Trying to keep Control

jahesa67

Today is my second day and I find myself having a hard time keeping control with the urge to eat even though I am not hungry. I stopped smoking two months ago after having been a smoker for 45 years. I am vaping though, but I know that needs to stop as well. But even with the vaping I am having the urge to grab something to eat just because. For 45 years I lived on cigarettes and coffee and ate once maybe twice a day. But since stopping the smoking I can't seem to control my eating. I binge eat until the urge is done and I am now two days where I was able to control it by sheer will power. But how do you keep controlling it when it creeps up on you and you feel the urge to give in?

Any suggestions on what to do or something healthy to binge on that will not make me spiral back to my old ways?

hidm82

This is just my take (I only have my one solitary experience ending binge eating and zero experience with smoking), but I would try a whole month where my goal was just to take ten seconds to notice that I was having the urge to binge and check in with myself about what I was feeling (anxious? bored? sad?) and try to identify what that feeling was in my body (turning in my gut or tension in my shoulders, etc). Then note that I am leaning on this tool of eating to relieve or numb that feeling AND THAT IS OKAY because it is the tool I have and it works, knowing that getting ready to try new tools is something that will come when I’m ready. A whole month, maybe two, of just noticing and accepting what’s there without forcing change. In the meantime, set yourself up for “harm reduction” with a stash of the healthiest possible binge foods that will satisfy you.