Always thinking about food

[MrIncredible]

I have been dieting for about two weeks now, basically I have cut out all junk food and bread and replaced it with fruit, and instead of delicious hot toast for brekkie with yummy jam I'm having cereal (usually weetabix), so far I have lost 9lb :0) and I have been going on Mrs I's wii fit plus with her (Good to have a partner and bit of healthy competition to see you can get fitter and achieve higher scores etc she kicks my ass on everything except the assault course!))
But I constantly think about food, I think I'm obsessed!
right now I'm thinking about cheese on toast!!
Its driving me mad, even going out I'm bombarded with ads for kfc etc., every other shop seems to be an Indian Takeaway or have a sign out front advertising hot bacon baps!!!!
Apparently men think about sex every 7 seconds! I dont I think about crackers and stilton cheese :0(
does it get easier? will I stop being obsessed or this it forever?
Just of to have a fat free yoghurt.... oh joy !

[pastafreak]

Try a low carb diet....then you CAN have the cheese-but without the crackers!

[bimbo123456]

9lbs in two weeks is too much. You need to pace yourself. The reason you are feeling hungry is that you are not eating enough. Try eating another weetabix. If you have skimmed milk with it and maybe some banana that might help. who am I kidding? I also think about food constantly. You might try a little self hypnosis. Every time you eat something healthy and low fat say to yourself "say this.....looks really delicious, I'm going to enjoy eating it and it will fill me up" It might work....

[MrIncredible]

Mind over batter eh? (sorry matter not batter, delicious crispy batter wrapped round cod with plenty of salt n vinegar).
what is a healthy rate to lose weight? I am not sure 9lb is that correct as we don't have scales and are relying on wii fit board which does seem to be a bit varied, (although saying 9lb's out loud does great for my confidence and self esteem!)
I eat 3 weetabix and do have more if i am hungry or a bowl of cornflakes mid morning for a snack (if im home).
i have found though i enjoy my evening meal more and saviour every mouthful!

[Quassia]

Firstly, well done!
.. as bimbo said though, you're obviously not eating enough to feel satisfied. I would relax a little more. As long as what you are eating is healthy and not junk, surely that's aloud? If you carry on being so harsh with your self, you will binge on something just to satisfy your hunger. If your craving is savoury try rice cakes/ slimmer soups. If your craving sweet try a sweet drink like a low calorie hot choc drink.

[Quassia]

^ As snacks in between meals! :0)

[MrIncredible]

I'm not hungry and I do snack between meals i have just replaced the crisps n choccy bars with banana's n apples etc, i just constantly covet the foods that are deemed unhealthy or fattening, We hardly ever have fast food (because my wife and son are coeliacs so mc'ds and kfc are a no go unless you like burgers without a bun?) but everywhere I go there seems to ads for fast food and it all looks sooooo good!
Thanks for your replies :0)

[Quassia]

Ah right lol! Oh dear!

[STIDW]

Belief you me it isn't just men that think about crackers and stilton. After a lifetime of unsuccessfully trying to loose weight and keep it off I found the only way to sustain weight loss is to think long term. 2 years ago I decide enough was enough and that if I lost 2lb a week for a year that would be 7 st. I broke it down into reasonable targets ie aimed to get to a lower BMI band then the next. Starting off with about 1800 calories a day the more I lost the less calories I needed although I allowed additional calories for exercise.

I found a good breakfast say cereal, OJ and a ham omlette, tomatoes and mushrooms with a slice of bread was key. Then I would usually have soup, half fat cheese with crackers followed fruit for lunch. For my main meal I had meat, loads of veg and small portions of rice, pots or pasta. On top of that I would have something sweet but filling such as a Scotch pancake or raisin bread. A small bottle of olive oil spray lasted a year and if I used butter it was half fat. Having said that I often replaced butter with mustard in sandwiches or a dribble of maple syrup or jam and eventually did away with a scraping of butter on bread altogether unless I was having toast. As you see I ate plenty.

My big downfalls where bread and cheese so instead of keeping the cheese at the front of the fridge I moved it to the back and put beetroot at the front to snack on. As for thinking about food I found distraction and getting up and doing something physical works. Sitting at the computer definitely didn't. I used to get hungry in the evenings but was distracted if I went to the gym and found exercise seemed to suppress my appetite. Also I would go to bed early because if I was asleep i wasn't thinking about food -;)

Anyway I reached my targets and having lost 7 st I was motivated to keep going until November last year when I was literally half the person I once was.

[boxtops]

The recommended level for sustained weight loss is 2 lbs per week - although you can lose more in the first couple of weeks. 2 lbs per week seems manageable and does stay off.

[MrIncredible]

Well done STIDW, I agree keeping it off it the problem, I have lost weight before and put it back on and then some! I do find evenings the worst time! usually when I settle down a plate of cheese and crackers and a glass of wine became the norm.
I am enjoying the exercise though and even got the bicycle out to day and went round the block (before it rain stopped play).
Thanks for your reply its very encouraging

(right I know I started this thread but will everyone stop talking about food ;0))

[Jules001]

I have been dieting since March and have so far lost just over 1 and 1/2 stones, it is not a fast drastic weight loss, but I think that it will stay off if I lose it at a slower pace. The thing I have found is not to deprive yourself of the things that you enjoy, but find a lower calorie option. I love a nice glass glass of wine, but instead of having it every night with dinner, I will only have it two or three times a week. I am following a Weight Watchers points diet, so can have anything as long as I count the points for it, so if I want to blow 6 of my daily points on a chocolate bar I can. Stilton is particularly high in calories, so if you can swap to a lower calorie cheese, you could still have your cheese and biccies and wine , probably best not to have them every night though :)

[STIDW]

I must admit I avoided alcohol altogether. Although I enjoy a glass of wine with a meal I prefer to eat the calories and stave of the hunger.

On the whole I just ate healthy versions of normal family food which I prepared myself WWs bagels, wraps, beans and cranberry and orange biscuits are quite useful. M&S do a nice half fat brie and I found Waitrose's half fat cheddar more tasty than other brands. There we go again talking about food. Anyone read a good book recently?

[MrIncredible]

Quick update (if anyone interested?)
i have now lost just over 2 stones and have a 38 inch waist (yaayyyy)
I have decided that i am not on a diet but have just made some lifestyle changes which includes lots of exercise (which im really enjoying) and eating plenty of fruit.
best of all my 6 year old boy is the proudest of all and has even told his teacher "my Daddy doesnt have a fat belly anymore!" cant wait for the next parents evening :0)

[joannie10]

Well done - you really are Mr Incredible!! Lifestyle changes are really what it is all about - of course you can have your stilton and crackers now and again but not every night and everyone deserves a hot bacon bap once in a while! Once again, well done you. Everyone needs to realise there is no quick fix but the key to losing weight is eating less and moving more! You regularly hear of people saying 'i have tried every diet under the sun' - 'diets' as such rarely work but lifestyle changes do.