Overeaters Anonymous/Food Addicts Anonymous

[charming23]

For me it was not until I called it a "lifestyle change" rather than a diet that I started seeing results. I had tried every fad diet out there only to gain back all that I have lost. So last December I decided to make a change and really look at what I was eating. I cut out almost all pop (I still have the occassionally can but it is mostly water and plain brewed tea for me) and started to look at nutrition labels more. Since then I have lost 20lbs. May not be much but I am keeping it off and I feel better for it.

Only you can decide what route is best for you and when you will finally take that step.

 

[Crankyshank]

You really need to speak with a therapist to get to the root of why you are emotionally eating. You don't have to have any sort of trauma to talk to one. You just need to be able to recognize your triggers and work out a plan on how to face them in a healthy manner. A counselor is an unbiased observer.

I am a horrible emotional eater. I also have medical issues that make it harder for me to lose weight and also affects my metabolism (I feel tired all of the time). I also work full time and go to grad school full time, so I understand the difficulties of trying to lose weight when you don't have a normal schedule.

I've lost 19lbs since June 1st. Technically I lost 26lbs but I gained weight back because I fell off the wagon (failing marriage and stress made me self-sabotage).

Here's what has worked for me:
- I go to the gym at least 3x's a week in the morning before work. It sucks, I won't lie to you. I hate exercise and I despise mornings. However I have so much energy after I leave and that makes me a lot more alert in the evenings when I have class.

- I don't eat red meat except on special occasions.
- I have fish 1-2 times a week
- I have 1-2 days completely meat free every week (and I am not talking about pizza or pasta)
- I make big batches of food that I can take with me to snack on that doesn't need to be reheated. I cut up grilled chicken into pieces, quinoa salad, cucumber salad, caprese salad, granola, almonds, apples w/natural peanut butter, bananas, cantaloupe, etc... I can snack on them every couple of hours at work and school when I'm feeling peckish and I stop as soon as I no longer feel full.
- no more coffee or soda of any kind, except on special occasions
- I have a raging sweet tooth. I have to have something sweet to eat every day as a reward. I do this by buying a big box of the popsicle/creamsicle/fudgsicle variety pack. I also buy SF jello pudding cups. None of these items exceeds 80 calories.

 

[DawnM]

Why no coffee?

I have lost weight before while continuing to enjoy my morning coffee.

Dawn

- no more coffee or soda of any kind, except on special occasions
- I have a raging sweet tooth. I have to have something sweet to eat every day as a reward. I do this by buying a big box of the popsicle/creamsicle/fudgsicle variety pack. I also buy SF jello pudding cups. None of these items exceeds 80 calories.

 

[Crankyshank]

Because coffee contributes to insulin resistance. Like I said in my previous post - that's what worked for me. I have endocrine issues and it's made a difference. So now I just drink tea.

 

[DawnM]

Was it the caffieine the coffee? Do you drink decaf tea?

Dawn

Because coffee contributes to insulin resistance. Like I said in my previous post - that's what worked for me. I have endocrine issues and it's made a difference. So now I just drink tea.

 

[DawnM]

You know, one thing that has helped me when I really just need more VOLUME of food but not the calories, is to make WW 0 point soup. I play with it a bit as I don't really like the exact ingredients in this. I also sometimes add wild rice and ground turkey to make it an actual meal.

http://www.food.com/recipe/ww-0-point-weight-watchers-cabbage-soup-128956

Now that I look at it....I play with mine a LOT.

The last batch I made (after not making it for a couple of years) looked more like this:

1 full head of cabbage shredded
1 full head of cauliflower, cut
1 stalk of celery, cut
1 large yellow pepper, cut
3 yellow squash, cut up

1 can tomatoes with liquid
1/2 can tomato paste
onions
garlic
(above can be fresh or powdered)
2 T. fresh grated ginger

Fill pot with enough water to cover vegetables

If desired:

ground meat (1 pound)
1 can black beans
1 cup uncooked wild rice

I cook everything together in a huge pot except the can of cooked beans and the cooked meat. I cook it for a good 30 min or until veggies are softened. I then add meat and beans if I am going to add them.

This lasts a good week with very generous helpings per day. It really staves off hunger and you can tweak it to taste.

Dawn

 

[goodeats]

On that 3 Fat Chicks Forum, check out the forum regarding the Beck Diet Solution. It's really helpful in explaining how to change your behavior and recognizing your triggers.

For me I never realized how much mindless eating I was doing. Free food out on the counter in the office? Free samples at Costco? My daughters leftovers off of the highchair? Yeah, I ate all of it. Now I try to be more cognizent of what I'm consuming and why. Also, I had a habit of coming home from work and stuffing myself with chips or crackers because I was 'starving'. If I feel I'm 'starving' I let myself gorge out on carrots or sugar snap peas. This helps in two ways because the carrots are lower calories and it's hard to eat too much because of all the chewing. Plus I also tell myself that nobody died from a meal being a little delayed. It's true!

 

[eliza61]

Thank you for the Monica

Chloe- my insurance will pay for 1/2 of therapy but I don't know how I feel about that yet, I'll have to think about it. I don't really have any deep seated traumas. I think I have always used food as my outlet for anger and sadness, etc. I am known as a very "nice girl" and in many things in my life I've "finished last". I have the type of personality that I put others first and I don't like having anyone not like me or feel upset with me.

I have a good job, I'm happily married, etc. but I think I've trained myself whenever I'm frustrated with work, things breaking in the house, worried I said the wrong thing to a family member, etc. etc. I just head to the kitchen. I can stick to a diet for awhile, but as soon as I cheat, a slice of birthday cake, a slice of pizza, etc. it is like that first drink, I'm hooked.

Minnie- thank you so much, If you have any info on the plan you follow, I would love it. I wish I could pin point something. I think it is just always feeling like I was feeling bad about myself or anything, food would make me feel better.

sending my hugs and well wishes also. I don't have any experience with either orgnization but I will give my opinion on one thing.

Pretty much, healthy eating and exercise are a life long battle. don't think of it as "end of your rope" type of thing. I just keep on going. if I have cake, I don't beat myself up, I just try to do better.

 

[Heimlich1]

Have you tried Sparkpeople.com. It is a fabulous resource (kind of like a DIS for dietary issues). And it is totally free. The couple who started it and maintain it made a lot of money in some tech venture and just wanted to share with other people.

Thanks for the Sparkpeople link, it sounds great!

For me it was not until I called it a "lifestyle change" rather than a diet that I started seeing results. I had tried every fad diet out there only to gain back all that I have lost. So last December I decided to make a change and really look at what I was eating. I cut out almost all pop (I still have the occassionally can but it is mostly water and plain brewed tea for me) and started to look at nutrition labels more. Since then I have lost 20lbs. May not be much but I am keeping it off and I feel better for it.

Only you can decide what route is best for you and when you will finally take that step.

Thank you! I totally agree with you on the lifestyle change. I have to get that embedded in my psyche!

Y
- I don't eat red meat except on special occasions.
- I have fish 1-2 times a week
- I have 1-2 days completely meat free every week (and I am not talking about pizza or pasta)
- I make big batches of food that I can take with me to snack on that doesn't need to be reheated. I cut up grilled chicken into pieces, quinoa salad, cucumber salad, caprese salad, granola, almonds, apples w/natural peanut butter, bananas, cantaloupe, etc... I can snack on them every couple of hours at work and school when I'm feeling peckish and I stop as soon as I no longer feel full.
- no more coffee or soda of any kind, except on special occasions
- I have a raging sweet tooth. I have to have something sweet to eat every day as a reward. I do this by buying a big box of the popsicle/creamsicle/fudgsicle variety pack. I also buy SF jello pudding cups. None of these items exceeds 80 calories.

Definitely portion control helps. I like how you accommodate your sweet tooth in a portion control way. Thanks for all the advice, I really will think about all of it.

You know, one thing that has helped me when I really just need more VOLUME of food but not the calories, is to make WW 0 point soup. I play with it a bit as I don't really like the exact ingredients in this. I also sometimes add wild rice and ground turkey to make it an actual meal.

http://www.food.com/recipe/ww-0-point-weight-watchers-cabbage-soup-128956

Now that I look at it....I play with mine a LOT.

The last batch I made (after not making it for a couple of years) looked more like this:

1 full head of cabbage shredded
1 full head of cauliflower, cut
1 stalk of celery, cut
1 large yellow pepper, cut
3 yellow squash, cut up

1 can tomatoes with liquid
1/2 can tomato paste
onions
garlic
(above can be fresh or powdered)
2 T. cup up ginger

If desired:

ground meat (1 pound)
1 can black beans
1 cup uncooked wild rice

I cook everything together in a huge pot except the can of cooked beans and the cooked meat. I cook it for a good 30 min or until veggies are softened. I then add meat and beans if I am going to add them.

This lasts a good week with very generous helpings per day. It really staves off hunger and you can tweak it to taste.

Dawn

Thanks Dawn! It sounds great!

On that 3 Fat Chicks Forum, check out the forum regarding the Beck Diet Solution. It's really helpful in explaining how to change your behavior and recognizing your triggers.

For me I never realized how much mindless eating I was doing. Free food out on the counter in the office? Free samples at Costco? My daughters leftovers off of the highchair? Yeah, I ate all of it. Now I try to be more cognizent of what I'm consuming and why. Also, I had a habit of coming home from work and stuffing myself with chips or crackers because I was 'starving'. If I feel I'm 'starving' I let myself gorge out on carrots or sugar snap peas. This helps in two ways because the carrots are lower calories and it's hard to eat too much because of all the chewing. Plus I also tell myself that nobody died from a meal being a little delayed. It's true!

ITA with the midless eating!

sending my hugs and well wishes also. I don't have any experience with either orgnization but I will give my opinion on one thing.

Pretty much, healthy eating and exercise are a life long battle. don't think of it as "end of your rope" type of thing. I just keep on going. if I have cake, I don't beat myself up, I just try to do better.

Thanks Eliza! I am definitely ready to start trying to do better. I did better already today.

I am finally starting to realize that whatever solution exists, I have to DO it for the rest of my life. It is not easy, but I am ready. I might never be 110 lbs again, but I will get to a healthier place

Thanks again!