compulsive eating

keziak1 · February 2014

Do any of you identify yourself as having a compulsive eating problem? (hopefully one in recovery) I've had this for many years and tend to yo-yo between being very good and losing weight, then relapsing into the same old overeating pattern. I've tried various therapists and nutritionists who all have tons of great advice but can't seem to crack the nut of my emotional eating. I know all about nutrition, the problem is actually eating right!

I gave OA a try but it didn't feel like a good fit, and have done Weight Watchers in the past but I don't like their points program and high fees. So I'm going to read this board more often. It does help to read comments from people also on a weight loss journey, though more important to me is learning to eat healthy and keep it up for more than a few months!

Makoce · February 2014

Love to see the answers on this.
I definitely struggle with compulsive eating.

Tanya949 · February 2014

I am definitely a compulsive over eater, both binger and grazer, and a huge emotional eater. Since starting MFP last month, I have learned to always have healthy snacks on hand for when I get an urge to eat. Eating healthy foods has taken many of the fatty, sugary cravings away. I have to be very aware of food triggers and ask myself before I eat it... Is this something I really need? Does it taste that good to be worth the calories? Am I still truly hungry? I haven't felt true hunger in years,(until now) because I'm always eating. I think logging everything and being accountable helps a lot, I don't want to see a lot of crappy food or negative net calorie balance in my food diary.

keziak1 · February 2014

I am presently on hiatus from tracking because it got to feeling like as much a compulsion as my overeating, and I got burned out. However, I am basing my eating on the principles of what I learned by tracking, such as portion size and good foods to get when eating out. Over the past several years I yo-yoed between being very very good and just awful. I need a happy medium!

lavendy17 · February 2014

I have that problem. I can be good for weeks and then just get insane and start going to 7-11 and buying ho-hos and eating them on the way so nobody knows.... Or if there are any baked goods in front of me I will have as many as I think is socially acceptable, and then go back later to get more.
I think for me, I just have natural self destruction tendencies, and I enjoy rebelling against good behavior. Sometimes, I am just stressed and need something that feels good, like ho-hos. Or bagels.

What helps is taking a moment, taking a deep breath and giving yourself a therapy session in your brain. Imagine you are someone else, and you came to yourself with this issue- what questions would you pose to 'that fake person', and how would you answer them?

One time that I did this exercise when I really wanted to go out and buy cake, I analyzed the situation and realized that I wanted to escape the pile of dishes that prevented me from making a healthy dinner. I also realized that eating cake does not magically make the dishes go anywhere, and I won't feel any happier later, nor satisfied. I do this each time I find myself derailing, I refocus and go back to my good habits. This tactic has helped me stay the same weight for over 2 years (with the occasional 2-3 lbs gain and then losing it back).

I don't know if any of this makes sense to you, but I think some of us just have these food issues and your responsibility is to always take the time to be kind to yourself and ask yourself why. Keep digging and you will learn why.

ashleysarvi · February 2014

idk if i would call myself compulsive eater, but if someone puts something tasty near me i have a hard time not eating it. Usually im good about eating healthy portions but some days i have a hard time stopping. I really like food! im having one of those moments now and yesterday was hard too

NuggetLovesEdie · February 2014

noaecker, it sounds like you've got a really good formula for investigating the sources of the desires to eat.

Did you learn that from a book or a therapist, or just your own cool self? It's very much like the roots of cognitive behavioral therapy.

Llamapants86 · February 2014

I struggle with this for a long time. And I still do. For the most part, reminding myself to stick to a potion that fits my macros helps. So does realising that no matter how much I am stressed it does not mean I am hungry.

I still have to be very conscience of what I put in front of me because I will always clean my plate. Measuring out single servings and allowing myself seconds help too.

I look at it a lot like when I quit smoking. It takes a lot of work and it is something that you never really are cured of. It gets easier by a lot with time! But the temptation doesn't ever go away completely.

keziak1 · February 2014

What helps is taking a moment, taking a deep breath and giving yourself a therapy session in your brain. Imagine you are someone else, and you came to yourself with this issue- what questions would you pose to 'that fake person', and how would you answer them?

One time that I did this exercise when I really wanted to go out and buy cake, I analyzed the situation and realized that I wanted to escape the pile of dishes that prevented me from making a healthy dinner. I also realized that eating cake does not magically make the dishes go anywhere, and I won't feel any happier later, nor satisfied. I do this each time I find myself derailing, I refocus and go back to my good habits. This tactic has helped me stay the same weight for over 2 years (with the occasional 2-3 lbs gain and then losing it back).

I think that is wonderful. My therapist would cheer!

funkygas · February 2014

I am presently on hiatus from tracking because it got to feeling like as much a compulsion as my overeating, and I got burned out. However, I am basing my eating on the principles of what I learned by tracking, such as portion size and good foods to get when eating out. Over the past several years I yo-yoed between being very very good and just awful. I need a happy medium!

I am the same - I actually found that logging my binges didn't help the binging at all ... and just increased the compulsive obsessiveness over the tracking. At this moment I am trying to just go on the portions that I know the calorie contents and not necessarily going over. I try to eat healthy during the week and then have a splurge meal on the weekend. I haven't lost any weight for about a month doing this, but I can still fit into clothes I bought when I was 5kg lighter, so I guess my exercise is paying off!

candicane32081 · February 2014

I too have this problem. I was horrified to find out that I had gained 5 more lbs back! When I log my food everyday, I do wonderful. Then I go through a spell of no exercise and bad food choices. I am very disappointed. It's very hard for me to stay on track sometimes.

keziak1 · February 2014

I too have this problem. I was horrified to find out that I had gained 5 more lbs back! When I log my food everyday, I do wonderful. Then I go through a spell of no exercise and bad food choices. I am very disappointed. It's very hard for me to stay on track sometimes.

Know that you are not alone.

CynthiasChoice · February 2014

I've been a compulsive eater all my life. I've found that eliminating sugar helps me feel more in control. I just found a group here called Say No to Sugar, and it looks like it needs some new active members. Anyone??
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/forums/show/4365-say-no-to-sugar-

Tanya949 · February 2014

Since starting here a few weeks ago, I've not binged. I've also cut my diet Pepsi consumption from 5-6 cans a day to just one. I wonder if there is a link between the two, as I've heard that diet pop causes cravings.

ThatSoundsHard · February 2014

I have that problem. I can be good for weeks and then just get insane and start going to 7-11 and buying ho-hos and eating them on the way so nobody knows.... Or if there are any baked goods in front of me I will have as many as I think is socially acceptable, and then go back later to get more.
I think for me, I just have natural self destruction tendencies, and I enjoy rebelling against good behavior. Sometimes, I am just stressed and need something that feels good, like ho-hos. Or bagels.

What helps is taking a moment, taking a deep breath and giving yourself a therapy session in your brain. Imagine you are someone else, and you came to yourself with this issue- what questions would you pose to 'that fake person', and how would you answer them?

One time that I did this exercise when I really wanted to go out and buy cake, I analyzed the situation and realized that I wanted to escape the pile of dishes that prevented me from making a healthy dinner. I also realized that eating cake does not magically make the dishes go anywhere, and I won't feel any happier later, nor satisfied. I do this each time I find myself derailing, I refocus and go back to my good habits. This tactic has helped me stay the same weight for over 2 years (with the occasional 2-3 lbs gain and then losing it back).

I don't know if any of this makes sense to you, but I think some of us just have these food issues and your responsibility is to always take the time to be kind to yourself and ask yourself why. Keep digging and you will learn why.

I love everything about this post.

lizziebeth1028 · February 2014

Do any of you identify yourself as having a compulsive eating problem? (hopefully one in recovery) I've had this for many years and tend to yo-yo between being very good and losing weight, then relapsing into the same old overeating pattern. I've tried various therapists and nutritionists who all have tons of great advice but can't seem to crack the nut of my emotional eating. I know all about nutrition, the problem is actually eating right!

I gave OA a try but it didn't feel like a good fit, and have done Weight Watchers in the past but I don't like their points program and high fees. So I'm going to read this board more often. It does help to read comments from people also on a weight loss journey, though more important to me is learning to eat healthy and keep it up for more than a few months!

For years I had the mind set of - I'm either 'on' my diet or I'm 'off' my diet. I either ate 'good' food or I ate 'bad' food. There was never a in between. For example - ooops I ate a donut for breakfast now my day is ruined. Or if it was a day I was supposed to work out and didn't because life got in the way then I would feel the day was ruined. Hence categorizing it as bad day in my anxiety ridden diet world....which led to more snacking or bingeing because hey I already blew it. Once I finally stopped categorizing foods as good or bad and stopped having anxiety attacks over a missed work out I was able to step back and look at the big picture. I realized a had CONTROL. A boston crème donut to start my day didn't have to mean failure and cause a landslide binge. Realizing I can have foods I like in moderation and using portion control was the game changer for me. Of course I try to fill my day with healthy foods and proper exercise but I don't deny myself which only leads to compulsive eating and bingeing.

chelso0o · February 2014

I am. I've been in therapy for about a year about this problem. One of my biggest things is problem avoidance, and instead of tackling a problem I eat instead. So, I've tried to face uncomfortable situations (one of my BIG things is social interactions) rather than flake out on them.

Other things that have helped:

Not having "trigger foods" in the house

Facing some uncomfortable situations and allowing myself to "feel" whatever uncomfortable, sad, angry, etc. emotions that may come of it.

Nourishing my body and staying well hydrated

Logging

Allowing myself to feel physically hungry before eating

Thinking about how eating things in excess makes me feel sluggish, and then deciding.

I read a good book called Mindless Eating. It sort of helped. But I'm still struggling with things. It seems like once I get to a certain weight and start getting attention from guys it all seems to unravel. I am also learning how to deal with attention because it scares me.

I sound like a mess, but I promise other than that I'm pretty normal. LOL!!!!

lavendy17 · February 2014

noaecker, it sounds like you've got a really good formula for investigating the sources of the desires to eat.

Did you learn that from a book or a therapist, or just your own cool self? It's very much like the roots of cognitive behavioral therapy.

1. I sought a spiritual counselor when I was in my late teens and she said that weight gain and overeating are symptoms, which made me see that I always need to dig deeper if I want to overcome these issues.
2. When I started Weight Watchers I really kept track of my points, and on that particular day that I didn't have any extra fun points to use, it FORCED me into finding a better solution. That day I realized that I always have the option of stopping my compulsion to ask myself real questions. It was never about fighting with myself (brain says no, eyes/mouth/stomach say yes), it was always about finding piece of mind.

michelleclearylcsw · October 2014

Compulsive eating, Binge Eating Disorder, and Night Eating Syndrome are very powerful struggles and can be frustrating and overwhelming! It feels like you are sabotaging yourself and your goals.... Take a look at this article below.

http://expertbeacon.com/treat-compulsive-eating-taking-power-away-food/#.VEb8Gec00gl

http://www.DimensionalPsychotherapy.com

~Michelle Cleary, LCSW

compulsive eating

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