Trying something new.

[ToadRage]

My referral to the weight-management clinic was rejected twice, apparently they only accept people who have diabetes. I cannot afford to go private so i have to find another way. I have a muscle-wasting condition so more exercise is not an option for me. I have tried every plan, diet, fad etc. SW, WW, SF, Atkins, J+, even hypnotherapy cds. I have never managed to lose more than a few pounds to a stone. I am 5/6 st overweight.

So i have looked into why i overeat and I find i eat either just cos it's that time of day (lunchtime, dinnertime, etc) and it's expected or cos I am bored. What i have decided is to try and identify hunger better and if I don't believe I am truly hungry I just won't eat. If i find myself looking for a snack I will stop and ask myself if I really want that snack, I will try and distract myself with something else. I know I need to make better choices about food as well but I think this is the first step, not eating just for the sake of eating but eating to satisfy my hunger and stop when I am full. What are your thoughts about this approach, does anyone want to join me on this journey?

Have you tried looking at ‘volume eating’ you basically make big portions but most of it is very low calorie food that just adds bulk and makes it feel like you’re eating more. So if you want pasta and bolognaise then have half the pasta and chuck a load of mushrooms into the bolognaise to bulk it out or have a serving of greenbeans or spiralised courgette alongside the pasta. If you want something to snack on, you’ve thought about it and decided you really do want a snack then have salted popcorn or sliced veg with hummus.

Low calorie high volume foods also have the benefit of usually giving you a much better balance of fibre which is great for gut health, filling and help stabilise blood sugar levels.

I'm similar, fustrating isn't it, friend of mine asked if i could get the weight loss jabs off NHS (cheek!) Bmi not quite high enough but fit as a fiddle, you need I think 4 co-morbidities like diabetes, high blood pressure.

I've lost weight many times too with various diets, twice with weight watchers I've lost 3 stone but it's miserable, always starving and always creeps back on! Anyway few days ago after buying some new trousers that are a bit too tight I thought I'll try going as long as possible in the day with no food, i never eat breakfast when I get up anyway just tea & coffee, usually 3-4 hours before I feel like food, then I can eat more in the evening which is when i want it the most. For some reason once i start eating I want more.........sorry hit post before finished😂 so I'll join you for moral support💕

I've worked with people who, as you describe, eat just 'because' or to self soothe (or to keep up with a spouse who is a foot taller and a manual worker!) and have had good results from simply changing the way they think about food; turning off the food noise.