Confessions of an Overeater

[shellynn24]

I love to eat. It makes me happy and I love to be happy. I would love nothing more than to be eating donuts right now…probably half a dozen donuts, preferably Krispy Kreme. There is something else that makes me very happy, seeing the numbers move down on the scale. Unfortunately, the two things that make me happy are at odds with one another and that makes me very unhappy. The problem I have is the food is instant gratification and the weight loss takes time…much more time then I would like considering the obsession with yummy food. I have tried all kinds of things….Weight Watchers- turns out I hate keeping track of things that closely. Plus I don’t like trying to figure out how many points my home cooked meals are worth. Counting calories- See previous complaints about WW. I don’t like to have to constantly think about how much each bite is worth, it makes my brain hurt just thinking about it. Weight Loss Program through my Dr. clinic- I am so bad about watching what I eat and wanting to eat whatever I want like some kind of spoiled brat that my daily weigh ins just show the same number or ‘gasp’ an even bigger number. Now I am at my wits end…I’m just short of pulling my hair and I have no idea how to change. The weight loss counselor just tells me to find something else that makes me happy like a hobby or just to keep healthy snacks around and fill up on that so I won’t be hungry and eat bad food. It’s not even about hunger, if it was that easy it would not be an issue and besides who wants to eat carrots instead of brownies? Sheesh!!

I’m not even sure why I’m writing this. I know all the rules of weight loss; I have been very successful at it in the past. I was in the Army so I know all about exercise and being in good shape. I even exercise now; not as often as I should but I still do it. I think I just needed to vent and find out if I am the only one who feels this way. I love all the DIS peeps and the support that can be found on the WISH board so thanks for listening to me!

 

[bumbershoot]

Knitting is actually a good hobby to prevent random eating, because you don't want to get your yarn dirty! And you get to make things, which is pretty awesome.

I like eating bulk. That's why I love WW because I can load up my plate with veggies (I have ALWAYS loved a good salad bar) and things like that, and I get to eat and eat and eat, but only some of the things on my plate have points.

Shortly after I started WW this time I decided to eat all points coming to me. And I do. I eat FAR more than many others my size who are doing WW. Far more points and probably far more zero point fruits and veggies. I have found that this makes me happy, to eat the bulk, and it's still working for me.

For me personally, I got to the point you're at (that the two happy things are incompatible with each other) AND I realized that life isn't fair, my body isn't going to magically just eat what I think it wants AND have my pants size at a happy place, and so I just needed to deal with it. My brother and sister in law, who I had already mentally teased for doing things like eating ONE cookie, or half of one of those tiny things of ice cream, etc, were actually doing it the right way. If their waistbands get tight, they don't go eat more; they get on the bike or take a run. If my brother wants beer he doesn't eat dessert. If he wants dessert he doesn't have the beer. If he wants both one night, he does extra running that morning. etc.

I wasn't going to get to the size I want to be while doing what I was doing.

Sounds like you're *just about there*. It was at that point that I did what I had to do, and started tracking everything that went into my mouth. After all, my thighs sure were! Might as well get my mind involved, too.


Best of luck to you!!!!!

 

[shellynn24]

Thanks everyone for reading.

 

[shellynn24]

I started a journal on the WISH Journals board. If you would like to read more come join me over there

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=49662705#post49662705

 

[happymommy]

First of all, it's great that you could reach out! I hope you get tons of support here.

I tried WW, well twice. I only needed to lose 10-15 pounds, but it's still hard. I find that everyone I know (including me) who has done WW has either stayed with them for life, or put the weight back on once they quit. May just be the folks I know though.

Maybe something like Jenny Craig or Nutrisystem, although unappealing to many, is what you would find success in. Anything where it's just given you eat THIS and less choices.

Good luck! There's no easy way, and (ugh...) the older we get the harder it is.

 

[THISisBILL]

If you absolutely do not think you can break your affinity for food of the junk variety, you may have some success with the Leangains and Carb Backloading programs. The sites make it seem like they are for athletes, and they do indeed work for the population, but you may find the protocols a middle ground between healthy eating and a non-stop binge.

If you feel like trying for healthier food choices, and this would only bolster the above programs, I would look up the Perfect Health Diet. It's written through the lens of, well, a diet for perfect health. Since such a thing does not exist though, they settle for optimal.

I do wonder if your appetite would diminish if you cut out sugar as well. Eating doughnuts and brownies is only temporarily satisfying, while steak and potatoes tends to fill you up a little longer. I'll be interested to see how things go for you, food can have a VERY strong grip on us. I'm still a sucker for chocolate!

 

[amwildwood]

As someone else who tends to eat my feelings, have you tried hypnosis? I find it helps a deal with the why of the eating issues. I've tried WW with some success, but I hate trying to figure out points most of the time and don't like rules. It's tough and wish I had some magic to share.

 

[disneydreamin247]

Have you tried something called Eat More 2 Weigh Less? Check out the gokaleo blog. You may find a lot of the posts and info very informative.

 

[Disneyaddictz]

I love to eat. It makes me happy and I love to be happy. I would love nothing more than to be eating donuts right now…probably half a dozen donuts, preferably Krispy Kreme. There is something else that makes me very happy, seeing the numbers move down on the scale. Unfortunately, the two things that make me happy are at odds with one another and that makes me very unhappy. The problem I have is the food is instant gratification and the weight loss takes time…much more time then I would like considering the obsession with yummy food. I have tried all kinds of things….Weight Watchers- turns out I hate keeping track of things that closely. Plus I don’t like trying to figure out how many points my home cooked meals are worth. Counting calories- See previous complaints about WW. I don’t like to have to constantly think about how much each bite is worth, it makes my brain hurt just thinking about it. Weight Loss Program through my Dr. clinic- I am so bad about watching what I eat and wanting to eat whatever I want like some kind of spoiled brat that my daily weigh ins just show the same number or ‘gasp’ an even bigger number. Now I am at my wits end…I’m just short of pulling my hair and I have no idea how to change. The weight loss counselor just tells me to find something else that makes me happy like a hobby or just to keep healthy snacks around and fill up on that so I won’t be hungry and eat bad food. It’s not even about hunger, if it was that easy it would not be an issue and besides who wants to eat carrots instead of brownies? Sheesh!!

I’m not even sure why I’m writing this. I know all the rules of weight loss; I have been very successful at it in the past. I was in the Army so I know all about exercise and being in good shape. I even exercise now; not as often as I should but I still do it. I think I just needed to vent and find out if I am the only one who feels this way. I love all the DIS peeps and the support that can be found on the WISH board so thanks for listening to me!

I can totally relate to you! I love to eat and it makes me happy but after the initial rush I start to feel the guilt set in. I joined the coast guard and had been overweight my whole life, barely mAde weight to get in, anyways I used eating as a social thing being the new girl and it just got worse. I couldn't relate to those those ate healthy because you and me both know a burger is wayyyy better then a dry salad! I went to my first meeting after my mom begged me to from 1,000 miles away. The leader said something that changed it all, she said watching, planning and counting is Hard but being fat was too.. Pick YOUR hard. That was it! Weight watchers worked for me but you should still find your plan that you like but in the end you will have to make some sacrifices. You can do it, nothing is more motivating then that first loss and it can happen after just one week good luck!

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[jsmith654]

I am loving the app MyFitnessPal! It is really helping to hold myself accountable. If anyone is on it and wants a buddy, my username is jsmith060504!

 

[Riverhill]

I am loving the app MyFitnessPal! It is really helping to hold myself accountable. If anyone is on it and wants a buddy, my username is jsmith060504!

If it is ok I need to be held accountable and would appreciate some support. I have gained 30 lbs in the past year. I have had 2 surgeries and a lot of stress at work all of which I dealt with by eating. My desire to lose the weight is for health reasons. I am over 40 just had a hysterectomy and need to pull it together before I have serious side effects from the extra weight.

 

[pitterpint23]

I've been an over eater since I hurt myself during a dance competition. Tore my hamstring, and ruptured my calf muscle. Was on bed rest for 8 months. It took a lot to get back around, but I've been around the 200 mark for a while now. I've started losing weight, eating right and since I started eating healthy, I was struck by a debilitating disease called chiari 1 malformation. I've lost vision in my left eye, have constant pressure headaches, with waves of pain.. I've lost fine motor skills in my left hand and can't bare weight on my left leg and have problems with getting my leg to move.
Since then, I've gotten a wheel chair and an AFO brace to help walking.

I've begun my diet again. Just being some encouragement because. Honestly - I love food!