Well, I am taking prescription medicine that suppresses appetite, so that is kinda cheating. When I had started to lose weight before, I usually just found some other hobby that would keep me busy...but good luck! maybe you will get a better answer soon...
Casey

I have found some success with hobbies/ distractions until the cravings subside but I must admit that isn't helping me that much at the moment

I have found it takes about 4wks to recover from unhealthy eating and then yr body loses the cravings a bit but I too am really struggling to get through those 4wks.

You mentioned that WW worked quite well for you, but you had problems when you stopped. All that you lost, plus more, came back.

Well, that's the secret. You need to make PERMANENT changes to you eating habits. That way you lose the excess and stay where you should be. Once you stop eating properly, where do you go? Right on back to your BAD eating ways!

You know you can do it because you have already done it in the past and been successful!

Just do it again now!

You hear that voice, too? I think WW is the most effective method I've encountered. I tried and, I admit, gave it up several years back. I'm starting again. I think being aware - keeping your eye on the goal, and tracking your weaks spots, is the most important thing. WW helps you do that. You can do it without going to meetings by joining online, but I think the face to face experiences with others with the same goals helps keep me on track.

i also stgruggle with this 'starting tomorrow' mindset. the things that have worked (to an extent) for me are to think of each day that i don't stick to my eating plan adds 2 days to the length of time it will take me to get to my goal - and my goal gets further away - hope that helps!

What has worked for me is to just add a baby step each day. That gets rid of the "start tomorrow" syndrome because you know you only have to change one tiny thing the next day.

Posting a note here counts as a baby step for the day in my book so you are already there for today!!! GREAT JOB!!!

My first baby step was to limit my meals to one dinner plate of food with only seconds on veggies. My second was to give up trans fats. My third was to exercise an hour a day.

Find the baby steps that work for you. It might be more or less challenging than mine. Just make them small.

I write them down and have them in categories: portion control, food choices, exercise, spiritual, community. I am going to post them on my online journal here in case they are useful to others.

I am being patient. I haven't lost any weight yet, but I am up to exercising 10 hours a week and eating more healthy! I'll bet in a year's time I will be running a marathon and will have met my weight loss goal too.

I'll bet you can make it a baby step at a time too!!