Eating uncontrollably

vannahcometrue

So, I am one of you who loves to eat. Period. Especially sweets. Sometimes though I'll start out eating breakfast very healthy, lunch as well, then as soon as I get home I go on a binge spree and eat everything in site. I've seriously watched myself sit and eat a little of this and that and this and that for like an hour.....I need motivation to quit doing this and continue to just eat my healthy snacks and meals through out the day. Not binge.

Thanks!

ladyhaelstorm

I have the same problem. What is helping me right now is to repeat a mantra, it could be your favorite quote, but something short works best (mine is "Commit to be Fit") and I say this when I want to eat something I shouldn't or if I feel like eating mindlessly. I also know that usually the reason I want to snack or keep eating is because I am bored, not because I am hungry. So instead of eating, I do something else, like right now I am going to study for an exam I have on Wed.
Hope this helped!

JanelleSonnenberg1

I have just stopped buying unhealthy things to eat! If it is not in the house..I can't eat it

vannahcometrue

I think repeating a mantra will definitely help! And try to stop being a "black or white" thinker. Either I'm all on board or completely off. I really need to learn balance. Thanks for your advice !

vannahcometrue

I agree with that but I'm so bad I'll get in my car and go BUY STUFF................. =/

jonnythan

I have that problem, but with fatty food like burgers and tacos. The only thing that helps me is logging everything before I eat it.

vannahcometrue

Yeah, I've found coming on here actually helps. I just need to do it DAILY!

cluelessang

I have struggled with the same issues in the past. Some things I try to do is to try not to take that first compulsive bite. Because I always think its just one bite and then it almost always gets out of control.
Try doing something to distract yourself next time the thought of having that sugary sweet comes up. For me it helps to write, because there is usually an underlying issue why I want that extra something (ie angry, tired, lonely, etc) Sometimes after writing in my journal I feel better and dont want to eat as much anymore.

strongerthanFAT

I've been that way for months! I just recently watch this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xAdqLB6bTuQ and it really helped. "Losing weight without losing your mind" I feel way better with food right now. Also, "Repeat after me: I choose what I eat and I choose how I feel about it."

I've literally struggled for MONTHS but between that video and that quote I totally feel better. I also pay close attention to the ingredients in processed foods I eat, watch your habits AFTER you eat one. You want more don't you? Slightly explained in the video. All I know is that by switching my meals like he suggested, it's really helped, I didn't think that WHAT I ate was going to give me control but it did. Black bean tacos packed with veggies and salsa anyone??

Stay strong!

strongerthanFAT

I have just stopped buying unhealthy things to eat! If it is not in the house..I can't eat it

Lol I tried this, but living on a college campus doesn't help. I literally compulsively can use that vending machine or walk to get junk food on campus. :P

kcgray5k

I totally agree...my school puts out the menu for the week so I plan ahead and it makes things so much easier. It's a lot easier to say "I won't eat that bran muffin" if I go in already planning not to eat it. Another thing that helps me [and this is probably useful if you're going somewhere that has a bunch of food or if you're at a school like me that serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner family style] is remembering: "that food will always be there. It will come up on the menu again in a few weeks time. I don't need to eat that muffin, eggs, biscuit, etc this morning because food will always be there...my body doesn't need to go in to survivor mode because this is 2013 and I can get food whenever I want. I've struggled with the desire to binge for a while now.

vannahcometrue

Thanks so much girl! I'm going to watch that video right now

pattigates

I can totally relate to what you are describing. Honestly, its a relief to know that others are living the same frustrations I am about food and eating. I like the mantra idea. I think that will do me good Change is hard!

girllimberlost

I am really bad if I am trying to "relax" because that usually involves watching TV, which is right by the kitchen. What works for me is knitting and crocheting. It keeps my hands busy and I don't feel as bored. Also, logging everything before I eat it is amazingly helpful. You really think, "Do I want those calories?" Another trick is to drink water and eat protein first. Carbs seem to beget more carbs. If you can drink 32 ounces of water and then have some good protein, it will stave off the hunger cues because your tummy is full and you have the protein your body is craving. Good luck and keep coming here! This site has literally saved my life.

vannahcometrue

That's so true. I can totally eat like I'm never going to see it again. It's so weird.

vannahcometrue

Tracking my food on this DAILY is helping. Even though I'm on a solid DAY 2......I can't give up!

vannahcometrue

Thanks so much to you all. I'm so glad to know others feel this way!

dogwalk

Like that comit to be fit! I also have eting problems,I'M going to try this I'll keep in touch

lyndabraczynski

I hav ethe same problem....I have found that I need to stay busy...Now I have a light snack and go to the gym. Than have a reasonable dinner and get out a good book or work on a craft. If i am not busy I am eating......

NGFive

This has been a problem for me also for the last week. I am fine until I get home from work. After a feeding frenzy, I am too disgusted to log all the food...Today however I am going to prevail and be one of those who completes the entry UNDER her total!

babygoddess

I hear you when it comes to lazy eating habits. I just joined yesterday as I've gone from 120lbs to 143lbs in the last year or so..it has slowly crept up. It's all due to lack of exercise but mostly my bad combination of an office job and a dozen drive-thru places within a block of my work. I couldn't believe my calorie intake when I plugged my usual eating habits into the calculator. This girl has some serious changing to do! :-)

Cat_Lifts

We're in the same boat, lady. I'm a huge, huge fan of food, and it's also always been my comfort and easy option for when I'm bored. I know how difficult those cravings can be, and even sometimes I'll end up giving in. I realize if it's something I've given into earlier in the day, then later on I'll have to make an exception and say, not have that full fat yogurt later.

But when it comes to late at night, that is my hardest as well. The best thing is to just not have any of it in the house. If you find yourself ready to go buy it, talk yourself out of it as much as you can. Distract yourself with something else to do. Chug a huge glass of water. Want anything sweet? Have fresh fruit on hand. This is where the willpower and strength comes in - the more you flex that, the stronger it'll get. Don't deprive yourself though or else you may end up on a full out binge later on.

Honestly, calorie counting is what helps me the most, but if I snack at night it's only in moderation. Hypothetically speaking, if I have 1300 calories consumed and say, 150 left to go to reach my max for the day (1450), then I'll treat myself to that 150 calories of whatever snack I'm craving, even if it just ends up being 2 bites of ice cream, or 2 oranges. But then you need to gain the self control to say "Okay, I'm done. No more sweets, I allowed myself that exception, now get your dirty hands off of that ice cream pint, McButter Pants." That'll help the deprivation factor many of us may feel.

danibu98

2 things are sticking out to me in this thread : 'Commit to be fit" and McButter Pants!

I am going to think of both of these next time I get the binge pangs!

Awesomeness

lilred806

bump to read later

xprettyreckless

this is EXACTLY my problem. I always start the day sooo well and up until right after dinner, I'm usually
perfectly within my calorie limits and with 200 cals to spare. and then I'm in bed, and watching a show and...
BAM! one little snack leads to eating everything remotely tasty in my room. I have no self control.

I guess just not having bad food in your house/apartment would do the trick.
my problem though is that my friends brought me delicious and expensive candy, and I have so much of it
so I'm not going to throw it away.

Ugh! Let me know if you figure something out other than practicing self-control :P

mgarrett2015

I have that problem to, but whats worst is I know I'm doing it and that it won't benfit me in anyway but I continue to do it. I have found that if i chew gum I can't eat food to. Silly I know, but it works. I'll go to purse for a piece of gum instead of the vending machine and it has helped quite a bit.

codymom77

I do the same thing! I am a black and white thinker as well, and once I go over my calories for the day, I will just go crazy and plan on being better the next day! Grrr.

jenniferswooten

I saw a dietician about this and she explained to me that I am the type of person who needs to eat every couple hours. Before I was eating a healthy breakfast and lunch with no snacks and by the time I got home I was starving. Eating every 2 hours or so keeps my blood sugar from spiking and crashing and I actually am satisfied. The end of day, eating the knobs off the cabinets is gone. Good luck!

nanimoose

It helps me to record what I'm about to eat before I eat it, and then see how much exercise I have to do to allow it into my daily calories.

NiagaraCheryl

For me, I'm often hungry by the time I get home from work and if I don't have a good meal ready to eat, snacks end up filling the void. I have found that I either need to get the slow cooker going in the moring, or start a quick dinner the moment I get in the door. If I end up having a good dinner I usually have some calories left for an evening snack.

elainecroft

Plan plan plan. Figure out what you are going to eat before you binge, and tell yourself, e.g. "I am going to eat veggies and hummus when I get home. Then I am going to eat chicken soup for dinner." Figure out what your trigger foods/times of day are, and avoid them. Also, it helps me to think of food as fuel, instead of just 'tasty'. Even with all of this I still struggle, but take it one day at a time and good luck!!