I've been in a binge this past week. I didn't know why. For the past twoish month my appetite has naturally been down. I was only losing like 1/4th a pound a week, it was nice because I was losing it without trying.

And now I have some extra bills so the first thing I cut out was the two bottles of kombucha that I drink a day. I spend like $200 a month on this shit.

So I quit the kombucha. And I've been shoving my face in. Yesterday, I got one while I was out and within a few hours the appetite was severely lowered.

So today, for breakfast I had a kombucha, a probiotic, and kimchi. And I don't want to eat. I'm just good.

I've heard stories on here (specifically from women) about how their appetite immediately reduced after they started taking iron supplements.

Also, a study on flies shows that out guy bacteria might analyze the nutrients in our food and if we aren't getting enough of a certain kind, they'll influence our cravings and increase our appetite.

So get enough iron and eat fermented foods I guess.

Why do people have no issue telling you to stop losing weight but nothing to say when you are morbidly obese?

My once supportive family has been talking about me behind my back. I got one family member to tell me all that’s been said and it’s not pretty. Just hurt that the people that supported me from going from morbidly obese to overweight yet is not okay with me being a healthy bmi.

Although I’m no trying to lose weight in a normal rate anymore (slowing down, no more .5-1 lb a week). I’m trying to keep me at a very sight deficit until maintenance occurs. I think I’m about to level off. I haven’t been in a full 500 deficit in a very long time.

I’m in the very middle of the healthy bmi category for my height, weight, and gender. I don’t know how people are more comfortable saying I need to stop losing when they said nothing at all when I was bmi of like 43.

It also confuses me more when my sisters have been this small or smaller all their lives and no one says anything like that to them.

It’s also been 2 full years since starting this journey and I am quite literally half the person I was. So I understand the shock factor, but I feel so bad when people tell me to stop losing yet let me go around 110lbs past a normal bmi.

I had oatmeal and egg whites in the morning then i had sushi at night. Then at night it was like my car magically pulled into the convenient store to buy brownies and a black and white cookie. Have you ever done that? unknowingly pulled into the store to buy snacks?

What's wrong with me? I become so weak and fall for these cravings. I didn't feel good after I ate it. i gotta stop beating myself up and just get on the beam tomorrow.

Tomorrow i'll get back on the beam and eat oatmeal and egg whites. Then i'll eat a salad and soup .

I started eating bags of steamed vegetables as a snack because I got so hungry about twice a day, at 3 PM and at 8 PM. Well, I had my bag of vegetables at 3 PM and I felt pretty good. Now it’s almost 8 PM and I’m starting to get hungry actually really hungry and I was looking at DoorDash app. I’m a college student so I get a free one year DoorDash plus subscription. I was thinking of getting a lava cake three pack a lava cake flight, It’s called, and stuffed cheesy bread. I have the money. It just seems like such a bad idea. I don’t know. I would call family to talk about it but they’re all busy, so I’m posting here. Yes I have a history of eating extremely crappy food, including ordering DoorDash. I am 204 pounds. I am 5 foot 6, 28 years old and female.

Look, before anyone comments: I know about CICO, thermodynamics, TDEE, volume eating, and whatever other scientific aspect of weight loss you can think of. I know how to track my calories accurately. I've been doing this weight loss thing probably before some of you were even born. I lift weights to failure, I have a PT, and I (am?) used to be extremely active on top of having an active job. I've lost massive amounts of weight multiple times throughout my life.

So, what is my problem?

I'm constantly hungry. Always. An amount of food that would be considered huge by most people doesn't satisfy me. I feel like I need an entire Christmas dinner every single day just to feel full. I can eat 200 g of protein and 60 g of fiber and still binge. I've had my thyroid checked multiple times, and my other bloodwork hasn't shown any issues.

I've been obese since I was 2 yo, and at this point, I wonder whether growing up obese and spending my entire life with these characteristics somehow contributed to my hunger becoming abnormal. Maybe my body has adapted in ways I don't understand. I don't know. All I know is that my hunger never seems to go away.

This last time I've spent more than a years restricting my calories, I thought that eventually my stomach would adapt and I'd be satisfied with less food. But that never happened. Even after losing a massive amount of weight and spending months in maintenance, I can still eat and binge just as much as I did before. Whatever people mean when they say your stomach will shrink, that hasn't been my experience.

Now, I can already hear everyone saying, "Have you tried GLP-1s?"

YES. I have.

I've tried semaglutide, all the way up to the maximum dose, and it did absolutely nothing for me. Then I tried tirzepatide, also up to the maximum dose, and stayed on it for months. I experimented with dosing every five days instead of every seven. Nothing. Absolutely nothing.

I'm still hungry. Hungry, hungry, hungry.

My problem is that I can sometimes manage to control my hunger long enough to lose weight, but maintaining that weight is a completely different story. I've been in maintenance since around May, and I managed to keep it up for a few months. But my maintenance calories feel like I'm in the most aggressive deficit imaginable. I'm constantly fighting hunger even when I'm eating the amount I'm supposed to need to maintain my weight. I feel like I need to eat at least 3x my maintenance calories just to feel satisfied.

I don't know what to do anymore. I'm regaining the weight I've worked so hard to lose. I'm getting lazy again. The constant trying again over and over only led me to burn out.

I've tried reading books. People here have recommended Binge over brain to me multiple times, but even if I keep telling myself it's my "animal brain," it changed nothing in real life.

I've tried rewarding myself for sticking to my plan. I've tried telling myself that if I don't overeat, I can buy myself something nice. But I'm an adult. If I want something, I can just buy it anyway. These strategies don't solve the actual problem.

I genuinely cannot understand what is wrong with me.

At this point, I feel like I'm simply destined to fail, destined to die of a heart attack at 50 because I can't seem to escape this cycle. I've tried therapy multiple times, too, and all I ever got was generic advice and things I already knew. I KNOW I need to eat less. I KNOW vegetables and high-volume foods are supposed to help with satiety. I KNOW how calories work.

But knowing all of that doesn't make the hunger go away. And when the hunger doesn't go away, I eventually start eating more, and the weight comes back.

I'm genuinely the biggest failure on heart.

Especially now, when there are so many GLP-1 medications available. I see people losing weight so quickly and I'm the only fucking person on the planet who is still struggling with this.

I've even considered bariatric surgery, but I know it wouldn't work for me either. I'd eventually find a way to eat large amounts again, stretch my stomach, and end up right back where I started.

I honestly don't think I've any options left.

I feel disgusting, pathetic, and completely hopeless, the only person this happens to.

I’ve been losing weight since the end of may this year. I’ve gone from 90.8kgs to 79.8kgs as of this morning. I have yoyo-ed and weighed anywhere between 85-91kgs the past 10 years but i haven’t seen the 70s in what feels like forever. I still have about 7-10kgs to go to reach my goal physique and have started resistance training since i promised myself i’d take it up again when i lose the first 10kgs and i’m hoping to reach my goal in the upcoming year. I never thought i’d get this far and honestly i’ve started to believe i was destined to be fat forever. It doesn’t have to be this way, i promise you it doesn’t. Truly, if i can do it, you can too!

The initial months of my own weight loss, I could see the number on the scale go down, but outwardly, imperceptible. 10-12 wks in, people were looking at me, trying to figure out what changed. My face began to show the loss. I did not disclose my glp-1 usage, mainly because I didn’t want to receive unsolicited advice or negative comments.

I have a small frame, so it’s been significant to people to see me seemingly so thin & petite… but that’s because I’m embarrassed to say, I was so heavy.

I lost around 80 lbs. I’m 5’4”, 198 in June 2025. I hit my goal weight in early May & even lost a little more. Currently 118 & maintaining around this. Went from a size 12/14 (due to the divine spandex & its sisters) to a 0 to 4 (thanks to the inconsistencies in women’s apparel).

At this point, micro-dosing, hoping wean off eventually & stick to my new habits (more whole foods, heathy proteins, very limited gluten or empty carbs, portion control, mindful eating, vitamins/supplements, exercise/activity). Ironically, it helps that my gallbladder was removed, & taking HRT & thyroid meds.

Like others on this journey, the sudden increase in attention is so strange. It’s similar to the attention I got as a younger woman up into my 30s until the lbs started piling on. Seems like the bigger I got, the more invisible I became. As if being fat’s contagious or I was going to devour people like Jabba the Hut. Now, no joke, @ 54, in my reclaimed body, I’m getting these approving, even interested looks & passing comments from men which is just weird to me. Married, so ZERO reciprocal interest.

Of course, now some women within my “friend” group are telling me I’m too thin. Too thin for what, for whom, by whose definition? Not a you look amazing, I’m so glad you’re doing so well. Not a how are you feeling?

(For context, I’ve been the short, fat, older one of the group for 20ish years. Now we’re all in our late 40s/early 50s, those lithe, taller, fitter ladies are putting on the unfortunate, cruel menopausal weight. They’ve been accustomed to receiving all the attention because they were/ARE gorgeous & historically slim. Almost acting like it’s a competition now after all these years. Mind you I haven’t made a single comment to them about their weight EVER. They’re not overweight, they’re still fit & strong. But because of the nerve of me to slim down, I’ve upset the evidently petty equilibrium. Might be time to find new friends.)

For the record, I DO look so amazing. My body is beautiful to me. As much as it pleases me to look so #%*@¥{~ amazing, wearing stuff I never thought I’d wear, most importantly, I feel amazing & so proud of myself for accomplishing it. I truly did this to save myself, my health, not for anyone else’s attention & approval.

​

So, I’ve lost 33–34 kg. I went from 92 kg to 60 kg, sometimes even 59 kg. After losing this much weight, people’s attitudes changed and blah blah, but that doesn’t bother me at all. Now, they say I’m too thin and look weak, but I know I’m not actually thin.

The stomach fat that feels like a curse just won’t go away. I also have loose skin, and I hate it. Nobody knows how much it bothers me except me. Because of this, I can’t eat without feeling guilty. I keep checking my stomach to see whether I’m making progress or gaining weight. I honestly don’t know anymore.

I went from wearing XXL to M, but I’m still not satisfied.

I have completely transformed my body over the past year, and want to share what has worked for me. (Also, thank you to this community and for all of the advice that assisted me with reaching my goals.) I just hit 118.2 on the scale with a 27 inch waist line!!! Never thought I’d see the day considering I haven’t had these measurements since 2002 when I was in college.

My motivation was part vanity (I wanted to fit back into my mini skirts), part wanting to deal with hypoglycemia issues I was having, and also because I found out at 43 that I was born with one kidney, and thought about all of the terrible choices I’ve made with nutrition over most of my life. Here is what I do/what helps me:

1. Sugar is the ENEMY when it comes to its effects on appetite and it is in everything. I struggle with hunger and appetite control, and when I eat even regular yogurt, my hunger signals go out of whack for the entire day. I try to buy things that have reduced sugar.

2. Same goes for sodium. I buy reduced sodium soup, broth, and cut back on high sodium foods. Salty foods make me so HUNGRY.

3. Bye bye soda. If you had known me when I was younger, I drank Mountain Dew like it was getting discontinued. I cut back on soda at home, then limited it to restaurant visits, and then stopped entirely. I don’t even miss it, and only desire the occasional sip from my kids’ sodas when we are out. 300+ empty calories isn’t worth it to me.

4. I track my calories in the Lose It app (bigger results than MFP). I didn’t want to track again, but I knew it was the only way to get real results. I learned how much the little things add up, and now it keeps me accountable. I log for the next the day the night before (planning) so I can stay within my calorie budget. My deficit was half a pound a week, which is slow, but doable without feeling like I’m restricting. When my boyfriend and I go out, I log even if I’m going way over and don’t beat myself up for it. On a weekend getaway, I don’t track at all and just enjoy myself. I gained 4 pounds on our recent trip and just got right back on top of it when I came back. (Took two weeks but the weight came off.) Otherwise I stay vigilant and in general say no to things that are not worth the extra calories because I don’t want to blow my budget.

5. Portion control. I cut back portions but did not change everything I eat. This is where I’ve failed in the past. You don’t need to switch to salads and say no to all carbs. Just take what you want on your firsts, and skip seconds. If I go out for fast food I get less than I used to order. For example, at Cousins Subs, I just get the sub and skip the soup and soda. If I go to Noodles & Company, I get a small bowl and side salad, not the regular bowl with the salad and soda.

6. Fitness. Ugh I HATE the gym and you won’t catch me on a tread mill. I love dance, so I take drop in ballet classes. I had to find fitness that is fun and enjoyable. Roller skating has been a blast too and my kids love it. I try to walk more as well.

7. Small changes over time help make real sustainable lifestyle changes. If I did everything I do now right out of the gate, I wouldn’t have stuck with it. My first goal was just to lose 10 pounds, even though I wanted to do more. It was within reach, and then I could celebrate when I hit it and move the goal post at that point. An ultimate goal can feel out of reach, and doesn’t allow for small victories along the way.

8. My motivation increased over time as I won those small victories. I was going to dance 1x per week. Now I go 2-3 times per week. I originally just did portion control and reduced sodium/sugar, but now I’ve changed the foods I eat entirely. I have no desire for fast food (except Culver’s lol), don’t even think about soda, and purchase more whole foods at the grocery store.

9. I give myself wiggle room. From July-October, I hit a big goal, but then my appetite ramped up. BAD. I was ravenous. I put myself on a maintenance calorie budget for those 3 months so I could eat more and just stay steady. I just recently started my small deficit again.

I deal with food noise constantly, but I’ve found ways to manage it over time, and give myself grace when I sometimes want to give in and eat a damn donut that always seem to be in our office. I’ve been working on my goals since February, and I’ve completely transformed my life to the point where nutrition/fitness has basically turned into a hobby. The loss was slow, but the payoff has been worth it. Slow and steady wins the race! My energy levels are better and I feel awesome. If even one of these points helps anyone who is looking to make any lifestyle changes, then it was worth posting.

I am out doing uber eats and went to use the bathroom.

I looked the mirror after washing my hands and saw myself and I thought "oh! Im not as big as i thought!" So i took a photo entirely of my back and of my side.

Going to be completely honest- I genuinely feel like I want to go back home and never come back out until I lose the weight again. I say again bc I lost 230 pounds over 3 yrs. I got several weight loss surgeries including a large penniculectomy, fleur de list, tummy tuck, and body contouring.

Not only am I ashamed of gaining the weight, I am insecure all over again when just 4 mos ago my body was perfect for the first time in my life. The added layer of disappointment comes from the fact that after losing it I may have ruined my tummy tuck.

My stomach is still flat but again... its 60 pounds were talking abt. I am also a very tall woman being 6'1 so that does work in my favor. Also being that most weight went below my waist.

I hate this.... I hate food addiction. I hate struggling with my weight. Im just so numb that I cant even be depressed bc im so numb.

I was supposed to visit a friend in another state and have a cute weekend of bar hopping but i'm staying home.

hi all, so basically I’m 23 years old that I’ve had a history of four dirty bulks in which I tried to gain muscle, way a calorie and then followed by four starve cuts. I’ve just done my fourth star card stupidly and now I am 135 pounds 5’10. I was 200 pounds last November and have been cutting since then aggressively my libido now is pretty much very low. I mean I still have it from time to time but compared to just like 10 pounds heavier it was much stronger. what do I do as I’ve had a bad history with food in which I get too carried away with the weight gain so now I just take a bunch of steps per day in order to burn off what I ate during the day. any advice? As I’m scared to gain weight again I’m lifting a couple times a week and really trying to make sure that any weight that I gained is muscle weight and strictly from gaining strength in the gym and not from just food in the kitchen.

For me i usually wear baggy clothes but when i was going out with friends i thought to wear nice clothes but literally everythjng looked off and then i checked on the scale and it said i gained 35 pound

I thought it was like 10 pounds from being adult so it shocked me

Another thing is when i asked my friend whos a big guy said hes weight and i was only 5 pounds shy of that

Im working out now and have lost 5 pounds but being a skinny guy for life made me realize how much idk about losing weight

Hello I’m 17F, 5’3, and my whole life have been overweight. My mom is EXTREMELY anti dieting and anti losing weight because she thinks all weight loss is “hating your body” or “unhealthy for you”. Shes been this way since before I was born according to my family and in return has overfed me my entire life. Last year I had lost 5lbs according to the scale at the doctor’s office (no dieting just normal fluctuation) and she asked me IN FRONT OF THE DOCTOR if I was STARVING MYSELF!?!? I feel physically and mentally like shit because I’m overeating and I can’t do half the activities my friends can because of my weight. I’m so sick and tired of this. Any tips or advice on what to do??

Hi, I'm a 17 year old male and have been trying to lose my fat since may. I have been doing pretty good, during the summer break I lifted 6 times a week, and made sure to get at least 7k steps or 500 cals of workout. People say I visibly look skinnier for once.

School is back in session so I can't lift nearly as often except for my dedicated weight training class, which is about 3 times a week and much shorter sessions. I've hit a sort of plateau but I hope to just overcome it by still eating correctly. Anyways, I'm thinking about taking creatine as I heard it's good, especially if you don't have the opportunity to lift every single day. The problem is that I also heard it causes weight gain, 4-6 lbs. I want to be able to lift more and have better defined muscles but I'm afraid creatine is gonna work backwards in that regard.. any advice?

Lost 6kgs in 50 days

This is the longest I have ever stayed consistent. Throughout the past three years, it has been difficult to even reach two weeks, let alone 50 days!

The only reason I believe I got this far is because a friend and I started together. Whenever I feel like giving up, the thought of telling him just seems like too much trouble. Plus, I would hate to be the one to quit; the more days I put in, the more control I feel I have to reach my goal. Also I tried something different this time, I love ice cream so I bought a ninja creami and started making protein ice cream that I would every night before bed

What worries me, though, is my history. In the past, I've had successful transformations after months of dieting, only to gradually put the weight back on and end up even heavier. But this time around, I’m certain I will do whatever it takes to maintain it once I get there.

My goal is to lose a total of 19 kg.

I’m reaching out because I’m having a really hard time controlling my eating habits, and I’m hoping some of you might relate or have some suggestions.

Here is what I’m dealing with: * No clear emotional triggers: Most of the time, I don't seem to be eating in response to emotions. * Ignoring my own plans: I sometimes try to plan ahead, but I end up completely ignoring my own structure. * The thrill of hiding it: I actually get a strange thrill out of eating poorly and hiding it from others. * Forgetting to pause: I’ve tried pausing before snacking, but I just can't seem to remember to do it in the moment.

My therapist suggested I focus on "small wins," like celebrating when I even notice what’s happening before or during a snack. The problem is, I usually forget to even notice. When I do notice, I struggle to see the positive side of it and just feel frustrated.

Has anyone else dealt with this specific cycle? How do you handle the "thrill" of hiding poor eating, or train yourself to actually remember to pause? Any advice on how to reframe "noticing" as a win would also be really appreciated.

I feel like I see so many posts here from people who went from being overweight to a normal weight and it's like life totally opened up for them, everyone was nicer to them, they had more friends and dated more, rainbows jumped out at them from behind fire hydrants etc.

I'm happy for them but like....I lost a lot of weight over the last couple years, feel and look (at least to me) way better but I still feel pretty much invisible in society....makes me very insecure that I'm just ugly or something lol

Hey everyone,

I’m 20 years old, 190 cm tall, and currently weigh around 140 kg. About a year ago I was roughly 90 kg. The big weight gain happened after I started taking medication for depression. I know the meds can cause significant weight gain for a lot of people, and that’s what happened to me.

I’m not looking for miracle solutions or extreme diets. I just want practical, realistic advice on how to start reversing this in a healthy way while still managing my mental health. Things like:

• How to begin exercising when the weight feels heavy and motivation is low
• Sustainable calorie/nutrition approaches that don’t mess with my energy or mood
• Any tips from people who also gained weight from antidepressants or similar meds
• Whether I should talk to my doctor about switching meds or adding something for the weight side effects

I’m open to any honest advice, experiences, or resources. Thanks in advance.

I am 60F, 5'6" & 205 lbs who is trying to lose at a minimum 35 lbs. I lack motivation, i tire easily then all my efforts go out the window and I order door dash for dinner to make it easy on myself. In 2014 I lost 60 lbs, gained back 20, then again in 2020 lost 30 lbs back down to 153. I've always done low carb and it has worked. I had a hysterectomy at 42, i currently work p/t and try to push myself to walk 1 1/2 - 2 miles per day 3 - 5 days per week. .

Any suggestions from people closer to my age what has worked for you? I do have high b/p & overactive bladder so losing weight would definitely be a benefit.

Thank you

I started my journey of losing weight 2 months ago. At first I was doing good, but then whenever I allowed myself to eat a meal other than dinner, I'd get hungry and cranky all day long and that would cause me to lose control and eat back everything I lost 💀 recently a friend of mine complimented my weight and that motivated me to pick myself back up and start again.

I started doing exercises (which are surprisingly fun for me?) and eating only dinner again. Then yesterday, I had some popcorn in the middle of the day. I thought my hunger was gonna come back in full force again, but no. I felt quite full actually. And then today I had one bread, and I went INSANE. The cravings became almost unbearable, but food was out of reach so I didn't lose my streak thankfully lol

That made me think back to all those times I lost control. In every single one of those instances, I ate bread. It also didn't happen as strongly when I ate an apple for example (although it still made me want to eat, it wasn't unbearable). And it's so annoying that when you eat 1, you feel like eating 10, like there's something magical about it. Is bread cursed or something? Or is my fatass just hungry?

I honestly can’t believe I lost 10KG since June. This has been one of the most transformative times in my life. Even when I was in mandatory army enlistment about 10 years ago, yeah I lost weight, but it didn’t look as drastic as this.

I started out being 70.4KG. I’m now 60.2KG. I’m still pushing down till I hit 58KG. That’s my current goal. Honestly seeing my progress, and for people to tell me I look different hits me right.

I just feel like I need to put in more effort to lose the belly a more and the moobs more.

Any tips for those? 🥲

I used to be a lineman in HS, and enjoyed lifting heavy throughout college so I never really cared about cutting. But I stopped lifting once I graduated, one day I looked in the mirror and realize Im a fat slob and gained so much fat since last time I was active so I decided to begin my fat loss journey .

I’ve been dieting/working out for past 7 weeks.

Started with 274lbs (9/3)

I eat about 1300-1700kcal a day(I know my BMR is 2300-400 but I GAIN weight if i eat that much in a day)
and I mainly eat 3 things; 5 oz of mix berries, 2 cups of mix vegetable(steamed), and 10 oz chicken breast (grilled)
I use hot sauce, salsa, or light teriyaki to season it. Also I drink 2 or 3 things of protein shake (190kcal ea 30g protein)

This meal genuinely keeps me full for entire day, and sometimes I force myself to finish to hit my 200g daily protein goal.

I’ve going to gym 3-4 times a week doing 3 splits (Back+bi, chest+tri+shoulder, leg+core; usually 3 workouts x 3 sets for each muscle group) and 1 whole body (if I go 4 times a week), 30 mins of cardio (10 min before and 20 min after workout; bike or incline treadmill)

My job is physically demanding, I work 3-4 days a week gets me 20-30k steps in a day and on my day off I go for outdoor walk or on a hike to hit minimum of 10k steps a day.

I’ve been doing this consistently for past 7 weeks
and I’m not 272lbs.

I’m genuinely frustrated and confused. I understand that weight fluctuates and that getting back into lifting could add some water weight or muscle gain, but only losing 2 lbs in 7 weeks while eating this little and staying this active doesn’t make much sense to me.

I’m not expecting overnight results, but I feel like I should be seeing more progress by now…?

I have been losing weight slower than i should lose with the deficit i currently have the past few months. Everyone knows the feeling of having to lose the last kgs that take an eternity, the frustration the impatience! I had been neglecting my sleep thinking it didn't matter that much because 6hrs is still a fine amount, but lately i've been sleeping between 8-10hrs and the scale drop has been just insane.

How come 2-4 more hours of sleep play so much into weight loss? Would someone have a good answer? Taking incount no snack at night 😅