Can't stop eating

[Pinklady1982]

Hi all, I've always struggled with my weight and gone through phases of binge eating, however it is getting more and more frequent that i think about and go out of my way to get food. I will buy lots of crap and sneak it into my bag and hide it in my drawers to munch when I can get away with it and nothing seems to satisfy me. I'm thinking about the next thing to eat before I'm even half way through what I'm currently munchin. Doesn't matter what time of day it is, I will eat whatever I can get my hands on. For example, today so far I've a whole pack of Jaffa cakes, a whole pack of wafer biscuits, 4 slices of toast, lasagne with bread and butter. It's 11:30 am. I've bought 2 twin boxes of Jaffa cakes in the last 2 days and been through them all, sometimes I will have a whole pack on my way to work in the morning. I will buy my stuff for lunch in the morning but it's gone by lunch so I go and get more stuff to keep me going, plus stuff out of the vending machine. Not only is this all ridiculously bad for me, but also for my bank balance. I just don't know what to do. I'm really unhappy with myself and my body and want to stop, I just can't help giving in. Anyone else been in or know anyone who has had similar who could offer some advice?

Yep. Check out Dr. berg on YouTube.

I’m sorry Op - sounds awful

Do you work? Have a family? It sounds like you have far too much time on your hands if you have the opportunity to constantly eat throughout the day

Are you very overweight? Any health issues?

It sounds like you are experiencing an eating disorder - speak to your GP, ask for referral for treatment
Best wishes

Watching as I have this problem too.

I am a "compulsive overeater" and have gone to a few Overeaters Anonymous meetings - I'm in AA, so the whole Steps stuff isn't new to me. I understand that food is my other addiction. It's a compulsion that I struggle with every day.

A really interesting read is The Obesity Code by Dr Jason Fung. He has done really interesting insights into how our patterns of eating mess up our insulin response. He is a proponent of intermittent fasting.

I'm the heaviest I've ever been & have been out of control, so I'm doing a meal replacement diet - it works for me as I totally exclude "food" for now. It sounds counterintuitive, but I am feeling a relief not constantly thinking about food.

Thanks for the replies, will check out the few suggestions. I work full time but work from home 3 days a week, office for 2 days. Doesn't seem to matter where I am though or what I'm doing. Sitting at my desk at work I will constantly stock things in my handbag and eat on way to and from work. Not bored at all, lots of work to do, but nothing takes my mind off of food. I have a little girl, so always snacks around too!! I am definitely overweight, but not dangerously I don't believe. I have been tested and cleared for diabetes which is surprising but a relief and I will try to get better for my little girl so I am healthier, I just can't get in the right frame of mind.

Queen, what do you mean you totally exclude food? Or do you mean exactly that? What do you do/have instead?

I used to binge eat. After I had my DS I ate my way up to 18 1/2 stone. I would eat constantly throughout the day when it was just me and DC at home, then when DH came home I would sit and eat a salad and look confused as to why I wasn’t losing weight.
I found WW helped for me. Tracking my points and knowing I was only ‘allowed’ a certain amount. I also found drinking lots and lots of water helped fill me up. Going for a walk when I felt like binging or cleaning the bathroom/calling a mate/having a shower. Anything really that took my mind off food for long enough for my brain to register that I wasn’t hungry/didn’t need to eat.
I lost 7 1/2 stone and have kept it off for nearly 11 years now.
Good luck OP!

So on the diet I'm on, it's shakes & bars, so I don't have to think of what to eat, work out calories. Or carbs. It's just easier for me to focus.

So, went to docs this afternoon to try to take the first step towards getting some help, but he said they don't refer people or help with weight issues any more!! "Just try counting your calories" is all he could advise. Great, so I finally pluck up the courage to ask and meet a dead end. Story of my life! !

Hey @Pinklady1982 that’s an awful response from your doctor - not impressed

See another doctor, tell them you have problems with binge eating, actually losing control with your eating,
It’s an eating disorder that there is help for !
Get overcoming binge eating book by Fairburn
It’s a good self help guide

You have weight issues but that is the product of an eating disorder, which most certainly can be referred.

The Paul McKenna stuff like "I can make you thin" etc might be helpful.

Trying to change your habits can work too - e.g. have a rule like "if I'm still hungry after eating x I can have y" and making x something like eating an apple, banana or tangerine - something you like, but don't currently binge on. Or make x something like decluttering an area, emptying the dishwasher... Basically anything to create a distraction for a few minutes.

Hi I thought I would add to this.
OK, so i have been suffering with extreme binge eating & bulimia and read the above mentioned book Overcoming Binge Eating by Dr Fairburn. I read the entire book, made loads of sense and then started the self help programme at the back of the book.
When I was downloading some of the resources I had a nose around the website and discovered that there is a current trial of digital CBT for binge eating. I am now enrolled on this trial - I'm not going to lie, you really do have to give it your all and it's not a magic wand. More details of it can be found here - they are still looking for volunteers.
www.cbte.co/self-help-programmes/digital-cbte/

If you're not accepted, definitely read the book and follow the programme. The digital version is pretty much the same as the version in the book. Providing you put the work in and understand there is not an overnight fix there is a good chance of success. Good luck.