Has anyone succesfully overcome compulsive eating? Could you tell me how you did it please?

[CravingExcitement]

Hello I have been eating emotionally for as long as I can remember, on and off. Am now the biggest I've been for a long time. I've been reading "Overcoming Overeating" and "When women stop hating their bodies" and I'm trying to follow the advice in the books, which I know will work, if only I can be consistent. I have been this big before, but somehow decided that I'd rather be fat and happy than fat and unhappy, and ironically the weight just dropped off me!
I have got myself referred to the community mental health team twice, but have chickened out of the initial assessment appointments.
I have been a member of MN before, and have rejoined to ask this, so would really appreciate any replies

Bump?

Thanks for replying, I'll try not to be so impatient, it's another one of my failings

craving I can't really help because I haven't overcome it. I'm an emotional eater too..........doing really badly with it at the moment at the moment. I lost a bit of weight recently but then (as always!) the motivation deserted me and I've got stuck again!

I hope someone who can be of some help comes along.

Hi controlpants, I would recommend the books in my op (although I am still having the problem) Don't like doing links to amazon in case I leave it logged in and out myself. Thanks for replying. We can't be the only ones can we? I think a lot of people don't realise what the problem is, it took me a long time to realise that I don't use food in a normal way. I am optimistic about getting over the problem, but it seems to be taking a long time.

Hello

There was a thread on here a while back.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/feeling_depressed/964753-Does-anyone-else-eat-compulsively Sadly it all went a bit quiet.

I have no answers either - sorry. I have tried lots of things but the compulsion is still there. Food/weight/dieting/not dieting rules my life...:(

I find writing things down helpful - examine why on that day I "have the feeling". I write notes on my blackberry, as not keen on book with my inner thoughts knocking about the house.

I sometimes think about seeking help through the NHS, but 3 private counsellors later and a recent dabble with a hypo person I am still not "cured". Not sure there will be a "cure", but I want to loose the weight and feel more in control etc.

Keep trying and take a day at a time and be kind to yourselves.

WS76

Hi Watersign, I started that thread
As you can see, I can laugh about it now and I am feeling a lot more comfortable with myself, which had helped, and I am not hating myself any more, which obviously can only be good. But I still eat compulsively every day.
When you say be kind to ourselves, I think you are right and that is really important. In "Overcoming overeating" it says that when you say something horrible to yourself about your body, eg. "oh my stomach is fat and disgusting" that you should apologise to yourself, challenge the statement eg " who says that a flat stomach is better than a round one?" , put the statement aside, and learn from it.
Often when I trace my thoughts back, I will find that before I had the "Bad body thought" I was thinking about some other aspect of my life which makes me uncomfortable, or was having an angry though about someone else, but I somehow transformed it in my mind, and turned it round into a thought about how my body is "wrong" , and of course thinking bad thoughts about my body makes me want to eat too much.
I did get referred to community mental health team, but did not go to the initial appointments, my gp seemed confident that it would help, and that the counsellors of whatever are experienced in this area, but I can't speak from experience unfortunately.
As you say I will take it one day at a time. Thanks for replying.

Sorry you are struggling with this. I do too, though am much better than I used to be. If you have never read Fat is a Feminist Issue, this is well worth a go. I find if I am stressed/anxious/trying to avoid a stressful phone call etc I am more likely to overeat. Also, being round the house much of the day doesn't help. Excercise helps me, also trying to have a good diet with enough fruit and veg etc. Have got a book called Psycho-Nutrition, and I eat a lot of stuff recommended for depression: salmon, brazil nuts, eggs, pineapple; this also helps.

Hi sloggies, I've got FIFI already, think I've read most of the major ones, so I know the theory behind it really well, just can't seem to get the hang of stopping myself before I start for some reason.
I do need to do more exercise, I used to run a lot but I've not been for a while, partly because I feel too fat!
I'll have a look for the nutrition book, that sounds like a good idea.
Thanks

Tbh, I'm sick to fucking death of it now, it just goes on and on and it's stopping me moving on with my life. Just wish I could stop

hi i have this problem too but am also bulimic. i got refered to mental health team and went. they decided cbt would help. the first couple of sessions were ok. the person i saw was really nice. the problem for me was that they weigh you every session and you have to stay the same weight fo 6 months. this really put me off cause i wanted to loose weight not keep it on so after about 3 or 4 sessions i stopped going. in some ways i regret stopping as 3 months later i have actualy put on more weight not lost it so the problem is as bad as ever.
i am on my own alot at home so i am trying to go out. i am trying to walk to places instead of getting the bus as it takes longer. no one knows about my eating so it doesnt happen when others are at home so at the weekends it is somewhat more controlled.
sorry i have no real advice but thought i would share my experience with you.
please keep in touch if you want too talk.

Craving, author is William Vayda. ISBN no 1 84205 351 5. Other thing is try to avoid buying biscuits etc that are Trigger stuff (dd likes bourbons, but I don't, so that's ok). Still have some treats, but more on the low-calorie side. I also get more satisfaction from very chewy stuff, so a Curly Wurly at 115 calories is quite satisfying!