I can't stop eating - what is wrong with me ?

[Thefroglover]

I'm usually very good at watching what I eat. For the last 8/9 weeks I have been eating anything and everything. I'm not always hungry, I am eating because the food is there. WFH isn't helping. I have zero discipline. I eat crap, I put on weight, I feel crap so I eat and then the cycle repeats. Every day for the last 2 -3 weeks I have woken up saying 'this is it. This is day 1. I will regain control' and I don't. I woke up at 3am this morning and ate a 4 bar kitkat.
What is wrong with me ? on top of the eating issue, I have zero energy, zero get up and go, lost the spring in my step, cannot sleep at night and am just sitting staring my my PC most days when I am supposed to be working.

Depression ? perimenopause (I'm 47) ?

I want to hide away for 6 months to lose the weight, work on myself and regain control of eating/myself.

I'm the same OP. Struggling badly with it.

I've had this during perimenopause. Sheer eating through tiredness in my case, only thing that made me feel better. So difficult to get back into normal habits now!

Get the kitkats (and similar) out of the house. You wouldn't have gone to the 24 hour Tesco at 3am.

What we want to eat changes. You just have to cater for it. See what happens if you drop carbs for a day or two. Not suggesting you do it forever, but finding the right balance is key to managing cravings and energy release.

I’ve been exactly the same recently. Going to try really hard today to not eat anything unnecessarily!

I find making an effort with my appearance makes me watch what I eat. When I lose control of my eating it’s like I hit self destruct and couldn’t care less what I look like.
So I’ve done some grooming, had a good exfoliate, moisturised, done nails, booked hairdressers, pampered feet and I’ll put some tan on later.
Seems to help with the mindset.

I'm exactly the same. Not eating breakfast helps, if I can avoid food all morning then I break the cycle for the day. But then wake up craving sugary cereal and it starts again.

I'm the same too. I've even had hypnotherapy for my binge eating but it didn't help. The first thing I think about when I wake up is food! I'm trying really hard, but I'm finding it much more difficult these days as I've got children now and end up scoffing all their leftovers.

Oh my word, I was just saying this to my husband this morning. I need to get a grip but finding it harder than ever.

Low carb helped this cycle of eating fir me.
Because I "can't" eat all the carby crap I don't get the sane cravings.Its worth a shot.
I eat meat,veg,salad,cheese,fish and nuts.

Get the kitkats (and similar) out of the house. You wouldn't have gone to the 24 hour Tesco at 3am

It's not that simple. Can no-one else in the house have access to snacks then?

It was just a suggestion...

@Darkroot - I haven't washed or brushed my hair in over a week. I need to do more TLC on myself, that may give me a kick start. Washing my hair takes over an hour to dry as I straighten it, I've just not had the energy. I have a once in a lifetime holiday booked for next year. I am determined to lose the extra weight gained, for that.
@MintyGreenDreams yes will def try going low carb.
@CupidStunt22 I do need to have snacks in the house for everyone else. It's not fair if they suffer/go without just because I am a greedy * and cannot control myself. I'm thinking of buying a lockable box for the snacks. I wouldn't have the combination for the lock

Today things HAVE to change or I fear they are going to spiral to a point of no return. I need to lose 2 stone, curb/control the eating and get back to a healthy & fit me.

Get to dr and see if its peri menopause. You could start on supplements now and do research to see if hrt is something you would like to try.

I have this constant battle. Drinking lots of water, dilute juice and coffee made with almond really helps control the pangs.

You definitely sound depressed. How often do you do activities that you enjoy?
Could it be that you are trying to find pleasure in eating because you don’t find pleasure in your day to day life?
Do you have good friends? Hobbies? Small things to look forward to regularly?

Have you read any of the research which is coming out on ultra processed foods? It seems that foods which have many ingredients and processing steps not typically found in a home kitchen are designed to be hyper-paletable and trigger over eating. In one study comparing UPF to non-UPF, even when all the macronutrients matched, people consistently ate more UPF. They ate more UPF, even though they didn’t consider the foods themselves tastier. I listened to A Thorough Examination with Chris and Xand van Tulleken, which was entertaining and quite insightful and might help you explain and understand some of the things you are struggling with.

This is me also. Eating all the wrong kind of stuff (mainly chocolate, biscuits) always hungry and feeling so tired. I’m 49 so could be peri menopausal. Got a lot of stress on as well at moment so I reckon that doesn’t help. I’m not into my fruit much, but do love my veggies. Will have to find some willpower from somewhere!

be kind to yourself op. We’ve all been through stages of eating non stop! You’ve recognised that it’s an issue and clearly affecting your confidence with gaining weight. It’s ok to snack (I’m the bloody worst for snacking at the moment I’m non stop!), maybe start with replacing things like Kit Kats with something a bit healthier. You’ll feel less guilty and less likely to put on weight if it’s a low calorie snack. If it makes you feel any better - I ate a share bag of toffee popcorn and a sandwich at 7am this morning whilst my toddler was still asleep waiting for my bath to run. I really need to chill on the snacking!

Well to be honest nobody needs kitkats irrespective of their weight.
Perhaps other family members could purchase treats to eat outside of the house? Eating healthy doesn’t just apply to overweight people.

I'm thinking of buying a lockable box for the snacks. I wouldn't have the combination for the lock

Good plan, gets round CupidStunt's defeatist post!

Peri-menopause. I had the same, started when I was 46 and went on to 55. The only thing that helped was double strength Evorel Conti HRT plasters . I now take 2 plasters twice a week. My debilitating fatigue stopped!

I don't buy treats.if ds and dh want them then they buy them and usually eat over a couple of days.
I grew up with a sweet stuff cupboard and I have no will power unfortunately

Why not try starting with basic self care first? Take it one day at a time. Brush your hair, have a shower, try to get out for a lunchtime walk if you can.

And try not to pay attention to the absolute nonsense about locking sweets away or just not buying them. If you want to eat a kit Kat, eat a kit Kat. You're not a naughty child, you're an adult and can eat what you want.

But in order to start feeling better and wanting to look after yourself it needs to come from a place of compassion for yourself not hatred. Just take it one day at a time, build up your self care and exercise and making healthier choices food-wise will follow.

Have you considered thyroid testing and maybe HRT OP?

You couldn’t be pregnant could you? I’ve known of a couple of friends’ friends who thought they were peri menopausal but turned out to be pregnant. Both in their mid 40s………..

You're probably not drinking enough water or eating enough protein. Aim for 80-100g a day. Makes you feel more full. I notice a huge difference doing this than when I just eat toast and butter, crisps and cakes.