Bad relationship with food

[Dontwanttobefatanymore]

Gosh I finally plucked up the courage to weigh myself today and I’m distraught.
I have always been ‘big’ never smaller than a 14/16 but never bigger than a 20. I think I’ve justified myself as big rather than fat as I’ve been able to buy clothes in most mainstream shops and apart from a large tummy i don’t appear fat as I am quite tall.
I have yo-yo dieted my whole teenage and adult life and my relationship with food is so poor. I don’t enjoy food so don’t eat for hours then will eat because I’m hungry and binge eat a chips and nuggets type meal and a big bag of crisps.
I really want to stop being overweight and I am trying to do some exercise but I really need to sort out better eating habits for myself.
I’ve done all ww, slimfast, sw, herbalife, orlastat, rosemary conely etc and manage to lose some weight but then I return bag to my starting weight and more because they don’t seem to change my habits.
Anyone know how I can change my bad habits? Thanks

You could try hynotherapy?

Eating when you are not hungry or perhaps as a coping mechanism for unpleasant feelings is a sign of an unhealthy relationship with food. Having dietary guidelines and restrictions as well as altering your eating habits are also included in weight management.

I've had disordered eating since my teens.
Verging on anorexic, only eating one thing a day, under 7stone. Exercising to extreme. Then I got pregnant and tried to sort my eating out, now I swing between not eating for days and binge eating.
I'm obese with a multitude of illnesses.
I've finally got my head in the right place (I hope) Realising it doesn't need to be all or nothing. Just little improvements will do.
So I'm weighing and logging my food on MFP , increased my protein after checking it on a macro app and aiming to eat 3 meals a day (this is probably the hardest part for me).
It's true what they say, abs are built in the kitchen.

I guess everyone is different, it depends what is causing your issues with food, once you address them maybe it will click?

Pandermonium is right. Little
improvements will do.

First thing to understand, as you’ve pretty much said yourself, is that if you don’t eat all day you will eventually feel starving and a binge on crap is pretty inevitable (your need for sugar and carbs will feel overwhelming so you are unlikely to reach for something more nutritious, no matter what good intentions you may have). You are also likely to overeat then because you are so hungry and don’t give yourself enough time to feel like you have eaten enough - which is why the big bag of crisps follows the nuggets and chips.

So..start by eating 3 meals a day, that include protein and ideally, fruit/veg and some good fat if poss. Doesn’t matter what else is in there but work from that basis as if you don’t get the nutrients we all need, we will again still feel hungry!

how does that sound as a starting point? Do this and forget about weight loss for now, concentrate on mending your relationship with food.

I’d probably start with meal planning. If you sit and write a plan at the weekend, for the week ahead, and shop for the ingredients you need, you might be more likely to stick to it. Sounds like when you finally do cook, you just put beige type foods in the oven. So maybe if you had a plan that tomorrow will be spaghetti bolognese, go and buy mince and vegetables, at least you’ll be having something nutritious that day.

Habits are hard to break, but if you can plan to cook healthy dinners, look up recipes online, and buy what you need, rather than buying junk. I find I eat less junk if I just don’t buy it in the first place. Sounds easy, but when I fancy a chocolate bar, and find there aren’t any in the cupboard, it soon subsides.

Thanks for your advice. I need to really start thinking about what and when I’m eating.
I definitely need to up my fruit and veg intake. Any recipe book recommendations?

What foods do you like? Something like the green roasting tin might be good. Or just google recipes with ingredients you like.