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why do YOU over eat/binge?

cdalt24
cdalt24 Posts: 55
edited October 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
hi guys. I was just wondering what it is that drives you to over eat. tonight I had about 500 calories more than my maintenance level (oops!) I'm a big runner and in the past week I've been doing very long runs and I don't think I was fueling my body enough, so tonight I went a little crazy. but, most of the times I over eat when I'm stressed or upset. it's a tough cycle to break, but I really want to stop getting in these messes! does anyone relate? what makes you overeat and if you feel like you want to, how do you control yourself?
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Replies

  • mtbke5
    mtbke5 Posts: 96 Member
    I overeat when I'm home alone or feeling sorry for myself. I usually do it right after work when no one else is around to watch, otherwise I'm pretty good.
  • foodeeee
    foodeeee Posts: 50 Member
    I do it as an avoidance behavior. I just started Prozac and it's been helping soooo much with compulsive eating.
  • claudia778
    claudia778 Posts: 12
    I overeat with my kids, when I'm sad and bored.. Being home with kids all day/all night especially when your husband leaves the house at 9 am and doesn't come home until 12:30 a.m. what else is there to do?
  • sc1572
    sc1572 Posts: 2,309 Member
    Emotions and stress! :(
  • RollinDawg
    RollinDawg Posts: 235 Member
    Pizza and BBQ taste really good.
  • rochey1098
    rochey1098 Posts: 285
    When I'm drunk or hungover. I've realized I need to control myself around alcohol more lol
  • jan115
    jan115 Posts: 21 Member
    Mindless eating in front of the TV at night.
  • Yakisoba
    Yakisoba Posts: 719 Member
    People actually know why they binge?

    original.jpg
  • shovav91
    shovav91 Posts: 2,335 Member
    Sometimes I just can't stop... once I start eating I just cram as much in my mouth as possible. I don't know why, really. Maybe anxiety?
  • stef_e_b
    stef_e_b Posts: 593
    For some reason its whenever I see the scale move down. I'm not sure why but it sends me on a binge. I also find counting calories makes me really hungry, so i make sure i log before I eat.
  • stef_e_b
    stef_e_b Posts: 593
    For some reason its whenever I see the scale move down. I'm not sure why but it sends me on a binge. I also find counting calories makes me really hungry, so i make sure i log before I eat.
  • lil_pulp
    lil_pulp Posts: 701 Member
    I've been working with a therapist and have recently learned that my overeating wasn't just out of habit/self-comfort, but I have actually been using food to distract myself from painful stuff from my past.

    The actual act of eating distracts me from the unpleasant thoughts/memories and then the feeling bad about myself for eating so much distracts me from them again.

    Since we have started addressing the actual issues behind why I binge/overeat, I am more able to stop myself from those behaviors and am starting to deal with the underlying causes in healthier (but still difficult!) ways.

    -LP
  • Amber82479
    Amber82479 Posts: 629 Member
    Hmm... I would say whenever I'm feeling bad about myself, or I'm really worried or scared... And sometimes, I'm just obsessed with something until I get it. And then after that first bite I can't stop until it's gone or in the trash. Very frustrating and makes me feel like such a failure afterward. And even though I know that in the end it will only make me feel worse, i still dive right in... Sigh.
  • flamegirl72
    flamegirl72 Posts: 143 Member
    People actually know why they binge?

    original.jpg

    I'm with you...If I knew why I did it I would be in a better position to stop it.....
  • sunnyskyjb
    sunnyskyjb Posts: 258 Member
    My grandmother died last night. I am ready to binge.
  • mmmckenna1
    mmmckenna1 Posts: 6
    My biggest problem is I get a thought in my head of what I want to eat and it is usually something from a restaurant. You know how that goes, once out and I have ordered food I end up eating the entire portion. I just can't keep away from eating out. I have a husband and two teenagers who enjoy eating out just as much as I do..... hence, they are no help. We eat out 2-3 times a week. Sometimes that will include a glass of wine or a beer. If they closed restaurants around 5 PM I would weight 20 lbs less.
  • UhTania
    UhTania Posts: 17
    When I feel I have too much to do or feel overwhelmed, I feel like I "deserve" to eat then binge. I rarely can think of a time when it's worth it or I feel better, but it still happens occasionally.
  • julslea
    julslea Posts: 436 Member
    I overeat with my kids, when I'm sad and bored.. Being home with kids all day/all night especially when your husband leaves the house at 9 am and doesn't come home until 12:30 a.m. what else is there to do?


    I'm right there with you on this. My husband works 2nd shift and so I tend to overeat at night while he's at work.
  • mmmckenna1
    mmmckenna1 Posts: 6
    That is a great idea--- log food before I eat---then I will only eat what I log.....thanks
  • Yakisoba
    Yakisoba Posts: 719 Member
    My grandmother died last night. I am ready to binge.

    I'm so sorry.. ;-; Please, don't binge. I know this doesn't mean anything at the moment.

    I suck at things like this. -leaves before I do something wrong-
  • cdalt24
    cdalt24 Posts: 55
    Sometimes I just can't stop... once I start eating I just cram as much in my mouth as possible. I don't know why, really. Maybe anxiety?

    I totally agree with you! a lot of people have cheat meals, but I feel like once I indulge in something I don't have the strength to stop until I'm completely disgusted with myself :( I feel like I'm sabotaging myself!
  • Crystal_R84
    Crystal_R84 Posts: 88 Member
    i binge when i have been so strict and overworked that i feel like my body needs it, and then afterwards i am over stuffed because i don't normally over eat and try not to feel guilty.
  • bromwin
    bromwin Posts: 14
    When I'm drunk or hungover. I've realized I need to control myself around alcohol more lol

    This is the crux of many of my issues! I would be so skinny if I gave up drinking! :smile:

    When i am hungover especially I just crave comfort, and food gives me that. My most serious of binges though are always when I am unhappy. Alcohol just makes me more susceptible to giving in to those feelings.......
  • donnam40
    donnam40 Posts: 246 Member
    I wish I knew why - boredom, distraction, anxiety, stress, feeling down - there is a whole list of things I can point to that I am feeling when I binge, but at the end of the day I wish I knew why I think food is going to make it better. If I could change that thinking my weight would be steady and I would definitely feel better.

    Donna
  • cdalt24
    cdalt24 Posts: 55
    My grandmother died last night. I am ready to binge.

    I'm so sorry! I'm not going to lie, I would probably binge if I was in your position. but, like someone else posted on here, I can't remember a time where I've felt BETTER after a binge. so maybe go on a walk, take a bath, talk to friends. I wish I could follow my own advice. you're in my thoughts, stay strong :)
  • bromwin
    bromwin Posts: 14
    Sometimes I just can't stop... once I start eating I just cram as much in my mouth as possible. I don't know why, really. Maybe anxiety?

    I totally agree with you! a lot of people have cheat meals, but I feel like once I indulge in something I don't have the strength to stop until I'm completely disgusted with myself :( I feel like I'm sabotaging myself!

    I agree with both of these! Once I feel like I have 'ruined' a day, I sort of think 'why not get my money's worth and have EVERYTHING i have denied myself over the last month'..... and then I continue on the vein until I feel sick, and then I will wait a little bit, and go again.

    half the time I am not even enjoying the consumption of the foods.... I am just enjoying the idea that I get to eat them!

    Stupid when you look at it really. Really need to stop 'denying' myself things. New mantra: I am allowed to eat anything I want, as long as I budget for it in my calories.......
  • HMonsterX
    HMonsterX Posts: 3,000 Member
    I simply can't binge now. My mind just wont let me!

    But before i started this, it was purely boredom. Something to do with my hands while i watched tv/computer, etc.
  • healthy_KT
    healthy_KT Posts: 57 Member
    I guess out of boredom. I really don't know. I just get some sort of craving and I used to succumb to it. I tried to go to therapy but it wasn't really helping. I'm getting better at it though. I know I can control the craving. Right now I really want reeses but I know I don't need it. When I wake up tomorrow I will feel much better about myself if I don't have it.
  • lolollama
    lolollama Posts: 58
    When I've had a really bad day I tend to go for bad food and lots of it!

    Also I blame TV! Every time I am watching TV I end up snacking on things I shouldn't! Pizza ads drive me crazy! I guess it is just bored eating.

    I have found that when I am on the computer I don't snack or even get hungry.. sometimes I forget to eat if I'm playing a game!
  • fiberartist219
    fiberartist219 Posts: 1,865 Member
    I over eat when I'm hungry. Seriously. It turns out some of my medications were had a side effect of increased appetite.

    I don't face much stress these days. My job is incredibly boring.
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