Do I have an eating disorder?

ansonrinesmith

I'm clearly not anorexic or bulimic. I do however think I might have a problem with food.

I'm the classic Syndrome X (High Blood Pressure, Diabetic, High Cholesterol).
I exercise at least 45minutes, 3 times a week.
I know I need to lose weight. I know it is shortening my life.
Yet I find myself in front of the pantry or refrigerator looking for something to eat, even when I'm not hungry.
I can even be telling myself, "I should not be doing this, I need to lose weight. I'm not even hungry."
Yet I make that sandwich or chips and salsa.

Is this just a lack of self control or do I maybe have a larger problem?

THECaptainObvious

What are you doing right before you find yourself going to the pantry? Lots of people do that out of boredom.

ansonrinesmith

That has something to do with it. But I also find myself overeating at meals and eating foods that are literally lethal to me (donuts/candy/etc).

JoanaMHill

It sounds more like impulse control issues than necessarily an "eating disorder." I've had issues with this for years; there was a time when we couldn't keep a package of cookies or donuts in the house for very long because I'd keep going back to it even when I'd just eaten a meal. If boredom has to do with it, just try keeping yourself busy. Being out of the house definitely helps if it's simply a matter of going over to the fridge or pantry. Cooking less at meals and using smaller plates can also help with portion control (less room on the plate and less food to eat in the first place).

Poofy_Goodness

Only a doctor can diagnose you with an eating disorder. If you are truly concerned, seek a professional opinion.

ansonrinesmith

Is it just impulse control, or is there even a classification for what I'm describing?
I like to research online as much as I can, but I can't find anything.

Carrie_P81

I believe there is an official binge eating disorder...maybe look into that?

inside_lap

Binge Eating Disorder is considered Eating Disorder NOS (at least under the DSM-IV-TR... I haven't bothered to look up the new DSM-V as it has just released). Described as Recurrent episodes of binge eating in the absence of the regular use of inappropriate compensatory behaviors characteristic of Bulimia Nervosa. Keep in mind there is a specific defination of binge eating... not the one people necessarily throw around. That being said, diagnosing everything doesn't necessarily give you answers. Also, just because it's a eating disorder doesn't necessarily mean the self control or boredom isn't a factor. Of course, food is a source of self soothing for a lot of people. If your worried, go see a doctor. Get involved with a multidisciplinary team that includes mental health (if it truly is ED NOS).

Edit: Definately not enough info to give any sort of diagnosis. But like I said, diagnosis don't always lead to answers. In fact, there are people out there that like to pet and hold their diagnosis like treasures. Not healthy. Good luck in your journey and I hope you get professional help (ie see a doctor) if your truly worried.

inside_lap

Stupid question: Why does your pantry have food in it that can kill you?

Edit: Not being mean. For example I LOVE kiwi. Recently (last few years) developed a pretty serious allergy to it. I don't buy kiwi because it would be a bad idea to tempt myself into eating it. My husband does not buy kiwi or food with kiwi in it because he would rather me not die...

ansonrinesmith

So that was a separate comment.
I'm diabetic, cookies, candy and donuts can be lethal.
I try not to have candy and the sort in the house but for the holidays where there is Halloween candy, for example.
Also at work, when people bring in doughnuts or other sweets.

inside_lap

Fair enough. I just wanted to make sure those closest to you were being sensitive to your health needs. Growing up in a family where you clean your plate and don't waste food this was a difficult lesson to learn: Throw it away... Or bring it to work and share they calories as they have been doing to you. I try to avoid the break room during the holiday season because of said goodies. Bring healthy snacks that you enjoy for yourself as a substitute. Hey, maybe your office might take part in a new years biggest loser. Might bring down the food bringing for everyone. Good luck!

nomeejerome

Due to the lack of information, nobody is going to be able to give you an appropriate answer. If you are that concerned, I suggest seeking a professional.

ansonrinesmith

I understand this isn't a medical community. But I'm sure as soon as I go see a professional, I'll have a "problem", if you know what I mean.

I just want to know, is this just me needing to work on impulse control and changing habits, or something that I do need to talk to a doctor about, beyond my physical health problems.

nomeejerome

I understand this isn't a medical community. But I'm sure as soon as I go see a professional, I'll have a "problem", if you know what I mean.

I just want to know, is this just me needing to work on impulse control and changing habits, or something that I do need to talk to a doctor about, beyond my physical health problems.

And again…nobody is going to be able to give you an appropriate answer because we do not know your history, current symptoms (if any), current behaviors and a wide range of other details that would be needed to properly say "yes" or "no" to your original question. A good professional will not "give" you a problem if you truly do not have one. If that is the reason that you are not going to see one, then maybe try to work on your impulse control and changing your habits on your own to see if there are any changes. However, if you are really concerned about it, I stand by my original advice to seek a professional.

inside_lap

Yes, given how insurance works here in the US (and probably most countries) you will likely receive a diagnosis as soon as you see a professional. Of course, if you go to a visit related to your diabeties, maybe less so since they already have a billable diagnosis. That being said, if this is something that you have had a hard time tackling on your own maybe professional is the way to go. Take note if what is driving your eating. If it's just boredom, then probably not an ED.

Edit: You really can diagnosis just about anything these days. The question still remains, what value are you placing on the diagnosis? The purpose of a diagnosis is to name an issue so other professionals understand the issue at hand when reviewing records. Creating a common language if you will. It also guides treatment. But it's not magic.

19wilson88

Well, it sounds like food does something for you, aside from feeding your body enough calories to function. That is, you have an urge to eat that is unrelated to physical hunger. It might help you to try to figure out where this urge is coming from.

Other people have mentioned boredom; that's often the case for me. Food is comforting, too. And sugar does activate the "reward center" in your brain; perhaps you are craving some sort of positive experience/feeling, and food is a simple, accessible route to that. In the long run, it's not very helpful though.

In the future, whenever you feel that urge to eat when you are not physically hungry, try to pay attention to what else is going on in your head and in your brain. What are you thinking? What are you feeling (aside from this urge to binge)? Maybe try writing it down, whatever it is, however silly it seems.

I don't think that this unhealthy behavior means you have no self control; overeating in this way is really, really common, and lots otherwise successful people struggle with it. It is a habit though, and habits are very difficult to break. The simplest thing to do might be replacing this habit for a "better" one, such as a walk or a cup of tea when the urge strikes.

Finally, if you can afford it, it might be worth your while to talk to a therapist. Or read "Intuitive Eating," which addresses several dysfunctional eating patterns.

emilyisbonkers

is it a case that you CAN'T stop yourself going for the food, or that you don't want to stop yourself?
if you are honestly like blue in the face trying to force yourself not to, and you still can't resist it, maybe it's a disorder
if it is simply a case of "oh, i shouldnt, but yum yum i will anyway" maybe it is greed, laziness or you are looking for a way to explain it away..

only you can answer that really

rml_16

Bing eeating disorder, maybe?

Are you an emotional eater?

singlefemalelawyer

I understand this isn't a medical community. But I'm sure as soon as I go see a professional, I'll have a "problem", if you know what I mean.

I just want to know, is this just me needing to work on impulse control and changing habits, or something that I do need to talk to a doctor about, beyond my physical health problems.

I think that you should try working on controlling your urges to eat bad food and changing your habits. You can do it on your own. But if you've been trying and still have a hard time controlling it, then you should seek professional help. There's no shame in that. I think you just need to figure out if you've done all you can on your own. Only you know how much of an issue this is for you.

ashleearoha

I think I am like that a bit so I keep no bad foods in the house, that way when i want food out of boredom there isn't anything quick and easy to eat. It helps so much! Try it.

AlongCame_Molly

You seem bored. Try keeping your hands and/or mouth busy, with sugar free gum or hard candies, a hobby that takes up both your hands (for example my husband does miniature modeling and I sew).

Chellellelle

I wouldn't classify that as an eating disorder. It just sounds like you have a lack of self control and there might be a hidden reason for why you eat. Boredom, emotional issues, etc.

Binge eating disorder is more extreme than what you described, so I would rule that one out. If anything, try to get your self control into check and if that still doesn't work, talk to a therapist to see if there is a reason why. It might be a food addiction.

rosevalleygirl23

Have you considered checking out overeater anonymous groups (online or in person)?

Lesa_Sass

I understand this isn't a medical community. But I'm sure as soon as I go see a professional, I'll have a "problem", if you know what I mean.

I just want to know, is this just me needing to work on impulse control and changing habits, or something that I do need to talk to a doctor about, beyond my physical health problems.

It could be a combination of a lot of things. Making a sandwich or chips and salsa, I would not classify that as a binge, eating the whole loaf of bread with a package of meat and the whole bag of chips and jar of salsa, yeah, thats a binge. How were you raised? Did your family life focus around food? Are you bored and that is why you eat? Some of us just like eating, I love to eat, and I eat a lot but what I do to try to keep from destroying my healthy is only keep healthy foods in my pantry.

Being healthy means a total lifestyle change for most of us. For us to be successful, we do it a little at a time instead of try to cut out everything at once. Say for instance if you want a sandwich, eat the contents of what you would put on it separately and do not eat the bread, then go from there. If all you do is set around and think about food when you are not eating then you may have an obsession of the mind, which is a food addiction, then you may want to seek help.

emAZn

It seems like lack of impulse control... Not really a medical problem but it is a mentality you can change... I have found intuitive eating really helps... Focusing on what I am eating and why and what it does for me emotionally helps me stay in the present and not go back for more.. Also I have a rule to only eat at the table so there is no mindless snacking on the couch and next thing I know I've eaten my whole portion and don't feel satisfied... Lastly try pre-logging your meals... Even if I am hungry it helps me to know I have a meal planned in an hour or so and then I can better control my urge to immediatley feed my hunger...

There are lots of books and articles on intiutive eating I reccomend at least reading some of it... some of it is kinda out there but there are some good take aways.

rotill

Several different ways to approach this, but here are a few quick fixes you can apply with a little bit of planning.

1: Make sure you always eat food that fills you up: Lots of fiber and vegetables, low GI to keep your bloodsugar even, proteins to trigger the sense of being satisfied and full.

2: Get a hobby that keeps you busy - or at least keeps your hands busy. I know it's not very masculine to knit, but perhaps gaming, blogging, creating photography albums - anything that keeps you away from the fridge for at least 90 minutes after the main meal.

3: Start eating many small meals, or rather three larger and two-three smaller. What this really means is just that you take the consequence of your eating habit, and adjust the meals to fit. Perhaps you can make a little snack from the main meal and leave it in the fridge for when you get that urge?

4: Keep something very healthy ready to reach for in the fridge, so all you need to do is to reach out and grab what you need.

Apply as many or as few of these suggestions as you like - the important thing is to break the bad part of your habit. Good luck!

kimosabe1

I have had T1 diabetes 28 years & I find that happening to me also. Then my sugar will get high & other stuff. I recently started chewing Extra gum & it has helped me out. Good luck!

ryry_

IDK my man, you seem like a pretty normal guy to me. Your stalking around the pantry behavior when you're not hungry also seems pretty normal. Seems like you got here how we all got here, because we decided to eat for reasons other than the purposes of the cessation of hunger.

I think you need to develop some strategies to mitigate those situations from occurring.

chani8

I can totally relate! And also feel like it's a bit of an eating disorder. I'm not one to dwell on labels though, and instead, seek the cure. So I'm trying to get a grip on my eating with the "No S Diet". Google it and let me know what you think. It's basically, "no sweets, no seconds, and no snacks, except on S days (Sat, Sun, Special, Sick days). It's helping me put boundaries on my eating. Now, since I know I can't snack between meals, I find other things to do. I've taken up the hobby of working out for two minutes whenever I'm bored. LOL

_Resolve_

Sorry to say, and not trying to be rude but it sounds more like a willpower issue then an eating disorder. Time to put the big boy pants on and make changes if thats what you want, which I think it is seeing how you have already lost an impressive amount of weight.

If you need support or a kick in the *kitten* then add me. I am also diabetic and have had to find my own way of dealing with compulsive eating.

ktavares8

I just finished this awesome book called Made to Crave by Lysa Tuerkhuerst, it's about making healthy food and fitness choices. One of the things that I learned is this simple thought: we crave what we eat. If we get bored or upset (or have some other trigger) and the urge to eat something sweet, wander to the frig, or go check out the snacks in the break room is really strong (a craving) it's because we have eaten those things in the past. Everytime we eat in response to an emotion or a trigger we reinforce a habit, which begets a craving.

I can see this pattern repeatedly in my own life. Example: at one job I had my boss kept bowls and jars of peanut M&Ms around. I love plain M&Ms but peanut I could take or leave, and I ignored them for weeks. But one day when I was in his office I ate a handful. Then I came in later in the afternoon and had another. And before long every time I was bored, stressed or had a project I procrastinated I would walk in and take a handful of peanut M&Ms. Because they were there, available, my boss just kept refilling all the jars and bowls, and before long I was eating probably equivalent to a pack and a half of peanut M&Ms every day. If I tried to stop I would sit in my office fighting the urge to go in there all afternoon. It got so embarrassing I would go on my lunchbreak to the grocery store and buy a big bag, replace some of the ones I ate in his office, and eat the rest over a couple of days so I would stop eating his. The more I ate them in response to emotions, the stronger the craving became. After that guy finally moved on to another job I never craved peanut M&Ms again. I did something similar at a later job, when someone brought in Krispy Kreme doughnuts every Thursday - I would never stop and buy a doughnut at a store but once I started eating one every Thursday then I would sit in my cube being miserable, hoping that the KK doughnuts would all be eaten so I could concentrate on something else. I craved the doughnut simply because I had eaten it in the past. This is not an eating disorder, it's just a continuously reinforced habit.

The good news is that you can turn the Titanic around - if you start eating healthy foods and stop eating in response to triggers, you will gradually stop those cravings. You might even crave good foods - or at least look forward to certain healthy meals that are satisfying. For now get rid of all the foods in your house that are not healthy - because why expend energy trying not to eat them.? It's exhausting and discouraging and if they aren't there you have nothing to try to resist. Eventually when your cravings subside you may be able to have certain things in the house again - but sugar and carbohydrates are highly addictive, so it's easier not to start because your brain will quickly start the cravings again.