Help! Can’t get back to normal eating post Xmas

[TheCatsMakethTheHome]

Bit of history… started to make the effort to lose weight in 2019 and lost 4 stone since then, through exercise (cardio) and low carb high protein eating. Since Xmas I have put a stone back on and can’t get back on track! My head doesn’t seem in the right space and I’m panicking now as I feel powerless to stop. It’s like the food is controlling me instead of me controlling the food. I really don’t want to get big again 😢
Any advice really appreciated xxx.

You ever calorie counted? What you binge / snack on? What time you go to bed?

I think starting is often the hardest part. Once you see a little downward movement on the scales, the motivation should come back.
Things to try - take full length mirror photos, either in a nice outfit you’d like to fit back into, or underwear or swimwear, from all angles. Helps to see yourself a bit more objectively. Make a small goal, like losing a certain number of pounds by end of Feb. Arrange to go for a long walk with a friend, then it’s in your diary and you won’t find an excuse not to do it. Join Parkrun if you have one near you. Just walk it if you don’t want to run, plenty of people do. You could even volunteer to be a tailwalker, then you’ve got no excuse to walk the 5km each Saturday.
Stop buying whatever snacks or foods are the unhealthiest. If they’re not in the cupboard in the first place, you just cant eat them, the feeling will pass.

I can't offer any help, but I can offer empathy. I'm in exactly the same place. I put a stone on and I cannot get in the right frame of mind to lose it. I know I'm comfort eating, I've always battled with this relationship with food, but I've really struggled to rein it in over the last year. I got my head in the right place in September after we managed to afford a little holiday, and I lost the weight I had gained last year, but piled it all back on again. I know I can lose it, and it isn't even that difficult for me, I just lack the will 😔

I'm in the same boat. I'm so disappointed that my previous good habits abandoned me at the first sign of relaxation!

I've restocked my fridge with 'free' foods, so I can snack whenever I want to without starting in on calorie dense food. I'm allowing myself as much 'healthy' food as I want in an effort to stop me raiding the junk.

I've reversed the upward creep. I just need to get downwards again.

Loads of fruit and veg, basically.

@TalkToTheHand123 I have calorie counted yes but I didn’t really get on with the strictness of it.
I binge on anything ‘bad’, which we don’t have much of at the minute luckily but I get creative. So choc spread on crackers, buttery toast, etc.
I go to bed too late, usually midnight or later when Im falling asleep on the sofa. Not my choice, DH doesn’t like me going to bed before him and leaving him on his own 🙄

@SingaporeSlinky Thankyou for all of this advice! Hubby offered to take photos of me in underwear so I can see my progress which I’ve gratefully accepted.
Also I’m walking everywhere at the moment as car is broken 😊
Trying not to buy excessive junk foods, just a few bits for the kids and I can usually successfully stay away from these.

I'd just let him not like it or offer him some cuddles to join you 😏

@DelilahBucket Thankyou! It helps knowing I’m not the only one struggling like this, we sound very similar! It’s frustrating for sure.
@picklemewalnuts It’s great you’ve stopped gaining, you’re definitely on the right track! You give me hope 😊

@TalkToTheHand123 Yes it’s a bad habit for sure. Do you think it has something to do with my current problem?

You could just move to maintenance for a while before trying to start losing weight. It sounds like you are reacting in anticipation of restriction. Maybe give yourself a break and just aim not to gain anything rather than lose for a little while

Same here. Lost weight last year, felt great. Looked great. Didn’t think I bought that much rubbish at Christmas... But it didn’t take much to make a difference! Like you, I let the good times roll through January.

I was keeping an eye on it before, now it’s toast, fizzy drinks. A bar of chocolate rather than the usual square or two. I’m up a stone, and up a clothes size too. I need to nip it in the bud now...

I was in this headspace after a virus at Christmas but something has clicked this week and my mindset is spot on. Doing similar to a PP and having decent healthy protein and veg available is helping (albeit expensive as our local shop is M&S ) I'm at the top end of being a size 12 and I'm too stingy to go shopping for 14s!

I'm in exactly the same situation. Started losing weight in 2019, lost 5 stone over about 18 months and kept it off but since early December have put on nearly a stone. Can't seem to get motivated to lose it, don't want to put any more on. I like being thinner. I know what I have to do to lose weight just need to get motivated again but how??

I need to think about what I’ll feel like in the summer if I haven’t budged this weight. It’s all too easy to cover up at the moment in the cooler weather. I got out some play suits that I bought last summer that I wanted to wear this year to try and help me get in the right mindset. I actually fitted into them great last year but was waiting on a cosmetic surgery to my leg before wearing them this summer. I’ve had that done since but have now put on the extra weight 🙈. Going to try and use these as my motivation.

@TheCatsMakethTheHome Late nights can lead to a lot of extra calories. You are usually tired and mindlessly eat and lead to a calorific tomorrow. Early nights regularly can do wonders and set you up for a good day.

If impossible to not have early night, I'd just keep spending a lot of time reading about dieting for any tips that may help. Also if succumbing, just take notice of the taste as I found these foods didn't actually taste as nice as I thought. Although it could be all the soup changing my tastebuds.

I drink either hot soup from a soup maker with extra water or cold soup which has been refrigerated (may not be the nicest of tastes but does the business and ensures you are getting plenty water). I drink this from morning to night which seems to work even if I binge.