Obesity Discussion Forums

[adam&emilysmom]

Hi. I just signed up a few days ago and am just now getting around to introducing myself. I am a 37 year old wife and mother of two beautiful children. I have struggled with my weight since I was 18 years old. Well, to be honest I am a compulsive overeater. I like to eat like a cow at night after everyones gone to bed whether I am hungry or not. When my weight gets up I usually take control and begin dieting. ONce I do get motivated I can lose weight, but I usually gain it back after a while. I am hoping to find a plan that I can stick to so that I can be healthy for life. I am tired of feeling exhausted all the time and getting out of breath just from walking across my driveway. I have a 3 year old to chase and I am having a lot of trouble keeping up with him.

I have chosen a low carb diet because I can see quick results. If I don't see quick results, I am so easily discouraged. So far, I have been doing pretty good. I have actually lost about 20 pounds since June. The thing I love about the low carb diet is that I can eat quite a bit and still lose weight. The thing I don't like about it is I get tired of the food after about a week and I want to splurge. I love sandwiches and I can't eat them on this diet and it is driving me crazy! I eat chicken, tuna, salads, boiled eggs, bacon, cheese, pepperoni, taco salad (minus shell), fried bologna, steak, pork chops, green beans. Plus I snack on cucumbers and green peppers with ranch dressing. Every once in a while I eat whole wheat toast and non-fat yogurt for breakfast. I also drink a lot of water and exercise for 45 minutes a day at least 6 days a week. I know that sounds like a variety, but I just get so tired of it. If anyone has any recipes (that are quick & easy) or other diet plan suggestions, please share them.

Also, I really am struggling with the compulsive over-eating. That is one reason I chose the low carb because I can still lose weight even after pigging out. For example, if I have one boiled egg and it tastes good, I can't seem to stop myself from having two or three more. I know that I shouldn't and I try to talk myself out of it, but I head straight to the kitchen and do it anyway. I know that sounds crazy. Does anyone else have this problem? If so, how do you control it? My husband jokingly told me I needed to go to overeaters annoymous, and that is actually what I was searching for when I found this site. Any advise or suggestions would be so greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

[William Wallace]

Why can't you eat sandwiches? There are a ton of low carb whole wheat breads out there, that are only 45 calories or so per slice.

I bet if you ditched some of the crappy food like bacon and fried bologna you'd do even better.

Well first off, I don't know if you noticed, but there are over 1000 low carb recipes in the recipe section of the forums. If that doesn't give you what you need, I don't know what will!

In order to prevent overeating you can do a few things. Like we always say here:

Learn to chew your food extra slow. You're eating so fast you don't give your brain time to realize you're full until after it's too late.

When you say you drink a ton of water, how much? You should shoot for a gallon a day. How much protein are you getting? Protein fills you up pretty good. Maybe down a low carb protein shake at night?

Put some motivation on your fridge! Some pictures of you looking your worst and your best side by side on the fridge. Maybe a scale next to it.

Hope some of that helps.

[adam&emilysmom]

Originally Posted by William Wallace

Why can't you eat sandwiches? There are a ton of low carb whole wheat breads out there, that are only 45 calories or so per slice.

I bet if you ditched some of the crappy food like bacon and fried bologna you'd do even better.

Well first off, I don't know if you noticed, but there are over 1000 low carb recipes in the recipe section of the forums. If that doesn't give you what you need, I don't know what will!

In order to prevent overeating you can do a few things. Like we always say here:

Learn to chew your food extra slow. You're eating so fast you don't give your brain time to realize you're full until after it's too late.

When you say you drink a ton of water, how much? You should shoot for a gallon a day. How much protein are you getting? Protein fills you up pretty good. Maybe down a low carb protein shake at night?

Put some motivation on your fridge! Some pictures of you looking your worst and your best side by side on the fridge. Maybe a scale next to it.

Hope some of that helps.

Thanks for the response. The reason I can't eat sandwiches is because of the particular diet plan I am on. I'm actually on the Suzanne Somers diet. On this plan you can have proteins/fats, and you have carbs/whole grain and whole wheat, but you can't have them at the same time. For example, you can have bacon and eggs for breakfast, but no bread. For lunch you can have whole wheat pasta with fat free marina, but no meatballs. In the first stages of the diet however, your carb intake should be very low. So, I miss my sandwiches. This diet plan has worked for me when no other has. I also drink about 8-10 glasses of water a day.

I actually haven't found the recipe section yet, but I will now! Thanks again.

[Obesity Discussion]

Originally Posted by adam&emilysmom

Hi. I just signed up a few days ago and am just now getting around to introducing myself. I am a 37 year old wife and mother of two beautiful children. I have struggled with my weight since I was 18 years old. Well, to be honest I am a compulsive overeater. I like to eat like a cow at night after everyones gone to bed whether I am hungry or not. When my weight gets up I usually take control and begin dieting. ONce I do get motivated I can lose weight, but I usually gain it back after a while. I am hoping to find a plan that I can stick to so that I can be healthy for life. I am tired of feeling exhausted all the time and getting out of breath just from walking across my driveway. I have a 3 year old to chase and I am having a lot of trouble keeping up with him.

I have chosen a low carb diet because I can see quick results. If I don't see quick results, I am so easily discouraged. So far, I have been doing pretty good. I have actually lost about 20 pounds since June. The thing I love about the low carb diet is that I can eat quite a bit and still lose weight. The thing I don't like about it is I get tired of the food after about a week and I want to splurge. I love sandwiches and I can't eat them on this diet and it is driving me crazy! I eat chicken, tuna, salads, boiled eggs, bacon, cheese, pepperoni, taco salad (minus shell), fried bologna, steak, pork chops, green beans. Plus I snack on cucumbers and green peppers with ranch dressing. Every once in a while I eat whole wheat toast and non-fat yogurt for breakfast. I also drink a lot of water and exercise for 45 minutes a day at least 6 days a week. I know that sounds like a variety, but I just get so tired of it. If anyone has any recipes (that are quick & easy) or other diet plan suggestions, please share them.

Also, I really am struggling with the compulsive over-eating. That is one reason I chose the low carb because I can still lose weight even after pigging out. For example, if I have one boiled egg and it tastes good, I can't seem to stop myself from having two or three more. I know that I shouldn't and I try to talk myself out of it, but I head straight to the kitchen and do it anyway. I know that sounds crazy. Does anyone else have this problem? If so, how do you control it? My husband jokingly told me I needed to go to overeaters annoymous, and that is actually what I was searching for when I found this site. Any advise or suggestions would be so greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

You've got to be careful though, because believe it or not, you're really losing weight because you're eating less calories than you were before....carbs aren't very filling and most people eat a lot of simple carbs, sugars, etc. What's happening is you're eating food that is likely keeping you fuller longer. So what you don't realize is that from a calorie perspective, you're eating less than before calorie wise, although you are perceiving that you're still pigging out.

As far how to control your late night eating....well, go to bed earlier! I agree with William. SLOW DOWN WHEN YOU EAT! Chew 20 times for each bite. Take a smalll break in between bites. You won't be as tempted to overeat. Lots of water, lots of protein, and maybe a pit-bull guarding the fridge.

[chazzyb31]

Hiya,

Sounds to me like the diet you're following is the Beverley Hills diet, which is all about food combining. The thing is, it's very difficult to eat carbs without protein. Most carbs contain some form of protein (yes people, plant life contains protein!), so it really is a falacy that you can eat one without the other.

And who wants to eat like that anyway? The primary reason an eating plan fails is because of "forbidden" foods. If something is forbidden it becomes all the more tempting. You need to find a plan that allows you to indulge in your favourite foods so that you don't fall off the wagon. Instead of some faddy diet, why not try to eat more healthily? Look at the choices you make and try to make better ones. Eat lean protein, like fish and chicken (grilled, boiled, baked or poached, NOT fried) and, if you must have red meat, be sure to cut all visible fat off the meat before cooking. Stay away from meats like bologne and pepperoni, as they have a high saturated fat content. A small amount of fat in your diet is OK, as long as it's the right kind. You want to look at vegetable and seed oils (olive oil, sunflower oil, etc.), just don't go overboard with them; a little goes a long way. Stay away from mayonnaise and salad dressings, unless they are very low fat or fat-free. Eggs are OK, but if you have a problem with cholesterol you shouldn't eat too many. I save mine for the weekend when I make a cooked breakfast; I grill 100% lean pork sausages with bacon medallions (all visible fat removed) and I either poach or scamble the eggs with no fat. I like to add poached mushrooms and grilled tomato and, if I'm particularly hungry, 2 slices wholemeal toast with 2 tsps reduced sugar jam - heaven!

If you want to eat bread, go ahead, but choose wholemeal bread instead of white to ensure you get plenty of fibre. Also, don't eat more than 2 slices a day so that you don't go overboard. Knowing that you can have those 2 slices will go a long way to helping you stick to your new healthy eating plan. But if you do eat more than you should, don't beat yourself up. Just start again at the next meal and take it from there. You're only human, after all.

Eat lots of fresh vegetables and fruit. Frozen are good too, but tinned can be dangerous. Make sure they are tinned in their own juice, not in syrup. Dried fruit is good too, but because of the natural sugar you shouldn't eat more than a couple of ounces every day. Get a good variety into your diet so you don't get bored - boredom is the biggest killer for any healthy eating plan. I'm a big fan of bananas, grapes, strawberries, blueberries, apples, pears, oranges, kiwi fruit, melon and fresh pineapple. I try not to eat more than 2 bananas a day, as they have a high sugar content. Grapes are also high in sugar; a portion is 10 grapes, so go easy on them. But berries like strawberries, raspberries, blackberries and gooseberries are full of antioxidants and vitamin C, so they're great for you. If you find they're too sour try mixing them with some apple or a handful of raisins. If that's not enough, it won't kill you to add some artificial sweetener. Beware of fruit juice. Because of its high sugar content it is easy to consume too many calories. This is why it is better to eat the whole fruit, rather than drink the juice. You also benefit from the natural fruit fibre when you eat fruit.

I know that many people on this site are of the opinion that carbs don't fill you up, but I disagree. Personally speaking, when I want to binge it's carbs that I reach for. I love potatoes, pasta and rice and there's no way I could give them up. There's no reason not to eat them. If you want them, have them. Bake or boil your potatoes in their skins and eat the skins too. Choose wholewheat pasta and brown rice (they're not nearly as disgusting as people say they are - I'm rather partial to brown rice). I like to have my pasta with a home-made tomato sauce. I soften an onion (without fat) for 5 mins before adding 2 cloves garlic, 2 tins chopped tomatoes, basil, salt and pepper. Bring it to the boil then let it simmer for 15 mins. I like mine quite smooth, so I whiz it with a hand blender. I also like to add olives on occasion. You don't need very many olives to get the flavour. I use around 14 olives if I intend to whiz it up and it makes a very tasty sauce. This quantity serves 4 people.

You might like to try eating a high-fibre cereal for breakfast. I'm partial to porridge. You don't need more than an ounce to fill you up until lunchtime. I like mine with either a handful of sultanas or a banana. If you don't fancy porridge, what about Weetabix or Shredded Wheat? Stay away from muesli as they often have added sugar. It's also very easy to eat too much, as an ounce doesn't look very much when you weigh it out. This is because of the nuts, which weigh a lot.

Use skimmed milk if you can, or semi-skimmed if you can't stand skimmed. If you've been used to full-fat it'll take a bit of getting used to, but stick with it and you'll get there - I did.

If you're determined to stay off the carbs, try alternatives. Wrap home-made burgers in a lettuce leaf instead of a burger bun. Boil some swede and mash it up just like you would a potato. Use it to top a shepherd's pie or have it on the side.

Jazz up your food with lots of herbs, which have so few calories you can't count them. I use tons of garlic, coriander, basil, oregano, chilli and Tabasco sauce.

Above all, enjoy your food. It shouldn't be a chore; life is too short. I have lost 39 lbs to date and am eating like a queen. I only put on weight when I succumb to my monthly chocolate cravings, but it comes right off the following week.

With all the exercise you're doing there is no reason you shouldn't reach your target well ahead of schedule. Keep up the good work. If you need any moral support give me a shout.

'Bye for now,

Chaz

[adam&emilysmom]

Originally Posted by chazzyb31

Hiya,

Sounds to me like the diet you're following is the Beverley Hills diet, which is all about food combining. The thing is, it's very difficult to eat carbs without protein. Most carbs contain some form of protein (yes people, plant life contains protein!), so it really is a falacy that you can eat one without the other.

And who wants to eat like that anyway? The primary reason an eating plan fails is because of "forbidden" foods. If something is forbidden it becomes all the more tempting. You need to find a plan that allows you to indulge in your favourite foods so that you don't fall off the wagon. Instead of some faddy diet, why not try to eat more healthily? Look at the choices you make and try to make better ones. Eat lean protein, like fish and chicken (grilled, boiled, baked or poached, NOT fried) and, if you must have red meat, be sure to cut all visible fat off the meat before cooking. Stay away from meats like bologne and pepperoni, as they have a high saturated fat content. A small amount of fat in your diet is OK, as long as it's the right kind. You want to look at vegetable and seed oils (olive oil, sunflower oil, etc.), just don't go overboard with them; a little goes a long way. Stay away from mayonnaise and salad dressings, unless they are very low fat or fat-free. Eggs are OK, but if you have a problem with cholesterol you shouldn't eat too many. I save mine for the weekend when I make a cooked breakfast; I grill 100% lean pork sausages with bacon medallions (all visible fat removed) and I either poach or scamble the eggs with no fat. I like to add poached mushrooms and grilled tomato and, if I'm particularly hungry, 2 slices wholemeal toast with 2 tsps reduced sugar jam - heaven!

If you want to eat bread, go ahead, but choose wholemeal bread instead of white to ensure you get plenty of fibre. Also, don't eat more than 2 slices a day so that you don't go overboard. Knowing that you can have those 2 slices will go a long way to helping you stick to your new healthy eating plan. But if you do eat more than you should, don't beat yourself up. Just start again at the next meal and take it from there. You're only human, after all.

Eat lots of fresh vegetables and fruit. Frozen are good too, but tinned can be dangerous. Make sure they are tinned in their own juice, not in syrup. Dried fruit is good too, but because of the natural sugar you shouldn't eat more than a couple of ounces every day. Get a good variety into your diet so you don't get bored - boredom is the biggest killer for any healthy eating plan. I'm a big fan of bananas, grapes, strawberries, blueberries, apples, pears, oranges, kiwi fruit, melon and fresh pineapple. I try not to eat more than 2 bananas a day, as they have a high sugar content. Grapes are also high in sugar; a portion is 10 grapes, so go easy on them. But berries like strawberries, raspberries, blackberries and gooseberries are full of antioxidants and vitamin C, so they're great for you. If you find they're too sour try mixing them with some apple or a handful of raisins. If that's not enough, it won't kill you to add some artificial sweetener. Beware of fruit juice. Because of its high sugar content it is easy to consume too many calories. This is why it is better to eat the whole fruit, rather than drink the juice. You also benefit from the natural fruit fibre when you eat fruit.

I know that many people on this site are of the opinion that carbs don't fill you up, but I disagree. Personally speaking, when I want to binge it's carbs that I reach for. I love potatoes, pasta and rice and there's no way I could give them up. There's no reason not to eat them. If you want them, have them. Bake or boil your potatoes in their skins and eat the skins too. Choose wholewheat pasta and brown rice (they're not nearly as disgusting as people say they are - I'm rather partial to brown rice). I like to have my pasta with a home-made tomato sauce. I soften an onion (without fat) for 5 mins before adding 2 cloves garlic, 2 tins chopped tomatoes, basil, salt and pepper. Bring it to the boil then let it simmer for 15 mins. I like mine quite smooth, so I whiz it with a hand blender. I also like to add olives on occasion. You don't need very many olives to get the flavour. I use around 14 olives if I intend to whiz it up and it makes a very tasty sauce. This quantity serves 4 people.

You might like to try eating a high-fibre cereal for breakfast. I'm partial to porridge. You don't need more than an ounce to fill you up until lunchtime. I like mine with either a handful of sultanas or a banana. If you don't fancy porridge, what about Weetabix or Shredded Wheat? Stay away from muesli as they often have added sugar. It's also very easy to eat too much, as an ounce doesn't look very much when you weigh it out. This is because of the nuts, which weigh a lot.

Use skimmed milk if you can, or semi-skimmed if you can't stand skimmed. If you've been used to full-fat it'll take a bit of getting used to, but stick with it and you'll get there - I did.

If you're determined to stay off the carbs, try alternatives. Wrap home-made burgers in a lettuce leaf instead of a burger bun. Boil some swede and mash it up just like you would a potato. Use it to top a shepherd's pie or have it on the side.

Jazz up your food with lots of herbs, which have so few calories you can't count them. I use tons of garlic, coriander, basil, oregano, chilli and Tabasco sauce.

Above all, enjoy your food. It shouldn't be a chore; life is too short. I have lost 39 lbs to date and am eating like a queen. I only put on weight when I succumb to my monthly chocolate cravings, but it comes right off the following week.

With all the exercise you're doing there is no reason you shouldn't reach your target well ahead of schedule. Keep up the good work. If you need any moral support give me a shout.

'Bye for now,

Chaz

Wow, that is a lot of info. Thank you so much for taking the time to give me pointers. I really appreciate it. You are right when you say that if something is forbidden you want it even more. I want to be on the kind of diet where I don't feel deprived! It is just so hard for me not to binge late at night! I have a lot of trouble sleeping so I'm usually up pretty late. I think I will try to eat healthy carbs and healthy proteins like you suggested and see if it works for me. I know a lot of people on this board count calories, but I couldn't be disciplined enough to do that. I've tried it in the past and it has never worked out. I'll keep you posted on my progress. Thanks again for the info. and advise!