3 food issues...

Question
I've been living in America for 9 months (i'm from England) and i've put on so much weigh. I'm 22 years old, 5'6 and now weigh 150 pounds. (I used to be 135) It's all gone on my belly and my hips too. None of my clothes fit me anymore. When at home i go to the gym most days, but i can't here. I am staying with friends at their house so i have no control of what i eat- meals are being prepared for me so it's not up to me. How can i lose weight in a situation like this? I can't control my diet and i can't go to the gym or do excercise because i am with other people all the time at their houses. The weight is piling on and i feel like it's gonna be too late to lose it again. How can i get around this problem?
Another issue is that because i'm so used to eating alot (as a guest, meals that are prepared are also large and there's always desert! (which i can't turn down because i'll seem rude) anyway, my appetite has totally increased and now i find i'm constantly hungry. I've started chewing gum alot but i don't know if this is helping my appetite or making it worse.

The third problem with me, and i'm sure this is a psychological thing, but i have a big association with boredom and hunger. Whenever i'm bored or watching a movie or TV, i think - time for food. Literally if i know i'm going to have to wait somewhere, the first thing i think of is what can i eat? How on earth can i stop this?! I don't think my body knows what real hunger is anymore, i think i just create it as an excuse to eat.

Realy hope you can help me out. I was pretty happy with myself before and i'm really starting to enter self-loathing.

Thank you

Morgan

Answer
You could help them prepare healthier meals. You don't need a membership to take walks (just 15 minutes twice a day, take them with you!), walk someone's dog or take someone's kids to the playground.  You can also leave 1/3 of every serving behind (simple trick). You don't always have to say 'yes' to treats and fast food trips, there's healthier choices than you may imagine and your friends might enjoy it if you cooked for them sometimes, dishes you're familiar with back home.

The reason you're always feeling hungry is most likely because the typical American diet is quite low in whole grains and legumes. Get yourself a box of whole grain cereal or oatmeal (the flavored kinds are fine) and be sure to have it every day for breakfast. If these friends don't understand you're wanting to be healthy, well, I don't understand that kind of 'friendship'.

The gum is probably more wear and tear on your teeth than anything else. If you substituted some gulps of water or sugar free tea throughout the day, it would help a lot!

The boredom factor is very real. Most overweight people are eating out of self-medication attempts. What's really the root of the reason you're trying to fill a hole with food?

If you crave salty, crunchy items, it's probably frustration, anger, discontent and holding back too many emotions.
If you crave soft puddings, sweets, breads, mac 'n cheese, pastries, etc., it's comfort food for reassurance, love, company and self-soothing.

Examine the motives behind the hunger. Deal with them first.

Finally, look into something you can do while you're here to keep you busy when you're friends are off. Even if it's just to give you all some time apart - look into volunteer efforts nearby for however much time you want to spend or can spend.  I've got a volunteer match at my site.

---- and it's not rude to take a bite of dessert and then stop ----  :)

 Let me know how this goes ok?

www.GetTheReal.info  

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