Self Control

A good trick is to brush your teeth if you aren't hungry and might start snacking. It makes things taste bad and you're less likely to eat after you just cleaned your mouth. I also drink a cup of mint tea after a meal to sort of signal to my mind that we are done eating now.

just want to say that I'm the same way regarding food. I had a couple of bad days myself this week. I have problems doing things in moderation which is why I seldom buy large bags of chips or cookies because I know I would eat them in one sitting. If I get chips or cookies, it's better to get them in a 1 serving size (8oz) that way, I can enjoy them and they are gone. Not much harm done.

I like the suggestions of loading up on protein and fiber in order to feel full. I drink lots and lots of water which helps fill me up during the day. I drink tea, too.

Nighttime is when the overeating/binges get bad for me. I like the suggestions of brushing your teeth, chewing gum and drinking mint tea. Those are things I will try.

Like alcohol and drugs, I believe that food/overeating can be an addiction, too. I have this problem with food, especially at night and the only way to overcome it is to not use it to overeat/binge. Don't do it! Easier said than done. I have to remind myself of this.

I would love to support you if you need a friend.

OP: I could have written your post. I am exactly the same way you are. I can eat a bag of cookies or chips or chocolate in the car--then I need to hide all the evidence by throwing the trash out in a public waste can so no one knows that I'm out of control.

I've figured that if I really want to eat something, I'll buy a smaller portion of it and eat that. I'm also trying not to eat in the car anymore.

The past week has been pretty good. I don't feel the need to stuff myself with a bunch of junk. I think it's a vicious cycle: if I eat some junk, then my body keeps wanting the junk. And my thought at that point is, "F*** it--I already ate the McDonald's--I might as well have some cookies and candy too." Then I'm out of control and no longer conscious of what I'm doing. It's only after I'm faced with the empty wrappers and bags that I realize what I've done.

I think my overeating is an addiction as well. I tried Overeaters Anonymous several years ago, but it didn't really work for me (but then again, I don't feel like I really gave it a good shot.) You might want to check out some of Laurel Mellin's books on the connection between emotions and overeating. She suggests doing feelings checks and then determining what your true needs are (and usually, it's not food).

Anyone on this thread with the same issues--please friend me so we can support one another.

You! Get out of my head!!

This is me - down to a tee - well said and thanks for the info! x

When you see yourself about to do the binge, eat naked in front of a mirror. I realized seeing how big I am and then watching myself eat quickly made me put the "bad stuff" down. I realized that is how I got to be the size I am now.

I can't have peanut m&m's in the house because I will eat the whole bag. Not the whole 5 lb. bag but I will eat way too many handfuls from it, thus upping my calorie count. But I will eat the whole small bag and that's about 200 calories right there that I don't need. I would like to think that I could eat just three or four pieces, but I know better. So I don't even buy them anymore.

Would it help if you didn't have the binge food at home in the first place? And if you have a craving and go to the store to get it, can you buy a smaller bag of chips? Like just the smallest snack bag? Not a lot of chips but enough to satisfy the craving and not big enough to binge one.

I think you might be "eating your emotions" as they say. A friend of mine used to call food her "best friend" and said she missed comforting herself with her best friend when she started dieting. However, she has lost about 200 pounds and she loves her new body more.

So being able to figure out what you're feeling when you binge (bored? mad? unhappy? stressed?, etc.) might help. I have discovered that I will eat when I'm bored. I would also grab something chocolately when I was stressed. I would grab a handful of m&m's and eat them while I was watching t.v. Not a horrible, horrible thing, but I didn't even pay attention to eating them and so, honestly, didn't even get to enjoy them, lol!

I have the same issue with portion control. It's like my mind tells me I have to finish the entire container. Whether I'm full or not, I have to finish my plate.

The way I have gotten around this is by:

1) since I have no control, I do not buy junk food. Period, in small or big portions, there are healthier options, so why risk eating junk food in one sitting.

2)if there is a prepackaged single serving option, buy it, even if its a little more expensive. If you eat the entire container in one sitting anyway, you will get more servings and therefore, it will actually be cheaper per serving and you will save money because it will last longer.

3) if I do buy something that is not already in single serving packs, as soon as I get home, I sit down weigh it out, and package it into single serving Ziploc snack bags and put it back in the original container. Doesn't matter what it is: snacks, loaf of bread, meats, cereals, etc. For example, if I buy a pack of hotdogs, they all go into their own baggie and then into a freezer size bag with the nutrition info from the hotdog package and then into the freezer. Costco also sells precooked bacon and I even divide that into individual baggies before it goes in the freezer.

4) the best options I have found for snacking are individually packaged cheeses(string, skinny cow, Babel, sticks), sliced fresh apples, fruit leather, and the can all be bought at Costco. I always take one and walk away from the kitchen before I start eating so I'm not tempted to shove it in my mouth and grab another one.

5) I keep non perishable single serving snacks in my glove box, LOCKED. That way I can't just grab one while I'm driving. I have to make the decision that I need one and make the decision to take only one.

6) make a Shoppe list before you go shopping and only buy what is on the list unless you see something that is in single serving packs you would like to try. Don't go shopping hungry, eat a cheese before you get into the store. If that still fails, I've even written inspirational notes on the backs of my hands so when I reach for something I see it.

7) as someone else suggested, I also know everything I'm going to eat for the day and have set times I eat. You should try to eat 6 times a day. i actually have to set alarm clocks so I don't forget and I don't really get hungry anymore, when I do get hungry, I notice it's around a half an hour PAST when I was suppose to eat. I keep it to around 100 calorie snack 3 times a day between 3 meals no more than 360 calories a meal.

8) most importantly, its been accountability. I take credit for everything I eat good or bad by writing it down. I don't always use myfitnesspal, I also have a old school notebook. Look at my meal for yesterday. I told myself I would only have one beer, but that didn't work out so well. I also skipped my afternoon snack which led to my poor decision making. But I don't beat myself up anymore, I just keep moving forward.

Another thing for people who eat when they're bored to try is chew gum and keep that mouth busy. I ALWAYS have gum on me!

If its sugar your craving try taking the supplement Cromium. If you find your craving chocolate around your monthly period it can be due to your body needing magnisium or calcium. Dark chocolate does contain these but also contains other not so nice things! Have a look at your diet patterns and make sure your getting everything you need from your meals.

I have issues with this. Just this morning I had grabbed a whole bunch of hershey's kisses because "there were only a few left" and I was going to just finish them. I stopped before I had any and checked how many calories it would be and then promptly hid them from myself because I wasn't going to waste that many calories on just chocolate. I have found that when I portion myself out the serving suggestion I won't binge on the whole bag/box of whatever I am eating. Also, logging has helped me substantially. Just realizing how many calories I am actually going through has helped remind me what I am doing myself.
I have also put up pictures on myself on all the cupboards and the fridge to help me remember.

I've done something similar, but I have pictures of Britney spears and "is it worth it?". I have tried the whole shaming myself which leads to quitting, but I find inspiring myself leads to motivating.

I like your idea. Inspiration is so much better than shame.

Cut out processed foods. I have been eating only fresh foods for the lasst month and all of my cravings are gone. Never thought that would happen. I used to crave salty, sweet, dairy... everything. Now the cravings are gone. Seems like eating the processed stuff just makes you crave more.

I cook and freeze in portions at home, in the morning I take out dinner to defrost. Portion is controlled, dinner is logged.
Lunch is usually a huge 350g bowl if salad (80 caps, a tray of cooked meat (120 cal) , dressed with juice of s lemon, or slices of orange, or a pear. (80 to 100)
Again all logged first thing.

Then I know how much I have left.

Somedays I may have enough for a cheese and crackers (my old nemesis) or a biscuit r s drink. But every choice is a concious one.

Plus I stopped buying crisps etc, if they ain't there they can't get in my mouth!