how bad is it to overeat healthy food?

timeguardian13
timeguardian13 Posts: 16 Member
edited October 3 in Food and Nutrition
Hi,
I have been wondering.....

I have this problem I overeat myself until I feel really unconfortable every time I am upset....
but since I am tracking my calories I have been trying to overeat myself on healthy and not-too-caloric food for example cucumber, or cabbage or strawberries, so I don't go over my goal (or at least lower the over-value).

It does make me feel really guilty when I overeat, but how bad do you guys think it is when it is healthy food????
Is it just AS bad?

Replies

  • jenfactor
    jenfactor Posts: 124
    I would say it's bad if you're still enabling the binge behavior. But if you are staying within your calorie limit, at least that should be ok.. but you might be in danger of making yourself feel sick.
  • theworldatlarge
    theworldatlarge Posts: 14
    Well you may not be doing as much damage by overeating with carrot sticks as you would be with doritos, but if you're stuffing yourself past comfort with anything because you're upset, that's still a problem in itself. As someone who has used food as a coping mechanism for pretty much my whole life, I feel safe to say that losing weight and becoming healthy is just as much a mental overhaul as it is a physical one.
  • rml_16
    rml_16 Posts: 16,414 Member
    Overeating any kind of food is bad. No matter how healthy a food is, there is no food with 0 calories.

    And binging isn't a healthy behavior, either.
  • harmonysdream
    harmonysdream Posts: 92 Member
    I have a binge eating disorder that I still struggle with after literally years of trying to get it under control. I think I probably always will to an extent, but its very rare now that I have an issue with it. My binge foods of choice used to be salty snacks like chips coupled with dips and dairy products. I try to make sure I don't have those foods available now in case I have a moment of weakness and I try to have veggies around like carrots or celery to eat instead. No, its not healthy for you to binge at all, but its not something that most people can just get under control over night. So, I'd say that what you are doing is a step in the right direction. The next step is figuring out why you do it and dealing with those emotions, and figuring out other ways to work through them without running to food. Good luck, you can beat it!
  • Tree72
    Tree72 Posts: 942 Member
    Well, sounds like you already know that the behavior is not a healthy one. But it's definitely better to choose healthy, low-calorie foods over ones that are really bad for you in large quantities. So, it sounds like you have taken the first step to being healthier by choosing better foods. Next would be to work toward figuring out why overeating relieves your anxiety even though it makes you feel physically bad. Maybe then you'll be able to stop sooner, before you get to that really uncomfortable feeling. This is not an easy issue to deal with, and you have to give yourself time to figure it all out.

    Best wishes for success on a journey to a healthier you. :flowerforyou:
  • UsedToBeHusky
    UsedToBeHusky Posts: 15,228 Member
    Sorry... posted in the wrong thread.
  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    Hi,
    I have been wondering.....

    I have this problem I overeat myself until I feel really unconfortable every time I am upset....
    but since I am tracking my calories I have been trying to overeat myself on healthy and not-too-caloric food for example cucumber, or cabbage or strawberries, so I don't go over my goal (or at least lower the over-value).

    It does make me feel really guilty when I overeat, but how bad do you guys think it is when it is healthy food????
    Is it just AS bad?

    I'm confused by your post. If you are not going over your calorie goal then you are not overeating. Do you mean eating after you're full? As long as you are within your calories it's still not really overeating. If you go over your calorie goal, even with healthy food, then you could gain weight. And being overweight is, all by itself, a risk factor for many life threatening diseases.
  • CrazyDaisysMommy
    CrazyDaisysMommy Posts: 472
    I agree with the others above. I'm a compulsive eater, and the only way to get control of this kind of behavior is to examine why you're overeating in the first place. I eat my feelings, and I'll eat until I'm physically ill. It doesn't matter what I eat--I just need to chew something. The real problem is that food is supposed to nourish our bodies, so if we're eating for any other reason, we need to address those issues. I tend to journal my feelings and make note of what was happening around the time of the binge. Don't punish yourself for overeating. Just find other ways to nurture and pamper yourself, so you don't feel the need to do it with food. :flowerforyou:
  • timeguardian13
    timeguardian13 Posts: 16 Member
    thanks :)

    I know it is not good.... but I really am trying to stop it
    but sometimes the urge is just sooo uncontrolable
    I think most of you will understand how hard it is to stop when the urge comes......
    I am trying to deal with my issues in some other way, but when it is too much I always end up in the kitchen

    thanks for the support :)
  • losethehealthyway
    losethehealthyway Posts: 1
    I feel you! Try drinking some coffee to curb cravings!(: That's seriously like the only thing that has helped me with my bingeing problem. However, not too much!
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