I miss the power of food

[Glokkey]

It’s remarkable how a good plate of food could literally turn my mood around. We’re talking a complete 180 degrees. A bad day could be totally reversed with a good lasagna.

Feeling shit today and would love nothing more than a pile of cheese and baguette.

Feeling very sorry for myself. Food was my biggest joy. I know I am working towards giving myself an improved quality of life. But in the here and now I feel like all the joy in my life been sucked out.

well there is zero reason to not have a reasonable portion of any good food.
besides portion control for a meal you need to plan for the entire day worth of meals and snacks.
so if you cook up a great lasagna, continue as is but slice yourself a 2/3 or half portion based on the calories OR start by subbing one or two of the layers with veg vs pasta (eggplant or butternut squash work well) if going with a white lasagna make it with milk vs cream. when it comes to the cheese use half the usual amount.
if you know your supper will be calorie dense plan a light breakfast, light lunch and snack avoid dessert or alcohol with the meal.
honestly you will not sustain not eating foods that you enjoy. it will lead to binging in the near future.

you need to figure out how many calories a day your body needs routinely (not with 100 hours of exercise either it needs to be a routine sustainable level) then you need to eat slightly less to loose weight so that when it comes to maintaining the loss you are fully aware of your requirements. the weight loss process is slow.

I guess I mean more like a proper binge. Ie ordering a lamb doner with a bucket of garlic sauce. Or a medium pizza just for me. It had such a massive psychological effect

I still eat foods I enjoy but am sensible about it. But that’s just not as “fun”.

i miss the uplifting effect ordering something totally indulgent had on me

I guess this is about shifting habits so it would be good to look for something else that might turn your mood around: a film; a bath; a Zumba class; walking the dog etc.

yes- you need to find non-food things that give you a positive feeling. These are different for everyone.
And try and reframe food as fuel , and not use it as a reward or a treat.

You can still do that. As long as it’s eg once a month and not once a week.

Yup. It's still doable you just have to eat healthily the rest of the time.
I go nuts a few times a year! My birthday is coming up and I plan on eating my own body weight in junk food all day......then going right back to sensible eating the rest of the time.
It only works if you can keep it a very rare treat though.