Over Eater

LegacyUser

Hi Lads,

I have a real problem with a lack of willpower thats causing me to eat all around myself.
I go to my folks house at lunchtime to have lunch and visit every day. The problem is that i have a couple of sandwiches but always end up eating loads of crisps and chocolate, then i feel rank going back to work.
I know its bad and i shouldnt do it, but i proceed to keep doing it every day.
I tell myself, like today, thats it!! I wont do it tomorrow, but deep down i know i will.
I dont have the money to be buying lunch out every day so i need to go there for lunch.

Any words of wisdom that might help me would be greatly appreciated!!!

Oh The Humanity

Firstly accept responsibility.

Saying 'I have no willpower' is like saying 'I have no muscles' you do have willpower but unless you ressurect it and use it all the time it will be weak.

Self control with food is hard for everyone. You have got to start being hard on yourself. Don't expct easy answers, because there are none.

Do you eat a satisfying healthy breakfast? If not you need to start, make it healthy and nutritious so you are not looking for 'tasty goodies' at lunch.

You need to plan ahead to make tomorrow different or else it will be the same as today, so to break the habit make your lunch tonight and bring it in and dont go to your parents house. Go to the park for a walk and eat the lunch there.

Every day will be like yesterday unless YOU make the changes.

RossFixxxed

No Will Power wrote: »

Hi Lads,

I have a real problem with a lack of willpower thats causing me to eat all around myself.
I go to my folks house at lunchtime to have lunch and visit every day. The problem is that i have a couple of sandwiches but always end up eating loads of crisps and chocolate, then i feel rank going back to work.
I know its bad and i shouldnt do it, but i proceed to keep doing it every day.
I tell myself, like today, thats it!! I wont do it tomorrow, but deep down i know i will.
I dont have the money to be buying lunch out every day so i need to go there for lunch.

Any words of wisdom that might help me would be greatly appreciated!!!

Exercise. Maybe even join a sport. I found it fantastic for that. Cycling is great, mountain biking is excellent (bit blokey though if you're a girl). Your body will begin to crave healthier foods over time and you will enjoy the exercise more and more. If it's a sport (even for fun) you will find yourself naturally trying to improve on this and balancing out your eating.

However, it will still take willpower, it something gradual so you should make sure you enjoy your hobby (even just walking around the area with some weight on your basck) in some way and STICK WITH IT!

I find that deciding I'm going to stop drinking, smoking, over eating and blah all in one go is a crazy idea. Just take a little off each day, give yourself time and keep going!

Good luck op

LegacyUser

Hey there,

I feel exactly how you feel. And today I have done just what you described (and yesterday). As a result, do not want to go outside, see anyone or do anything. Due to feeling crappy and down about it.
Don't know how to describe it, what exactly clicks in the mind to justify tons of food (any food) being consumed everyday or most days. Some days you probably have good days, right? And you may even have a few good "healthy" days, feel the benefits of not stuffing your face (i.e. not bloating, wind, IBS etc. Won't get into the gorey details ) And then you may think, okay, there's light at the end of the tunnel, I've managed a couple of days eating "healthy", I must be breaking this cycle?

Is it similar for you?

LegacyUser

I dont currently eat a breakfast which i understand is a big problem. I have never been really able to stomach any food first thing in the morning.
I guess i'm just gonna have to shove it in until i can get used to it.

I was about 3 stone lighter about a year and a half ago and i felt great, but i start putting on weight gradually untill I had put on a lot, which in turn made me less able to excersice and more able to devour big portions. The heavier I get, the more down I get, the mor I eat.

Im caught in a vicious circle and know i have to make the change, but find it very hard to break the circle.
Im gonna eat breakkie tomorrow and bring lunch to work with me.
Thanks for the advice!!

Beetlebum

Oh The Humanity wrote: »

Firstly accept responsibility.

Saying 'I have no willpower' is like saying 'I have no muscles' you do have willpower but unless you ressurect it and use it all the time it will be weak.

Self control with food is hard for everyone. You have got to start being hard on yourself. Don't expct easy answers, because there are none.

Do you eat a satisfying healthy breakfast? If not you need to start, make it healthy and nutritious so you are not looking for 'tasty goodies' at lunch.

You need to plan ahead to make tomorrow different or else it will be the same as today, so to break the habit make your lunch tonight and bring it in and dont go to your parents house. Go to the park for a walk and eat the lunch there.

Every day will be like yesterday unless YOU make the changes.

Well said (as usual)..

OP, nearly everybody loves food particularly things like choclate and crisps.
I am a slim size 8 and some of the larger girls in work will say to me oh, you're so lucky you whippet. It's not down to luck though, it's down to me eating a healthy balanced diet. I eat rubbish too but overall I eat lots of veg, brown rice, low fat yogurt and drink lots of water. I also walk 20 minutes to work everyday. The girls who say this to me are the very ones who order chips every lunchtime and drink coca cola. I love chips but only ever get them on a Friday. It's called will power and we all have it.

Try these few little tips and see if they help -
Instaed of eating a whole bar of choclate just eat 3 squares. That way you get to indulge your sweet tooth but not pile on weight.

Drink more water. It fills you up and prevents dehydration which can be mistaken for hunger.

Have soup for lunch. It's very healthy and filling if it's not cream based.

If you like coffee, I find that after eating lunch or dinner a cup of coffee gets rid of my sweet craving. I crave choclate after every meal but for soem reason coffee stops this.

Just try a little harder to exert self control. It's not easy so don't be too hard on yourself. If you some will power loan me some too so I can quit smoking!

petethebrick

As other posters mention - a good breakfast is vital.
You should have weetabix, shredded wheat or porridge.
All of these will give you a good start to the day and slow release energy, keeping you full for longer.
If you go home for lunch then you have the opportunity to have something healthy eg soup and sandwich, salad etc
If you have a constant need to snack then try crackers such as water biscuits or rice cakes. You should cut out the chocolate and crisps altogether.

Do you keep any sort of record of your calorie intake each day?
I didn't use to but now am usually aware of how much i consume daily and try to keep it around 2000 calories or under.
Nearly every food has the calorie content on the label or you can look on the inetrnet otherwise.
It may sound like a lot of hassle but once you get used to it you can keep track of your calories very easily.

thefeatheredcat

No Will Power wrote: »

I go to my folks house at lunchtime to have lunch and visit every day. The problem is that i have a couple of sandwiches but always end up eating loads of crisps and chocolate, then i feel rank going back to work.

OP,
Well you're not alone there.
Do your folks normally have crisps and chocolate around the house? It'll make it a lot easier if that stuff wasn't around or at least not obviously visible so that you're not tempted.
If you don't see it, it's not there so you can't eat it!

Crisps and chocolate are the worst, I always have an issue with them. But I just don't buy them, or I decide I will next shopping then totally forget about it and be happier I didn't. Maybe just pick one type of chocolate and restrict it?

One thing I tend to do it restrict something very specific and then have that item one time some weeks later...more often I wish I hadn't because it then tasted awful.

OP: I hate eating breakfast also, so I bring a yogurt and fruit with me to work in the morning. I go in early, so I've a chance to eat it before I start and by that stage I'm awake enough to be hungry! I'm not the only one.
As for lunch, can't afford to be buying it every day either - so make your lunch and bring it in! Make a sandwich, bring in more fruit, and maybe a thermos with soup. Problem solved. Junk food really is just a habit, remind yourself to break the habit itself !
Then take a walk around outside. If you have any nice clothes shops or whatever nearby-ish you can even just walk down and windowshop- even if it's just a 20 min walk you end up with a bit of exercise. Or a park, whatever
good luck