food becoming an obsession

boltbecca

First time post! Has anyone else noticed obsessive behavior toward food since dieting? I sit at night and go through cookbooks, bake endless sweets/ great dinners for my family and prep myself an alternative. I feel like I am constantly thinking about food. I have lost 25lbs since January, but this month I've had numerous slidebacks on compulsive eating and binging. I honestly have no one to talk to about it as I was a compulsive eater (fast food junkie, would sneak food). I have lost 100lbs in 5 years (256lbs to 155lbs) and still feel like the fat chick. It gets worse when I fall off the calorie train (today: binge eating leftovers at brunch).

squatsandlipgloss

A lot of people have this problem. I believe it's an eating disorder just like anorexia or bulimia, it's not acknowledged as such. I also have this problem. I used to have extreme binging problems - buying 2 types of chocolate and a bag of chips and eating it in 1 sitting and hiding food from my family. I got that under control now. It does sometimes happen that when I slip up, it goes from bad to worse... Ill have 1 bad snack which will lead to 4, but it's no longer binging as I can tell myself to stop pretty early in.

I don't know if this is something that will ever really go away but for me it helps to reevaluate my eating habits every now and then and remind myself of why I'm doing this. It's all about motivation, determination and willpower. Good luck!

charliemarie923

First time post! Has anyone else noticed obsessive behavior toward food since dieting? I sit at night and go through cookbooks, bake endless sweets/ great dinners for my family and prep myself an alternative. I feel like I am constantly thinking about food. I have lost 25lbs since January, but this month I've had numerous slidebacks on compulsive eating and binging. I honestly have no one to talk to about it as I was a compulsive eater (fast food junkie, would sneak food). I have lost 100lbs in 5 years (256lbs to 155lbs) and still feel like the fat chick. It gets worse when I fall off the calorie train (today: binge eating leftovers at brunch).

Hi and congrats on first post! I can relate to this as i suffer from Bulimia and have at times been classed as EDNOS too. There is always the thought of food on your mind, either because you want it so much or because youre trying to avoid it so much. With dieitng, having to keep tabs on the components of food can make you alot more obsessed and aware than you were before, but eventually the dieting should become a permanent lifestyle change and as the new habits become more natural the obsession should ease. As for the compulsive eating, the only thing i can suggest is distraction-and everyone says taht, right? But i still havent conquered that aspect myself yet. It is recommended for people who binge to eat 3 meals and 3 snacks a day , to stop them getting hngry and also so that there is less time to wait in between food.

Rgtjax85

Getting support is a big key to help. I can't say that I have struggled in the aspect that you are dealing with per se'. Posting on the topic boards has allowed me to add friends on MFP to keep me accountable. The support from the online community and discussing this with your friends and family will help. The ultimate goal is to be healthy. It is about being the healthiest you that you can be. You can add me or any that relates closer to your struggles for support. Be blessed.

Anthomania

All the time!:(
It's hard to stop..

burnt_irish1

A lot of people have this problem. I believe it's an eating disorder just like anorexia or bulimia, it's not acknowledged as such.

Binge eating is an eating disorder. I linked the diagnostic criteria below.
http://www.allianceforeatingdisorders.com/dsm-bed
ETA- since i don't have my DSM handy, seems like I made a mistake in listing all the EDs that are listed in the DSM-IV. edited to take out the incorrect info.

charliemarie923

A lot of people have this problem. I believe it's an eating disorder just like anorexia or bulimia, it's not acknowledged as such.

Binge eating is an eating disorder. I linked the diagnostic criteria below. There are three eating disorders currently recognized- anorexia, bulimia and binge eating.
http://www.allianceforeatingdisorders.com/dsm-bed

there are many more than 3...There is EDNOS, Pica, Complusive over eating etc...

Lib_B

First of all, I have been a closet eater as far back as I can remember. I remember being 5 and hiding behind a couch eating brownies I sneaked from the counter. Was an active kid/teen so never dealt with weight issues until I was an adult. When the weight started creeping on in my late teens, I opted for laxatives to keep my weight in check. Now, I'm trying to do it the healthy way, but believe me, I know how self defeating it can be. You think, oh crap, I messed up. May as well go on a week long binge and really enjoy myself this one last time and I'll start the diet again Monday. I'm FINALLY learning that it never starts next week, it starts the minute you regain your composure and can move on - which means the next meal. It is a struggle, but I'm working on it. Feel free to add me as a friend if you like. I'm always looking for more people who know what disordered eating is and is willing to see it as more than just needing to lose weight. It's an addiction and unlike drugs or alcohol, you cannot live without food so you have to find a balancing act with your drug of choice. It sucks some days. Other days, I feel like I've really got a hold on it. Here's to overcoming! :drinker:

Lib_B

A lot of people have this problem. I believe it's an eating disorder just like anorexia or bulimia, it's not acknowledged as such.

Binge eating is an eating disorder. I linked the diagnostic criteria below. There are three eating disorders currently recognized- anorexia, bulimia and binge eating.
http://www.allianceforeatingdisorders.com/dsm-bed

Never seen a binge eater binge on water, lettuce, or chicken breast. People binge on high processed high sugar foods(usually). I mean a good example is the OP today. go look at her diary... what is the highest macro nutrient she consumed? Carbs, mostly in simple forms. Nothing wrong with it, just as long as she knows what causes it, low nutrient dense foods that are highly processed cause it.

actually, as a compulsive binge eater, i have eaten really strange things. i keep the 'processed' things out of my house, but in a moment of desperation, i ate a pound of cheese. didn't crap for a year. but a compulsive binge eater WILL binge on ANYTHING. that's not to say that the processed foods are less appealing - they would be the 'drug' of choice, but when not available, just like the alcoholic will drink listerine, a person with a real eating disorder will eat things you wouldn't think to eat or that wouldn't be your first choice. i also ate a loaf of bread with just mustard, lettuce and pickles. my cupboards were bare and i was in a place and i had to binge.

my point is that a true compulsive eater WILL binge on whatever they can get their hands on. the processed foods are probably at the top of the list because they hit that bliss point (read Salt Sugar Fat), but if they are unavailable, lettuce will do.

charliemarie923

First of all, I have been a closet eater as far back as I can remember. I remember being 5 and hiding behind a couch eating brownies I sneaked from the counter. Was an active kid/teen so never dealt with weight issues until I was an adult. When the weight started creeping on in my late teens, I opted for laxatives to keep my weight in check. Now, I'm trying to do it the healthy way, but believe me, I know how self defeating it can be. You think, oh crap, I messed up. May as well go on a week long binge and really enjoy myself this one last time and I'll start the diet again Monday. I'm FINALLY learning that it never starts next week, it starts the minute you regain your composure and can move on - which means the next meal. It is a struggle, but I'm working on it. Feel free to add me as a friend if you like. I'm always looking for more people who know what disordered eating is and is willing to see it as more than just needing to lose weight. It's an addiction and unlike drugs or alcohol, you cannot live without food so you have to find a balancing act with your drug of choice. It sucks some days. Other days, I feel like I've really got a hold on it. Here's to overcoming! :drinker:

Totally agree with the addiction part !

karensdream

Agree and can relate to all of the above. I have been a secret eater and a binge eater for most of my life. I had gastric sleeve done in November and have lost 62 lbs since, but I struggle with it every day. Have not had a binge since surgery, until today. And I hate how it left me feeling. I feel stuffed and bloated. I don't know how I used to do it. Tomorrow is a new day and I will start fresh without beating myself up about it though. I totally get the obsessive stuff though. I am constantly looking at recipes on Pintrest and thinking about making them and how I would customize them. And I have been obsessive about writing down every morsel that goes in my mouth. Not only do I document everything here, I also keep a written journal so I can show it to my Nut, when I have an appt. I have to write it down as soon as I eat it, and see what the calorie count is. I don't cook for anyone else, so that isn't an issue. I too wonder if I will ever be free of this. I keep working on it though! I know that I can't bring trigger foods into the house, because when I do, I can't stop until they are gone. For me, mostly carbs like crackers and chips.

boltbecca

You have great reply's. I appreciate the comments on deprivation- i struggle everyday with what my mind has classified as "good" (eggs, grilled chicken, vegetables) or "bad" food (basically everything else). When I fall off just a little, I seem to lose all self-control. It has been a long time since the fast-food binges, but the idea of coveting food bothers me.

Lib_B

A lot of people have this problem. I believe it's an eating disorder just like anorexia or bulimia, it's not acknowledged as such.

Binge eating is an eating disorder. I linked the diagnostic criteria below. There are three eating disorders currently recognized- anorexia, bulimia and binge eating.
http://www.allianceforeatingdisorders.com/dsm-bed

Never seen a binge eater binge on water, lettuce, or chicken breast. People binge on high processed high sugar foods(usually). I mean a good example is the OP today. go look at her diary... what is the highest macro nutrient she consumed? Carbs, mostly in simple forms. Nothing wrong with it, just as long as she knows what causes it, low nutrient dense foods that are highly processed cause it.

actually, as a compulsive binge eater, i have eaten really strange things. i keep the 'processed' things out of my house, but in a moment of desperation, i ate a pound of cheese. didn't crap for a year. but a compulsive binge eater WILL binge on ANYTHING. that's not to say that the processed foods are less appealing - they would be the 'drug' of choice, but when not available, just like the alcoholic will drink listerine, a person with a real eating disorder will eat things you wouldn't think to eat or that wouldn't be your first choice. i also ate a loaf of bread with just mustard, lettuce and pickles. my cupboards were bare and i was in a place and i had to binge.

my point is that a true compulsive eater WILL binge on whatever they can get their hands on. the processed foods are probably at the top of the list because they hit that bliss point (read Salt Sugar Fat), but if they are unavailable, lettuce will do.

You do realize cheese has sugar and fat? lactose is the sugar, unless it was lactose free. This reminds me of the girls who claim to have an eating disorder because they think it's cool.

There are people wit serious issues, then there are people who claim to have a serious issue who don't. (yes i am talking about binging). I used to at till i puked almost every day. Puking doesn't bother me, I done it so much.

I guess what i am trying to say, i have been through this "binging" stuff, and i still concluded it's due to junk food.

First of all, I am 38 years old and have no delusion that an eating disorder is 'cool.' I'm not a pro-ana dieter. I am also aware of the chemical reactions of foods - sugar is sugar, fat is fat, etc. My point was merely countering your notion that people don't binge on healthy food. I HAVE binged on chicken breasts, I HAVE binged on lettuce, I have binged on whatever was not nailed down in my house. Compulsive overeating is not 100% about what you eat, it's about the relationship with the food and why you are eating.

Again, Salt, Sugar Fat is a great book that everyone should read. It pisses me off that food companies engineer food specifically to get you to eat more. Once I had kids, we pretty much eliminated processed foods from our house with the exception of some pastas & breads because I just don't have time to make my own. I've been working on food issues for the past 13 years - as in my career at the non-profit I work for deals with food issues. Also, if you are interested, there is a national network called Food and Water Watch I recommend becoming part of, or at least checking out their website.

I agree that there are trigger foods. I agree that processed foods do lead to binging. But I also know they are not the ONLY thing people binge on. With that said, it looks like you've had tremendous success overcoming your demons and I congratulate you on that. I also know, thru therapy, etc. that it is about the relationship with food. There are no 'bad' foods or 'good' foods. It's about the personal relationship with that food and what emotional voids they are filling. I think everyone's experience is unique and their own and lumping everyone into the same category with broad generalizations is not a good idea - in any area of life.

MelsAuntie

This site will make you obsessive about food, to the point of weighing/measuring and posting everything you eat, instead of just eating whatever you want whenever you want and not thinking about it. However, unfortunately, that has to happen or why try this path at all?