Can't stick to my diet, need help!

I don't know how old you are but I used to be like this when I was having periods. After a few days I'd be back on track. So could it be hormonal for you? I learned that it wasn't worth fighting and just went with it.

Nata may I suggest you read I'am a ? sequel. And join us on there. I have lost over 7 st by myself and needed support Fourormore, NanKate and all the others are a great support. No one is judged and everyone is friendly and helpful. You can pour your heart out and be listened to. Please join us I know how much they have helped me especially recently when I went through 4 hellish days of loneliness. Anyway read what everyone else has written. And hopefully see you there.

I agree with Whiff about joining another thread, the ladies over there are extremely helpful and super-friendly! I've been in your shoes for some time and I motivated myself with the trick my DD told me about: I've printed out my own photo and put it on the fridge. My daughter used Photoworks photo program to make me look thinner and this "thinner" version of myself was my motivation and it gave me strength to stay away from the sweets. I also think the problem arises from you avoiding any sugar for quite a long time, try to limit it but don't turn off of it completely, or your body will backfire you with this compulsive episodes of consuming sugar.

Thank you, ladies!

I don't do anything special, just when I start to go off the track again, I take a good look in the mirror and start to think about how my body used to look so that I get motivated to stay on the right course again.

I do the same.
My body used to look fat, and it still does.

MissA you are a darling, your off the wall comments always give me a smile and just now that is worth a lot to me.

What a nice thing to say.

Thank you!

I have started to put on a bit of weight since the lockdown. I was always very skinny and having even a tiny bit pf tummy feels huge to me!

Nata - you do need some sugar in your diet, so don't stop it altogether or you will crave it badly. Try fruit for the sugar you need. Whenever I am a bit bigger than I might choose, I reduce serving size, eat very very slowly, and have a drink of water whenever I feel hungry between meals.

Hope you find what works for you.

Since I'm munching on peanuts, soon after breakfast, I'm afraid that I'm a lost cause and in no position to advise you.

I too get sugar cravings from time to time and have various methods for trying to keep me on track. I havent totally cut sugar out of my diet, because I find that rebounds on me, so I have one square of dark chocolate per day after lunch and two dried figs after the evening meal. If that doesnt work, then I keep a tin of sugar free travel sweets in the drawer and distract myself with one of them. We dont have any cake, biscuits or other sweets in the house. If all else fails I eat a kiwi, or some other fairly intense fruit. Going out for a walk, or even just into the garden works well too as a distraction technique, as does phoning a friend. Sitting around on the sofa watching TV ads for sweet treats is the least helpful!

I'm not a particularly sweet-toothed person, but currently my depression is kicking in and tempted by my diabetic hypo store of jelly babies. But my Dafne course reminded us that a little of we fancy does us good and so long as we adjust our insulin accordingly we'll be fine. Funnily enough, my current readings are better than they've been in years! I'm currently eating lots of fruit instead of sweets, chocolate and bickies and keep telling myself that eventually things will get better. Suggest that you're doing fine, Nata and everyone else feeling a bit down and we'll finally get back onto our normal exercise and leisure activity regime. Finding that mindfulness activities (adult colouring books, tarot studies etc) are helping me at present and DS's BBF (both having depression and Aspergers issues, so their friendship is vital therapy for both of them) recommended a fantasy DVD series and we've been enjoying with her and in return watching our favourites via Skype for an hour or two most days, also lots of on-line time together supporting one another in their creative writing work, allowing them to spend precious time together without breaking the rules. Of course, we're all different, and in different situations and we're actually a relatively anti-social family who don't do outsiders and really enjoy individual "me time" alone and "us time" as a family, so, apart from not being able to follow outside activities (especially my local over 55s choir, all good mates), lockdown for us isn't a problem, but I recognise that others are struggling to cope. But chin up, everyone - at least we've got GN to keep us cheered, loved and supported!
Love 'n peace xxx

Nana - I understand a lot about what you are feeling over your weight and trying to get to a healthy size you feel OK about. I've been very engaged with this whole issue over many years - and used to be about 2 stone heavier than I am now. I have stayed this size for 10 years - so maybe have found a good place in all this. It is not about following a diet - as you may know diets usually only work for a while, and people's size yo-yos up and down. It is about our minds and how we manage our thoughts and feelings - I suggest you look at a book called The Willpower Instinct: How Self-Control Works, Why It Matters, and What You Can Do to Get More of It
In this book, Dr. Kelly McGonigal introduces readers to the what, how, and why of willpower from numerous perspectives.
This book gives you a pathway to change your patterns, to understand craving and find a better and healthier way ahead. I hope you will find it helpful! With very good wishes Applegran

hereshoping, I am sitting here eating salted cashew nuts straight after breakfast! This despite deciding yesterday to start eating more sensibly. I have gained 1lb a week so far in lockdown, so enough is enough. What if we are restricted for a year? That would be 52 lb at this rate ! I have previously had good results with alternate day fasting and low carb, just got to get my head in the right place and stop baking.
Good luck to all others in this position.

I suggest you read I'am a ? sequel.

What is this, please?

Is I'am a ? sequel still running ? The one I found is January 2020 ? I desperately need to lose weight.

This is the current one;
www.gransnet.com/forums/dieting_and_exercise/1271266-I-m-a-pear-the-sequel?msgid=27830810

Not doing very well either. But I keep telling myself that if I do lose some weight I will be able to get a whole new wardrobe once the pandemic is under control!

I have a flat tummy

(...the 'L' is silent)

I put on a lot of weight at the beginning of the lockdown but then cut back on the "treats" and had some success in shedding some of the extra weight. Yesterday I had a really bad day, felt very depressed and ate my body weight in crisps, chocolate and ice cream If this carries on much longer I won't be able to see my feet

We have all been here. I've piled on the weight since lockdown. Every time you feel tempted by sugar take a walk or distract yourself with a hobby or activity. I find no.sugar Ice cream with diet soda of some sort together fill you up and you feel like you are having a sweet treat. Or I find a can of diet cola fills me up too

Knowing the dangers of sugar helps me to avoid it but doesn't stop the craving that hits now and then. Here's what I turn to in desperation:

I've stuck to my SW plan but still managed to put on weight this week; I just hope I see a "whoosh" loss next week to keep me motivated.
I have been a slave to sweet things for many years which I was told is part of being insulin resistant. I have found that in the past that one bit of chocolate gradually leads to two until it is 2 or 3 bars a day. I'm a bit like an alcoholic with chocolate. However, I have found that eating some sweet stuff like fruit is keeping me on the straight and narrow. I also buy Fibre One Chocolate Brownie bars which I mix with fruit, Quark and a serving of Options Salted Caramel Chocolate powder. It is like eating a creamy, sweet, chocolatey cheesecake which satisfies me without crashing off my eating plan. Alternatively, Fibre One Chocolate Popcorn Bars have just enough chocolate on them to make me feel satisfied without having the rest of a chocolate bar nagging at me to have just another mouthful.

Could you try eating raisins or some other fruit when the sugar craving hits you?

If it only hits occasionally, perhaps you should just allow yourself sugar when you are desperate for it.