mollyfied's Journal, 21 Jul 15

Try increasing water intake. It may help if you are already full of water then you won't be able to eat as much. 

Throw out all your snack foods. No one munches mindlessly on hard boiled eggs like they would a bag of chips or a pint of icecream. If you must graze, try keeping fresh fruit out in bowls in the kitchen. 

It's great that you enjoy exercise. That's half the battle right there. I love swimming too. It doesn't feel like work. The eating, for me, is part physical part mental. Mentally I'm just so tired of feeling unhappy about my size that an extra cookie isn't worth how I feel after I eat it. I do like changing up my diet, eating real food. Lately I've really enjoyed different kinds of smoothies. I use yogurt, almond milk, chia seeds, a spoon of honey and ground up oats with some flavoring I like, pumpkin, peanut butter etc. I stir it up well and let it sit in the fridge overnight. It's yummy and good for you! Find healthy foods that you actually like to eat and measure everything. It's important. I was underestimating everything and not losing any weight! I know you can find what works for you. Good luck! And come here often. The support you get here really helps me.  

I can totally relate to what you're saying about the emotional eating, Mollyfield. I'm working on it, too. Since eating in those cases serves as "problem solution", whatever it is, boredom, stress, sadness, or else, that means that we need to look for a different "solution". It can probably be different for different people.  

Molly I completely understand your dilemma. I have struggled for years with diet after diet. My most difficult time of the day is at night after everyone goes to bed and I am still awake watching TV. I would suggest if you are 'eating your feelings' like I did for so many years that you try a 30 day substitution plan. During that time, you will eat only fruits and vegetables. Your body will naturally start to feel better and you can "stress eat" veggies and fruit and they are loaded with micro and macro nutrients that will help you feel better. No one ever said to ditch the broccoli, carrots, and apples, right? It was the hardest thing I have done in my whole life, but it was life changing. www.rebootwithjoe.com. Best of luck and all life has to offer to you! 

Molly I am a emotional eater as well and this is not my first trip down the yellow brick road that ends in the Emerald CIty and the Great Oz to answer and fix all my issues. As we all know Oz was a hoax and a fraud so I decided this time that I was going to take a new path and pave it the way I want to model eating not only for myself but for my family. Making better choices and controlling my eating with conscious decisions on why am I going to take that bite of food. It is not easy and it is nearly a battle when I am in a low mode. Exercise and other things that create good feelings help. My renovation for one, I have hated this house since we moved in to care for my husband's aging father, his health removed him from the home into nursing care and now I am getting to fix the house and make it a home and mine. Talking a walk, talking to my BFF, getting energized over goals I am setting. Including tiny little daily goals. Anything to not eat that thing I think I want but know the padding on my backside will have me hating it later. I am trying to create solutions instead of feeding the inherent problem. It is not easy but it is worth it all around and you will feel better about yourself and your body with thank you, when you find what works for you.