Comfort food

It seems that every time I try to diet, something happens and I get really depressed. What makes me feel better? Food of course! Pizza, fast food, mexican food, spicy food, etc. I've fallen off the wagon so many times I"m starting to get discouraged. I can't live off of salads and apples... I'm just so tired of trying to lose weight... even though I know I'm obese and need to lose over 100lbs. It's so frustrating... I look in the mirror and don't like who I see. I'm so tired of it. I'm tired of school (I'm in college) and working and trying to make ends meet... the last thing that has been on my priority list is losing weight... well now it's causing me health problems and is biting me on the ass, so it looks like I'm going to have to bite the bullet and try to make it through. We'll see how it goes.

rhia42, welcome!  I know exactly what you mean.  Every time I would try to start a diet and exercise program, I swear I would get sick.  Usually a cold or something. And when I'm sick I have to have my comfort foods.  I remember telling my doctor once that I thought oreos were more helpful then aspirins.  She wasn't amused.  This last time, the same thing happened -- one week after starting to exercise I came down with an awful head cold.  But THIS time, I didn't let myself give in to the comfort foods.  And sure enough, 2 days later, I was better.  And I have kept it up and so far, so good.  You can do this.   Just take baby steps and eventually it does get easier.  Good luck.  Gracie

Hi,

Wow, I'm so vulnerable to comfort foods, I understand. I have found some comfort foods that work fine when I'm trying to eat healthy, like chili, chicken noodle soup, vegetable soup, etc.

My homemade chili comes out to 418 calories for a big bowl, about 1/6 of a crock pot full. I make it spicy and good, but use a lot of peppers, onion, celery to take up room and keep the calories down.

Actually, lots of things work for me, even meatloaf, mashed potatoes and gravy, if I just think it through. I used 90% lean ground beef and was honest about counting the bread crumbs I put in the meat. Then I made mashed potatoes with an absolute minimum of butter and made sure to record what I did use honestly. I used a McCormick brown gravy enevelope mix for the gravy, no pan drippings. That's really not very many calories at all and doesn't taste bad. Then I made a bag of Steamfresh green beans and made sure to eat a big portion, like 1/2 the bag, which is 60 calories. Now if that isn't a comfort meal, I don't know what is!

One good thing about being big and needing to lose a lot is that  my daily calorie goal is high compared to thinner people; I'll lose weight at 1900 a day. There's no reason you can't fit a nice, homemade comfort meal into that once in awhile.

I believe the key is to simply record what you do eat honestly and religiously, don't lie to yourself. Know how many calories are in what you're eating, even if it means measuring until you get used to it. I also try to eat lighter all day if I know I'm planning a higher calorie dinner that night. Maybe I can't get away with mashed potatoes and gravy every day, but there's no reason why I can't have it once in awhile, as long as the accurate numbers average out.

I also have to plan what I really want to splurge on. No, I can't eat a whole bag of kettle potato chips like I used to, but homemade beef and bean burritos are a good substitute and 2 come out to 562 calories.

Wow, that doesn't sound too bad I guess. I've been trying to stay around 1,500 in past diets and this callorie counter thing said that I could lose weight around 1800-1900 calories. I'm going to try that again. Would you mind too much if I asked for the recipe for your chili? That sounds really good, especially with winter coming up. I'm having to teach myself how to cook since I'm trying to diet.

It should not be a diet it should be a life change.

Do not keep refilling your cupboards with the bad food. When the chips are gone, do not buy them again. Ever. Once you have stopped eating the unhealthy stuff you will not like it if you try to eat like that again. Its all just habits