WTF is wrong with me???

endoftheside

Your breakfast foods seem to be high carb, and you are craving high carb/high fat stuff, so to me the way to break this is to cut down on carbs and increase protein. It stinks at first, but if you find your sweet spot with carbs they won't have power over you any more (for me it is around 150g or less). It is a really wonderful thing to break that carb craziness (speaking as a former carbaholic). Making a commitment to pre-log your food also can put the brakes on impulse buys and eating.

Dragonwolf

Donuts = fat, carbs, sugar
Chips = fat, carbs
Cake/Brownies = fat, carbs, sugar
Chocolate = sugar. fat

A note on this - it's not technically the sugar or the fat that causes the cravings, but the combination of the sugar AND the fat. It's why these things are like crack. That blend of sugar and fat that manufacturers have honed to prompt the most reaction in us, making us want more and more. Great for business, not so much for the belt.

prettigirl01

i can relate to this 100%. for me food makes me feel good when i eat and im never satisfied with eating just one of something. sometimes its so good ill eat it all even if im full just because it tastes that good. like you, im unhappy with my weight and u would think that would stop me from eating so much but it doesnt. sometimes i dont want the healthy snack option, sometimes i dont want a salad. i want to pig out on chipotle and chocolate chip cookies all day. these things make me feel good but if i want to change the way i look i have to stop this behavior. people who dont have this addiction wont understand. its going to take time and u can do it and when u reach your goal u will never turn back

boatsie77

Using food as a drug to temporarily ease or help forget pain or fill an emptiness in our lives must be addressed to successfully remove weight AND maintain a healthy weight for life. Anyone can remove weight through diet and exercise--but they only remove the 'symptoms' not the 'cause.'

"Our work is not to change what you do, but to witness what you do with enough awareness, enough curiosity, enough tenderness that the lies and old decisions upon which the compulsion is based become apparent and fall away. When you no longer believe that eating will save your life when you feel exhausted or overwhelmed or lonely, you will stop. When you believe in yourself more than you believe in food, you will stop using food as if it were your only chance at not falling apart. When the shape of your body no longer matches the shape of your beliefs, the weight disappears. (p. 80-81)”
― Geneen Roth, Women Food and God: An Unexpected Path to Almost Everything

RunHardBeStrong

I found I was prone to binging when I didn't eat enough (both total calories and throughout the day). Make sure you're getting enough at breakfast to keep you sustained until your next planned meal/snack. Also, if you have a drastic calorie deficit you might be more prone to binging. Personally I ate "healthy" and it was about 1000-1100 calories a day, and then I'd binge on the weekends. Huge binges, and there was no weight loss. I then did some research, started eating 1500 calories, the binges subsided, and weight started to come off. I'm now eating 1800, still losing, and I haven't had a binge in a long time.

All of this! I too am at 1800 cals and losing, binges have pretty much ceased. When I find myself about to binge these days, I have found it's on days that I'm totally exhausted so I either go to bed, if feasable or go for a walk to get away from the food and wake myself up.

lcvaughn520

I agree with everyone who says you're probably just hungry - which makes it hard NOT to eat too much at some point. Also (and this is in NO way scientific, just personal experience), I think our bodies get used to eating so much fat, sugar, salt, etc. and it learns to crave those things. Today, for example, I wasn't really in the mood for one particular thing for lunch, but I felt like I just wanted to go chow down on something fatty and greasy.

I ended up making a really good choice by reminding myself how I would feel after eating something like that. I would regret it, both mentally and PHYSICALLY. Next time you eat something, really take a minute to focus on how your body feels after you eat it. The more and more used that you get to eating nutritious food, the more you'll realize that your body may not like doughnuts as much as your brain does!

Crochetluvr

Another reason I like living in NJ....we dont have to get out of our cars to pump or pay for gas.

kahagen76

Like many of the replies, I can definitely relate. I've been logging on MFP since February and I diligently look at all my allowances (Cal., Carb., Fat, Protein, Sodium and SUGAR). Sugar is by far my worst enemy and I do not think I've been able to remain under the sugar goal since I joined MFP. What I'm learning, though, is I don't have to get my sugar from sweets/processed foods and that I'm getting the majority of my sugars from fresh fruits and in the foods I eat. Additionally, I found that processed foods do not satisfy me, and, like in your case, if they are there, I will eat them until there isn't any left and I have a trash can full of empty celophane wrappers with pink or yellow goo smeared in them and think that maybe if I lick them clean I will be satisfied (no, I've never actually done it) but even with the 100 cal packs, when you eat the whole box, it all of a sudden turns from a low-cal snack to something majorly harmful to my body. THEN I log my disaster on here and I am not only disgusted with my behavior (which is not emotionally driven) but I'm also frustrated that I now am left with virtually no calories for the rest of the day, and not to mention I now probably feel like **** and will feel like that until it moves through my system and then I realize that it just wasn't satisfying enough to make it worth it. And THERE is my motivation! I have literally felt ****ty for years and since I've been eating healthy and little to no processed foods I finally (FINALLY) feel balanced, even though my weighloss has been slow but gradual...

Another thing I did that seriously helped me was take a pictures all the foods I am eating, and ALSO taking pictures of the junk foods that I actively told myself not to eat and later that day when I find myself thinking about the s'mores made with pink peeps sitting in the office kitchen, I can look at the picture and I somehow find that oddly satisfying because I can tell myself that I did good by resisting it. Sure, I may look a bit strange taking pictures of the donuts, but I'll take the funny looks I get from others over the belly pains anyday.

Here's a fun blog that probably most of us can relate to:

http://deadspin.com/5545674/the-public-humiliation-diet-a-how+to

rieann84

This sounds like me. I bought a box of dreamy clusters or something. Supposed to be 'diet' dessert/treat, but actually was like 110+ calories a packet. I went through the whole thing like an hour after bringing them home. Never bought THOSE again. Some things I just can't keep from, I guess.

I LOVE chocolate. There are a few things I buy.. Good quality, DARK chocolate bars. I don't binge on these because they are often rich, and usually somewhat expensive. The cheap-o in me won't let me go at it.

When I can find it, it's called "Simply Lite" chocolate bar. It is carb free, sugar free, whatever else free. It tastes pretty good. On the back it says "over consumption of this product can cause diarrhea" Enough to make me NOT binge on that one.

Also, Hershey's simple pleasures. You can have 6 for 180 calories. Not too bad. They are good, but still have that fake-y diet taste a little bit. For some reason I never binge on these either. The white creme ones basically taste like vanilla frosting inside. So sweet it hurts my teeth actually.

So those are just some things that I personally am able to control myself over.



My best advice for you, is to just make that decision to say NO to the donut/the whole box/etc. Keep fighting. It becomes a domino effect. Say no to the donut in the morning and you'll find yourself making other good choices. And then sooner or later, you won't even care for a fiber one brownie. (Those things are totally unsatisfying, by the way.. it's hard for me to eat just one also)

Good luck

suelegal

HA S NOTING TO D O WITH BEING UNHAPPY IN LIFE
IT HAS TO DO WITH IT TASTES GOOD AND ITS THERE

hat would be the answer for you. apparently though OP doesn't know or she wouldn't have asked.

OP, there have been some great suggestions. Make a list of possible triggers for you. The next time you push junk in your face, think about what you're feeling right then, and write it down. It won't come to you the first time, it will take patience to uncover what' going on inside that makes you want to eat.

Good luck! Message me if you want to talk.

TX_Aggie_Dad

Could simply be that you don't want to lose weight bad enough. You favor the short-term satisfaction of eating something that tastes really good over the delayed satisfaction of losing weight and looking better. That makes you similar to a large portion of the population that cannot muster the will power to do what is difficult. This isn't easy. You aren't trying hard enough.

Or would you prefer we make excuses for you?

leomom72

bump

jennpaulson

I'm not an expert, but I know what has started working for me. You're hungry when you wake up in the morning, don't wait until you get to work to eat (whatever you decide to eat) and have to pass by every McDonalds, Dunkin Donuts, Denny's and Panera (plus the gas station markets) on your commute. It's just too much temptation when you're already hungry. Eat before you leave home.

tekwriter

You could be an impulse eater also. I love sweets and will sometimes eat them even though i am not hungry. You saw the donuts and just reacted, you know they taste good. If you are not getting enough to eat on your daily diet may cause you to over eat also and lastly, if you are bored with your job you will certainly plow through those fiber bars.

ShaniB729

There's nothing wrong with you! This is a normal and very human thing to do. One thing you can try is to really figure out how you're feeling when you eat. It sounds silly (and sometimes it feels silly) but when you're going in for those donuts, instead of focusing on how much you shouldn't eat them, try focusing on why you feel like you need them.

I'm an emotional eater. I eat when I'm stressed or unhappy or just bored. I eat to feel better. Sometimes it works, sometimes it just makes me feel worse. Try journaling if that's something that works for you.

Or you may just be on too strict of a diet and your body is telling you it needs a change. Experiment. See what works for you.

Awesome advice

takuwinds

Wow, this sounds like I may have wrote it. Finally someone like me. I love to eat, I like how it makes me feel while I'm eating. Then I ignore the side effects (weight gain) and think it will go away by itself. I have to hit rock bottom before I do something about losing weight and being healthy. I'm so glad I found this place

meaganwilliams1

Figure out what your triggers are. I eat like that when I have had a bad day or if something "negatively extra" happens in my life. Sometimes I eat like that when I am overly hungry, so like someone else said planning ahead is a big help (a skill that I have yet to master). Sometimes I just wanna eat it all. I let myself have a day where I just let it all hang out. That way I don't feel cheated. I love sweets and am gonna eat them. I am just trying to exhibit some self control and eat them one day out of the week instead of everyday. You'll figure it out. Hang in there:)

ddslowly

well, in these specific examples, i'd say
-your body needed food and went with what was first available. you might want to consider eating some or all of your breakfast at home.
-work is BORING. it leads to mindless snacking. i have a pretty good handle on cravings and no longer hit up the vending machine but, if it's in the office, it gets eaten more quickly than i'd originally planned.

see, nothing wrong with you at all

jenniejengin

bump

wilsoje74

An apple is actually filling, try eggs for breakfast. A big breakfast helps me get through the day. Either poached eggs on a round flatbread or else steel cut oats. You can still have treats now and then but not all the time.

greenmeena

We are wired to want sugar and fat. It's in our genetic makeup. You have all my sympathy, seriously!! We are faced with so much easily obtained poor food choices.
Now, how to overcome? I love some of the advice above:

*Don't try to shoot for too low a calorie goal- it will make you eat out of control.

*DO (DO IT!!) the Whole 30 program, start now, don't wait, you'll be so happy that you did. http://whole9life.com/start/
That program has helped countless people to kick cravings and get on a better way of eating.

*Unless you're doing the Whole 30, don't completely deprive yourself (unless cold turkey is better for you) because it makes you want to binge later. For example- i love chocolate. Total chocolate *kitten*, here. If I buy milk chocolate I will eat all of it, right now. I have discovered I can't do that with dark, dark 80% chocolate. I can ration it out much easier.

*PROTEIN, and GOOD fat (like coconut butter, coconut oil) helps you to feel satisfied so you can cut back on the super sugary processed carbs.

*Make a rule that if YOU didn't make it, you can't eat it. That includes desserts! Then train yourself to make dessert foods that are healthier, like things made with apple sauce instead of sugar, etc. Because it takes so much work, you'll be cutting back on how much you take in.

Be gentle on yourself. The harder I try to lose weight, the more crazy my binges get unless I follow all my own advice, above. You can do it. Set a goal, let yourself have some wiggle room, and make a promise to yourself to cut out processed foods so you can stop craving them.

alpine1994

I am like this too. I reached my goal weight 6 weeks ago and it's still a struggle for me. It's REALLY hard to wait in line to get my morning coffee and not get a donut/muffin too. I will once a month or so, but every day I really want one. I just have to force myself. When they ask "would you like anything else?" I basically scream "no!" before I can change my mind!

What another poster said about reducing sugar intake definitely does help with the cravings though. I notice that I have a much harder time the few days after I do give in and have a treat. I regularly (3X a week maybe) have lower-calories treats though, like frozen yogurt with fruit on top and skinny cow ice cream.

Just force yourself to stay on track, and then think about how freaking awesome you are for resisting And give yourself a treat every now and then! We are human and sometimes we just need a damn donut.

RoseTears143

I used to do this because I had a literal chemical addiction to dairy and gluten-containing products because of my intolerance to them. Maybe you have a sugar addiction, maybe it's emotional eating...it can be hard to say. I personally had to just go cold turkey and stop eating foods that I would mindlessly binge on. I threw everything away in my apartment and went shopping and only bought good foods - no junk was allowed in my place. Now that I have a handle on my eating habits I do have the occasional treat and it doesn't even bother me anymore (so long as I have the dairy/gluten free version so I don't get sick).

I agree with some other suggestions here though. Eating when you are hungry will help you. And good job on portioning out stuff to take with you instead of a whole bag/box of something to keep at work. I can't do that either or I would snack when I'm bored at my desk. I would do that a lot as well at home when watching TV or movies - just eat, even if I wasn't hungry.

Every time you feel an urge to just eat junk, force yourself to stop and remember how you feel about it. Will that food taste as good as you will feel when you get the weight off you want to lose? I don't think it will!!

Capt_Inzane

I grew up with another binge eater (my mom) and at a young age understood that food was used as a coping mechanism.

Since then I've obviously grown up and learned more about why I would binge eat. One thing that has helped me is make sure I get enough sleep and workout daily. These help me relieve stress and honestly just make me a better person.

As for other cravings I still get them and have learned to substitute sweets with healthier foods. Some alternatives are almonds (be careful though don't eat the entire bag), carrots, celery (not a huge fan but I dip it in hummus/dips), fruits, anything thats more organic.

The last time I went and binged eat I was upset that some plans got cancelled on a saturday night and drove to get Del Taco (same as Taco Bell) and was so upset with myself when I saw the #'s on my diary I decided no more. Since then binge eating seems easier I think you just curb it to the point where it's manageable and then when you slip (we all do) something clicks and you decide NO MORE!

I dunno rambling now but hope something above helps you.

kellykw

I can relate! Since I started eating a lot of good fats and nearly eliminated refined carbs, my cravings are pretty much zero. I'm not saying it will work for you, but it has done wonders for me. Working out hard also helps because I don't want to undo all of my hard work by stuffing my face with things that make me feel terrible.

Robin_Anne

I think it just comes down to you didn't want yogurt for breakfast. I've got a truckload of greek yogurt in my fridge. Do I want it every morning? Not really. I like it but I don't love it. You reached for the doughnuts because you didn't want the yogurt. Come up with a breakfast that you'd really like or rotate out options (a PLAN . Or just eat the doughnuts (allot for the calories....it's early in the morning so you have all of the daily ones to use up). So, let's say they added up to 700-800. Ok.

Don't feel guilt. Just say that you wanted them. For the rest of the day, stick within your daily caloric range and/or work out later to burn off (if you are hungry for other meals) more calories.

The food loses the "forbidden fruit" aspect when there are no good foods or bad foods. For me, when I eat what I want within the daily range, the "junk food" loses its power. I like healthy food but sometimes, you just need a doughnut from the gas station.

No psychotherapy needed! Yum...

LoosingMyLast15

Why do I binge? Today, I had yogurt and cheerios waiting for me at work for breakfast. But what did I do? I had to stop for gas, so I went in and bought 2 bakery donuts and stuffed them in my face on the way to work.

Last week, I brought a box of Fiber One 90 Calorie Brownies to work. Thinking I would keep them in my desk and eat ONE when I had a craving... NO.. They were gone in two days.

I am learning from my mistakes.. I know now that I cannot bring an entire box/bag of anything to work... I portion everything and only bring one portion...

But what gives?? Why oh Why am I like this? Why can't I just STOP eating!!!!

maybe it's because you're stuck in a pattern. have you tried changing your routine (breaking your pattern)? eating at home for breakfast instead of waiting until work (or eating half your breakfast before leaving for work and finishing your breakfast at work). instead of leaving the box of fiber one brownies at work just bring in one brownie (if it's not there you can't eat it).

the most important you did make though is you are learning from your mistakes. and hey sometimes we just need to eat the darn gas station donut. cut yourself a bit of a break. you're learning and that's the most important. you didn't put on the weight overnight and you won't loose it overnight either. if you stop beating yourself up over slipping eventually you won't feel the urge to overindulge.

cpilson

Why do I binge? Today, I had yogurt and cheerios waiting for me at work for breakfast. But what did I do? I had to stop for gas, so I went in and bought 2 bakery donuts and stuffed them in my face on the way to work.

Last week, I brought a box of Fiber One 90 Calorie Brownies to work. Thinking I would keep them in my desk and eat ONE when I had a craving... NO.. They were gone in two days.

I am learning from my mistakes.. I know now that I cannot bring an entire box/bag of anything to work... I portion everything and only bring one portion...

But what gives?? Why oh Why am I like this? Why can't I just STOP eating!!!!

Carbs and sugar are tasty, yo.

It's a hard habit to break, one exacerbated by the extreme cost of high-quality food in relation to the cost of thoroughly-refined garbage.

JinxRita

You could just be bored at work, too. I tend to eat the little treats if they're around and I've got nothing better to do for a moment. I do my best to try and substitute that with a big gulp of water though.

bluejeansbaby03

I have been in recovery from binge eating and bulimia now, have had the issue since high school, and for me it was not feeling safe and wanting to hide from others so I ate, ate, ate, and did it some more thinking the extra weight would keep me safe. I believe it is individual for each person why they eat. Stay strong!