Can't stop obsessively overeating

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  • Pootler74
    Pootler74 Posts: 223 Member
    edited December 2014
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    I was you. I probably will be you again at some point in the future. I've even been to an eating disorder specialist, and they didn't really help. But for now, I'm doing so much better. I can now have lots and lots of sweets and chocolates in the house and not be constantly taunted by them. I don't have to eat them all. Which still amazes me, because for years and years, if there was chocolate in the house, I had no peace until I'd eaten it.

    I've worked on this for years. I've had to work on my mental health for years, and this was all part of it. Symptom or side effect, I don't know, but it was all bound up in lots of other stuff in my head. My relationship with food was a learned one - I was fine until a key point in my childhood when food ended up being the one thing I felt I could count on to always be there... and later, because money ran out, it sometimes wasn't. It was never going to be a quick, simple fix.

    Geneen Roth helped me enormously. Especially the Refrigerator book, which was my introduction to her. A really easy read. Overcoming Overeating is another good one by different authors. Mind you, I first read her about 17 years ago, and it's taken until now for it all to come together! But she made me much more aware of what was actually going on with me.

    Regular exercise helps, especially the energetic sort that gives you a hit of the good body chemicals afterwards.

    I've discovered that carbs, especially the white sort, make my obsessions worse. The more sugar and flour I eat, the more I want to eat EVERYTHING. I was filling up on those and only getting about 25-35g of protein a day. Once I focused on getting more than 100g of protein a day, (which left less room for carbs) my obsession with food started to go away. (When I was vegetarian by the way, this was even worse - I definitely wasn't getting enough protein then and was eating way, way too many carbs. I could obsess about and eat cheese and pasta all day long!)

    I still need sweet treats, but I've found higher protein recipes online for quick one-serving treats like brownies. They are never going to be as yummy as the real thing, but they hit the spot, and the leave me satisfied rather than wanting more.

    I've been using hypnosis apps on my phone at night, especially one tailored for sugar addiction (the app was free, and this track was a couple of dollars I think). Others may snort, but Paul McKenna's CD and book were helpful too. It's sold as a diet aid, but really it's about dealing with food better: he's mostly just using the same gentle tactics and ideas as Roth, but with some hypnosis thrown in. Does hypnosis help? Dunno, but I *think* it might, and that's what matters.

    I'm pretty sure that where I am now is a combination of all of the above, and just being sick to death of it still being a problem after so many years. But I'm 100% certain that cutting carbs and increasing protein has been key - it really all changed when I fixed that.

  • Pootler74
    Pootler74 Posts: 223 Member
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    Just seen that Paul McKenna has an emotional eating package too, so I'll leave this here for anyone interested: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Freedom-From-Emotional-Eating-DVD/dp/0593064070/ref=pd_cp_b_3
  • redpandora56
    redpandora56 Posts: 289 Member
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    Pootler74 wrote: »

    I've discovered that carbs, especially the white sort, make my obsessions worse. The more sugar and flour I eat, the more I want to eat EVERYTHING.

    Same here. Don't get me wrong, i still eat them - just had two slices of white toast this morning. But, I don't eat them often, maybe a couple of times a week at most, because I notice a direct relationship between how much bread/pasta/cake etc I eat, and how often/badly I binge and want to binge. When I cut back on these, my cravings reduce and I don't spend the day constantly thinking about what I can eat next.
  • Patttience
    Patttience Posts: 975 Member
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    Given how you are not overweight, i think you are overestimating your problem.

    You probably have not realised that relationship between you activity levels, your actual fuel needs and your appetite.

    You look healthy and sound healthy, skinny can muck you around, its not sustainable for a lot of us and leads to weight gain and worse eating habits.

    Maybe you could discuss this all in depth with a dietician. Before you go along for a meeting, keep a detailed food diary for 1-3 weeks. List all you activities and your weight. Anad if you are counting calories, that that too. Take it all along.
  • nickelpickle
    nickelpickle Posts: 55
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    Thank you so much everyone. I will definitely check out the resources that you suggested. I definitely agree with the restriction of carbs and sugar/flour being a good thing for cravings - I have already eliminated pasta from my house, and I'm not big into sweets so that helps! @Pootler74‌ I feel those cravings with rice and other grains as well, so it seems like I can never eat any real carb-y foods like you. I've found that protein doesn't really fill me up either, though.

    @sodakat I have no idea what you're talking about - I didn't mention kids in my post...?

    I know a few people commented that this isn't really an issue because I'm not morbidly obese - but trust me, the only reason that I'm not obese is because I yo-yo diet like crazy to lose any weight I've gained during the binge cycle. 150lbs and 5'3" is still overweight. Just because the struggle doesn't show itself completely on the outside doesn't mean it's not raging inside. :(
  • sodakat
    sodakat Posts: 1,126 Member
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    nickelpickle wrote: »
    @sodakat I have no idea what you're talking about - I didn't mention kids in my post...?

    I know a few people commented that this isn't really an issue because I'm not morbidly obese - but trust me, the only reason that I'm not obese is because I yo-yo diet like crazy to lose any weight I've gained during the binge cycle. 150lbs and 5'3" is still overweight. Just because the struggle doesn't show itself completely on the outside doesn't mean it's not raging inside. :(

    Oops. I put answer in wrong place/thread. Ignore me!
  • clairecrowley1066
    clairecrowley1066 Posts: 8
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    NickelPickle, I've been battling binge eating for 20+ years (interspersed with dieting), and I just had this conversation with my dad a few weeks ago where he said I didn't have a problem because I'm not fat. Don't ever let anyone tell you it isn't a problem when you know in your heart that it's overtaking your life and emotionally tearing you apart. My opinion is that part of the reason it's so hard to get over overeating is that people don't take it seriously—we get the well-intentioned advice like "go on a diet" or "use some will power" from people who probably have no idea what it's like inside to live with the obsession. It's a big deal.

    I'm trying to find my way out too—I'm here for you!
  • clairecrowley1066
    clairecrowley1066 Posts: 8
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    BTW, I'm working with a therapist/R.D. and have gotten a lot of great reading recommendations from her. I've gotten a lot of comfort from Geneen Roth, Julie Latz, and Intuitive Eating.
  • nickelpickle
    nickelpickle Posts: 55
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    @sodakat‌ haha no worries at all!
  • nickelpickle
    nickelpickle Posts: 55
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    @clairecrowley1066‌ thank you so much for reaching out. I opened up to my husband the other night about this, and I asked him how he is able to control himself. He says "I just stop" - if only it were that easy!
  • squirrelzzrule22
    squirrelzzrule22 Posts: 640 Member
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    When your doctor tests your blood, do they test your thyroid levels? A strong appetite and fast metabolism are associated with hyperthyroidism. Nothing to be terrified of, many people have slightly under or overactive thyroids but it could be the culprit.

    My other guess would be your iron levels but it sounds like you have had that checked. But it is possible to eat very healthily and still end up with vitamin deficiencies. Maybe add a multivitamin for a while and see if that is helpful at all?
  • nickelpickle
    nickelpickle Posts: 55
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    @squirrelzzrule22‌ I actually do take a multivitamin just to fill in any gaps.

    I've hard my thyroid levels tested, too, as a teenager - my mom suspected that there was something wrong with my thyroid as well considering how much food I was eating!
  • squirrelzzrule22
    squirrelzzrule22 Posts: 640 Member
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    Gotcha. Well it may be worth having them add that on to your next blood test since hormones can certainly change as we get older. But if its truly mental then you'll have to find a way to work on that. If its not effecting your life too badly, I would just say keep healthy munchies on hand that fit within your calorie goal, but since it seems to impact you more than that maybe chatting with a therapist will help. It doesn't sound like its impacting your health too much now, but if later in life your metabolism slows it would be no fun to suddenly pack on weight.
  • clairecrowley1066
    clairecrowley1066 Posts: 8
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    Ha, yeah my hubby's a total normie too. He'll get a pack of cookies and end up throwing most of them away because he found them a month later, stale in the pantry. Like that would ever happen with me!

    Glad to hear you talked about it with him. It took me a LOT of courage to tell mine what was going on with my eating. I don't think he completely understands, but he supports.
  • nickelpickle
    nickelpickle Posts: 55
    edited December 2014
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    @squirrelzzrule22‌ that's a good idea! I have a checkup coming soon so I will definitely ask my doctor to do that. Thank you!

    @clairecrowley1066‌ my hubby does that too. He eats tons of junk food but sometimes forgets he has things. For me, if there's something yummy in the house, it's on my radar constantly until I consume it. Sometimes I actually just eat things so that I don't have to think about them anymore. Isn't that terrible? It's so mentally draining :(
  • auntchellebelle
    auntchellebelle Posts: 127 Member
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    nickelpickle wrote: »
    I have recently come to the realization that I need to get help for my overeating. I have struggled with it for a very long time - going through a series of yo-yo diets which overall have only helped me to GAIN weight.

    All I think about is food - what I'm going to eat, and when I'm going to eat it. And when I am eating, I'm just thinking about what I can eat next, and how long I'll have to wait in order to not seem food crazed. I eat WAY more than anyone I know - including my husband. It has taken over my life and I feel like I'm neglecting everything because I can't stop being preoccupied with food.

    I really don't even know why I over eat. I haven't been able to pinpoint any sort of emotion that causes me to eat. Sometimes I wonder if I do it just because I love to eat - and I admit, I truly do.

    I live my life feeling ashamed. Each time I succumb to food temptation I feel that my confidence plummets more and more.

    I feel out of control. The only thing I want to do is stop being obsessed with food. I don't even care if I lose weight. I just want to MOVE ON and live my life!

    Does anyone relate? :(

    This sounds exactly like me! I have said the same thing time and time again. I am never full and could go on and on. My boyfriend eats junk all of the time so I keep it in the house so it is very tempting. I finally had to tell him to call me a fat *kitten* if I go for the junk food so I won't.
  • clairecrowley1066
    clairecrowley1066 Posts: 8
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    OMG, I know exactly what you mean!! I can't stop obsessing about goodies in the house either, and I've eaten things just to get it over with so I can stop worrying about it. And no, it isn't terrible, just part of the problem we have. You aren't alone.
  • nickelpickle
    nickelpickle Posts: 55
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    @clairecrowley1066‌ it feels amazing to have someone to relate to! Have you ever been to OA? I have no idea if it would help.

    @auntchellebelle‌ I wish my husband would tell me to stop! I asked him to tell me to stop eating once and he looked at me like I was crazy, lol.
  • yopeeps025
    yopeeps025 Posts: 8,680 Member
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    My question would be why are you worrying about the food in the house? Usually eating just to overeating from my experience is not because I like food and that is it. There are other issues involved.
  • foxlme
    foxlme Posts: 57 Member
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    Emotional over-eater here! What helped me is taking a deep breath before I grab something, and saying "I am in control over what *I* put it *my* body." More times than not that little pause helps me put it down.

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