Help! I can't get on the wagon.

It seems like the more I pay attention to what and how much I'm eating, the more I eat. It's almost as if keeping track of it is depressing and I eat to feel better. But then I feel worse. It's also costing me an arm and a leg. I always go over my grocery budget for each month and I always eat more than I intend to. Tonight I went to the grocery store to get milk and ended up getting $20 worth of stuff. Then I stopped at McDonald's on my way home. I feel like crap because I have no self control or self respect. GAH! Why does losing weight have to be so stressful and difficult?! I'm especially worried with the holidays coming up. Food is a huge deal in my family. I really need to learn self control.

Hi I so know how you feel. The worse you feel the more you eat trying to close up that emptiness inside you or at lest that’s how a lot of the time I feel. I do have some suggestions for you. Maybe they are not the best but they might help. One thing I learned never go to the grocery store hungry have a snack before you like a apple or something. When your walking around hungry with food all around you tend not to make the wises picks. You could also make a list before you go to the store maybe allow your self one planed out treat that you put on the list and it wont be so hard to stick to the list that way. When your on the way home then and you pass those fast food places pull out your little extra treat you got and munch on it. Or if you just have to go to the fast food place order from the kids meal its still less food at lest. As for the holidays try using a small plate when your eating with the family. I know it sounds silly but some people have found they can trick themselves into thinking they have eaten a lot by simply using a smaller plate. Well hope I was some help never the less keep trying. There is no such thing as failure till we give up.  

I had that same terrible habit - short stopping at the fast food places when alone, usually to the store.  I know for me, i had to go get help at Overeaters Anonymous - honestly that is all I can say. I went for four years, 3x a week or so.  Past that, try reasoning thru with your self.  Say this ONE TIME i will not stop, I will go to the store and come home.  We know we will face shame and guilt, so try making the decision before you get there. Also...are you eating lots of fruits & veggies with your lean proteins and whole grains? If not, start.  I learned, from OA that my body was crying for good nutrition.  The cravings were so high because actually i overate but was sadly undernourished.  Are you????? Do not give up...this is a dangerous game you play! I was there, and it is not easy to get out.

I'm with Neecee - You need to cut your goals down to individual instances.  "This one time, I'll make it out of the grocery store with just the milk."  "This one time, I'll pass by McD's and not get anything."  After a while of that, you'll see that your behavior will change into good, not bad.  That you'll gain some self control (and self respect).  You'll be okay.  I have faith in you.

I would stay to stop focusing on the actual weight loss and start putting habits into place that you can sustain.  The numbers in the end are not all that important.  It is the journey to getting there. If you are stopping at the fast food restaurants then make it a goal to stop there one less time a week.  Start setting smaller goals for yourself so that you aren't constantly beating yourself over the head every time you "slip up". Make it one thing a day.  Stopping at the fast food places can be your first goal.  your second goal can be adding some steps to your day that you normally didn't take before.  The third goal could be to add some more fruit and vegetables to your day. These changes have to be ones that you can make and keep for life.  Losing weight cannot be looked at as a short term goal, it's a forever thing. Good luck!!!

When I am having a hard time I will watch shows like "I Lost It", Big Medicine, etc.  It seems to help motivate me and make me realize there are other people in the same boat as me who have succeeded.  Maybe reading books about weight loss and/or joining something like W.W. too.   I was really addicted to fast food and I gave it up pretty quick, which surprised me.  I worked on my mind a lot!  I know for me I just got plain fed up with not sticking with it.  I'm not perfect, but the difference is that I don't just throw in the towel.  I pick myself up and I fight now. It really is within us all to control, it just takes a whole lot of practice.  I always keep in touch with this board too.  Good luck to you and YOU CAN DO IT!!!

Brenda

 

Wow, are you sure we're not from the same family.  I have had these exact thoughts.  I think everyone is right though.  For one I myself have been thinking about going to OA meetings.  But I like the idea of baby steps and just take it one day at a time, or one place at a time for taht fact!  I've done excellent the past three weeks on not going to McD's or any fast food.  In fact, I haven't!  I have gone to restraunts I think twice, but I actuallychose good foods.  I think we need to retrain our minds.  I know my mind says I NEED that icecream from McD's at least once if not more than that a week.  I've found before (been "clean " off junk food for about six months) and I'm finding again, that once I stop going there after a while the cravings start deminishing.  I know I'm a food addict and I'm trying to treat it that way.  If I touch it once...it will happen again.  So other wise don't even go near it and I'll not only feel better about myself, but my weight won't try to go up!  At keast until you do have that self control to turn it away.