I need to change my brain before my body will change

[Newyearnewarse]

I have tried and failed for years to lose weight. And I am now the heaviest I have ever been.
It makes me sad and annoyed but I know if I don't change how my brain thinks that I will keep failing .

Does anyone have any suggestions of what could help ?
I have looked at some books but they do mostly come down to the simplicity of eating less and moving more.
Well if I could manage that I wouldn't be fat in the first place!

I have thought about how I use food and I think I use it too much as a treat. I need to really connect the idea that eating crap will make me look and feel worse.

All ideas gratefully received.

[Spanielsanddaughters]

We eat at 7:30 too, I like to wait until the kids are in bed so I can actually enjoy it.

Since I’ve been eating a lot less I’ve found I’m having a slight sense of humour failure around 5pm, but a small snack (cheese and olives, nuts, bit of Greek yogurt etc) does the trick. Then I’m not angry and comfort eating all night

[Heygirlheyboy]

Breaking up with Sugar is good and I've also read Brain over binge. Both authors had disordered eating. Even just reading them helps. Both are anti diet but you already know that. It's a scary place to be when you feel food is in.control and scarier still to make moves to finish your negative relationship with food but you need to take thr first step or nothing will change. The first book explains why you've got where you are, ie what sugar does to your brain. It's not your fault but you do now have to fight it.

[Heygirlheyboy]

mikeuniformmike if you are genuinely hungry you'll want food not snacks

The opposite is the case with me, over hunger can absolutely send many to the quick fix snack!!

[MikeUniformMike]

Heygirl, you need to have suitable snacks in for those occasions. Scottish Oatcakes are good. It needs to be low GI and filling. Cupasoup is my snack if I am struggling.

Crisps or biscuits are lethal.

Not eating in the evening means no takeaways etc.

I find carbs are a killer as it gives me sugar spikes, so I eat lots of veg instead of things like pasta.

[Heygirlheyboy]

I have it in hand thankfully! I don't keep anything in the house but I'm just saying the idea that real hunger doesn't lead to the snack drawer is not true, unfortunately.

[MikeUniformMike]

You wake up ready for breakfast, so you eat breakfast not snacks.
You don't let yourself eat in the evening so no snacks.

[Heygirlheyboy]

Yes I know. Sorry if I'm mixing you up. I took your comment at face value ie real hunger leads only to real food. Not eating after 4pm may also be a real challenge for many and actually lead to snack cravings.

[MikeUniformMike]

It is a lot easier to not eat anything than it is to just have two biscuits or just one packet of crisps, or maybe that is just me.

[Heygirlheyboy]

Oh absolutely but I find I can't let myself get over hungry

[BestestBrownies]

Most plans are unsustainable long term. This is what works for me:-

1. Remove all temptation from the house/your reach
   
2. Use MyFitnessPal and weigh accurately/log absolutely EVERYTHING
   
3. Weigh/measure/take photos of yourself regularly to see progress
   
4. Build exercise into your daily routine slowly
   
5. Use CBT techniques
   
6. Reward yourself for every lb/half stone/whatever lost
   
7. Got a craving? Brush your teeth/have a big drink of water/suck an ice cube
   
8. Keep busy
   
9. Use distraction techniques

[cittigirl]

I'm all set for change from tomorrow. I'm hoping that it lasts for more than a few days. I have really got to lose this extra weight now. No more excuses. I think I have around 4 stone to lose. I'll take it one day at a time. Maybe even an hour!

[Newyearnewarse]

Morning @cittigirl
I hope you are feeling ready and motivated.
My goal is to focus on each half stone otherwise it is just too big.

Today I will log my food and as it is monday and I finish at 3 ish I will take my gym kit and get my arse to the treadmill.
I was managing 5k 3 times a week about 3 years ago and I felt so much better for it.

[RubySlippers77]

I completely empathise with your situation OP. I have three stone to lose and it just seems insurmountable. I've lost 2 - 2.5 stone before (even after having the DC) but it's crept back on and now I cannot shift it.

I'm a SAHM and my tendency has been to say sod it, only the DC see me often and they don't care. But now it's led to social anxiety as frankly I'm embarrassed to meet up with people who knew me pre-DC. Plus I have no self-confidence for job hunting.

@Octopus37 I did Our Path last year and really liked it till I went on holiday and it and me went pear shaped! When I was at home with control over what I ate and time to devote to reading the articles etc it was fine. On holiday with small DC to look after, going here, there and everywhere and eating what/ when I could - it didn't work for me.

I was hoping today would be a fresh start but I've already eaten chocolate I've had an ear infection for over a fortnight now and am utterly exhausted. I followed Slimming World for a bit and like @Iusedtobeapartygirl it did work for me, but just found the online membership too expensive for the support it offered.

Is your DP supportive of your weight loss plans OP? Mine definitely needs to lose weight (he is 20+ stone) but can't be bothered to cook (if I'm ill he will just get a takeaway) and would rather snipe at me and make digs about my weight than get off his arse and help!

[cittigirl]

Good morning Newyearnewarse and RubySlippers77 . Yes I'm feeling motivated so far. I've even brought a good lunch to work that I cobbled together at the last minute. I was going to stop at Tesco for something but it's a temptation. I do need to go shopping later and hope that I can stay focussed. I weighed myself 🤦‍♀️. You are right, a half stone at a time. I know that even after shifting half a stone I will feel better. I'm moving house in the next 2-3 weeks so it wont be easy but I'm hoping keeping busy will help. Have a good day all. I'll report back later.

[Newyearnewarse]

How is everyone getting on ?

So far so good here , have managed to log all my food and even with a stressful day I have kept in calories.

The first couple of days are the easy bit though aren't they ?

[KidCaneGoat]

Hey OP. Have a read of this article. It basically says that being overweight and dieting changes your metabolism so that you need fewer calories than people who haven’t dieted. So it’s really really hard to keep weight off. www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.nytimes.com/2016/05/02/health/biggest-loser-weight-loss.amp.html Hopefully it’ll make you feel better about why it’s been so tricky so far

[cittigirl]

So far so good but it's only day 1. I went shopping and managed to resist the chocolate isle. But I have had 2 options drinks!

[cittigirl]

Btw I'm going to be doing the fast 800 diet for as long as I can and as best as I can. It seems to work for me and I do feel energised on it. I was doing well last year but then had an accident and couldnt walk for a while so its gone back on.

[RubySlippers77]

Interesting about the fast 800 diet @cittigirl. I just get far too hungry to cope on that whilst running around after the DC (although clearly I then eat far too much )!

Awful day here with the DC, they've been loathsome. Trying to resist burying my feelings with food... I know I do it but it's a hard habit to break

[cittigirl]

Whatever works for you Rubyslippers77

I spent years doing slimming world. With good results but am so bored with that way of eating. I do think this is healthier but it does take willpower.

I have the same issue here with emotional eating too. Before I had dd I would just not have 'bad' stuff In the house but with a growing hungry teenager theres always something to eat

[womanaf]

Give TeamRH fitness on Facebook a follow. Changed my life.

[iswhois]

I feel you OP

I go through cycles of losing some weight. Something happens (holiday, stressful event) buggers it up then I get mentality of fuck it for a few weeks and pile on even more weight than before

[cittigirl]

womanaf there seems to be a few teamrh on facebook. Can you link to it please? Thanks.

[Strictly1972]

It’s really hard. I’ve been doing slimming world since jan and I’m a stone down but I’ll admit that my head hasn’t been fully in the game until this last week or so. I think it’s because I have another stone to lose so feeling that I’m half way there has motivated me. Also I’ve put myself on a spending ban so I can save up & go on a shopping spree when I get to my ideal weight so that’s really helping me stay focused. I think just take small steps & eventually it will come. If nothing else why don’t you have a look at the pinch of nom website. It’s not affiliated to any diets/slimming clubs but it has tasty low fat recipes so is a good starting point. I’ve also tried to get a bit more active by incorporating walking into my daily routine. Good luck.

[Newyearnewarse]

@strictly
I love the pinch of non recipes. I have both books and they are my go to at the minute.