yellowpiXi3

I was wondering if anyone else out there felt that they need to eat whenever they feel upset or anything that makes you feel down. I used to be bulemic and to be honest; it satisfied me. Now I just eat...and eat. I feel like I can't stop. I am eating more and more. I don't know if I should try to stop myself or should I just eat healthy stuff like veggie snacks or fruit snacks when I get upset.

heyhey

I do the same thing, and I don't really know how to fix it. For about a year I completely cut sweets out of my diet, simply because I found it easier to steer clear of them completely than to eat them in moderation. So, if there are certain foods you tend to turn to when you're upset, I would suggest just going cold turkey on them, even for just a little while.

One thing that really does help is, if you feel the need to eat something, but you're not really hungry, clean your mouth really thoroughly. Brush your teeth, floss, use mouthwash, everything. Then you won't want to destroy that clean feeling. I've found that works for me.

If you tend to like crunchy things or salty things, try to find a healthy alternative that offers the same thing.

There is an overeaters anonymous group, and I'm sure you could find a website with some resources.

Good luck!

Hopeless Dork

Emotional eating is common, as is emotional non-eating. For me I use to turn to food out of boredom. When I am feeling upset or sad I have to force food down my throat for nutrition sake, to keep from feeling light-headed, etc.

Everytime you go to reach for food when you are not physically hungry - stop. Take a deep breath and listen to your body, ask yourself if you are hungry. Think about when the last time you ate was and see if it makes any sense for you to want food or not. If you ate a meal an hour ago , you know you are probably not physically hungry... etc.

Walk away from the fridge or cubbord, grab your cell and call a friend, or log on to the computer and type right here. Talk about what you are thinking about besides food, whats in your head, what are your thoughts, fears, concerns etc... vent, if you need to or listen to someone elses day , anything to put your thoughts on something besides food.

Grab your keys and your dog (if you have one) and go for a walk, step outside and breathe the fresh air and clear your mind..

Run some hot water and take a bubble bath...

Brush your teeth or chew some minty gum (nothing tastes good after you do that and I find it cuts cravings down a bunch).

If you know you are an emotional eater, and you find yourself reaching for food... stop. Deal with your emotions, because you know they will still be there when that bowl of icecream is empty. And the next one, and that bag of chips and so on.

Food can be a numbing mechanism like drugs and alcohol for some people, and equally as toxic when eaten to excess.

__________________
-------------
Defintion of Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." - Albert Einstein

Isabellacat

When I get really depressed I don't like to eat....I go through alot of emotional non-eating. When I do find myself eating alot it's either because I have'nt ate in awhile or I just give into my sadness,not care and just pig out. I always feel so bad after.I understand food binging tho. Food IS like a drug....and for some reason it's always junk food. I like the advice about trying to get away from the fridge. Excersise is always good when you're feeling down....A good long walk is better for the emotions than over eating.I guess it's good to be aware that over eating is'nt going to solve the immediate problem either.

Lately for me I've been non-eating which I guess is just as bad. I wish you much love and luck in overcoming that.

Kakie

when i want to eat i go out and do something, like a walk, bike ride, just something that distracts me. i often find i'm not actually hungry, just bored/down.. either that or drink lots and lots of water, if fills me up and stops me being hungry, atleast temporarily..