Hi everyone

This is my first post but I've been lurking for a month or so. I'm posting because I've been dieting for nearly 2 months, lost 12 pounds and now I can feel myself getting stressed about it. Not because its not working but because it is!

I've always been an emotional eater and am trying to lose weight I put on when my dad died after a long illness. I'm not depressed and it feels like a switch has FINALLY clicked in my head about losing the weight. I'm enjoying the diet I'm on and am happy to continue it however long. I'm totally feeling ready to lose it.

Except that, in the evenings, I find myself doing the emotional eating thing again...and I know its because I have lost weight. Has anyone else got this sort of battle going on? Any hints on how to get through it? Do i just ignore it? I've got healthy snack things in the house so at the moment am just snacking on grapes or crispbreads..still staying under my calorie limit but I don't like that feeling of unconscious eating.

Am I making sense? Any suggestions?

Claire x

Hey Claire,

Do you have something to do in the evenings to keep you busy? I find that when I'm alone at night, I have a tendency to eat to fill the "emptiness." Could you call a girlfiend, go take a walk, take a trip to the cinema, or just clean the house (great exercise!)? I recommend taking up a hobby you have to use your hands for (so you can't eat!) I crochet while watching television. It makes me less likely to pick up a snack. Also, I try to talk to my friends at least 15 minutes a night. Not only do I keep up with what's going on with them, it really helps me limit my emotional eating, because I share the emotions with friends, not food. Let me know if you'd fancy a chat some time. Take care!

You know, they say losing weight is about calories in versus calories out, but no one ever tells you about the head stuff that goes on!!! I enjoy exercise and eating healthily, but sometimes, I can get these irrational feelings that I can't quite verbalise. But almost like, what are you doing this for? You're a fat chick and proud of it why the struggle?

Or sometimes I will just find myself wanting to eat, for eating's sake, like I used to.

I have my own strategies in place for these times, like exercising, going on the internet, doing something with my hands like art or craft. But the head stuff is a constant battle and theirs all sorts of places my inner fat chick likes to wander, threatening to take me with her.

I don't know what it's like for you, or how heavy you are, but I have been morbidly obese for most of my adult life. And I wasn't that stressed about my weight. For me, both my parents being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes shook me about of my fat and happy apathy, and that's why, nine months later, I am the lightest I have ever been in my adult life! It's bound to be scary. My fat is my identity, it's part of me, and now that it's going, it's quite a bit confronting! I love my emerging body, but it has raised so many issues in my head that I never knew were there!

Thanks Pioneer Princess I will try to keep myself busy and express my feelings. In fact i had a chat with my fella about it last night and feel an awful lot calmer today.

And Kykaree..thank you..I was feeling like it was just me who has irrational fears..you're really helped me. And its nice to see a Lancashire Lass on here..I'm a Yorkshire girl myself! Going back to what you said yes I have always been overweight and maybe that is what I am struggling with..the change to my identity. Still I have loads still to lose so I've got time to adjust!

Thanks again both of you.

Claire x

I find exercise has helped a great deal with my body image and getting used to being a different shape. I love doing weight training, and my inner fat chick is forced to look at the mirror and see this as a good thing!

As well as this forum there are heaps of others, UK Fat Chicks and 100lb Club are two that have helped me a lot. We keep threatening a meet up in Sheffield......so hopefully that will come together soon.

If your inner fat chick ever wants someone to chat to, feel free to pm me!