Hiya

You must be worried - and brave - to post for help. Well done, its the first step, admitting you need help.
(Hope I dont come over all patronising, believe me, I weigh more than you do!)
Now, is just sweet stuff thats the problem? Are you substituting eating sweet things for a feeling?
You need to work out the root of the craving, and take it from there.
Did your GP offer any other kind of advice, other than the usual 'lose weight'?? At my surgery, you can get the nurse to monitor you on a fortnightly basis, and boost your willpower. Might be worth looking into. How about exercise on prescription (I work, so cant get it :().

Have a think about it, see what you come up with.

Above all, be truthful with yourself, you've been brave to ask for help. Good luck!

hi

I wonder if you might like to play with the EFT videos on youtube.
I just typed in EFT Food in the search box and quite a few came up
Like this one.....

you can find out more about EFT in the mind therapies forum.

good luck in dealing with this first step towards well being

tigress

...I was going to suggest EFT too, but Im not technilogically minded!

I've had an unhealthy relationship with food for many years, and in 1994 had hypnotherapy to deal with binge eating. It was brilliant. I would recommend it as a start.

Hi,

That's great that you have asked for help, it's a positive step forward. I agree with the above replies seeking help from someone so to discover the underlying feelings you may have that may result in this type of relationship with food is important as then you may be able to understand and learn how to deal with those feelings emotions or what ever it may be.

Food in so many cases especially mine when i was younger is used to replace something that is missing, or comforts you in different ways if your feeling sad, lonely or even happy. I undertook eft and other things so improve my self confidence and self belief, as feeling strong and happy can help you change the way you do things and provide motivation and long term commitment. Going on a diet or following a strict diet and excercise regime doesn't always work as it is seen as guidelines and rules, and unfortunately we all want to brake rules! It's important to see that leading a healthy lifestyle is not a lilfe sentance but a way of life to enjoy, its about learning and experimenting, building your confidence within yourself and around food.

I know excersice sometimes seems awful but its a great way to release happy hormones in your body so to help start making you feel good. This can be a brisk walk, running up and down the stairs at home, cycling, it dosn't have to be a hard gym session.

Just believe in yourself and you will realise your own potential

🙂

Hello

As someone who struggled with food for many years, and to an extent still do, I totally know where you are coming from.

Do you know how long you will have to wait to see someone from the eating disrders clinic? When I was referred to them I didnt have to wait too long for an initial appointment, and then got to see a dietitian regularly fairly quickly, but the waiting list for actual therapy was much longer. So at least you may see someone fairly soon, and any support you can get is a bonus.

Has your gp suggested trying medication to help with losing weight? The one I tried was xenical, which helps a little bit, if only because you have to stick to a low fat diet or you suffer the side effects! But there are also two other drugs, rimonabant and another one, which act more as an appetite suppressant and may suit you better. Also, some antidepressants are licensed to help treat binge eating disorder.

Then there are complentary therapies which can help in various ways, for example massage may help you feel a bit better about yourself, which in turn may mean you binge less.

If you thought getting away from food for a bit may help you deal with your demons, there are a few "diets" that completely replace meals with drinks or bars. Eg the cambridge diet, lipotrim or a new called W8 I think. They are not for everybody, and at the end of the day you still have to deal with the issues that made you get big in the first place, but some people have real success with them, and depending on which one you choose you may get lots of support to do it.

I know how awful it is to be big, you didnt say what your BMI is but mine was 49, and by God did I know it! Every little thing you do is an effort, and even simple self-hygiene is difficult.

As a last resort, there is always weight loss surgery, which turned out to be a god-send for me. But it is definitely not something to be taken lightly. I found a forum which is full of lovely people all struggling with the same issues, you may like to join it even if you arent considering surgery because it is a melting pot of people from all walks of life who, for one reason or another, have struggled with food.

Above all, try and stay positive, people can and do lose huge amounts of weight, there is no reason why that cant be you too.

(((hugs))))

Claire x

I'll start off by saying I do not have a problem with weight but I have the biggest badest sweet tooth! I've just started the most amazing book. It is called 'The sugar addicts total recovery programme' by Kathleen DesMaisons.

The book starts off by saying - answer these questions:
Have you ever tried to control or cut down on your use of sweet foods - like saying - from Monday I will cut down on my chocolates.
Are you ever delighted when your friends order desserts and urge you to join them?
Are you using more sweet food than before - like you used to buy 1 chocolate, now you buy 3
Do you get irretable and cranky if you do not get your dose of sugar

These are the first few question out of about another 10 - she says if you can answer yes to 2 of the questions you are a sugar addict - well, I answer yes to all of them and then some more!!!!

She then goes on to explain how the brain works, why we are unable to break this addiction (all to do with hormones and metabolism etc.) and gives a 7 step plan to get off sugar.

Step 1 is simply to have breakfast (with a protein) - even if you start off by having 1 boiled egg or a piece of cheese or something but to have breakfast 1 hour after waking up. You do not start on anything else untill you have managed that for a few weeks.

and so it continues. I fall at the first hurdle but then I think most woman do! Saw something the other day that said something like 80% of woman don't do breakfast! So, tomorrow I will have breakfast - and with it my cuppa with 3 sugars!

By the way, got the book from my local library so if this sounds like you, maybe borrow the book first!