food addiction. need help.

Sleep. And not in the refrigerator.

Sorry, that wasn't really helpful. But I do suggest sleeping. If you have to stay up, then drink water to curb cravings.

sleep is the best way I avoid eating

brush your teeth

push thru girl push thru!!! surf the web watch TV shows that will motivate you!

Weight Watcher's trick: Eat a can of green beans. If you're really hungry you will eat them and they won't add to many calories. If you don't want them then you are really not hungry. Good luck. I sew, walk, brush the dog, etc. Anything to avoid eating and keep my hands busy. Take a warm bath and go to bed. Sleep helps.

If you have calories left --- eat something This isn't supposed to be torture...

I am a huge night eater and I often save calories specifically so I can eat them in bed watching tv late at night.
The tirick is to MEASURE, and try to make healthy choices. Eating a lot of carbs late at night causes me problems so I try to stick to protein -- like greek yogurt with some flax seed/walnuts/agave, string cheese (if i'm not over on sodium) or a protein shake.

If yo're not hungry at all and you have no calories to spare -- drinking something hot usually helps me because it feels like food. I drink a lot of decaf coffee at night.

PS the reason you're probably hungry is because you had an extreme amount of carbs -- and very little protein.
Protein is what makes you feel full ---

If you're trying to use the default MFP settings --- they are generally set way too low for protein.
You might consider trying to drop some of those bad carbs (processed, white flour etc) and up your protein.

I am a researcher and research every thing. I really do believe that our processed foods, dairy, fruits and vegetables are loaded with all kinds of hormones, pesticides, etc. A lot of food has natural flavoring in it. Do you know that this makes your appetite soar.?

Also, when they say natural flavoring, they can put anything in it almost, like M.S.G...whateverr. So, I am only eating organic and nothing processed. Also trying to drink a lot of bottled water.

Look at our country and the obesity problem. I really don't think this many people want to look the way they look., and it may not even be their fault. Look at our country 50 years ago. Did people look like this or have this problem?
.

ok, i confess im a psychologist...so here is THAT perspective:

carry a journal--small light ones work best.
when you want to eat: first write the answer to all these questions:

what emotion am I feeling?
is that emotion making me feel hungry?
instead of eating how ELSE could I take care of myself and my emotions?
(think proactive assertive action to address the problem/situation)

of course if you are really hungry then DO blend the above ideas together:

first drink 8 to 16 oz of water before eating any meal or snack (yes thirst is often confused with hunger)

reduce carbs/sweets (they just make your sugar peak and drop and then make you hungry again quickly)
replace those calories with protein and good carbs (veggies and fruit not processed food)

before you eat anything else first consider choosing a very filling salad with protien (think 2 cups of lettuce/baby greens, 1 cup of cucumber, 1 cup of cherry tomato, 1 sliced yellow bell pepper, maybe some carrots, maybe 1/2 c kidney beans or garbanzos,1 serving of your favorite dressing)--all this is very filling and only the dressing and beans have any really significant calories

add broiled chicken breast (make several at once and keep in the frig for easy availablity) or deli meat, or tuna or boiled and 2 sliced eggs....the protien will make you NOT hungry for a long time, especially if it has a little fat

for the sweet tooth try a big bowl of low calorie fruit: strawberries, blueberries, and apple or a baked sweet potato or
(my new favorite treat) 1/2 cup of cottage cheese mixed with splenda, cinnamon and a chopped apple.

REMEMBER--even if you do go over a bit today, it was still probably much better than your usual choices...and as long as you keep working at it you ARE making progress...you ARE getting one step closer to your goal.

hope this helps.

I read this on someone's signature and love it for "imperfect" days: failure is temporary. giving up is permanent.

I'm sure you've heard all the advice you need. For me, and I was addicted, but protein keeps me stable. Drink a protein shake before a small meal and you won't eat as much and won't think of your tummy cause you are satisfied. I lost 185 pounds and have kept it off for 8 years. You can do this!

For me, I satisfy the craving with a zero. Something nutritious but lacking complex fats and or carbs if possible.

1 cup of Quaker rolled oats
1/8 cup sunflower seeds
1/8 cup pumpkin seeds
**optional ** 1/8 cup Crazins ( dried cranberries ) or a couple teaspoons of unpasteurized honey to taste.

I avoid artificial sweeteners. if you're going to make your body trigger an insulin response from something sweet, let it be from real sugars.

Also, the Oats can be substituted with 8oz Greek 0% fat yogurt if in need of protein, it has 18 grams!