping! I am going to give some of those a try!

mommydragon going to bed early and watching in bed / reading is a great idea. I find cleaning my teeth long and dull, so I know i’d Stop snacking after that job - because I wouldn’t want to clean my teeth twice in an evening - I am also going to try that and get in bed after the distraction stuff that others have recommended!

This has reminded me of something I planned for January: sorting out photos and selecting some for a photo book. The children live leafing through the ancient photo albums but digital pictures aren't so accessible. I want one photo book a year with selected highlights and so January is the perfect time to do it!