how do i stop making food such a big issue in my life?

Question

i have been big and small and at the moment i am a size 14 and 5 foot 6. but no matter if im big or small food is such an issue in my life. i feel it is controlling me instead of the other way round. how do i get a positive relationship with food?

was wondering if hypnotism would help me

Answer 1

You're asking for suggestions on your attitude on food. I can understand, having been there. But you can turn the corner. I did.

First, you have to understand that you control your attitudes. And to control something, you need to understand it. We've been fooled into believing that weight and weight loss are complicated issues. But they are not. A little knowledge will go along way to adjusting your attitude towards food.

While I encourage you to do some research or learning - I worked with a nutritionist and my doctor, and did get counseling focused on another issue - here is what I figured out about food. Use it as a starting point.

A pound (American here) is 3500 calories. Your present weight requires 15 calories per pound to maintain, assuming moderate activity. So if you weigh 200 lbs, your body needs 3000 calories to maintain your weight.

If you eat 2000 calories a day, your body will have a 1000 calorie deficit each day. After 3-1/2 days, you will lose a pound.

Now, if you exercise, you burn more calories. So if you exercise 90 minutes - 45 minutes twice a day - and burn 1500 calories, your daily deficit is now 2500 calories. You will lose 5/7 lb every day.

I've been eating 1000 calories a day - below that I won't lose weight - and walking 60+ minutes twice a day, and the weight is falling off. And I feel good. And by choosing my foods wisely - apples, clementines, cabbage (a favorite), tofu, fish, lean chicken, hot dogs (100 calories each, no bun), hard boiled egg whites (another favorite of mine), lowfat yogurt, chicken broth instead of oil - I don't feel like I'm dieting at all. In fact, I'm eating all day.

Using the information above to help you select what you eat will put you in charge of your weight and weight loss. Using a diet someone else wrote out for you doesn't put you in charge, it makes you dependent. You need to be in charge of your weight loss. By being honest about what you eat and understanding the above information, you can easily adjust yourself to make up for overages on one day (...mmm, donuts...) by eating less the next, or by taking a walk to burn off some of the overage.

Sorry to go on so long, but it's frustrating to me that weight loss is a simple topic that many have made very confusing. Keep it simple. Keep yourself in charge.

Hope this helps. Post here if you want more info, and I'll forward my email address.

Answer 2

Think of your body and the abuse you give it from eating all the time or eating the wrong type of food. Imagine if you put Diesel in a petrol car. The car will either not run at all or it will be slow and inefficient. That is what you do to your body when you eat the wrong type of food. Food is merely a fuel. Also your body needs time to digest food and likes a break from time to time. If you eat all the time it never gets a break even when you are sleeping. Think about the lard that is clinging to the insides of your body. Finally think about what an example you are setting to the next generation. You are doing nothing for the fight against flab in our future generations of kids. It is not surprising we have so many fat children when you look at how many fat adults there are. You have a brain and you have had the guts to come on here and admit your problem. As an onlooker I say to you take control. You have let your cravings get the better of you. Can you imagine the world in 30 years from now? Can you imagine yourself in thirty years from now? What do you want to look like in thirty Years? Trim and healthy, or fat and either dead or your'e chronically ill from some form of fat related disease. Do you know how many people are dying from fat overdose everyday in this country. Say No I am not going to be one of those. You have been mislead into this pattern of eating and yeah it's tough to get out of it, but if you really want to do it you can and you will. We are not equipped to deal with excess sugar and fat and boy does it show in some people. Remind yourself about how disgusting fat is to look at. Tell yourself you aren't going to carry any more of that poison around. Say no to the foods that are poison to our systems. The need of those that can't have, is doubled by the greed of those that can have. Well done for being so honest. I hope you are not offended by my views. I just think all this dieting and counselling and slimming and fixation on food has to stop. We are not only killing ourselves but we are creating a mammoth task for our kids to sort out. Scientists are always coming out with ways to extend the human lifespan and then we go and kill ourselves and our children prematurely through greed. Good Luck.

Answer 3

Sounds like you could benefit from some counselling - see your doctor and explain your problem to him.

Alternatively try to make something else the focus of your life - i.e. exercise or playing an instrument. I've found it relatively easy to quit several things (alcohol, cigarettes, cocaine) but found I can only do it if I replace with something else (usually just as bad) but I realised in the end you can replace the negative things with something positive instead - if you keep you mind occupied all the time you will think about food less.

Answer 4

I understand your plight. Seek counseling with a professional specializing in food addictions, supplement food thoughts with exercise or something else you enjoy, keep a journal and write about your emotions when you feel the urge to eat. Now with all that said -- I need to take my own advice. Smile

Addiction is addiction (food, alcohol, drugs, sex, etc.) -- it must be recognized and controlled.

Answer 5

if you keep yourself busy and keep your day planned, I find that there's not alot of time to eat. Also, you can eat out, order something low-fat and healthy in a small portin, then you have no control over eating too much or whatever

xx x x x

Answer 6

Will power is what will work better than hypnotism. It is so easy. We have to just make a decision and implement it.

Answer 7

Start smoking or develop a heroin addiction. The pounds will fall off.

Answer 8

Wow, wish I had the answer to this one. I have the same problem most of the time. I'll have to watch this one!

Answer 9

Drink smoothies instead

Answer 10

I would put a longer answer but i cant keep my hands out my crisp packet!