Seven Ways to Redefine Overeating So You Will Stop

Mother_Superior

Hey, whatever you've gotta tell yourself amirite? For me it's, "Everytime I eat a cupcake, somewhere a kitten dies." It's how I lost the first 50.



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mazmataz

Thank you for this! I love #6 - 'overeating is a public confession that you lack self control'.

Yup this one is pretty powerful...

bergamese

Um, no.

Our bodies have an energy storage mechanism because it is virtually impossible to feed it the exact about of energy it needs at any given moment. "Over-eating" simply builds up that reserve for when the body needs energy and there is no immediately available food source.

Over-eating is not evil. We are actually designed to do it. However, consistently over-eating will build up an excessive amount of reserve, which can have negative repercussions on health and well-being.

For a lot of people, eating becomes linked to deeper emotional issues, and they end up developing an unhealthy relationship with food. The problem I have with this article is that if anything, it pushes that relationship to an even unhealthier level.

"Eating any junk food at any time may be called overeating by definition."

So basically, eating even a small treat constitutes a violent, self-centered, immature act of punishment and self-sabotage.

Yeah, that sounds healthy.

Thanks for posting. that sums up how I feel about the article.

FizikallyFit

Is this on an anorexia blog? a lot of the language used is how people with eating disorders talk to themselves about their relationship with food. This post is really triggering, I wish you would think before posting such a thing.

LiftAllThePizzas

For me it helps to think of quitting smoking as an analogy. I haven't been a smoker, but I can imagine that if I wanted to quit smoking, it would be helpful to reframe how I think of cigarettes, and it may very well take a dramatic reframe like those in the article: "the minutes spent smoking a cigarette steal minutes spent with my future grandchildren", that kind of thing.
So for someone with a real binge eating problem, they may need such a line in the sand, "snickers bars, never again".

I have been a smoker. And I first learned moderation and later (after I discovered it was still affecting my health in small quantities) quit. None of those things ever involved self-loathing or self-brainwashing.

And the difference with food is that food is not innately harmful to you, and you must eat to survive. If you want to have some semblance of mental health and/or happiness, you do need to learn moderation with food.

TheSlorax

Is this on an anorexia blog? a lot of the language used is how people with eating disorders talk to themselves about their relationship with food. This post is really triggering, I wish you would think before posting such a thing.

exactly what most people are saying. that's why the post was ****ed up. sorry you got triggered, but you certainly do not have to and should not think like that.

beeblebrox82

"Eating any junk food at any time may be called overeating by definition."


I completely disagree with this. Calories in vs. calories out, watch your macros, you're fine. Carbs are not evil. Neither is fat. If you got room for it in your log, enjoy a damn Snickers, it;s not going to kill you.

I lost 55 pounds and am stronger than I ever have been and I never completely cut out meat, or pizza, or butter, or Mike and Ikes. I'm not saying you should go down a gallon of diet coke because it "doesn't count" but all things in moderation, and moderation in all things. Don't feel guilty about a slice of pizza, but know you got to work a bit harder the next day if you go 500 calories over because of it. Owning your Diet does not mean you can't enjoy your food.


I do like the self control and maturity topics. We're grown ups, we know what excess calories do to our bodies. you don't put extra gas in your car's trunk, have the same respect for your body.

nitaaaaa

I like the one that overrating is not a reward, it's a punishment. Maybe to some the work "punishment" is a bit extreme and could conjure up an unhealthy response, but I like the idea that I should not see the chance to overheat or indulge as part of a celebration for something (which I often do). This overeating is not a few extra calories that can happen to anybody, but a conscience disregard of all my hard work during the week and a "free" pass to eat whatever for that one night bc I'm "already having a cheat day, so might as well go all out".

suzyfj8

I love this post and definitely makes you look at overeating in a different light

neandermagnon

What's wrong with just being rational and just defining overeating as exceeding the amount of calories your body needs to maintain good health?

Preposterous. Where's the self-loathing? Where's the suffering? Where's the guilt? Everyone knows they are essential to weight loss.

don't forget hair shirts and self-flagellation. they're also essential to weight loss. If you're not constantly suffering and punishing yourself and telling yourself you deserve it for committing the heinous, horrific, diabolical crime of eating a bit more than you burn off and storing too much adipose tissue, then you're never going to lose weight. Ever.

LauraElectric

The irony of a link to a blog-post at the bottom entitled "What not to say to someone with an eating disorder"...I mentally added "after you have given them one with the advice is THIS post."

marleniap

I can't relate to the article either. My obesity, binge eating disorder, lack of willpower, inability to feel full/satisfied, chronic illnesses etc was entirely due to malnutrition caused by a Standard American Diet based on processed foods. When I decided to eat healthy foods the need to over-eat vanished entirely. It was not a mind over matter thing in any way at all, and further berating myself would have had no effect either; except to possibly make me eat more.

BUMP. I like this one, I can relate.