[IchbinkeinTeufel]

As the title says. It's a problem I have and it's why I gained an unpleasant amount of body fat over the last few years. I've been working out for at least a year, on and off (now seemingly on a very strong on) to undo years of hard work (used to workout a lot, and now back into it) so comfort eating simply isn't an option anymore, ... I can't eat crap if I ever expect to lower my body fat count. (16 stone, 6ft tall, 28 years old, male, should be around 14 stone I think, given my build)

It's not as bad now as it was, but it's still a risk I need to avoid, ... I know I still do it from time to time, and even if I don't knock down pizza and stuff, I'm still damaging a good workout/day by taking in too many calories and stuff; also want nothing to do with saturated fats, or at least no more than the minimum required.

I put it in this forum because it's part of depression.

Also, do any of you have any great ways to push yourself to workout when you don't want to because you feel like crap? I should probably know this by now, but there are still those times.

[ToeJam]

This is an interesting topic... I'm kind of the opposite in so much as I don't really eat regularly or at all if my wife isn't around (she jokes... and not in a distasteful way due to the mh... that I'd be dead if it wasn't for her)... I'm just very scatty I guess and food doesn't compute unless it's put in front of me. With that said, I'm not underweight (12 and half stone, 6'1).

With relation to going to the gym, do you use protein drinks? Have you researched the type of foods that are compatible with muscle gain/weight loss?

Did a very quick google search and came across this site (no idea if it's fishing for customers or what not, but has a calculator) Bodybuilding.com - Calculate Your Recomended Calorie Intake!

Fitness regimes do require some serious restrictions to diet... fast food is obviously a no go and you've identified that... but I guess it's going to take some research... even if it means looking for other community forums that specialise in fitness.

As for motivation with regards to depression... well yeah, heh... that is the biggie. Something my wife has noticed with me... and so I can only talk from personal experience... is that once she gets me out and to a place, I will get on with if it as best I can... so perhaps look at it in this way: It's not getting motivated to being at the gym... it's motivating yourself to travel to the gym.. motivate yourself to get changed... motivate yourself to exiting into the main area of the gym... break it down into steps, that way it makes it smaller and just a little thing to do at a time.

I hope some of that is helpful

[tradika]

When you figure this one out, let me know. I often try to go on a diet, and then my diet turns into a carb fest within 48 hours. It's when I don't think about food at all that I do okay.

[IchbinkeinTeufel]

Originally Posted by ToeJam

--snip--

I never said anything about a gym. I do all my workouts using my gear and a floor at home. I've never blow money on a gym when I can do it from the privacy of my home. Although, I admit, I'd like to use some of those machines.

12 and a half stone for 6.1 seems a bit underweight, using myself as contrast. I was 12 to 12 and a half and I'm 6 foot, and I was really skinny, ... I just figured I was in good shape, but apparently I was skinny. I coulda put on a lot more muscle back then, if I ate more. >.< Oh well, definitely making up for that now. xD

I never use protein drinks as I feel I get plenty of protein from food. And yeh, I've got a fair bit of knowledge in this area, thanks to research, years doing this stuff, and a step-mother who's a qualified fitness instructor. That site looks like something I used to ascertain the minimum calories I could take in (something to perhaps be taken with a pinch of salt) which I believe was 1200 calories, although it seems a bit low... I think 1800-2000 would be acceptable, but I'm no nutrition expert.

I do eat stuff that people more into this than I would avoid, but it's not all that bad. I still get vedg', occasional fruit, sugar, avoid saturated fats, get omega 3, get protein, vitamins, etc. It's just impractical for me to go cooking elaborate meals, at the moment. I tend to always make sure to get health stuff and I check the packets and what-not. Fast food, or like, takouts are doable, but within reason... have to take their content into account, mainly the calories, or so I've found. I could eat a whole large pizza and be fine, provided it's not always, and it's the main thing I eat in that day. (since it's about 2000 calories, with the regular crust)

Appreciate the help, but me thinks this applies to someone other than me. xD I workout almost every night, and make sure I get out as often as possible, which means walking places, even if it's just the shops. xD I got my bike back today, (exercise one) and used that tonight which was great. Going to do that more... it should make a huge impact on body fat loss, but it won't be much of an impact if I keep eating crap when I feel like crap! xD

Originally Posted by tradika

When you figure this one out, let me know. I often try to go on a diet, and then my diet turns into a carb fest within 48 hours. It's when I don't think about food at all that I do okay.

Yeah, I just can't stop thinking about it, and it's really easy to go to the shops and buy all sorts of sinful crap. xD Cheesecake... aaaah, cheesecake. *sigh* I had one a few days back and it was heavenly... I think I've made up for it, but I still feel guilty. xD

I've noticed another problem: I sometimes eat through boredom; for the sake of eating. Is that normal? I can stave off this habit by eating things like celery, and boring sweets like Fishermans Friends, but... cheesecake! x_x

[Love&Toil]

Subbing to lurk, learn and gain inspiration...

[TheOriginalMe]

Thoughts about food just become so consuming lol. My town has lots of independent food shops and just walking down the street is torture as I think about all the beautiful delights lying within.

Today was Farmers Market day, some of the food I bought was healthy, fresh fish, free range eggs with the name of the chicken who laid it written on the shell. Some was OK in small quantities, freshly baked bread, free range pork and some was pure indulgence. Four packets of handmade biscuits, four large cakes, four smaller cakes, amaretti, toffees, cheese and the list goes on.

I've actually become much better at pacing myself recently with just one treat a day so that stash should last the month until the next market, at one time it would barely last ten days.

I wish I knew the answer, if I did I'd would have saved myself 20 years of sweet torture.

[ChildlikeEmpress]

I have had this problem quite a bit too for many years, and the only way I've been able to personally stop emotionally eating is to log what I eat. This way I at least can't sit and mindlessly eat, which adds up super fast without my even knowing it. I have tried to control food via dieting and exercise and such a bazillion times and it just winds up backfiring. Had to go back to logging food / calories, been doing it again for about a month now and it's helped a ton. I try not to put pressure on myself to *restrict* any types of food or number of calories per se, my main goal is just being aware of what I'm eating and how it's adding up.
Anyway, that's just what's been working for me -- not saying that's what will work for everyone. I have had periods before where I couldn't stand to log... but I never do well with the emotional eating during such periods.

[lilypup]

I love sugar like others like drugs. I doubt I can stop.

[CronoFire]

With losing weight as I have found out it's going to be a constant battle and you don't really want to stop yourself from comfort eating. Basically what it comes down to is moderation, having a cheat meal once a week or a cheat day once a month. That way you don't let cravings take over you and you start binge eating. Another idea is to find healthy alternatives to some comfort foods out there. You want pizza? Made a small flatbread version at home with healthy toppings. I hope this helps, I have a hard time with my eating and have been really bad these past couple of weeks.