I’m the same OP except more overweight than you know. I want meds just to stop the damn food noise. I had things under control for about a decade (still constantly thinking about food but limiting my portions and maintaining a healthy weight). Since the pandemic, still think about food all the time but now make crappy choices, gain weight and berate myself for my lack of discipline.

Right there with you, OP, down to the age & 10 lbs overweight.

I'm just leaning into it, and spending my mental energy thinking about healthy meal plans, how to pack more fiber into my next meal, what else I can make with lentils that my kids might eat. If I'm going to think about food, at least I'm thinking about good foods rather than what I shouldn't be eating.

Try intermittent fasting. You need more practice not thinking about food.

The reason is simple. You're dieting and your brain mistakes it for starving. So you eat.
You only need to eat twice a day with a fruit or yogurt in between for a snack.
You train your brain by focusing on other stuff during your dieting.

I actually believe I lost 50 plus pounds after taking Ivermectin for 3 months. The parasites are gone so my food is naturally breaking down instead of feeding the worms. My stomach has never been flat. Even when I weighed 108 pounds. Now my stomach is flat

You don't have to believe me. And yes I get made fun of but you know what ? I'm very healthy for an old lady.
The old adage of what goes in has to come out is true. And if it kills parasites too, why not ?

There is a side effect so unless you have a restroom near you I'd recommend staying home while taking it. I took the liquid first when I got sick then moved on to the pill form.

What exactly are you thinking about? You say that you know that you're not hungry, so what thought is in your head when you are thinking about food?

Get a script for compounded Semaglutide (ozempic, mounjaro). It’s a game changer.

Anonymous wrote:… and what can I do about it?

I have been this way my whole life. I was always slim and had a huge appetite but my metabolism has slowed a lot in my 40s and I am about 10 lbs overweight. I think about food all day long. When am I eating next, what am I eating? I am currently thinking about wanting a snack even though I am not hungry at all. But my brain is telling me to eat something.

What do I do to get my brain to shut the f up all the time? Not a candidate for meds.

Why? You sound like you are a candidate for meds.

Get Ozempic. It stops the food noise.

Planning meals and having "unlimited" foods makes me obsess about food.
Just eat x meals no snacks and let your brain rest.

Because you think you can control food, eating, weight.
Because you want to be lighter.
Stop it.

Drink water. Get a hobby. Read a book.

I feel the same, OP - I'm 50! As soon as I'm done eating one thing I'm thinking about what I'll get to eat next, and when.

I try not to fight it, honestly. Just plan out my meals so my brain is happy enough to know what's coming - and I also eat as much fruit as I want.

Cutting back on sugar helped me with this. Also, not eating late at night. I can always tell when I need to pay more attention to what/when I'm eating because I go from being "happily" hungry without thinking about food to constantly craving the next thing, even though I might be totally full.

Go to Europe and see if it disappears. My cravings and thinking about food started when I moved to US.
It disappears on day two in EU and reappear when I come back to US.

… and what can I do about it?

I have been this way my whole life. I was always slim and had a huge appetite but my metabolism has slowed a lot in my 40s and I am about 10 lbs overweight. I think about food all day long. When am I eating next, what am I eating? I am currently thinking about wanting a snack even though I am not hungry at all. But my brain is telling me to eat something.

What do I do to get my brain to shut the f up all the time? Not a candidate for meds.