Like an alcoholic?

SnTsMum

Hi there, my name is Sharlene and I consistently struggle with doing well for several days then just losing the ability to watch what I eat and I binge. This puts back my whole weeks progress. I am losing very slowly if at all because of this. My main question is, since I simply cannot just have one cookie, should I be avoiding cookies all together? Avoiding anything I'm likely to want to overeat on? I love food so there won't be a whole lot left on my list, but I just don't know what to do.

Do I approach certain foods like an alcoholic would in regards to drinking? Avoid at all costs, not even a little?

Any advice would be much appreciated.

virginia65us

Hi Sharlene! I struggle with sweets much the same way. If I start one cookie, it's hard not to have more. I find it really helpful to just not keep it in the house. It's easy for me not to buy that stuff because I don't have kids. For people with kids, it's hard to avoid. I do find that if I buy products that are individually wrapped, It's much easier to control myself. For example, if I buy a half gallon of ice cream, portion control is hard for me. If I buy a box of the Skinny Cow (or whatever brand) individually wrapped cones, I can stop at one. Just an idea.

lloydrt

what works for me, and again, this applies to me, is I dont buy it or bring it home
thats they ONLY way I can handle it

its what works for me......I can't have it in the house ,I give in but I find if I just avoid it in the store, and it doesnt come home with me, then I am sucessful

also ,the more you dont bring it home, the better you get at it, as well as feeling better about yourself when you do get home

I know where youre coming from and I can relate.........good luck

jplord

Just as an alcoholic has AA, the classic 12-step program to get people off booze, the compulsive over-eater has Overeaters Anonymous; OA. You can find them on the web and maybe in your locale. Shops that cater to 12-steppers will have great books and motivators for you. It's not a guarantee and I didn't succeed with OA, but I learned a LOT, and you will too.

One day at a time...

MoreBean13

I would consider looking in to overeaters anonymous- I'm pretty sure they have meetings just about everywhere and would be able to help if its a food addiction.

Personally, I find myself that compulsions to cheat or binge come from nutritional deficiencies, such as too few calories. When I get a nutritionally adequate diet I don't have such urges, but I'm not a food addict.

Pronoiac

'Binge' eating can occur for several reasons. Often it is related to one's dopmine response. Befotre cutting off so many foods consider experimenting with 5-htp supllements in your daily nutrtion? This can take the edge off.

There also counselors/therapists who can help explore where such monster cravings are being driven from.

There are solutions for any cause, so just be diligent in finding your triggers wether they be physical/learned/or emotional.

mfpcopine

Yes, if you know that you can't control yourself with certain foods, it would be best to avoid them for now. Don't bring them home. If you absolutely can't resist something, make yourself go out to have it, and order a small portion.

kelseyhere

I've found that if I have just a little sugar, I want *a lot more* sugar. For example if I have a pastry for breakfast, I end up wanting a coke with lunch, then a cookie with dinner, and it just spirals from there. But if I start my day with a high protein breakfast (oatmeal with nuts or an egg white omelet for example) I make better choices throughout the day. It doesn't just start at breakfast though, anytime I eat sweets during the day I want more later. When I avoid sweets completely, it's much easier for me. This is personal though. Some people can stop at one cookie, but I know myself and I will eat 7 before I stop. It sounds like we are similar, so I'd try it for at least a week- no desserts whatsoever. If you are craving something sweet eat some fruit.

I did the same thing to myself for a while, binging on sweets every weekend, and now that I've stopped I'm starting to see progress again.

JeSuisPrest

You may very well not be eating enough. I set my calorie goal using fat2fitradio.com, and since I've raised my calorie goal I have those cravings less and binge only on a rare occasion now.

gemiwing

Are you eating enough? Is this a physiological reaction vs an addictive behavior- are you eating above your BMR and eating your exercise cals back? If not- your body might be simply trying to survive.

If you're eating above your BMR and eating your exercise cals back then it might be time to look at getting some help. No shame in it- just something that might need done. I'd talk to your doctor and have some bloodwork done as well- get your vitamin levels checked as some cravings can be from lack of vitamins or even trouble absorbing nutrients.

Jd1360

I view eating in general like being an alcoholic. If I am not in complete control, I go "binge drink".

But as far as that certain food goes, I usually can't cut it completely. Moderation. Like if you HAVE to have Cheetos, pull a few out of the bag, put the bag away, take the Cheetos into another room where you can't as easily go back for more.

I've found that moderation and portion control work much better than cutting it entirely. Why? Cause you can last for a while, a few days, a week if you're lucky, then you're going to want it BAD. And then you will binge on it, and regret it. It's a cycle I've completed ad nauseum, so believe me, I know how you feel!

tenunderfour

Leigh Peele (leighpeele.com) is my idol and guru. ;-0 She recommends cycling your calories. So if you can only control yourself for a day or two... then only live in a deficit for those two days. On the third day give yourself a break and eat at maintenance. This would probably mean that you can have some cookies, not the whole box - but a decent serving. Next day, go back to deficit.

Not everyone can stay indefinitely in a deficit. And it screws with your metabolism anyway. Best to mix things up. You just need to be clear about what your maintenance level is.... and don't binge on your off days.

p.s. I don't buy crap anymore because I can't resist.

cadillacfrank

dunno if it's right or wrong, but what I did is completely cut out the things I knew were my weakness until I felt confident that I had conquered them. Then I use them in small portions as a treat for when I've had a really good burn or to top off a good week.

That way, you know it's not gone from your life forever and you are managing it in a way that won't break you. But again, the important part is making sure you have conquered it.

You're already on here and making progress, so you have proven you're stronger than any cookie!!

wildflower100

Reading your post reminded me of something I had seen on tv, must of been the 60 minute show mentioned in the article linked below, about how sugar is poisonous
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2124212/Is-sugar-actually-poisonous-Researchers-say-sweet-stuff-fatal-health.html
I find educating yourself about just how bad all this stuff is can help

SnTsMum

The closest overeaters anonymous group is about an hours drive from where I am, so pretty hard to get to.

I can't take 5HTP supplements because I already take prozac daily for OCD.

I eat 1200 per day and don't eat my exercise cals back, but then again I don't exercise all that much so it's not like there is a big deficit going on.

I was diagnosed awhile ago with having non purging bulimia which is a lot like binge eating disorder but with periods of heavy restricting after overeating. I was receiving therapy for this, but my husband has lost his job so no more therapy for me.

I binge on even normal stuff like toast, cereal etc. It doesn't have to be sugary. I tried eating only things I didn't like all that much, to focus on hunger rather than eating because it tastes good. I ended up on only around 700 cals per day and not wanting any more than that. Which of course isn't healthy in any way!

AZKristi

How many calories are you eating on a "good" day? When I was trying to stay at 1200-1400 calories per day, I had lots of problems with binge eating. Now that I aim for 1600-1800, binge eating is a lot less of a problem.

MoreBean13

The closest overeaters anonymous group is about an hours drive from where I am, so pretty hard to get to.

Any online meetings maybe?

pookaness

instead of cutting the sweets out of the house like most people seem to be saying, by the low fat, carb, over processed stuff. By slimfast bars and skinny cow and that stuff instead, than you can have sweets while still feeling good.

gemiwing

I can't take 5HTP supplements because I already take prozac daily for OCD.

I eat 1200 per day and don't eat my exercise cals back, but then again I don't exercise all that much so it's not like there is a big deficit going on.

I was diagnosed awhile ago with having non purging bulimia which is a lot like binge eating disorder but with periods of heavy restricting after overeating. I was receiving therapy for this, but my husband has lost his job so no more therapy for me.

I binge on even normal stuff like toast, cereal etc. It doesn't have to be sugary. I tried eating only things I didn't like all that much, to focus on hunger rather than eating because it tastes good. I ended up on only around 700 cals per day and not wanting any more than that. Which of course isn't healthy in any way!

Sounds like you've tried what you can do on your own- time to go up the ladder. Talk to your prescribing doctor who gave you the meds for your OCD and let them know what's going on. Try to find an online group for support. There is a group here on MFP for disordered eaters.

I really wish you the best of luck.

the_prettty1

Sigh, this is the story of my life, especially with cookies. I try to avoid them, but I'm learning to bake with splenda and just have once in a while treats

Susabelle64

Sometimes I would overeat, because I thought if I didnt get them now, I wouldnt get another chance.... So I allow myself anything I want, I just work it into my daily calories and use portion control. I go in cycles, but I have found that since I started taking vitamins my cravings have decreased. By allowing my self the "goodies" that normally I would have forbidden on a diet, it has decreased their appeal.

Susabelle64

How many calories are you eating on a "good" day? When I was trying to stay at 1200-1400 calories per day, I had lots of problems with binge eating. Now that I aim for 1600-1800, binge eating is a lot less of a problem.

This!!!

The fat2fit website is a great one.

blackandsilver66

It is something you are going to have to make a conscious decision about. Most people will say things are okay in moderation. But if you know you can not moderate it the way you would need to then avoid it. It is not worth sabotaging yourself over. You are much more important than whatever it is you are struggling with. You have to remember that.

dnzteacher

Hi there! I know I am addicted to sugar!!!! I am an active (almost) 62 yr old & have struggled with my weight since a teenager. I finally went to a doctor who specializes in weight management. He told me I had to get off the sugar and white carbs. So for 9 mos, I have eliminated sugar, high fructose corn syrup (please read labels!), diet cokes, & cut out most while flour. I take vitamins, drink plenty of water, & do moderate exercise. It was tough but I have lost all my sugar cravings & have lost 68 lbs with 35 lbs more to go. This was never possible on the well known diet counting points. It's calories in that matters plus weighing my portions. That worked for me & I hope this helps you, too. Good luck with your future success!!!

SCVSarah

Personally, I am the same way. Food is my addiction (well sweets). Once I have one cookie, I will eat the whole box, then a carton of ice cream and so on. In the past, the only way FOR ME (a lot of ppl are different) to not binge is to totally cut it out. I'm struggling with this now.

spngebobmyhero

Some people do have to approach food in this way.

If I start eating chips, I will continue to eat them, so I don't keep them near me and don't eat them unless I have a huge amount of calories left for the day.

I have completely cut out wheat, most grains, and most of my sugars. My cravings have gone away, which helps me to stop the binge. I am way less tempted to reach for those trigger foods.

Some people say everything in moderation, but this doesn't work for everyone. If you want to avoid the binge, you must avoid the foods.

BlissQuest

Congratulations on being so brave to share about your food issue here -- that's the beginning of healing.

Besides Overeaters Anonymous (which several people already referred you to), there are several other food addiction communities at large. I'm still not sure if we're allowed to post this info? At the risk of being yanked, I have had a lot of success with a group called "The Coffee Shop." It's a Step Study telephone meeting. They record and upload ALL of their meetings and you can dial in and/or listen for free online (it's all free): http://www.coffeeshopbb164.com/

Best of luck to you!

XXXMinnieXXX

I just don't but it in any more. Not even 'for the kids'. I take them to the shop once a week for a treat instead which they really enjoy. I've got to a point now where I can have a little and walk away most times, but it only came after cutting it all out all together for a while. I wouldn't have believed it, but the less I have it, the less I want it! X

dnzteacher

Sharlene, You may need to eliminate the carbs that trigger your eating like me. Carbs can act just like sugar in your body and start craviings. Cold cereal & bread (even whole wheat grains) were my carb triggers. I have a love affair with bread! I do take a fiber supplement besides vitamins to get everything I need. Some argue about eliminating carbs is not healthy but being fat is worse for your heart, joints, & self esteem for sure. :flowerforyou:

beezbee

Hey girl, I feel for you, and I applaud your courage to reach out. I have very similar issues, have had them for many years (decades, actually), and what has worked best is reducing carbs and sugars while upping the protein intake. Starch, sugar, flour etc are like crack! I still need to eat enormous portions to not go insane, but I will create volume with lettuce, cottage cheese, egg whites, Greek yogurt, and other healthy stuff that I don't consider trigger food. I can't keep any trigger foods in the house, or I make them hard to reach (as in deep freeze). However, I have noticed that when I eat enough protein (at least 1g per lean body mass) I hardly get any cravings.

On another note, could it be that you consume too few calories? It was hard for me to accept the common wisdom on here that "more is less", ie that you need to eat more calories in order to lose weight, but it actually works - as long as you eat healthy food, of course. A good website for figuring out how much you should eat is http://www.fat2fitradio.com/tools/bmr/. Feel free to add me!

cmurray234

I've thought the same thing....like maybe I should just never eat dessert again since if I have one dessert, I'll eat another 2 hours later and then get up and have 2 bowls of Lucky Charms for breakfast. In which case, eating became shameful and furtive...rather like drug use.

I've recently noticed that the way I was dieting was the very thing that started the binging. Meaning, I would go for months and months of eating...say....800 calories a day. And I would lose 50 or 60 pounds. And finally, the deprivation and lack of enjoyment was so overwhelming that I went completely crazy with my eating to try to satisfy myself. And once I did THAT, it was very hard to stop again, because I "knew" it would be back to the deprivation and misery (harsh word, but that's what some diets have felt like).

What worked for me was proving to myself that I could lose weight WITHOUT feeling gnawing hunger and without being miserable and without depriving myself of every bit of food that I enjoy. Somehow it makes control easier when being on the diet itself isn't so bad.

I'm pulling for you.