EmOtiOnAl EaTiNg!

fitgal122

Hellooooo MFPers So, I have problems (like pretty much everyone else) with emotional eating/overeating/mindless eating. I will do great for a few days and the scale will go down a few lbs, then I start having so many negative thoughts about myself that I basically binge like all afternoon then cry and regret it that night and sometimes even the next day. My weight has literally has just been bouncing everywhere the last few weeks because of it. Today I made a promise to myself that I would get serious about this and realize that I cant keep riding this emotional rollarcoaster. How have you guys been able to overcome this and get a grip on yourselves?

Escape_Artist

Did it take you a long time to type that title?
I got emotional just looking at it.

:laugh: no kidding

Factory_Reset

Did it take you a long time to type that title?
I got emotional just looking at it.

QFT

And OP, you're in charge of you, but I will tell you the same thing I told the person who is quitting smoking,

Sex and candy work wonders

:flowerforyou:

ThinLizzie0802

First tip to stop emotional eating: Stay out of the MFP forums.

cmcollins001

First tip to stop emotional eating: Stay out of the MFP forums.

So...how's that working out for you?

lua_

First tip to stop emotional eating: Stay out of the MFP forums.

I disagree. The positive and kind words from so many people can be great motivation, most people are here want to help, they're just sick of threads like "I EATED 700 CALORIES A DAY FOR 2 DAYS WHY AREN'T I LOSING" when there are PAGES of the same type of question being answered. The only tip to stop overeating is to have self-discipline. No matter what the mean MFP commenters say, in the end, it's your body and your decision to overeat. No blame to place on anyone or anything but on yourself. I say this as a binge eater.

OP:

Have you considered counselling? I find that exercise in the morning helps with overeating throughout the day There are also several groups you can join on here.

PikaKnight

HaVe yoU tHOugHt aBOUt tHerAPy ?

trogalicious

CoUnTiNg CaLoRiEs WoRkS wHeThEr YoU'rE sAd Or NoT. JuSt KeEp TrUdGiNg AlOnG!

CallMeCupcakeDammit

Turn around and walk out of the kitchen as soon as you realize what you're about to do. Leave the house and go for a walk if you can. With trigger foods at work, I put a sticky note with my name in a red circle with a line through it, so when I'm starting to get overwhelmed and go to the kitchen for Cheez Its, it snaps me back into reality.

emAZn

Something that helped me from not over eating was the saying, "One cookie will not make you fat just like one salad will not make you skinny".

It really struck me and it kind of became my mantra till I realized that finding balance was my real goal here even more so then weight loss.

Sometimes when I'm having a roller coaster moment I'll just make myself of really sugary hot tea and blog about what ever it is that's bothering me (weight loss, co-workers, family, ect) and I reccomend blog instead of posting in the forums because the forums can be a "tad bit" critical.

Most of the time this stops me from wanting to jump off the ledge and drive to the store and buy a whole blueberry pie but sometimes it doesn't, so I settle for 400 calories of blueberry poptarts... and a kick *kitten* cardio burn at the gym the next day

Good luck!

Railr0aderTony

How can you look at this wonderful greasy fried mass and not be emotional



And this^^^ Makes me want to cry.

silvergurl518

Did it take you a long time to type that title?
I got emotional just looking at it.

reminds me of how i used to sign my name when i was in middle school.

da_bears10089

CoUnTiNg CaLoRiEs WoRkS wHeThEr YoU'rE sAd Or NoT. JuSt KeEp TrUdGiNg AlOnG!

WhAt He SaId. I lOvE wHeN pEoPlE tAkE tHe TiMe To TyPe LiKe ThIs! It'S lIkE tHrOwBaCk ThUrSdAy, BuT oN fRiDaY!

Mr_Bad_Example

i NeVeR hAd A pRoBlEm WiTh EmOtIoNaL eAtInG, jUsT oVeR-eAtInG.

Man, typing that gave me a headache. Time for ice cream.

whierd

ThIs ToOk ExTrA eFfOrT oN a TaBlEt, JuSt SaYiN'

bajoyba

Something that helped me from not over eating was the saying, "One cookie will not make you fat just like one salad will not make you skinny".

It really struck me and it kind of became my mantra till I realized that finding balance was my real goal here even more so then weight loss.

That's good advice. You just need to find balance in a way that clicks for you. Once I started thinking about food in terms of fuel and what my body actually needed in the form of calories and macro/micro-nutrients, my relationship with food changed. I probably enjoy eating now more than I did before, except I don't have any weird feelings of guilt to go along with it.

And as others have mentioned, make sure you keep counting all of your calories. Having that accountability to yourself and to your food diary sometimes acts as a deterrent from eating something you're indifferent about or aren't actually hungry for.

fitgal122

Thank You everyone who was nice when commenting! I just wrote the title like that for fun, so stop being so mean and harsh about it. Wow.

whierd

Thank You everyone who was nice when commenting! I just wrote the title like that for fun, so stop being so mean and harsh about it. Wow.

I see your mean and harsh and counter with: We were just having fun, lighten up.

Ninkyou

Make sure you're eating enough calories so that it won't trigger a binge... ie saying you want to lose 2 lbs/a week because OMG MFP will let me set it to that even though I'm 5'11 and weigh 135 lbs. So, what I'm REALLY trying to say is, set up some realistic goals and you won't feel the need to binge. And also, have some self control.

SpeSHul_SnoflEHk

Thank You everyone who was nice when commenting! I just wrote the title like that for fun, so stop being so mean and harsh about it. Wow.

I see your mean and harsh and counter with: We were just having fun, lighten up.

Sensitive. IsN't ShE? I can do this. I am a SpeSHul SnoflEHk

jilly1130

I completely understand what you mean about emotional eating and this is nothing to make fun of or laugh about and I was so surprised at the people who took the time to make fun of or laugh about your topic title. There should be a little more compassion for someone who is struggling with this issue.

I am finally gaining control over my emotional eating by doing a few things. Like a person posted above, it is very helpful to log everything you eat when you binge or go way over your calorie goal. It really scared me to realize the amount of calories I was eating when I was feeling down or bored or frustrated. It is also important to have a realistic calorie goal that will allow you to feel satisfied with the amount of food you are eating. The other two things that help me are to make myself really busy when I am feeling like binging as this takes my mind off eating and I also find it helpful to have a cup of coffee -- this keeps my cravings for sweets under control. I do this alot after dinner.

Willpower is what it takes and it is not easy. I wish you all the best in overcoming this issue.

CTcutie

Make sure you're eating enough calories so that it won't trigger a binge... ie saying you want to lose 2 lbs/a week because OMG MFP will let me set it to that even though I'm 5'11 and weigh 135 lbs. So, what I'm REALLY trying to say is, set up some realistic goals and you won't feel the need to binge. And also, have some self control.

This. I haven't feel the need to do grazing/bingey/emotional eating since I really made the decision to STOP.
(The thoughts DO creep in, yes, but I have NOT acted on it since starting MFP/logging/exercising in over 6 weeks. That's the best I've done since... well, like 20 years or so!)
And, get rid of the things you know you can't be trusted with. I just do not buy it; if I want something, I pay more and just get a single serving. Stock up on nutritious, filling foods so you feel more in control.

trogalicious

I completely understand what you mean about emotional eating and this is nothing to make fun of or laugh about and I was so surprised at the people who took the time to make fun of or laugh about your topic title. There should be a little more compassion for someone who is struggling with this issue.

CaN yOu TaKe SoMeOnE sErIoUs WhEn ThEy TyPe LiKe ThIs? EvEn FoR fUn?

Lighten up, we're not making fun of the OP or the issue itself, but wearing a clown suit to a wedding instead of a tux is going to get you funny looks.

BattleTaxi

I completely understand what you mean about emotional eating and this is nothing to make fun of or laugh about and I was so surprised at the people who took the time to make fun of or laugh about your topic title. There should be a little more compassion for someone who is struggling with this issue.

CaN yOu TaKe SoMeOnE sErIoUs WhEn ThEy TyPe LiKe ThIs? EvEn FoR fUn?

Lighten up, we're not making fun of the OP or the issue itself, but wearing a clown suit to a wedding instead of a tux is going to get you funny looks.

I aGreE wiTh thE tRoG. TrOg KnOwS bESt!1!1!1one

_HeartsOnFire_

I completely understand what you mean about emotional eating and this is nothing to make fun of or laugh about and I was so surprised at the people who took the time to make fun of or laugh about your topic title. There should be a little more compassion for someone who is struggling with this issue.

CaN yOu TaKe SoMeOnE sErIoUs WhEn ThEy TyPe LiKe ThIs? EvEn FoR fUn?

Lighten up, we're not making fun of the OP or the issue itself, but wearing a clown suit to a wedding instead of a tux is going to get you funny looks.

I aGreE wiTh thE tRoG. TrOg KnOwS bESt!1!1!1one

This!!! While I would love to take the time to type like that...um...I just can't.

"if you can't laugh, the days are just too long. - Lauren Anderson.

maillemaker

CoUnTiNg CaLoRiEs WoRkS wHeThEr YoU'rE sAd Or NoT. JuSt KeEp TrUdGiNg AlOnG!

True!

To avoid binge eating first of all you need to stay focused. Tracking your food here helps with that.

To avoid eating for pleasure, cut out the foods that you find irresistible to eat.

_HeartsOnFire_

Thank You everyone who was nice when commenting! I just wrote the title like that for fun, so stop being so mean and harsh about it. Wow.

I see your mean and harsh and counter with: We were just having fun, lighten up.

I like you.

c_tap77

As entertaining as poking fun at the OP might be, I think she might actually want advice here...lol.

I can be an emotional eater myself so here's what I've done to try to prevent myself from going overboard:

1) I've gotten all of the junk out of our apartment. That way if I really feel a craving for something I would have to drive to the store or pick something up...and I really hate going to the grocery store so this has worked really well.

2) I preportion snacks after I go grocery shopping. This way if I'm hungry I eat only what I've preportioned and don't go through a whole box of cheeze-its.

3) When I do have a bad day/meal/fill-in-the-blank, I don't beat myself up over it and I don't use it as an excuse to keep binging. I just move on with my life and go forward eating the things I want to.

4) I try to plan out everything!!! And I schedule little treats for myself (like dark chocolate or spoon of nutella with some strawberries) so I don't feel the need to binge!

Good luck

SpeSHul_SnoflEHk

Thank You everyone who was nice when commenting! I just wrote the title like that for fun, so stop being so mean and harsh about it. Wow.

I see your mean and harsh and counter with: We were just having fun, lighten up.

I like you.

That is sooo my line.

Besides, his beard and mine are dating.

_HeartsOnFire_

Thank You everyone who was nice when commenting! I just wrote the title like that for fun, so stop being so mean and harsh about it. Wow.

I see your mean and harsh and counter with: We were just having fun, lighten up.

I like you.

That is sooo my line.

Besides, his beard and mine are dating.

I might want in on that. I like beards.

_HeartsOnFire_

As entertaining as poking fun at the OP might be, I think she might actually want advice here...lol.

Again, no one is poking fun at her. Lighten up people. Lighten up. Life's too long if you can't laugh.