Can't stop eating - What on earth is wrong with me

DoucheCanoe · 14/12/2021 18:01

I could have written every word of your post!

Have you read anything about Binge Eating Disorder? Slimming World absolutely wrecked me, I lost 7st but gained an eating disorder as it was drummed into us never to go hungry and to eat as much "free" food as you want.

I don't know what the answer is but just wanted to let you know there's absolutely nothing "wrong" with you. It is an emotional response and possibly an addiction that you need to overcome.

Original poster

penguinparty00 · 14/12/2021 18:16

@DoucheCanoe

I could have written every word of your post!

Have you read anything about Binge Eating Disorder? Slimming World absolutely wrecked me, I lost 7st but gained an eating disorder as it was drummed into us never to go hungry and to eat as much "free" food as you want.

I don't know what the answer is but just wanted to let you know there's absolutely nothing "wrong" with you. It is an emotional response and possibly an addiction that you need to overcome.

So sorry to hear that, I'll have a look at binge eating! I just wonder how the hell I stop, clearly I need will power but where has it disappeared too I just can't wrap my head around it all and I just keep eating m, kidding myself it will be ok! When my clothes aren't fitting any more and I'm bloody miserable it's clearly not ok! Have you any ways of dealing with it?

OP posts:

FedupAnon2 · 14/12/2021 18:18

Just want to say you are not alone too. I am the same. My kids stress me out and I be ear loads! Work stresses me and also I eat endlessly.

User2638483 · 14/12/2021 18:23

Ah I feel your pain
I also feel out of control sometimes

What sometimes works for me is going back to basics and doing ‘structured’ eating,
3 meals and 2-3 snacks through the day.
Don’t worry about ‘dieting’ the aim first is to stop binging/compulsive eating,

Plan what your meals and snacks are going to be, write them down and try to have plenty of protein.

Original poster

penguinparty00 · 14/12/2021 18:33

Thanks for the support :) nice to know I'm not alone in whatever is going on, I'll try that i will plan tomorrow and try my hardest to stick to it!

OP posts:

Scarby9 · 14/12/2021 18:36

Might another option be to set yourself an eating 'window' similar to intermittent fasting, eg. 12-7 or something?
Cups of tea only outside that time?

FedupAnon2 · 14/12/2021 19:27

@penguinparty00 if you want to shall we do this together and set a target e.g. eat healthy and cut down for like say 5 days and see how it goes? We can support each other. Over Xmas gonna be hard not to indulge but we can give our bodies bit of a reset !

Newrunner29 · 14/12/2021 19:32

@penguinparty00

Really need to know what the hell is going on I've always struggled with weight went from size 20 to a 12 and then have creeped back up to 16-18 following having a baby did really well on slimming world but I've just piled it all back on now I weigh 14 stone and I cannot stop eating I have a lot going on with work, me and partner aren't in a good place but honestly I'm just eating absolutely awfully and I don't understand where my will power has gone today alone I've eaten 2 almond croissants, a yoghurt with granola, endless biscuits, chocolates, sweets, sausage roll, pasta pot, full size chocolate bars and just anything I can get my hands on and I still don't feel full not even close, I don't usually feel full but I sometimes have better control, this last few weeks I have just lost control completely and can't stop the eating most days are like today food wise if not much worse with take aways. Looking for any advice really what the hell am I doing and why can't I stop ??

I was going to say this me too u r not alone ive looked at binge eating disorder and intuitive eating made by 2 dietitians , feeling full and eating when hungry, its a way to help stop binge eating , i follow a few Instagram accounts the binge eating therapist is very good one.

Oblomov21 · 15/12/2021 06:09

I will read links suggested. I'm sure I do this quite a bit aswell. Never realised or thought about it till now.

blessedbethechocolate · 15/12/2021 06:52

I could have written this too. I've only been a healthy weight once in my life which was a few years ago but up until now I never snacked or ate more than three meals a day. Now I've started eating everything in sight and I just feel so stressed all the time and seem to have turned to food. I think the whole world seems to have become a very strange place since Covid and everyone seems to be managing it in their own way and mine is through eating. My dd on the other hand became anorexic during the first lockdown so I have to be so careful about food around her it's so difficult.

schmalex · 15/12/2021 07:05

Listen to the Stop Binge Eating podcast - it's excellent.

SmallGreenStripes · 15/12/2021 07:36

Rebelfit

ByeByeMissAmericanPie · 15/12/2021 07:50

I’ve had days…weeks like this. I’m out the other side, thankfully, and have my eating under better control, but whilst I was in the zone…all I did was eat. I’m still no skinny Minnie though!

For me, it was entirely emotional stuff that drove me to eat. Normally, now I can treat food as most people do, but when I’m coming out of a counselling session after addressing the emotional shit - I head to Sainsbury’s.

I still can’t stop myself doing it, but a part of my brain is saying ‘OK, you’re doing this for emotional comfort. Have your kitkat and crisps and then go home’

Counselling, the Calm app or the Headspace one could help you.

autumn1638 · 15/12/2021 12:19

There's a good book in the overcoming series called overcoming binge eating. It is CBT based. There is also a workbook on the clinical interventions website:

www.cci.health.wa.gov.au/Resources/For-Clinicians/Eating-Disorders

The way to prevent bingeing is to stop dieting and to use a meal plan. 3 meals and 2-3 snacks every day. Everyone binges if they have been dieting.

Hth.

Sunflowers765 · 18/12/2021 23:44

F

ScrollingLeaves · 18/12/2021 23:59

First, don’t feel guilty or bad.

Next go shopping and get lots of vegetables ( spinach, broccoli, cabbage, peppers, avocados , etc)
Fish, chicken, or tofu/quorn, cottage cheese, feta, nuts, apples, frozen berries, full fat yogurt, some olive oil, lentils, beans (tinned is easiest.

Eat three meals with high protein such as two eggs for breakfast. Some chicken and spinach for lunch etc. Have some snacks of about eight nuts with some fruit in between. Do not miss a meal or snack even if you have a croissant or something unintended like that.

It will be difficult at first, but you will stop getting so hungry.

If you are unhappy or troubled you may be anaesthetising yourself with so many carbohydrates, but the blood sugar lows they cause can lead to feeling worse.

Could you find some counselling to help you deal with the unhappiness?

ScrollingLeaves · 19/12/2021 11:19

Also it could be worth looking into ‘Emotional
Freedom Technique’ there is a good book about it called ‘Emotional Healing in Minutes’ by Valerie and Paul Lynch. It sounds like madness when you read it, but can help a lot. I think it might be through as it were breaking a circuit of thought to interrupt it and get to what’s behind it.

Mindfulness might help too.

DropYourSword · 19/12/2021 11:22

You’re not eating because you’re hungry, you’re eating for another reason (bored, tired etc). So it’s really difficult to stop eating because you don’t feel “full” because it’s something other than food you need to fill you up.