Emotional eater - where to start?

[KittyB52]

I have (finally) realised that I am an emotional eater, and I need to lose a good 3 stone.

I have used WW before as I found the app easy to use.

I know I rely too heavily on carbs to fill up rather than healthy proteins, and I think WW would ‘allow’ me to carry on with that way of eating.

I know I won’t continue with anything that requires too much faffing or maths - I have menopausal brain fog, and virtually no energy.

Like a lot of people at the moment, I can’t afford expensive plans, I just need something that will help me rein in my bad habits and keep me accountable.

Would WW still work for me, or is something like Noom better?

Thanks for advice/recs.

Basically dealing with why you emotionally eat and trying to find new coping mechanisms to manage your stress and emotions. You have to want to change more than you don’t want to change. Willpower (my worse one)

I will say though that I have made the mistake of signing up to something to keep me accountable and then it’s easy to blame it when it doesn’t work or goes wrong. WW or Noom are just tools, you are the user and you will only get out what you put in. You have to drive it, these apps or plans wont do it all for you. You have to learn the boring things like calories otherwise you will make choices that don’t help you lose weight like not counting foods correctly and then you will feel disappointed

Willpower is so tricky. I find myself wandering to the kitchen late evening almost on autopilot.

Yes same, so I don’t buy it at all or I force myself to do something else like go for a walk. If you eat a big nutritious dinner you will be full for longer. Also once you get going your willpower grows as you don’t want to undo all your hard work

I really recommend this https://www.nobsweightloss.com/

She's very American and I was a bit unsure at first, but I decided to give it a go. I'm an emotional eater and this helps me manage it.

I started it at the beginning of this year and have lost 11kg. It's by no means a fast weight loss but it feels sustainable. The biggest thing is the stuff about not giving up. I had a big day yesterday and over ate quite a bit. I feel dreadful today (hangover and absoluteky exhausted). But I know that today I will eat somewhat indulgently but within sensible limits. And from tomorrow I'll be fine to go back to eating reasonably healthy. I feel confident that I know how to control what I eat rather than have food control me.

While she has a paid programme as well I haven't felt the need to do that. I just listen to the podcasts and follow the free plan.

Yes you do have to break a binge and restrict cycle. It’s not sustainable to binge then set unrealistic goals for tomorrow to restrict food as it never works. if you overdo it, you can just clean the slate and start again tomorrow.

I can't comment on or recommend any specific diet but as you are choosing one please read this book. It will help you to understand what is important when choosing what to eat, and why.
Why We Eat (Too Much): The New Science of Appetite
Andrew Jenkinson

I am also an emotional eater and digging deep to understand why I eat when under stress is helping me. Boredom, frustration, anger, lack or reflection, going to bed too late, keeping the food which is too tempting - all those are making me reach for fiid when I am not hungry. But when I eat according to recommendation in that book it is easier to keep my emotions under control. That is why the knowledge he put together is crucial.

Thank you all for your recommendations. I will do some reading around emotional
eating.

I know I won’t continue with anything that requires too much faffing or maths - I have menopausal brain fog, and virtually no energy.

I can completely relate to this. Annoyingly, I think you need to accept some faff/maths as this what will help you. Basically you need to take time with calories and understanding protein etc. The good news is once you have knowledge it will help you build good habits that will work.