Suggestion: FAA, Food Addicts Anonymous

140lb loser here. The turning point for me was realizing that the unhealthy eating habits were not making me happy. I'd look forward to a meal, eat what I thought I wanted and feel like shit an hour later. The lifestyle changes and process of losing the weight ended up changing my whole value structure around food. I still enjoy it and it's still tempting to overindulge. But I no longer equate it with happiness or feel like I'm missing out. Little hacks like diet tracking, portion control, small/frequent meals and prioritizing things like vegetables help put eating where it needs to be in my priorities to be able to manage it successfully. This is one area where being less social really helped; controlling my meals, schedule and not being tempted by what others were doing helped me not get derailed during the 18 months or so when I lost most of the weight. Also, hike; best exercise out there.

Sometimes a thyroid condition or side effects of drugs will increase appetite. 1) cut out the carbs which are really sugar. Yes beer is a carb. It is the only carb I permit myself. 2) snack on grapes, or another plant. 3) eat meat once a day if at all. 4) get off of the couch ( learn to square dance & do it) 5) stop whining 6) drink water not soda 7) garden 8) Avoid brown & white food 9)Avoid food in a box 10) support organics 11) yogurt not ice cream Get the idea. Start with one change a week.

Do not try to make drastic changes. Just eat less of your fav foods/treats and eat more vegeftables/salads.

One of my friends lost 35lbs by doing the WW point system and walking 2miles a day. Every day. Whatever works for you. Maybe a walk when you want to eat ? It's up to you. Good luck.

I lost about 20 pounds by cutting calories and intermittent fasting. Until your body adjusts... the cravings are just horrible to get through. Expect it. After a week or two (sometimes more) the craving will not only dissipate, I find the craving isn’t there at all sometimes.
I hit a plateau recently and took some (natural) diet pills/powder that had worked for a friend. I had a violent reaction. Stick with the tried and true safe method. They also have proof that fasting is very good for the brain. A nice benefit!

Weight loss can be complicated and very specific to the individual.
There have been studies linking mood and food. In general the more healthy you are eating, the better you will feel.

It is common for many to have difficulties with carbs. Often the consumption of sugars and other simple carbs can lead to highs followed by crashes and hunger. I don't know if carbs are a problem for you, but if you can manage to stay away from them for a few days, you my find a decreased desire for them.

More recent research is focusing on individual gut biomes and how they affect mood and ability to manage weight.

Fiber is another current area of interest and ties into the microbiome.

You might be able to find that there are specific foods that affect your mood or put you on a roller coaster and can maybe target those for elimination. Or your might find that certain foods have more satisfying power and make a point of including those. Fats and proteins come to mind.

Good luck.

I've been fighting a tendency to be overweight my entire life. I've tried every possible diet and some are awful. From my perspective the diet you're following sounds pretty restrictive. I'd be depressed too. Kudos to you for sticking with it.

However if you find that it isn't something you can sustain, I'd suggest you check out the new WW program. They keep making it easier and easier to lose weight. I recently lost 60 lbs on it in a little over a year, and I still don't understand how it can possibly work, because I (1) never went to bed hungry (2) didn't feel deprived and (3) saw steady progress. It's so flexible that you can eat the things you love (in moderation of course) and still lose weight. What I like about this program is that it's the first diet I've ever been on where I didn't feel depressed or deprived.

Whatever you choose, I wish you success. Believe me, I know it's a struggle to want something so bad and not be able to achieve it.

If you haven’t had your thyroid levels checked, it may be a good idea.
Thyroid hormone is required by every cell in your body, and low levels will affect your metabolism and mental outlook.

Shaved ice with some kind of sugar free syrup? Seems like it might take the edge off.

So is it the eating situation because of depression? or the depression because of the eating situation?

I am an emotional eater so yeah I think you are right.
Haven't any advice for you other than, sad to say, diets don't work. There is a group on here about weight loss they might be some help to you.