Advice on getting rid of a food obsession.

Missfitjeb
Missfitjeb Posts: 30
edited September 2024 in Motivation and Support
I need some solid advice on ending my food/sweets obsession. I love food so much it's ridiculous, I love having a taste of almost any sort on my tongue all the time. I HATE THIS. I never used to be this way and I really don't know what happened to cause such behavior. I feel like if I don't stop this habit, I'm going to cause irreversible damage. I hate what I see when I look in the mirror. I'm 134 and 5''2". I have three tummy rolls, a muffin and a big butt.

I just want to stop eating like crap all day long. I feel immediate guilt after I eat something bad but I just can't stop myself. I really need some help. Maybe someone to message back and forth who has been through something similar?

I just made cupcakes for my fiance and I know that I'll end up eating half of them and I don't want to but I know I will. I exercise everyday but how will any results happen if I don't stop eating all the time? I'm a bit frantic about it because I'm so sick of living this way. =( I need to find the person inside who used to have control and no desire to eat all the time. I miss her dearly.

Replies

  • lraymond558
    lraymond558 Posts: 30
    maybe you are a binge eater. in that case you need to see someone for help. cuz your issue will go back years upon years and you cant do it alone cuz you wont be able to see where it started alone. it is best you deal with is asap because i know binge eaters in their 50s and their lives are HORRIBLE !

    i hope you figure it out :)
  • lilcrittert
    lilcrittert Posts: 105
    I went on a 40 day spiritual fast and broke my sugar addiction. I stopped eating ALL refined flours, sugar, and alcohol which metabolizes like table sugar. There is something about giving up something for God to receive breakthrough in your life that can break those addictions. I did so well, I began another 40 day fast and gave up aspartame (nutrasweet) because it's really like poison in your system...again, a spiritual fast.
  • sara_m83
    sara_m83 Posts: 545 Member
    Hey Missfitjeb,
    I'm also 5'2 and my starting weight on MFP was 136. I also crave sweets a lot and though many people might not think this good advice, I've found what has worked best for me is not abstinence. I have something sweet every day. Recently, I started making a light version of rice krispie treats (68 calories per bar and 12% of my daily iron intake) to indulge my sweet tooth. I also make low fat banana bread and regularly eat chocolate. I met my goal weight this morning and I did it through rigorous exercise combined with a daily caloric deficit of 500 calories. I work out as much as I do in order to indulge my sweet tooth.

    That said, you also need to be able to exercise restraint. Don't bake cupcakes!!! If you don't buy the stuff that triggers your cravings and don't bake delicious sweets, then they won't be around to tempt you.
  • meggonkgonk
    meggonkgonk Posts: 2,066 Member
    I think you may hve some self image issues because I'm just a little over (5' 2.5") and 145 and see no such thing. Your picture too suggests possibly you are being pretty hard on yourself.

    You SHOULD love to eat, and you SHOULD love food (Eating food releases chemicals in the brain that stimulate pleasure) This is all good. STOP trying to be like people on TV and START enjoying yourself, your body and your life.

    Check out this blog: ohsheglows.com <-- She has a seriously amazing perspective on food, and eating for volume and for pleasure.
  • afteil
    afteil Posts: 162 Member
    Keep packs of gum with you and chew on them in between meals. You could also try keeping flavorful steamed/sauteed veggies with you in case you get the munchies so that you wont be tempted to eat something unhealthy.
    As for eating too much of something, if you eat desert after your meal, try waiting 20-30 mins before having something else- it takes a bit for your stomach to tell your brain that its full.
    If youre still wanting something, try reaching for frozen yogurt or sherbet instead of another cupcake.
  • jnchorn
    jnchorn Posts: 250 Member
    Keep them out of your kitchen for sure. Hopefully out of sight=out of mind. I would suggest looking for sugar-free hard candies and gum. They might get you through a craving without harming your goals. :)
  • McKayMachina
    McKayMachina Posts: 2,670 Member
    I think you may hve some self image issues because I'm just a little over (5' 2.5") and 145 and see no such thing. Your picture too suggests possibly you are being pretty hard on yourself.

    You SHOULD love to eat, and you SHOULD love food (Eating food releases chemicals in the brain that stimulate pleasure) This is all good. STOP trying to be like people on TV and START enjoying yourself, your body and your life.

    Check out this blog: ohsheglows.com <-- She has a seriously amazing perspective on food, and eating for volume and for pleasure.

    Solid advice. Megonkgonk considered your height, weight and appearance.

    Also, obsessions are more of a cognitive thing to get over. You can do it but you have to be committed to the process. None of this "well, I just KNOW I am gonna eat half those cupcakes." KNOW that you're NOT going to. You are the only one who can control your willpower. Keep in mind that this is coming from me. I was 235 lbs. a couple of months ago. Now I'm 210. If I can manage willpower, you certainly can.

    :)
  • ddrobins1956
    ddrobins1956 Posts: 36
    I agree with many of the other girls that responded. Don't deny yourself any kind of food, if you want it count the calories and go ahead and have some. Just remember that you can have some tomorrow too, you don't have to have it all today.
    BTW, when I was your age. I was slightly overweight and I beat myself up over it and dieted and dieted and starved and dieted some more. Food became such an obsession and an issue that by the time I was 30 ish. I was definitely overweight and have struggled and yoyoed ever since and I'm in my 50's now. Don't obsess over weight. Eat healthy most of the time and indulge only some of the time and you'll be fine.
    Another thing, being overweight didn't ruin my life or cause me not to enjoy my life. I have a great husband, who doesn't even notice or care what size I am and the people who love and care about you don't love you because you are slim or won't stop loving you if you are a little plump. Be happy with who you are. You look very cute from your picture.
  • herky
    herky Posts: 68 Member
    I have the exact same problem. Once I start eating something, I cannot stop whether I am full or not. And I never used to be like this either, so I don't know where the problem came from. We need to get some serious will-power to stop this problem. Good luck!
  • joilet
    joilet Posts: 99
    I feel the same way.

    I LOVE food. When my husband goes out of town, I use it as an excuse to binge. Since I don't have to cook for him... I order out, or make something easy but junky... like frozen pizza and then grab the girlscout cookies.

    One thing has helped me in the past... budget 100-150 calories per day for whatever you want. So plan on that, and then try to save it for as late in the day as possibe. If you eat your 150 junk calories at 10AM, you have to get through the rest of the day resisting everything else. But if MFP tells you you can eat 1350 calories for the day, plan out your meals to eat 1200, so that towards the end of the day, you have 150 left, then have a cookie or two, or 1 or 2 fun size candy bars... or whatever. There are alot of snacks that are packaged in 100 calorie serving sizes, so you can ues that. But if you know you are allowed once per day... you can look forward to it, and control it. Where as, if you tell yourself you are not allowed to have it, you might be more likely to sneak a cheat, and then decide you mucked up the day, might as well throw in the towel.

    One other thing I'm trying right now is to allow myself 1 maintenance day. I need a day off per week, but if I give myself a free pass that day, I will gain back 2 weeks worth of hard work. So I try to still count calories to hit my maintenance calories that day instead of my deficit. That way, I at least won't gain back... and I can look forward to that one day a week where I can indulge a little bit more.

    As far as baking. I LOVE TO BAKE!!!! I love to experiment, and come up with fun recipes. Sometimes I get a creative idea and just have to try it. If I bake a batch of cupcakes, they will surely be gone in 2 days. So now, I bake a batch, pull out one for today and one for tomorrow, and then take the rest to work and give them away. Or like with banana bread, bake it up, cut it up in reasonable portions, keep today and tomorrow's portion out, throw the rest in the freezer. If it's frozen, you need a lot more premeditation to eat it. Let a few days go by, you might forget about it, if not, pull out 1 portion, and let it thaw, and then indulge. BUT BUDGET FOR IT. Or add extra cardio....
  • Jonicha26
    Jonicha26 Posts: 107 Member
    Oh, I can relate. I have had those moments of fear and distress because I feel like I have no self control. I still struggle with those things. Honestly, what has helped me most is goals, accountability, and mini steps. I have a specific reason for loosing weight. If you have a firm purpose in mind, an idea that sticks with you at all times -- you think about it before you unwrap that second cupcake. You remind yourself. Also, being accountable to friends or even to myself of MFP has helped so much. when I write things down and I see that I went out to eat and ate a meal that was my entire calorie intake for the day, I am disgusted. It is a reminder to keep going, keep track, and choose things that are better for me. And I take mini steps... if you have a specific weakness, mine is coke, cut it out for two weeks or a month... see what happens. Track your progress and don't give up if you slip one day. Start with little things and see what a difference it makes. Maybe it'll be easy to cut it out of your diet once you've lived without it for a little while. Everyone has good points about moderation or treating yourself.... If you try to cut out everything you like cold turkey, you will be miserable and more likely to binge a day or two later.

    So, make plans about what you'll eat for each meal. Or try to eat only when sitting at the table. It's going to take some trial and error, but you can do it. The most important thing is your goal -- why do you want this. Remind yourself of it and it will become more important than the food.
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