This may bore you, but for those who can be bothered to read it - thanks

I have suffered with weight gain and an ability to eat a normal diet for the best part of 18 years. In July 2006 having reached 22 stone 8 pounds (316 pounds) and after trying every diet under the sun I decided to do a very drastic low calorie diet (520 calories per day) called The Cambridge Diet. This basically consists of 4 milkshakes a day and nothing else but water (at least 6 litres per day) After 3 weeks you can substitute 1 shake for a nutrition bar. Anyway in 14 weeks I lost over 100 pounds. After finishing the plan, I managed to adjust to a new healthy balanced eating plan and sustained my weight for about 3 months, but then xmas came and I went off the ropes and never recovered, ballooning back up to 19 stone 3 pounds (269 Pounds) Again I tried all the diets, tried herbal remedies and even prescription diet pills. I then did Paul McKenna’s I can make you thin programme and finally resorted to hypnosis and had 5 sessions with a hypnotist who specialises in Weight Management and curing eating disorders. None of this worked, so out of desperation I went back to The Cambridge Diet. After 4 weeks I had lost 30 pounds and the through healthy eating over the next few weeks I lost another 24 pounds, taking me back to 215 pounds (which for my frame is a pretty good weight) Again I managed to sustain for approx 3 months and then again xmas came and history repeated itself. So now in March 2008 I’m back to 240 Pounds and spiralling completely out of control. I don’t exaggerate when I say I just cannot stop eating. It is actually quite a frightening compulsion I have and I just cannot seem to beat it. I know I need to lose this ‘Diet’ mentality and just eat a normal balanced diet, but I just cannot do it. Through all of this I have exercised massively and still go to the gym 5 teams a week. I would say I am pretty fit (running 4 miles in 34 minutes currently – which for a 17 stone guy aint bad) but I am just way too heavy. I need to get down to 195 pounds and stay there.

So my plea, can anybody give me some advice on how to change my ways long term and beat this addiction?

Cheers

H