Diet Will Power Question - Please Help - Page 2

It might be true in this instance, though. Going to a support group can't hurt, after all.

The best way is to make small changes in your diet and lifestyle and stick to those. Remember that slow weight loss resulting from such changes that you can sustain over the longer term are the best.

One trick I find useful is if you have to have something that isn't good for you, buy it in single serving containers. If I open a regular container of ben and jerrys I can clean off at least half of it no problem (which amounts to 4 servings). So usually I don't buy it. Recently I found single serving containers at the grocery store so when I go shopping I buy one and use it as a treat that week. As long as I'm eating well all week, one serving of ben and jerrys a week wont kill a healthy diet.

You should think about what kind of foods your willing to give up, if there are certain things you really love don't feel you have to totally deprive yourself, just limit how often you have them and limit them to a reasonable serving size. If you totally give up all the foods you love eating, your just asking to completely fail in terms of your diet. You need to come up with a healthy, yet sustainable diet that will work for you.

You said you end up buying a pizza and giving up on the healthy diet. How many slices of that pizza do you have? Probably a lot, I know I can finish off a bunch of pieces without even thinking about it. I would say you should eat well/healthy and then make it part of your diet plan to buy a single slice of pizza one day/week. That way you can say, "you know I don't need pizza today, that's what I'm going to be having for thursdays lunch".

There is a difference between a normal person wanting to lose weight and changing their food plan and someone who is addicted to a substance (food or whatever). The original poster said he was addicted to food and I take that at face value. To say something like that could be serious (to me anyway). 340 pounds isn't 10 or 20 or even 50 lbs over weight. That is WAY over weight.

Plus the OP said that he deals with problems by eating. That's not why people eat.

You cannot drastically cahnge your diet and start excersizing using just will power. You need to change your attitude about it by basically telling yourself you like working out and eating healthy. Will power will only go so far before you tell yourself you hate it all and go back to your old ways. Also try to stock up on healthy snacks so that if you get hungry your not searching in your freezer just to find an ice cream carton. Also the not doing as drastic of a diet at first is a good idea. Definitely do it gradually and just try and be as strong mentally as you can be....once you get past the first couple weeks in success it becomes so much easier.

And this isn't willpower?

Almost all things are possible with willpower and self discipline.

I was in your exact position, maybe a little worse off. Started at 365lbs, now at 210. How did I do it? Diet and exercise. You CAN do it. It is possible. Here is more on my story:
http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=731539

It is certainly worth the effort. I came from a heavy family as well, so you will have to deal with that. Perhaps you can help them as well. Feel free to PM me.

Kishan

i am at a healthy weight, but i can easily slip into eating really crappy food if i let myself. i've found that when i work out at least once a week, i am inclined to eat healthier.

also - and sorry for making two posts, it might be helpful to focus on going on a walk or riding an exercise bike when you are feeling stressed out, or craving food. make walking your vice! (much easier said than done, i know).

just try your hardest to be persistant. once you start to see some results and start feeling healthier, it will be really motivating.

Have you looked into binge-eating disorder? It is a real, harmful eating disorder that effects millions. You may want to talk to your doctor or a psychologist about this. I've suffered off and on with it -- however, there are very effective treatment programs.

Whatever you do, you will have to do it with your wife. Obesegenic environments > you. If it makes you feel better: If you can get past the first cravings and get all that excess sugar and artificial garbage out of your system, you still stop craving it.

I am not an addiction expert so I will not attempt to diagnose the issues in your life leading to over eating. However, I would say this; there is a difference between addiction to a substance/ food etc and using said substance to repress feelings or deal with life's disappointments. Most addicts have addictive personalities and as such, they are addicted to many, let's call them vices.

I'll take my fake doctors hat off and get to my main point. I think, in general, will can overcome. Whether it is quiting smoking, drugs or pizza, we all have the ability to will ourselves to overcome. I recently lost roughly 50 lbs in about 9-10 weeks through sheer will. Nothing more. No tricks. No magic pills. I simply sucked it up and percevered. Of course I was hungry. I craved pizza just like you. I just ignored the cravings.

There are other factors that are critical. Exercise obviously needs to be a part of your daily routine. You also have to retrain yourself as it relates to your relationship with food; how you eat, what you eat, how often you eat, how many calories, how food is prepared etc.

The point is you will never lose weight unless you truely want to lose weight. If you truely want to lose weight and get healthy, you will have to put in the work. There are no shortcuts.

Good luck,

D