I cannot control my eating of junk food

Granis

Hello everyone,

I am a working executive, working long hours and addicted to fast food, usually eating while I'm in the office. I seem to eat whether I'm hungry or not and have got to a stage where I am unable to control my eating habit. Unfortunately, my weight is increasing and I'm being forced to buy clothes a size larger than normal. I can devote a little time to exercise, but is there a recommended safe way to lose weight? I've heard of all these diets, such as Atkins, that don't sound very healthy at all.

weeksy59

Simplest answer is, NONE of what you're doing

I've dropped 18lbs since New Year simply be decent exercise, decent eating. No tricks no secrets.

Why can you not take lunch/food to work pre-made ? That will save you time going to buy it so you can then either exercise or if you feel the desire, work.

manxshred

I do not think the Atkins diet is going to be good for someone who exercises as most of the energy that you burn during exercising comes from sugars in the body, which comes mainly from carbohydrates. Atkins cuts all of that out.

I went from 90kg to 74 kg in about 9 months. Eat less (when you are overeating it is very easy to think that you can't eat any less, it is amazing how little food you actually need), eat better (prepack healthy food) and excercise more.

Simple

FSR_XC

The simple fact is if you eat more (calories) than you use, you'll put weight on. If you are strict with what you consume, it is better than any diet. As mentioned, take pre (home)made meals.

If you are continually snacking, take bananas and apples with you.

If you feel you just need to be chewing, use chewing gum.

Finding the time to excercise is always an excuse for someone who can't be bothered to find the time. I know this is harsh, but 99% of people can spare 30min in a day.

If you really struggle - do you drive to work? Can you park 3-5 miles away & cycle the rest? or better leave the car at home? During lunch, can you take a 10 min run? or as soon as you get home spend 30 min cycling / running. Struggling to stay committed? - try taking up circuit training - you will feel obliged to go even if you don't really feel like it.

Remember - it is easier to find an excuse not to do something than to find a solution so that you can do it.

prawny

This time last year I was just over 16 stone and I decided I needed to get fit because the wife was due with our sone in march, I'd been given the body-for-life book years ago but decided i didn't have the time but I thought i'd give it a go.

I didn't follow the diet because the mrs wouldn't cook different meals for us or buy the supplement because they are a rip off, but I bought some cheapo dumbells from argos and did the exercise part.

It's 3 40min weights work outs a week and 3 20 min cardio work outs which I do in the morning before work and by late summer I was down to 13 stone and from a 38 inch waist to a 34 inch waist.

It's great for a slacker like me because I don't have to think about what to do for excersice and now i'm a bit addicted, it's how I got back into riding and I feel loads better.

Wow this reads like one of the stories of the website!! (bodyforlife.com)

Probably worth checking out I've kept the weight off over xmas despite shoving 2 toblerones and a tin of heroes into my face :shock:


(nb. I do NOT work for bill phillips!!)

KnightofCydonia

if your stomach is telling you that you're hungry it also means thirsty. Try drinking a glass of water before every meal

RyanB

Ok this might seem harsh, but if you're addicted to the salt/sugar contained in junk food, its time you grew up and took a responsible attitude to what you eat. You've taken a first step here so well done. But if you find yourself working more and eating to fill a hole because you're hungry, then you're only going to defeat yourself. Eat little and eat often. Drink plenty too as possibly part of this is simple dehydration which can take the guise of hunger.

As for diets, don't even consider it. Complete waste of time. You might lose some weight, but it will be wrong weight to lose and your body won't thank you for it in the long term.

Graze. Graze. Graze.
And finally I wish there was a diplomatic way of saying this, but if you still end up junking food, and not doing enough exercise, then you only have yourself to blame.
But well done for admitting what you've said here. Time to turn it around.

soy_sauce

I used to be like you. I like eating and eat all the time no matter if im hungry or not. the only different was i was a student and have alot free time to do exercise so my weight just stay the same all the time, until when i start working full time which i end up putting weight on as i kept the same eating habit but cut down the exercise.

cut down the junk food and swap them with fruit, drink alot of green tea. that what i have been doing and it is working well. then couple of week later, reduce the amount slight more and so on.

Turveyd38

Me to, I behaved for 2weeks lost 6lb's but burnt myself out with over training, went back on the food and 2 kebabs later with runs after both, it's time to get back in training.

Not over doing it, or you'll just end up binge eating, eat the same stuff as you currently do, add in some excersize and reduce the size of what you eat.

supersonic

Eat less, move more. Said Billy Connolly!

I think your foods should be revised as is an awful lot of saturated fats and salts. Diet doesn't necessarily mean eating lettuce - your diet is what you eat.

The Northern Monkey

Granis wrote:

Hello everyone,

I am a working executive, working long hours and addicted to fast food, usually eating while I'm in the office. I seem to eat whether I'm hungry or not and have got to a stage where I am unable to control my eating habit. Unfortunately, my weight is increasing and I'm being forced to buy clothes a size larger than normal. I can devote a little time to exercise, but is there a recommended safe way to lose weight? I've heard of all these diets, such as Atkins, that don't sound very healthy at all.

I suggest you give this a read.
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Coronary-h ... is-it.aspx

I've actually done a health promotion initiative plan on a person in your exact situation.
The best methods you can use to decrease your weight it to incorporate health eating and some sort of exercise into you working day.

Diet.
-STOP EATING FAST FOOD!! there is no excuse i'm afraid. Fast food items have a high amount of calories but at a very low weight. This means that you can eat much more fast food because it isn't filling you up.
-Substitute unhealthy snack items for fruit.
-If you have any business meals, go for a healthy option
-reduce alcohol intake
-stop smoking (if you do)

Exercise.
-you need 30 mins of exercise every day to stay at constant health, more than that if you want to increase your health status.
-simple things such as using the stairs instead of the lift
-as you are on a MTB forum, weekend rides could help, ride to work

Unfortunately I don't have the actual Initiative to hand but I will get back ASAP to throw a few more acts/ideas your way.

Just as a few scare tactics, your a putting your body at high risk of cardio-vascular diseases such as coronary heart disease, stroke and heart attack.
We were given your exact lifestyle as an example health promotion target towards increasing health status in a high risk person.

Before you do any real exercise I would recommend that you get yourself checked out by your GP.

supersonic

Just to emphasise just how early cardio vascular disease can set in, my Dad a series of heart attacks in his thirties and a quadruple heart bypass at just 41. My stepdad had a stroke at 41 too.

photojonny

I did the Atkins diet, PROPERLY, for 5 years, and it worked wonderfully. I lost over 4 stone, kept it off, and my hunger disappeared. It was wonderful. I did it properly, read the book, and understood the reasons for doing it.

I also did long rides whilst on it, 80 miles+, never bonked and didn't need to eat on rides - burning fat for energy instead of glucose. I wasn't racing or anything, so can't comment on it's suitability for performance sport, but for recreation it was fine.

I stopped the 'diet', which had just become a way of life for me, about 3 weeks ago. The only reason I have stopped, is because it's very difficult to do without eating a decent amount of meat and fish. My girlf is veggie, which meant we never ate together, and I also feel from an ethical point of view that I want to be veggie. So I'm giving a go. I was veggie before I started, but overweight and miserable. So far I'm OK, but there's no doubt that I'm more hungry now. I'm just trying to live with it and not over-eat.

I had my cholesterol checked and it was fine.

If the veggie thing causes me to put on weight again I will go back to Atkins without doubt. I believe if you have a metabolism that is sensitive to carbs and insulin it can work wonders.

Soggz

Just eat soup.
No, seriously, you must stop eating junk food...think of your heart!..They say you are what you eat...junk foods shit!...


Easy now...

But if you just eat shit and drink beer, then go and write a will...

A golden rule is Dont Eat Round Meat!!! sausages,burgers,processed shite! dont do it! dont have pastry,sweets,full fat milk,carbonated drinks,white bread.
Iknow this becuase i suffer from Gout belive it or not, and a lot of foods which aggrivate it, not cause it, also make the body put a lot of weight on, so i cut them from my diet, lost 2 stone,feel GREAT and dont get gout attacks anymore! (makes me a better person/cyclist/swimmer too)...;)..Hope this helps...