Calling all emotional binge eaters

quest2Bslim

Hi there I am an emotional binge eater… I don’t mean that I eat some chocolate when I am feeling down, I mean that I will eat ridiculous amounts of food in one sitting. I will eat until I feel sick, because I never really feel ‘full’.

I had my binging under control for more than 12 months (lost over 60lbs), but on starting a new job a few months ago I let the stress get the better of me.

I am determined to start fresh and get back on track, before I gain more weight back. I know I can do it, I don't want food to rule my life.

I would like meet other binge eaters, at any stage of the journey. I have come to realise that this is going to be a lifelong battle, would like to chat to others going through the same thing - hopefully we can support each other. I am a 30-something female with at least another 60lbs to lose.

Casipowell

Hi,
I'm right there with you. Sometimes I do so well, but at other times, especially when I stay up late at night and then realize how lonely or anxious I really am, I eat. Sometimes I eat dinner and start snacking right afterwards.

I was just sitting here on my bed thinking, "I need to join a group with bingers". Emotional or Anxious eating as I call it, is a problem for me as well.

How did you get it under control the first time?

AKNMHunt

<--i am one. I ate a family size bag of funyons in one sitting. Recently too. I am working on it. I have been doing well, but it is hard. Being alone with two kids makes it worse, but at the same time, I cant just run out and get what I want and I am too lazy to cook the goodies I want.

I am a 24yr old with 20 to lose still. Feel free to add for motivation!! Post or message me when you feel a trigger and I will help talk you down and find a healthy solution. Anyone for that matter, I'd love to help!

nrida

I am also a binge eater, especially when I am emotionally overwhelm with something that is bothering me. When ever I feel stress I tend to hide or ignore the problem.

I am currently looking for another job....one that I will hopefully enjoy. I believe when one starts working, then food would be the last thing on the mind. From personal experience, finding things that give you joy or give you a break....helps, but its different for everyone.

But I would also like to find people also that struggle since I am still trying to control my eating habits.

quest2Bslim

Thanks for your responses I think the first time my head was just in the right space, and nothing very stressful was happening at work or home. I do feel like am in the right place to start again, I just want to stick with it permanently this time, not fall off track every time something stressful comes up...

ahancock90

I'm fighting that demon too. I'm still super fat, but I have found ways of cutting down on my eating. Here are some of the tips I've been using.

Your main meal is usually the most fattening. The key is SIDES. Lots of healthy sides. I get lowfat yogurt, string cheese, lots of fruit, almonds, etc. t was so hard for me to stop eating that yummy casserole, but I found that if I ate just one serving and added those sides I felt full...and I felt proud that I limited myself. Good luck. Hope that helps a little. #workinprogress

MrsC1st

I sure could use some help in this department of binge/emotional eating. feel free to add me..i love to offer motivation also

Nory143

I feel your pain..there are days when I feel my stomach is an empty pit and nothing can fill it. I have gained and lost the same 30-60 pounds 5x in the last 8 years. Really hoping to control the demon this this time around. Every time I previously lost weight I always did low carb diets and the weight melted off...but as soon as I tasted anything like bread or a donut, I was like a drug addict and fell off the wagon. This is the first time I'm actually trying the calorie counting instead of the carb counting approach.The weight is coming off slowly but I feel a little more in control because I'm not really denying myself anything this time around. Good luck on your journey!

mabelbabel1

Hiya,

I'm an emotional binge eater....my profile tells more about my struggles. Drop me a few words and a friend request if you fancy being a pal.

Good luck.

sunshinelively

In the club - feel free to add ^me. Have about a weekly unraveling.

tallnsxxy

* Raises Hand* ME ! ME ! Sad face, I have suffered from depression as well over the years, and that has greatly attributed to me being an emotional binge eater : ( .

Elichekhov

The same goes for me. I am new here at mfp and the primary reason I started here is to get back on track. I used to weigh 170 and then went down to 135. These past few months however, with college and family life and social life,I've gained a bit to 145. I want to get back on track because I just don't feel like myself. I need to control my emotions by finding a positive outlet.

salembambi

I am most certainly an emotional binge eater ...sometimes my anxiety/sadness/loneliness gets me and it is uncontrollable just start eating and eating anything that seems tasty in the house

I have been doing okay with it lately but im sure an episode will happen again.. just got to take it one day at a time ugh

ninerbuff

Just a thought here: If association with binge eating comes from stress, spouses, realtionships etc., shouldn't those be the issues to address to control the eating? I'm all for support, but one can only hear so many times "You can do this!" before they succumb to urge.
Attack the problem at the heart of the issue, not the symptom.

A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

BinaryPulsar

Just a thought here: If association with binge eating comes from stress, spouses, realtionships etc., shouldn't those be the issues to address to control the eating? I'm all for support, but one can only hear so many times "You can do this!" before they succumb to urge.
Attack the problem at the heart of the issue, not the symptom.

A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

Yeah, I agree. Deal with the underlying issues, stress management, and healthy coping skills (yoga helps me). Many of us have had to tackle stress problems (I've had PTSD). For me stress causes me to lose my appetite, to a serious degree. It does seem stress effects our eating habits.

shabby321

Its a demon I battle everyday, I have been a classic binge eater since my teens. Its a demon I fight everyday.

I'm doing also counting calories and trying my best to cut out "white processed carbs" like bread, sugary cereals, pastries, pasta etc
keeping under 1400 calories a day.

breaking the emotional attachment to food is so hard.

dmariet116

I am right there with y'all! I have always turned to food in time of crisis, in times of joy, in times of sadness and out of sheer boredom! Food has been my best friend and worst enemy. I have binged, starved, restricted...all my life. I can't find a happy balance with this friend/foe of mine. I think I have ruined my metabolism but I am trying again! Thats all any of us can do, right!?!

I am currently at 201.2 lbs after starting at 205. My first goal for May is to reach 195. My ultimate goal is 160. I am 5'11 and 160 is my happy place. I wish you all the best and hope we all reach our goals!

salembambi

Just a thought here: If association with binge eating comes from stress, spouses, realtionships etc., shouldn't those be the issues to address to control the eating? I'm all for support, but one can only hear so many times "You can do this!" before they succumb to urge.
Attack the problem at the heart of the issue, not the symptom.

A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

Yeah, I agree. Deal with the underlying issues, stress management, and healthy coping skills (yoga helps me). Many of us have had to tackle stress problems (I've had PTSD). For me stress causes me to lose my appetite, to a serious degree. It does seem stress effects our eating habits.

you are assuming people are not already doing those things
sometimes it does not matter how much "dealing with the cause" we do

I have been in therapy since I was 14 thank you and also take medication to help with my ptsd,anxiety and other various things that contribute to my binge eating. It is an everyday battle for some of us so please take a seat

earmuff111

i am a recovering emotional binge eater. feel free to add me.

lmmathis86

Right here with all of you!!! I find myself eatting when i'm angry,or stressed or up really late!!! Feel free to add me always here to help anyone along in this journey!

stjean5

It is good to see that there are others like me out there.. I do the same thing when overwhelmed, upset, angry, etc.

Feel free to add me. Glad to help offer any support that I can. I definitely understand.

darias_mommy

Binge and emotional eater here! I HATE it, but lose myself too late. I actually stopped tracking food months ago.

I've been successful and got down to a very healthy weight and felt beautiful and strong...
insert stress...
insert sadness...
insert whatever you want...

insert Ben and Jerry's and a huge porterhouse steak! I can eat more than my husband.

I'm treating it like an addiction and have made it through Day 1.

Add me if you like and we can go 1 day at a time together. You are NOT alone!

walkingforward

Bump. For Later

BinaryPulsar

Just a thought here: If association with binge eating comes from stress, spouses, realtionships etc., shouldn't those be the issues to address to control the eating? I'm all for support, but one can only hear so many times "You can do this!" before they succumb to urge.
Attack the problem at the heart of the issue, not the symptom.

A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

Yeah, I agree. Deal with the underlying issues, stress management, and healthy coping skills (yoga helps me). Many of us have had to tackle stress problems (I've had PTSD). For me stress causes me to lose my appetite, to a serious degree. It does seem stress effects our eating habits.

you are assuming people are not already doing those things
sometimes it does not matter how much "dealing with the cause" we do

I have been in therapy since I was 14 thank you and also take medication to help with my ptsd,anxiety and other various things that contribute to my binge eating. It is an everyday battle for some of us so please take a seat

I'm so very sorry for coming across that way. That was not what I intended at all. It is a daily struggle for me as well. I was only saying that I understand the struggle, even though it comes out differently. For me I become unable to eat. I really am truly sorry for coming across wrong. I know the work is never done. I was just responding to the post because it hit me as something I related to (otherwise I may not have replied). I definitely know that we each have our own challenges and struggles and I would never think I could tell someone how to deal with it. I would also never assume that someone didn't have challenges or that they weren't dealing with it. that was never my thought or intention. I guess tone does not come across online. I was just saying, I relate this way. This is not something I think I have the answers to. I am always still learning and figuring it out for myself. You have probably had more therapy than me. It is challenging for me to trust a therapist, so I do it on my own.

Ever since I started counting my calories, it helps me to eat consistently.

Edit: Also, I see you in the forums also and have always really liked your contributions and presence here.

seattlerain

I'm an emotional binge eater!

WickedPineapple

I used to be an emotional binge eater due to depression/anxiety. Not anymore! Feel free to add me if you need advice and/or support!

holmed90

I eat when I am sad, I eat when I celebrate, I eat when I am bored! I need to stop linking emotions to food!

Beachtreasures

Hi there, another emotional binge eater; however, I am in control and have been for over two months. I was so out of control thinking about food every waking minute that one day I just sat there and cried. I hated myself -- the way my body looked, the way my clothing fit and if I kept eating I was going to have to go up a size; I hated lugging the extra weight around; the craving were terrible; my breathing was terrible; i felt that if I didn't stop this horrible cycle I would die of a heart attach, plus I always beat myself up by reminding myself of where I would be if only I had of stayed on my program. My husband reminded me about a time, apx. three years ago when I was healthy, going to the gym, eating properly and had cut out sugar. I had also done MFP before and had great success. That was it. The next day I joined a new gym in town, got myself a personal trainer and rejoined MFP. I was so low and disappointing in myself prior to this that everything just fell into place. Today I am loving the gym and really miss it if I can't get there and my eating is great, not always perfect, but I have no cravings and no binges. That doesn't mean that I will never lapse, but I have surrounded myself with healthy people. I know the dark world that you are living in and I wish you every success.

Hearts_2015

bump

live2run95

I certainly fit in this category, and am really trying to control this!!! I can always use more support and give more support, so anyone feel free to add me!

Fattackler2013

I'm definitely an emotional binge eater and I have been most of my life. I'm getting better at controlling it these days though.
If you wish to add me then feel free to do so