I'm kinda stuck. I can't stop eating junk food, I can't get my diet under control and my portion sizes are way out of control. I am not as active as I should be either. I am 5'1 and I weigh 146, and climbing. Whenever I start eating right I end up going off the deep end with sweets. This is so hard to do by myself. I am a single mom and have very very little time since I work so many hours. Anyone have any suggestions?
Jenn

well, try not to take on too much all at once. just start with say eliminating one sweet treat with a vegetable, fruit or seomthing healthy. i used to tape those work-out programs on tv and do them whenver i could during the day. even just start with 10 minutes at a time. anything to get more active. what about walking? find someone who will support and encourage you as you try and make your changes :hug
you can do this!
wanted to add ... try reading the book body for life for women. also, i believe in treating myself on occasion because if i eliminate the possibility it only makes me want it more.

I really like Weight Watchers, if you don't have the time to go to the meetings you can join online. We also have a support thread right here in fitness & weight management for "WW" mama's which I find very helpful.

I'm kinda stuck. I can't stop eating junk food, I can't get my diet under control and my portion sizes are way out of control. I am not as active as I should be either. I am 5'1 and I weigh 146, and climbing. Whenever I start eating right I end up going off the deep end with sweets. This is so hard to do by myself. I am a single mom and have very very little time since I work so many hours. Anyone have any suggestions?
Jenn I'm not going to say it's perfect or will help you for sure, but I found hypnosis has helped.

Is a place I found that has helped me with the psychological aspect of my food issues. It's been a lot easier for me to deal with food (to STOP eating) and eat fewer sweets.... There are TONS of options in the weight loss section. I haven't been listening to the downloads I purchased as much as I would like to, but when I was, it was wonderful!!!
Also, I've found that since I've been drinking the amount of water my weight needs I've not wanted to eat as much! What a WONDERFUL realization!!!! So, I make sure to drink at LEAST the amount I'm supposed to have. I'm working on taking in the number of ounces my weight requires (NOT including the 20% in foods and other liquids) and it's really making a difference.
I don't know if any of that will help, but I hope it will. I'm definitely not at a "finished" piont... just speaking from what seems to be helping me right now. (I'm about 100 pounds more than I should be for my height!)
good luck to BOTH of us!!! :D

I have similar issues with sweets and junk food. It was recently pointed out to me that it's a vicious circle that is perpetuated by your body. When you eat the junk, your pancreas releases a pile of insulin to deal with it. When the insulin is gone, you have a sugar low and crave more. So you eat more. The insulin rush comes again and it starts all over. If you are able to cut it out and eat healthy (no sugar or simple carbs) for even a day or two, you will find the cravings will be much less powerful. It's working for me!

You could start off by eating all you want, just make it healthy stuff. That can help some people out a lot. It doesn't even have to be super healthy, just no obvious junk junk. Like a huge bowl of cereal for breakfast if you want, all the soup you can eat for lunch, second helpings at dinner, all kinds of fruit or other healthy things for snacks. Once your body learns that the sugar just isn't coming, it tends to slow down on the cravings and you start to eat less. It's amazing how we can be stuffed at dinner but then eat desert right after. That means that it's a craving, not hunger. I would give in to the hunger for now, eat whenever you're hungry, but no obvious junk. Your body should start to adapt after a while.
Another thing that you could do is eat the same, but drink nothing but water, tea, or maybe skim milk if you do dairy. Lots of soda and coffee drinkers lose pounds in just weeks after getting rid of their beverage habits. That might help set you on the right track.
Is it possible that you have a sugar addiction? I sure do. Maybe check out the book The sugar addicts total recovery program by kathleen desmaisons. See if that could help.
Good luck, I know it's hard. Remember that exercise can be a huge help as well :)

If your body is asking for sweets maybe you need protien. That's what happens to me. A good protein snack will stop me from eating everything else in the house.
If you are craving salt it might mean you need water. I agree with the previous poster that drinking more water can help you to realize that your body is thirsty, not hungry.
Lately I've been trying to really examine why I am eating the things I am eating. Sometimes it's habit (potatoes at supper). Sometimes I am bored (lattes at work). Sometimes it's cause it tastes good but if I really think about it I'm not really hungry. Try being really conscience every time you put something in your mouth - ask yourself if you really are hungry.
For work you might want to plan to bring a bunch of healthy snacks with you. I go to work with a great big bag of food every day. It takes away the temptation of going and buying some junk.
good luck.
g.