How to stop cravings and speed up metabolism??

[Starlite09]

Hi! I am a 19 year old girl. In the last year and a half, I have gained 2 stone, most of it very recently. I now weigh 13 stone and while it may not sound like a terrible weight, I'm not really happy with my body as it it. My stomach is very noticable and I have got stretch marks on my tummy and my lower back and underarms.

I want to lose weight but I am a very emotional eater. I eat when I am sad, angry, depressed, etc. Also I have long days and sometimes (way too often) resort to fatty take aways in the evenings. I snack a lot and feel as though I am low on energy and need snacks to get through the day. I walk to and from the train and college each day which amounts to about 40 mins but apart from this i don't get much exercise.

Does anyone have any ideas on how to help me stop my cravings for snacks all the time? Or maybe ideas for easy healthy snacks?

Also can anyone give me advice on how to speed up my metabolism so that i could lose weight?

I want to lose the weight naturally and healthily without resorting to fad diets.

Thanks for any help!!! :-)

[Starlite09]

Thanks for all the advice!
In answer to your question Barb, I generally eat a healthy lunch and a healthy dinner, generally!! But i'm really not a morning person and never feel at all hungry in the morning so I don't eat a balanced breakfast every morning, although I do try to grab something on the run. It's not always the healthiest option though! :) i might try the food diary though! It may make me think more about what I put into my body!!

[TrudieC]

I so wish I could forget to eat!  Man, you have a long day before you get lunch.  I'm surprised they don't give you lunch after 4 hours.  

My son takes leftovers every day and never knows if he'll be near a microwave.  He will eat anything cold, says he prefers that over sandwiches!  

My husband takes his lunch to work each day (and prefers me to make it) but doesn't like sharing his free time with his workmates so eats in his car in the parking lot.  This means no leftovers either.  I make a lot of homemade healthy soups, chili, stews, etc. and bought him one of those thermoses with the wider top for food that have metal inside.  I fill it with boiling water for a bit, remove, and then add up well heated food.  It stays hot for him.  Not sure if you like smoked salmon or shrimp, they can be good cold in a lunch.  Or try making some veggie and cheese wraps or make hummus and pita or raw veggies.

[lucindamartinez]

Hhmmmm Barb.  I have a few beginnings of some ideas, but I would like a chance to think this over a bit more and I'll get back to you.  : )  I believe if we all put our heads together we can come up with some options that can help.  

[Barb135]

lucinda --- I do the same thing -- get busy and don't even think about eating until all of a sudden, I'm weak and shaking because my blood sugar has dropped too low -- then it seems like I can devour anything and everything in sight trying to get it back up...

This used to happen literally ALL the time, BUT --- since I've made it a RULE to eat breakfast EVERY single day, it's not nearly so bad as it used to be.......my breakfast may not be anything more than a hard boiled egg and a banana, but it's still breakfast -- look at the protein in that egg!!  

Okay, so here's my problem now --- I get up at 3:30 am, eat breakfast sometime between 4:00 and 4:30 am ---- by 7:30-8:30 ----- I'm ready for another breakfast because lunch is still a long way off ---- So around 8:00 (or somewhere near that time) I have an apple or a pack of peanuts.......the peanuts will get me through till lunch at around 11:30; the apple fills me up, but doesn't stick with me all that long --- my work is "in the field" meaning I don't sit at a desk where I have food, fridge, microwave, etc handy and I never know when I leave home in the morning, where my day is going to take me, so it's really hard to plan ahead, as in taking leftovers to be reheated, etc -- I never know if I will be where there is a microwave -------- and I must admit that I get totally tired of cold sandwiches, salads, etc ------- sometimes, I just plain want a good hot meal so I end up "eating out" ---  there goes the "good for me" eating because not too many restaurants cater to the "low/no fat/high protein way of eating.............

Totally open to suggestions, keeping all the things above in mind.........

[lucindamartinez]

I think that Trudie and Barb have given fantastic advice!  I myself struggle with eating frequently enough....it seems as if I get busy and just forget and then when hunger grabs hold of me...I can do some damage.  Sometimes sadness can send me running for the sweets as well.  I just try to remember to keep myself busy during those times so that I will not eat the sweets here....I wish not keeping them in my home were an option, but I think that my children might form a revolt if I were to try anything so drastic.  : )  

I believe that if you were to use the tracker and see where your diet really is compared with the nutrients that are needed, it would give you tremendous insight as to the full picture and then in turn, would give you an idea of where to make changes.  And to that thought...I am off to update my own food tracker as well.  : )

[Barb135]

When I'm craving something, but know I'm not really hungry, I try to do something that will take my mind off the craving - like get up and take a walk, read a book, work a puzzle or something that will keep my hands busy, so I won't be tempted to put something in my mouth.  

It might also help to keep a journal - write down your craving and you think triggered it.  Just the act of writing it down could help make it go away.  

I also agree with Trudie about the snacks -- try to eat something with a lot of protein in it, as protein tends to keep you satisfied longer.  You also didn't indicate whether or not you eat regular, healthy meals; if you don't, that will tend to make your cravings worse.  Starting the day with breakfast is extremely important, as breakfast really IS the most important meal of the day - it gives you energy to keep going and if you make sure it has plenty of protein, you'll not feel hungry for a longer period.  

For quick snacks, why not try carrying some fresh carrot and/or celery sticks with you?  And of course, drink plenty of water.  

Again, as Trudie said, please join us regularly; we will help out in any way we can.  

[TrudieC]

I would highly recommend you use the food diary here at MedHelp.  It is only when I am using this that I can lose weight.  It holds me accountable and teaches me that my choices aren't always the best.

Many people can have lots of cravings when they are nutritinally deficient in certain vitamins and minerals, are hypoglycemic or not eating proper foods regularly, or even if they are consuming too much caffiene or sugar.  The food diary can tell you where your deficiences are.

I would encourage you to try and eat a small snack in between meals but ensure that snack is something healthy and tasty and that it will help to keep you from other cravings.  I find that things like low fat dairy (yogurt or cottage cheese), some fruit, cheese (lower fat) and crackers, or a handful of walnuts or almonds can really help me make it through to the next meal.

Good luck and I hope you'll join us here regularly.  We do a Sunday morning weekly weight in each week and support each other through any struggles.