I can't stop eating...

[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.

[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..

[JennyJ]

Hey

I used to feel and act this way aswell until I read and tried Brad Pilon's 'Eat Stop Eat'.

Have you heard of it?

It changed the way I think about food and most importantly Brad gets to the heart of why you eat and how to deal with it.

He is a nutrition professional with an honors degree in nutrition and a down to earth nice guy. Aswell as teaching you why you eat and how to think about eating differently...he also talks about taking breaks from eating to help cleanse your body and stop thinking about food as a means for escape.

You can read more here if you are interested *removed outbound link*

[eleni]

compulsive overreating can often follow other eating disorders.
you said you were bulimic
did you ever get any specific help with that? or did you stop by yourself?

trying to eat healthily instead is a good plan
but be aware that often people with eating problems flip between a mixture of behaviours and its often used to control stress or upset.

brushing your teeth is a good idea but i think it would be more beneficial to get to the root of the disordered eating.

sorry, this is something i know quite a bit about so i tend to go on.

take care x

[sperosi]

yes, i do. its part of why my weight swings so up and down. i start feeling good, paying attention to how i eat, and lose some weight.

and them BAM!

i get upset about something and start eating my feelings again.

[caterpillar79]

I am at both end of the spectrum. If I am just upset I somehow cave-in and turn to food, and if I am very upset (which means, as if part of me died becuse of a life-changing even, i.e. break-up, death, etc...), I can hardly swallow anything.

As of now, I stress-eat and it makes me feel better. I noticed I have practiced and am getting good at keeping my portions under control, so no matter what I eat, I can stay within my required calorie for the day, and then I work out at least 2-3 times a week. I also try my best to eat organic food whenever I feel like stress-eating, then drink a lot of water. Hope you feel better, Pix. I haven't heard from you lately.