Long term view or short term happiness? - HELP!! :-)

Hi Guys,

I would appreciate some advice on my next step. Basically I have done the Cambridge Diet 13 times in the past 5 years. The first time, I lost 7 stone in 13 weeks, I have since lost between 2 and 4 stone on many more occasions. Before xmas, I once again got down to my lowest weight, but since then I have gained 3 stone. So I am 4 stone lighter than my heaviest, but at least 3 stone more than I want to be and pretty damn fat!!. After 3 weeks of starting various diets and not getting past lunchtime, I have restarted Cambridge today. I could lose those 3 stones in approx. 5 weeks if I stick to CD, but then what? Every time I have done CD before I have been convinced that this time I would read the right book or find the right long term diet that would cure my ridiculous compulsion to constantly eat, but I haven’t done it yet. So I think. I’ve tried hypnosis and even seen a shrink for 4 months and I am still as rubbish as ever. Deep down, I know I should take a long term view and try to do something that loses 1-2 pounds per week, but that doesn’t help me in the meantime when I am so miserable and so self-conscious that I don’t even want to leave the house. I cannot describe how bad my compulsion to eat is. Every single emotion is ‘fed’ by food. When I am not bingeing, I can barely muster the enthusiasm to do any work (I work from home) I need something to eat before I can even pick the phone up to make a call to a customer – it’s horrible and pretty scary for somebody who in all other aspects of my life is totally in control and disciplined.

So do I do CD again and hope that afterwards or during, I can ‘cure’ myself and then maintain the weight I lose or do I just have to put up with the current misery and accept that I need to take a long term approach and that I am not going to be where I want to be for the foreseeable future.

Any advice greatly appreciated J

Hi Big H, If you keep putting the weight back on after doing cambridge, maybe you could try something like ww or slimming world that will be more likely to train you in the way you need to eat whilst you lose weight and how to continue once you get to target. It doesn't matter that you don't lose it as quickly, you'll still feel better with ever pound you lose.

You're not the only to eat when you're sad, happy, upset etc, we all do it.

Tracey

tarotwoman said:

Hi Big H, If you keep putting the weight back on after doing cambridge, maybe you could try something like ww or slimming world that will be more likely to train you in the way you need to eat whilst you lose weight and how to continue once you get to target. It doesn't matter that you don't lose it as quickly, you'll still feel better with ever pound you lose.

You're not the only to eat when you're sad, happy, upset etc, we all do it.

Tracey

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Thanks Tracy - good advice

The only problem I have is that WW and SW involve food and I am like a heroin addict with food - give me a bit and I have to have more. That's why CD works for me, becuase it is complete abstinance. Having said that, I think it's time to say goodbye to CD, even if that means gaining more weight until I find a long term solution

helloo
im the same with food once i start i cant stop the problem is these things might be great for weight loss but u cant live on them forever i think it might be better to try something diff.. something u can use for the rest of ur life. have u been to counselling about ur weight and eating habits? my friend did and it helped her soo much!! x

Big H said:

That's why CD works for me, becuase it is complete abstinance. Having said that, I think it's time to say goodbye to CD, even if that means gaining more weight until I find a long term solution

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That's just it - CD clearly isn't working for you if you put the weight on again immediately afterwards. Any diet will fail if you return to your old eating habits as soon as you reach your target. You need to make permanent changes to your lifestyle if you want the weight to stay off.

If you think you would get a boost from a large loss then why not do CD for a short period of time and then move to SW or WW for continued losses and to re-educate yourself about healthy eating

Have you done SW before? There are a wide range of foods that you are able to eat in unlimited quantities to satisfy your hunger. I was never hungry on SW!