Trying to tackle unhealthy attitude to food

Shyker

I've realised recently that I have a very unhealthy relationship with food. I think it has always been like this but in the past 4-5 years I have definitely gotten worse. I have little or no restraint at times and will eat to excess (certain foods, obviously and generally the ones that are bad for you). I have a very very sweet tooth and love all types of sugar with few exceptions. However my love of foods doesn't stop there. This has resulted in a yo-yoing of my weight over the past few years. I never let it get too out of hand and always rein myself in when I find myself going a half stone over the weight I have been for years (10 stone, I'm 5ft 4) but it seems to be happening more frequently these days. I want to take action and have made out a healthy food plan for myself for next week. I am a regular exerciser so plan on continuing that as I have been. I would like to get rid of my food demons and I would also like to position my weight somewhere around the 9 stone mark. I have no time frame in which I want to do this - I'd prefer to get over the food issues first and then concentrate on getting to the weight I want through a healthy approach to food and regular exercise. I'd really appreciate hearing how other people have tackled any issues they have had with food. I've no real idea how to go about this!! Thanks in advance

Alopex

Address underlying cause. Have you confidence or self esteem issues?

lalluthelady

It's a mindset. You can change now if you want to. It's all up to you.
What do you say?

Shyker

lalluthelady wrote: »

It's a mindset. You can change now if you want to. It's all up to you.
What do you say?

@ Alozpex - no, never have had. Very happy with my life and myself in general.

@ Lalluthelady - I say hell yes! I like that. I can change a mindset!

learn discipline and self control. Force this upon yourself if needs be.

Empty your cupboards of any of the foods you've described above. Give them away or throw them out, anyway, keep them away from you.

Sit down and spend 1 hour writing a "menu" for yourself for the week, realise what ingredients are needed for 1 full week's eating. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and healthy snacks like nuts and berries). Go to the shop with this list of ingredients and buy nothing else.

Be disciplined enough for one week to stick to the menu you've given yourself, and then try the same approach next week. Do this 3 times in a row, and you will be 70% of the way to taking this habit out of your system.

The important thing is to remove the chances of slippage from the first few days/weeks of the process. This means that your weekly shop must have everything you need, so that you have less chance of buying stuff during the week that will impact upon you weaning yourself off the bad stuff.

Good luck, changing a habit like the above is tough, but hopefully if you can get through 2/3 weeks, you will start to feel the health benefits and be more in control of your body. Be warned that the first week will be tough, you will have cravings just as if you were coming off a drug. Headaches and flu-like symptoms aren't unusual. But come through the other side of it, and you'll be in a far far better place.

Shyker

Thanks Albert Moldy Scumbag. That's v helpful - I had worked out a menu for today and tomorrow but it makes sense to have it for the full week.

Good start today - good food eaten so far, good food currently cooking for dinner and a bit of exercise this morning!

JaneMurphy22

I am currently having the same issue. About a year about I decided I wanted to lose some weight. At 5”2 and 8 and a half stone I was by no way over weight but I just felt uncomfortable. I decided to cut down on what I eat, basically lots of fresh fruit and veg, low-fat yogurts and very little carbs. I lost weight slowly but steady and I now weigh 6 stone 11 pounds. However I have developed a very unhealthy attitude to food, it seems every week I decreasing my food intake a little more and I have become obsessed about calorie counting. I now eat exactly the same every day;

Breakfast: one banana, 54 calorie low fat yoghurt, 3 tablespoons of muesli.
Mid Morning: Pineapple chunks (80 calories)
Lunch: Cup-a-soup (64 calories) and low fat yoghurt (91 calories)
Dinner: Home made veg soup (~100 calories)
Treat: low calorie hot chocolate with two marshmallow (60 calories)

Now I am aware this is way too low but just to note I am functioning fine on just this. I go to the gym for 1.5 hr three-four times a week however I am starting to get worried about how controlled I have become. For example today we went for a team lunch a work – I had a small salad with no dressing, cheese or bread. I am going out for a friend’s birthday and will choose another low fat option and won’t have desert nor wine and I am feeling incredibly uncomfortable about it. I have been worrying all day about how it will affect my weight and I hate that I am now this person. I used to really enjoy food and the social aspect of going for a meal. I do not want to put on weight but I really do not want to continue to have this unhealthy relationship with food.

metamorphosis

No you are not functioning fine at all, you have gone into a disordered mindset and now have an irrational fear of food. Id advise you go to a relevant group of professionals.

Check out bodywhys.ie and marino therapy clinic in Dublin, confide, this is not how you want to live your life.