Muffin - I would start by JOURNALING. Not just writing down what you eat - but your thoughts, goals, dreams, desires...so often, when you open that fridge, the old adage "it's not what you're eating, it's what's eating YOU" comes into play. A lot of the time, I've found, it's habit or 'because it's there' that causes a food you don't need to pop into your mouth. Mindless eating for sure...

So next time you want to eat 'just because'...get out that pen and journal and WRITE down those feelings! I think you'll find it really helps tremendously.

There ARE some really great books out there that deal with the mind-food connection. Right off the top of my head, one is "The Quest for Peace, Love and a 24-Inch Waist" by Deborah Low...another one I've heard of but have not read yet is "It's Not About Food: Change Your Mind; Change Your Life; End Your Obsession With Food and Weight" (I have it on order at my local library!).

With me personally, what works is not only journaling, but keeping my kitchen and home free of anything that is going to induce me to overeat. So I don't keep sweets, bread, or cereal (other than old-fashioned oatmeal) at home - because with me, if I eat something high in sugar - it just causes me to want more and more...

Muffingirl...I'm a total newbie here so I may not have the best advice...but I say just look at WHEN you eat. I know I eat when I'm bored. My office is FILLED with junk food and when work gets slow I head to the snack table (which is right next to where I walk about every 15 minutes). Good or bad (most likely bad) I've also found that if I drink a huge cup of coffee in the morning that I am not hungry during the day. LOL...it's weird I know. It also seems to be having a diuretic affect on me. I'm all kinds of crazy...maybe it's the caffeine. But at any rate...just figure out when. Was it after a fight with somoene? A bad day at work? While you watch TV? And another simple, yet obvious tip. If you don't buy the food, you won't eat it. Ya know? Good luck girlfriend. I know ou can do it!

Caffeine has a diuretic effect, and many recommend you drink as much water as coffee to make up for that fact. I am also a firm believer that if you don't buy it you can't eat it. Tell that to my bf and my daughter, however! Sometimes you are around temptations and I have had to come up with ways to distract myself. Then again, sometimes I just give in. Hmmmm......some big help I am! Good luck to you, though!

I agree goodforme. My husband and I have stopped buying food to last several days and only buy enough for a day or two. That in it's self has helped us cut down on snacking and overeating. If it's not there we make healthier choices. Even healthy things like power bars I have to limit to buying 2 a day, since I'm a compulsive overeater.

I was just browsing through the Buyer Beware and found this. I'm only posting to bump it back up to the top and keep it open. The message is SO IMPORTANT!

I think a good reminder of how much crap all those pills and get thin quick plans is I got my second check today from the Enforma company for the class action law suit again Fat Trapper/Excercise in a Bottle(even the name is stupid, but yet I bought it).

Thanks for putting this thread back up there Jenelle!
Miss Chris

Finally, someone who feels as I do (on my good days ) I keep telling my friends this--one in particular. I *firmly* believe that you have to love yourself on the *inside* or you will never love yourself on the *outside*--no matter how much weight you lose. I *really* believe that.

After all, weight is just a number. Do we really want to lose weight to 'look good'? Those that love us, love us reguardless. Losing weight to be healthier is more on target. But I think TV and media play a *huge* part in this (and magazines..what is that magazine that's only 70 or so pages? woman's world? Every month...a new diet). I think the claim that we'll be happier if we lose weight and ppl will love us more if we lose weight is a myth.

Now, in refrence to the questioned posed: what makes me eat? To be absolutely truthful:
[list=1][*]There have been times when the budget has been *really* tight. It seems cheaper to buy a box rather than buy the fresh ingridients that makes up that box.[*]PMS times are killer. Not a binge eater, but definitely crave the salty carbs.[*]I don't eat when I'm depressed or when I'm happy...but eating is a very social thing for me. We don't spend a lot of time with family, so around holidays, we do it up right.[*]And probably the most *real* reason--I enjoy eating the bad things. They taste good. Of course, I like the good stuff too...so I need to phase out the bad stuff, eat the good stuff, and I'll be good to go![/list=1]

You are right. People are looking for a quick fix. These gals at work are all gaga about this diet plan that their on. Their losing weight (water???). They have this high protein shake in the AM with these pills (detox/vitamin/whatever else combo). What is going to happen when they can't afford the product anymore? Weight loss shouldn't have to be expensive. The closer we get to food in the natural state the better off we'll be. Congratulations on your weight loss, exercise & healthy eating is the way to go.

I agree, focusing on the moderation of my diet is the best way I have found to control my weight. I enjoy a treat every now and again, but nothing major. That way, I don't get too desperate and result to a binge. I try to get 30 min. of exercise every day and focus on keeping vegetables, grains and fruits as the base of my diet. No ketosis for me...

I'm tired of going back and forth mentally. What I need to do is just change my life style. My little boy (5) came up to me the other night and said "Mom, am I fat?" (My son comes up to my chest--I am 5'4--and weighs 50 lbs. He's been eating seconds recently because he is getting ready to go through a growth spurt). I tried to explain this to him, but I don't think I was very successful. He has heard me talk about myself and now, I see myself in him--my thoughts, my actions.

I need to stop focusing on 'fat' and 'diet' and just bring good food into the house and leave the bad stuff out. If I do not and if I continue to go as I'm going to have a child who has an eating disorder. I cannot do that.

So, this is what I've come up with. I'm going to throw the word diet and exercise out the window. I'm going to make sure that we all stay active as a family and I stop eating out of boxes so much.

What I'm doing and what I am saying is hurting my son, and I cannot go on like this.

thanks for listening to me vent

That is exactly what I am talking about. I applaud you on your decision!! Good luck to you.

Just sendin this post back to the top.. the messages here are full of truth and heart.. Keep the wonderful attitudes, you are doing fantastic..:

I agree! Whether it is for yourself, or your children, or for anyone you care about. I think moderation is the way to go. Do not go leaving things out of your diet. It cannot be good to act in such extreme ways. I recently read an article about a congressman (not sure who) but he tried atkins, south beach, etc. and was gaining back everything he lost w/in months. He then went for moderate diet w/ exercise and is 50 pounds thinner. He feels great, and doesn't deprive himself of things. Good act to follow...

I agree whole heartedly that the best way to loose weight and keep it off is by learning how to eat and exersize. Not a pill and not a shake. I have set a goal for meyself to lose about 20-25lbs before I turn 25 (I wont even turn 24 until Sept 18th) When I told family memembers most of the responses I recived was "Why not set a higher goal, remember when Mylie lost 30lbs last summer using (insert name of pill here) I bet you could lose 25lbs on that by Thanksgiving."

Mylie did lose 30 lbs, but she also put it all back on two months later.

I would rather change my eating habits, (Do I really need to eat MDs after my morning class?) and work out more to lose smaller amounts of weight over a longer period of time than lose alot of weight just to turn around and put it all back on.

Good for you, Pale. I know you can do it too. You know, a friend of mine lost 30 lbs by doing only one thing differently...she started eating breakfast. It's amazing how we sabatage our bodies! Good luck, Pale!