Boredom Eating or Binge Eating Disorder?

gothchiq · August 2016

If you have a disorder, you will have times that you go out of control shoving food into your mouth like a machine, mentally unable to stop yourself and only stopping when you can't get another bite in. Milder behavior can be boredom eating or simply overeating because you like the taste. Disordered eating causes mental suffering. Right after a binge, the person feels horrible about themselves. And often feels sick also. The person can pack away thousands of calories in one sitting.

gothchiq · August 2016

duddysdad wrote: »

DebSozo wrote: »

Try not to eat fruit or carbs without having a protein with it, and make sure to eat high fiber veggies with carbs also. If I have carbs I tend to get cravings, so I went low carb for this past month to heal from the insulin resistsnce. I'm slowly upping the carbs now to find the highest level I can eat without getting the cravings.

You might want to see a physician to find out if you are prediabetic. Often Type 2 can be turned around with losing weight and dietary changes.

Anyhow the protein and fiber will slow digestion and keep blood sugar from spiking, dropping, and then needing sugar or carbs to up it. I've found low carb/high fat to help.

But you should find what works for you. Grilled or roasted chicken is a low calorie and high protein item we cook on the grill in quantity. Then I weigh out portions, slice, and put in zipper bags for the freezer. I keep some prepared and handy in the fridge too.

Then I'll have a high protein low carb lunch like grilled chicken on salad greens. If you didnt cook ahead of time Tysons makes frozen (precooked) bagged, cubed roasted or sliced grilled chicken. That is very convenient because you can weigh out portion and microwave quickly. Stir frying strips of meat is a quick fix for cravings also. Boiled eggs are another quick protein fix.

If I have an apple in the afternoon for snack, for instance, I make sure to pair it with a bit of cheese, nut butter, or plain Greek yogurt with it. Then for dinner I have meat and veggies.

Finally, have you plugged in your height, weight, and age into the MFP calculator to see what your numbers are? 1500 sounds really low. You might not be getting enough calories and are hungry. Instead if plugging in 2 pound loss a week try for 1 pound if you are too hungry and up calories so you can adhere for the long haul. Plus maintenance will seem easier as you can gradually add 100 calories a day until you maintain once you get to goal.

Hang in there and don't give up. Little changes make a big difference over time. Don't be too hard on yourself and look at this process as a reward to your body not a punishment. You want to nourish yourself for health not deplete yourself.

I have bloodwork done every 3 months. My fasting blood sugar levels are around 65-70. Type 2 does run in the family, but I have no indication of being pre-diabetic.

I've tried low carb, even did it when I was 17 and lost over 100 pounds. I've tried it recently, giving it around 6 weeks, but again, the urge to eat is still there and I end up binging on mayo.

I've been on MFP for a while now with a 600 day streak tomorrow. I update my weight weekly. My maintenance is 2600 calories, so I have it set on 2 pounds per week which is why I am at 1600. I've tried anywhere from 2 to .5 pounds per week. I've eaten so much that I have gained 40 pounds in a single month. Fat, not water weight. It never went away. That's how much I eat.

Perhaps moderate carb (half portions) would be easier to handle than true low carb. I am prediabetic and this method has kept my blood sugar acceptable. It is true that, for this condition, protein should always be consumed with carbs so as to keep your blood sugar as stable as possible.

entwife · August 2016

duddysdad wrote: »

Also, I do have major depression/anxiety/PTSD. Food used to be comfort for me. I am in therapy and on meds. I am doing much better at coping, but not quite normal yet. Maybe that's what the problem is, I am being proactive.

I think you should talk to your doctor about your afternoon munchies. It may well be a side effect of the medications you are on. Many of them are known the effect appetite.
Also I know you said you've tried lots of tweaks, but just try eating lots of protein for a couple of days, especially in the first third of the day. Good quality protein like homemade roast chicken or fish. Check the mfp nutrition values after you log, if you are hitting 60-80g of protein you should notice a difference in your afternoon hunger.
Good luck

RoxieDawn · August 2016

I used to, not any more, do this. My home was my trigger to get up and mindlessly walk to the kitchen any time a grab snacks in the afternoon.

I actually spread out my calories and macros such as higher protein and no cereal type breakfasts and my lunch is loaded with the bulk of my protein and fats for the day saving enough for family dinner. I always weighed out a snack and made it ready to grab in order to get out of the kitchen quickly.

There is a behavioral element to this and I had to break it by putting signs on the doors and postit notes at eye level. I eventually (and thank goodness for it being cooler weather) would walk around my block or did something like take the trash out even if I had no trash LOL

It will be something you have to work on, there is some great ideas here. Try something out and if does not work, try something else. Sometimes the trying in itself is already breaking the habit.

cebreisch · August 2016

I'm an emotional eater - I eat when I'm happy, sad, tired, bored, when the sun's shining, when it's raining, when it's snowing, if it's windy, if it isn't windy, whatever the reason.

Yes, you can try eating smaller snack-type meals throughout the day - and actually - that's what works better for me, is to eat something every few hours. I'll have yogurt for breakfast about 8, then at about 10 I'll have a protein/fiber bar. I'll have lunch between 11-1, then a snack at about 3, then dinner between 4-6 and another snack at about 9. Yes, sometimes I feel like I'm eating all day - but I'm staying within the 1600-1900 calories a day - logging it all, and have lost 8.5 pounds the last 3 weeks doing that.

If you're in therapy - bring it up. I see a therapist and it does help - especially since he's had Bariatric surgery and was heavier than I was when I started down the weight loss path.

Anyway - try a few things out and see what works for you...also make sure you add fiber into your meal plan. It really does help stave off the hunger cravings.

AliceDark · August 2016

Comments like this:

duddysdad wrote: »

I've tried low carb, even did it when I was 17 and lost over 100 pounds. I've tried it recently, giving it around 6 weeks, but again, the urge to eat is still there and I end up binging on mayo.

and this:

duddysdad wrote: »

The gist of my problem is that I am fine until I get home at 2. After that first snack, the hunger builds until it is insatiable. There is no amount of food, combination of foods, that make me feel satisfied enough to stop eating. I am full, most definitely. My stomach literally hurts from so much food, but my body is telling me that I need more food.

say that this is not really a food issue. I don't think it's boredom eating...wouldn't you choose to do literally anything other than binge on mayo if it were just out of boredom? This doesn't sound like it's going to be fixed just by manipulating your macros (making sure you're getting protein and fat with your apple, for example) or your eating schedule. It sounds like BED, and you're going to need help managing that. Here are some places to start:

https://myfitnesspal.desk.com/customer/portal/articles/1575987-eating-disorder-resources
http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/binge-eating-disorder

MilesAddie · August 2016

As someone who also shares a diagnosis of Major Depression / Anxiety / PTSD, I can say that most of the 'commonly' prescribed medications I have been on in the past, especially for Anxiety, have made me hungry. Benzos (Xanax, Valium, etc), caused me to ingest copious amounts of food without ever feeling satiated. Gabapentin, commonly prescribed off-label for non-acute Anxiety, also kicks off my food cravings and is even sometimes prescribed by veterinarians for animals that are losing weight due to a lack of appetite.

Are you in Recovery from a substance-abuse disorder? Forgive me for asking (You can send me a personal message if this forum is too public -I am in Recovery myself) and have found that a side affect of getting clean has been something akin to Binge Eating. When I was using, I was flooding my body with Dopamine and as a result created new neurological receptors to handle the influx - and now that I'm clean, my body craves Dopamine, especially in a situation where I find myself stressed, agitated, or bored. Eating, especially foods high in sugar or fats, triggers a release of Dopamine.

A trick I learned from my nutritionist that seems to help me is to set an extra meal. I tend to Binge after my wife and son are in bed, so I set a meal for that time. By doing so, I practice mindfulness and awareness by planning what I am going to eat, and when I am going to eat it. Sitting down at the table, eating on proper plates with real silverware, etc, all help in controlling the experience instead of making 10 trips from the couch to the fridge and munching on anything I can get my hands on.

As others have suggested, I would also recommend getting involved with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT). Both can be done one-on-one with a therapist, or in a group setting with other people who share some of the same problems, lifestyle, etc.

Best of Luck,
Chris

teetertatertango · August 2016

While you are getting help for this, I would plan errands, park time, library time, etc. for the "bad hours". If staying out of the house helps, do it.

Gaining up to 40 pounds in a single month is not run of the mill boredom eating. If this could be a side effect of any of your medications, work with a doctor to see what you can do there. All of the members of your medical team, physical and psychological, should be made aware of what is going on. Many disabilities are worsened by excess weight so the sooner the better to get the help you need.

leejoyce31 · August 2016

AliceDark wrote: »

Comments like this:

duddysdad wrote: »

I've tried low carb, even did it when I was 17 and lost over 100 pounds. I've tried it recently, giving it around 6 weeks, but again, the urge to eat is still there and I end up binging on mayo.

and this:

duddysdad wrote: »

The gist of my problem is that I am fine until I get home at 2. After that first snack, the hunger builds until it is insatiable. There is no amount of food, combination of foods, that make me feel satisfied enough to stop eating. I am full, most definitely. My stomach literally hurts from so much food, but my body is telling me that I need more food.

say that this is not really a food issue. I don't think it's boredom eating...wouldn't you choose to do literally anything other than binge on mayo if it were just out of boredom? This doesn't sound like it's going to be fixed just by manipulating your macros (making sure you're getting protein and fat with your apple, for example) or your eating schedule. It sounds like BED, and you're going to need help managing that. Here are some places to start:

https://myfitnesspal.desk.com/customer/portal/articles/1575987-eating-disorder-resources
http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/binge-eating-disorder

I was about to say the same thing. I think his issue is far deeper than food. I can't begin to imagine what is happening in the mind of someone who has PTSD. It's very serious. I think OP needs to continue with therapy and counseling. I don't think any advice on this thread will be helpful. Im sending good thoughts your way. I really hope you get better.

Boredom Eating or Binge Eating Disorder?

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