Really struggling

[welshdaisy]

Hey guys, just looking for an epiphany. Not gonna get one, I know that, but figured I'd start a thread...

I am an occasional binge eater and find it really difficult to lose weight. I try so hard and then fall off the wagon. I don't even know how I fall but one min I'm drinking water and eating a healthy meal and the next I'm eating a box of french fancies.

I'd really love to lose weight, not just to look good but to also feel good. I find it really difficult though I really do..

I cook healthy meals as I've got children, but it's the snacking not the actual meals if that makes sense. I work from home in an office job and don't have much of a social life.. it's the evenings I'll sit down with a book or the tv and find it really hard to not snack.. is this normal? I feel like a massive failure sometimes.

I guess I already know what I have to do, but why do I find it so hard?

Hi Op

Don't feel bad about yourself and don't give up either.

As a starting point try to have less junk in the house. If you don't have it in, you can't eat it.

But I would probably try to look at why you are bingeing. What are the triggers? Can you do something to distract yourself, even for a short pause? Or get into a routine of preparing some nice fruit to sit down with to watch TV?

I was very like you until I started weighing and logging every meal on My Fitness Pal. It’s helped me lose, and keep off, over 3 stone.

Once I saw in black and white how many calories those 3 wagon wheels and 2 packets of crisps added up to and how much over my daily calorie target they pushed me, I finally got a handle on it.

I lowered my simple carbs and upped my protein and it helped me resist the binging. Keeping a track of my calories means I can choose to have that extra roast potato and give the glass of wine a miss or, have one less roast potato/less mash/ wholemeal pasta or whatever, and have that small chocolate bar.

Don’t get me wrong, I still have the occasional blow out when I eat that large bag of M&M’s to myself. The difference is it’s an occasional occurrence, not a daily one. If I do blow out one day, I get back on track the rest of the week and eat to my calorie target or a few under to make up for it. It isn’t even a weekly “cheat day” because I like having the slim figure I now have.

Also, it doesn’t actually matter how ‘healthy’ your meals are if your portion sizes are too big.

Work out your TDEE here -that’s the calories you need to stay as you are, reduce this figure by 15-20% to see how many calories you should aim for to lose weight.
tdeecalculator.net/

I thought I’d never get a grip of my eating OP, and that I was destined to become obese & suffer health issues like DM, MFP takes time initially but I’ve found its well worth persevering. One you have all you usual meals/snacks set up you can log at the click of a button.
Good luck.