Eating even though I'm full, can't stop

mlouise143

When I really want to over do it with something (ice cream, pizza, it could be ANYTHING), I put it in to MFP and see how many calories I will be taking in. Like, realistically, do I want to use 700 calories on pizza? Sometimes I do. And I plan for it and don't feel guilty because I made it work. I won't ever eat something and say "I'll work it off after". The workout needs to come prior to the food. I find that when I'm logging completely honestly I decide that the candy isn't worth giving up a satisfying dinner later.

brendaschmitt1

You are still very young you can take control of your health right now. As you get older it gets a little harder. You can do it!

Stay on this website. There is a lot of information on different health plans for everyone. I tried weight watchers a while back but I could not stick to it. There are people who have lost a lot of weight on that plan.

The only weight lose plan that works for me is low carb. I started off eating 100g of carbs and 100g of protein a day. Everyone is different though so find out what works for you.

tocara

1: Get rid of the bingy foods. Simply don't buy chips - or anything that if eaten in large quantities will give you a huge calorie dump. If you simply must put things in your mouth, try keeping a bag of baby carrots around - they are nice and crunchy but are very low calorie.

2: Give yourself a constant reminder to stop and think - break the compulsion cycle by shorting out that mental pathway. One way might be to wear something significant as a bracelet that will make you stop and think when you see it. Or perhaps clipping negative images to anything in your house that you are trying to avoid, provided that you haven't followed 1).

3: Substitute something else for food to satisfy your "addictive personality". Like pushups! Every time you find your self reaching for the back of chips (again, see #1), stop and do 10 pushups first. This will either get you in shape faster by burning more calories (provided that you don't just keep overeating to compensate), or it will create a negative association about chips in your mind, making you less likely to reach for them.

4: Stop and think. Be deliberate about everything you do.

I like #2. I like #3 too, but for me I do not want to think of exercise as a "punishment"... it should be enjoyable

tocara

When I really want to over do it with something (ice cream, pizza, it could be ANYTHING), I put it in to MFP and see how many calories I will be taking in. Like, realistically, do I want to use 700 calories on pizza? Sometimes I do. And I plan for it and don't feel guilty because I made it work. I won't ever eat something and say "I'll work it off after". The workout needs to come prior to the food. I find that when I'm logging completely honestly I decide that the candy isn't worth giving up a satisfying dinner later.

i like the mentality you have !

oh_em_gee

When I really want to over do it with something (ice cream, pizza, it could be ANYTHING), I put it in to MFP and see how many calories I will be taking in. Like, realistically, do I want to use 700 calories on pizza? Sometimes I do. And I plan for it and don't feel guilty because I made it work. I won't ever eat something and say "I'll work it off after". The workout needs to come prior to the food. I find that when I'm logging completely honestly I decide that the candy isn't worth giving up a satisfying dinner later.

i like the mentality you have !

I like that too. I like to think of my claories as mine to spend. I can spend how I want, but I only get a certain number, so some things aren't worth it.

NWCountryGal

Try not to be hard on yourself because there isn't anyone that doesn't pig-out once in awhile. Instead of focusing on what you feel you do wrong in a day, look at what you do right honey. If I over-eat I just eat better next meal. One thing that REALLY helps me is not to buy certain foods. Like potato chips, I would eat the whole bag, seriously. But if I don't have it in my home then I am way more likely to eat the good stuff I've bought then go all the way to the store for chips or chocolate

When I get hungry or a craving?? I try to drink some water first thing. This has helped me immensely!

denise:flowerforyou:

The title says it all. I just ate chips and fruit snacks, even though I was feeling full before I started and I know that food did nothing good for my body. Other bingers/overeaters, how did you get to the point where you could stop?

nikkiprickett

this is all mental, if you really didn't want to eat, you wouldn't. Exercise instead of eating, drink water or SNACK HEALTHY if you do snack a lot....throw away all the junk in your house (this does not mean eat) so you don't have the option, that way if you are eating without being hungry, you're eating something other than junk. And actually think about it before you do it, don't just eat without thinking about it first!

Healthydiner65

I am the biggest night time snacker ever. I gave up trying to avoid it and began exercising more and now I use my exercise calories at night. Works for me!

VogtAndrea

There are psychological tricks that help sometimes. Sometimes there's very little that works. I know that I've tried drinking water every time I get a craving; sometimes that helps.
One rather interesting trick that was used by a friend was to sprinkle their craving with something that tasted TERRIBLE but wasn't poisonous and now every time they go to put what they crave in their mouth, the memory of that taste made them pause long enough to keep from it. It worked for a while then stopped.

maikastar

It all depends on the craving.

For me, crunchy/savoury cravings can be appeased by lite tzatziki with celery.
Sweet/icecreamy cravings can be taken care of with frozen grapes and/or frozen strawberry pieces.

If I don't have calories left, iced water with fresh mint and lemon slices taste good, or boiling water in winter help.

If all else fails, I brush my teeth, because nothing tastes good with just brushed teeth.

ephemerata

question: do you only binge on high glycemic or sugary things?

low carb really helped my binging (which, granted, was really only occasional, but was still a struggle for me) because i no longer crave those kinds of foods.

cersela

Next time try eating fresh fruit (like strawberries) instead of fruit snacks. You can have 30 grapes, 25 strawberries, 3 Clementines, 10 cherries, 1 apple or 1 cup of unsweetened applesauce, a whole mango, a large banana, 3 figs, 50 blueberries, 1 cup of pineapple, ect for under 100 calories.

Or if you eat fresh spinach, you could eat until you literally can not fit any more into your stomach for >200 calories.

It also helps if before you start snacking, you drink water most of the times you think you are hungry when you are really just thirsty.

Erindipitous

Lots and lots of good advice in this thread.

I had been struggling with this, but have recently tried to use many of the same tips listed here. Mind over matter.. It's not easy, but it can be done. ♥

polishmehappy

Next time try eating fresh fruit (like strawberries) instead of fruit snacks. You can have 30 grapes, 25 strawberries, 3 Clementines, 10 cherries, 1 apple or 1 cup of unsweetened applesauce, a whole mango, a large banana, 3 figs, 50 blueberries, 1 cup of pineapple, ect for under 100 calories.

Or if you eat fresh spinach, you could eat until you literally can not fit any more into your stomach for >200 calories.

It also helps if before you start snacking, you drink water most of the times you think you are hungry when you are really just thirsty.

I love this advice Imagine the amount of good food you can eat for a lot less calories It helps me to not bring any junk food into my pantry. It also helps me to have fresh fruit to snack on when I get the munchies. Good luck in your journey!!

LinaBo

If this is happening quite often, I feel that it falls under the purview of ED counselling. Even if you don't meet the classic diagnosis for a specific eating disorder, you can have "disordered eating". I think, given the obesity epidemic, that there are a lot of people within western society with disordered eating habits.

Some people can overcome this on their own, but I think most would stand a better chance of success with regular visits to an effective ED counsellor. This was the thing that finally "re-trained" me to have better habits, when everything else had failed. I have learned how to change even the most automatic of thoughts and behaviours. When you have something like a food addiction, a lot of the typical "willpower" and "avoidance" advice just doesn't cut it. If you have any mental health resources where you live, and/or health coverage for counselling, a really recommend pursuing that.

ThePersnicketyOtter

Tell yourself you can have it... later. If I'm craving something I make myself wait for the next meal and then I eat it with or for my meal, so it's not a huge deal, AND I have a treat to look forward to. Doing this has helped a lot for me.

Roos2104

I ♥ this thread! There's a lot of great advice given here!

I struggle with binging too. I've decided to give up 'dieting' forever. If I restrict myself too much, I feel deprived and that leads to binging. I aim for a healthy life style. One key factor for me has been the decision to never skip meals. I always have breakfast, lunch and dinner. Before I used to try and compensate overeating by skipping meals. That only caused a downward spiral!

PangelJ

I had this same problem most of my life and only recently found something that worked for me. I like to be active, but personally I have severe anxiety and depression issues, and food WAS my outlet.
I did a fasting program with a coach. I recommend getting a friend/coach/etc
Mine was free - (cause it was my mom) but having a support system is great.
Biggest challenge for me is a lot of my stress came from my mother. We don't always see eye to eye but for getting healthy and trying to feel better - she and I have been working hard to make things work. And surprisingly they have. Back to my fasting...
I did the beachbody 2 day fasting formula. The thing about fasting its not to shrink your stomach forever.
You have to change how to think about food as well. If not you will turn around and go back to the old habits. Instead of eating - I drink a glass of water, and follow the http://www.animal-kingdom-workouts.com/naturalweightloss.html this was very helpful even though I don't follow it to the letter, I do how ever implement my own life into what fits me.

The thing about getting fit. Is you need to want to change your life. Depression and Anxiety will always be a factor in my but it shouldn't rule my health. Speak to a doctor as well. I found a great doctor who was helpful in making sure I had no other health problems before I started my workouts and fasting. Also there are community groups that do free 'workouts' some of them only as a 'love offering' etc. I know this may be little all over the place as a reply but its my two cents as to how I deal with this. It was probably my biggest struggle.

wishes you well and hope you find the right thing that works for you.

katedances

I'm an over-eater like you wouldn't believe. And I've learned that just because I want it doesn't mean I need it. My tip is, if you feel like you just want to keep eating I always find that getting away from the kitchen and/or wherever a food source is always helps. If I'm lounging in the kitchen, I always end up eating something.

Also, if you think you're still "hungry" or it feels like you could just keep eating, drink a huge glass of ice water. All at once usually does the trick and it makes you feel reaaaally full.

Hope that helps at all!

annebubbles

The title says it all. I just ate chips and fruit snacks, even though I was feeling full before I started and I know that food did nothing good for my body. Other bingers/overeaters, how did you get to the point where you could stop?

I read a book called "LOVE HUNGER". it still took years after that, to realize that Sugar & simple Carbs were KILLING me. I have realized that eating mindlessly out of boredom & sadness & loneliness is a death sentence. Our FDA only wants to make money. Food companies are JUST LIKE CRACK DEALERS. they are evil & don't care. Anything with sugar & refined carbs is BAD. Eat only "REAL" foods. I believe God created us to eat what grows in the ground (roots veggies & peatnuts), what grows in the fields (grains & garden veggies) & what grows in the trees (fruit & nuts & seeds). If we decide to leave that great plan, we WILL suffer for it. We were also made to WALK. I am 52 with arthritis in my knees & spine. some is inherited, some is injury, & some is because of overeating. I can still get on my feet & walk. My Doctor LEFT & Doctor RIGHT can save my life if I use them. yes, I blow it sometimes, yes, I eat crap occationally. but I am NOT going to EAT just because I don't have anything else to do. And I am NOT addicted to Fructose & carbs anymore!!!!

lilsis10

It is a good idea to not have binge-y foods around and not to buy them in the first place, but it can be hard when they look so good in the store. Try to never go to the store hungry. You'll be more likely to avoid temptation to buy them in the first place.

NWCountryGal

Atta girl:) Things take time to change and also, some things don't change for whatever reason:) I think you are smart not to worry and focus on a solution and you did it!! Yeehaw!!

I am the biggest night time snacker ever. I gave up trying to avoid it and began exercising more and now I use my exercise calories at night. Works for me!

nm212

Try Seltzer with your meals! It's calorie free and makes you feel full! I still go crazy sometimes with over-eating, usually at night time after dinner. It's hard to control but exercise is also good. I find when I go to the gym after work, I always snack less and eat healthier/feel more satisfied. It's always a struggle though but does get easier. My problem is I do well for a few days and then I bounce back into the same bad habits. You are not alone.

ktaylormusic

Practice just PAUSING before you eat. At first, give yourself permission to eat whatever anyway, not trying to stop the binge. Just practice pausing for one minute, 2 minutes, 5 minutes, even 10 seconds, becoming aware of your body and your feelings, and then go ahead, eat whatever. This is REALLY hard, because the bingeing is part of wanting to turn off awareness, wanting to escape the present stresses. It is easier to learn to do if at first you know that you're going to "get to eat" after the pause. And be really kind to yourself in this phase.
After you get good at that... with weeks or months of practice, you can move on to step two, pausing and becoming aware of what you're really hungry for, and feeding that. visit normaleating.com and read the online free sections of the book. I found it life-changing even if you don't take on the whole approach (I'm not quite brave enough yet.) I don't binge anymore and it used to be a nightly problem.

Another tactic I've tried in the past is in the distraction category -- I'd have this rule that if I wanted to binge, that was okay, but I had to always do x first, whether it was walk around the block, play a song, call someone. It worked okay, though the trouble with trying to impose rules to change things is that we already know all the rules, and the binge is about escaping them. The normaleating.com process was harder and required a lot more patience and forgiveness with myself, but the results are ongoing.

candacet36

I used to have an issue with this but have since been able to over come it. They best advise I can give you is be aware at all times and ask yourself before you take a bite....am I hungry or is this just head hunger.

ginakiki

hello are we talking about me.....lol but for real...what you have to do is go thru food withdrawal get rid of the bad stuff and eat healthy. Cause your body craves the bad like sugar and salt. And thats one reason why. You need protein, protein keeps u full and it takes your body to break down slower and u burn more calories.

tristaj90

I have this problem on weekends. Fruit snacks and string cheese are very much my downfall. I have now vowed to myself just not to buy them, or buy brands I don't eat because I'm very picky.

Jlennhikes

You can change your mindset over time. I used to like large portions, and now I find the feeling of being over full very uncomfortable. Any chance you can walk away and do something physical before you reach for another handful? That would help to break the cycle.

KANGOOJUMPS

well giddy up and stop,
just do it!