Dear Bean @nursebean
My apologies for taking so long to reply.
It sounds like you have (had) a few challenges - CFS and the death of a loved pet can so easily lead to overeating for those of us who use food for comfort. But it seems like you have found renewed motivation and vigor to shed those excess pounds - your enthusiasm is shining through in all your posts.
And good for you becoming a vegetarian!
I know this may sound negative, but I feel that unless we find strategies for managing our eating when times are not so good, or in general when we are not motivated, managing our weight will be a lifetime problem. Whoever can find a universal answer to that might make a lot of money!!! But I guess it is not realistic to find one solution that suits all - or, it seems, even one solution that suits most!!
This is where I do think CBT or other psychological strategies that address the causes of our overeating are the only long term solution for most. However, making oneself apply them is not easy either.
As you may recall, I lost weight easily and steadily with 5:2 - fasting was rarely difficult. I maintained for some while, but only by continuing to have fast days - which meant I was overeating on other days - ie I had not addressed my behaviors that led to overeating. And then over time I found I just couldn't manage regular fasting anymore - and this is where I am still at. I occasionally am able to do a couple of fast days, but soon am eating more and more on those days til I am not fasting anymore.
I would estimate I have regained close to half the weight I lost, but would not be technically overweight. Interestingly (annoyingly??) almost all the weight has gone on around my tummy, hips and legs, and some on my waist - virtually no increase at all on my upper body.
My main challenge is that eating is a pleasure and that I have been unable to find something so readily available that can provide the same immediate reward. Distraction can work during the day, but for me, in the evening, sitting in front of the TV, after a generally busy day, there is nothing like food...
To a point, this is okay if I am not eating more than I need - the real problem is when I continue eating when I don't even really fancy it. I do think that there is some poor brain wiring that causes this, or some strange chemical reaction in the body that sends poor messages to my brain - I can't come up with any other explanation!
I know all the techniques that could help, but don't/won't apply them most of the time...
Thanks for asking how I am going...
and very best wishes for your journey.