Does anyone else eat compulsively?

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Hope it's ok to post this in this section, and I hope it's not too trivial a subject. Just wondered if anyone else feels out of control around food? I eat too much almost every day and find it almost impossible not to.
I'm trying to explore the reasons why but I find it really hard to do this> Have been reading books by Geneen Roth which do help but not much. Is anoyone else in the same situation. I'm really fed up with it now. Have namechanged as I'm ashamed of myself

Hi all. Sorry I've not posted for a bit. I bought the Gillian Riley book on addictive eating and am working my way through it.

It truly is making so much sense to me that I really want to concentrate on it. I have known for some time at some level that my problem is to do with the way I think about food and eating and what I really like about the book is that she (the author) really seems to know what I'm thinking!

What seems to be different about this book is that it is now actually telling me how to change that and I've started doing the exercises (written ones - not those that make me puff!). Early days I know but I do know that no-one can change this for me except me. I have to put in the effort. I particularly like the stuff on self esteem as I do believe that's at the bottom of it.

That and choice.

If you don't mind I'll update every now and again. It's so fascinating reading other people's stories and I know how much courage it takes to tell them.
x

Hi Jay Dubs

I am really interested in your recommendation. The only thing is that I eat very healthily already (huge variation, tonnes of fruit and veg, pulses etc), have no foods I don't allow myself and avoid diets because I don't believe they work unless it is just a sensible gentle reduction in food accompanied by a bit of exercise.

But I still just eat too much generally, struggle to stop (even though it is often healthy food I am overeating on), go on binges when I am emotional. I seem to have this urge to keep stuffing food in my mouth. So it is very psychological.

Do you think this book would be useful in my case?

Thanks.

Hi Venetianred

I know I'm finding it helpful. Everyone is different and everyone will find what works for them.

I personally think that all over eating has got to be psychological otherwise it's really just a bad habit and I know I thought that's what mine was but now I know it's not.

Only you will know if the book is useful if you choose to read it but I know it's making sense to me.

xx

Hi all - nice to see new people joining in and I hope the thread has been helpful to them even if they don't continue posting. Just accepting that this problem applied to me has already made a seismic change in my life even if there is no visible outward sign as yet.

jaydubs - I'm interested to see what you get out of the Gillian Riley book as I have got my copy of the older book I mentioned previously 'Overcoming Overeating'. Like you I will post a few things as I go along - I've got some free time next week so I am going to make sure I devote it to really absorbing what this book has to say. The other thing that I think is crucial to both books is the practical element - as well as highlighting the reasons why people overeat (which can be very complex) they are giving a practical framework for breaking habits and attitudes around food - sort of an anti-diet.

Hi Venetian - I think either of these books would be interesting to you especially as you are already at an important state of mind where you 1)don't want to diet and 2)recognise that you use food to deal with emotional upset. These are two of the key issues in the book so in a way you would be off to a head start.

Hi all

Nice to see the thread still going. Really interesting to read the new posters stories, thanks for sharing.

Had a good holiday.

Tried to eat conscientiously rather than just stuffing large plate fulls down, but did take advantage of the lovely food! And did indulge in post dinner crisps

Something I also thought about whilst away, which 'Beyond chocolate' book talk about, who exactly am I comparing myself against?

Nobody around the pool looked "amazing" (and I am sure they thought they same about me!), they were generally all 25+ mums. In my mind I am looking at the flawless women in the many mags I buy and wishing I could look like them. Comparing myself to shopshopped young lovelies only makes it all seem even more hopeless. So trying to focus on a smaller and more toned me as the holy grail.

Am trying Weightwatchers again from today, plus trying to eat conscientiously and to experience the feeling.

Glad some are finding Gillan R helpful.

Lets hope this week is good for us all.

WS76

Oh dear - not sure what happened to this thread Unfortunatley despite having the free time I mentioned back in June and many other attempts I just haven't had the space to sit and read the book properly. Anyway, for the sake of keeping this thread alive- even if just for myself but hopefully for others - I will just post the little bit I have gleaned so far, some of which might well repeat what's been said earlier in the thread.

Even though I might hate my overeating and my inability to diet it is valuable as a sign of my independence and refusal to conform to other people's expectations

My compulsive eating is my way of dealing with the anger and stress in my life. Other people have other ways and no one is entitled to judge that my way is less valid.

Imagine something happened that meant I would stay the weight I am for the rest of my life. What would I do that I currently put off 'until I lose the weight'?

Sorry that is so sketchy but at least it's a start and shows I'm still here and trying to find a new way. Will try to post more helpful stuff when I get a chance to read it!

There do not seem to be enough of us to keep this going as a regular support group. I wonder if we would attract more people if we were on another thread, although is the 'dieting' thread the right place either, as it might feel a bit like sabotage.

What do you think?

Hi everyone, well I read a book recommended on MN for low self-esteem I think, as I want to work out what the cause of my comfort eating is and solve that problem iyswim (as I think the eating is a symptom and will stop if I do that). It was quite hard-going and a lot of it didn't apply but some rang true. Unfortunately the solution seemed to be to tell myself that I am not a bad person; other people have made me feel bad in the past but that is their problem; I am good, etc. whenever I head for the food and this is supposed to stop me from doing it! So back to square one .

Hi venetian - good to see your still out there! I agree, perhaps a thread in dieting might attract a few more people in fact a few weeks back someone did post such a thing and was directed to this thread which was still healthy at the time. I don't really think it would be sabotage - basically if people don't think it applies to them they'll ignore it but others might find some answers they're not getting from just a straight diet thread.

greatgoogly - I think I am in the same place as you as I've read a lot of my book and find that I am already aware of a lot of the helpful ideas in there and to a certain extent I have accepted myself but I just can't break this habit of comfort eating. I still feel that there is a very clear comparison between a compulsive eater and an alcoholic - they are both surrounded by temptation and the social importance of food and alcohol makes it hard to deal with the problem. There are also many people who drink to excess regularly without being in any way an alcoholic just as there are many people who overeat without the element of compulsion or reliance on food. I think ultimately my problem is the fear of what will happen if I break this reliance on food to deal with my anxiety and then have nothing else to fall back on.

Hello, wondered if any of you guys were still around? I've struggled with overeating for years, been in OA and had lots of therapy, but now it's come back with a vengeance. WOuld be great to hear how you're all doing x

I had to just stop caring about my weight and try to find some balance. I've put on 1/2 stone since and now just trying to decide how to approach it next.

I think I'm going to have to go for lots of exercising and really focus on getting really really fit and no think so much about the food thing, although I tend to find it much easier to control food when I am doing regular exercise.

I really sympathise. I had a really bad patch of overeating. It's how I respond when I'm under extreme stress. Being so close to the fridge just makes it so hard - it was easier when I was single and working.

Hi everyone (-I wonder if anyone's still around),

Well, I finally went to the GP today who is referring me for counselling. She also thinks I am mildly depressed and wants to put me on ADs but is letting me think about it and get back to her. I have to go back in 2-3 weeks to talk again. I don't know what to decide.

gotareason - I too fear the emptiness that would be left if I stopped comfort-eating. Many years ago I went on a diet and joined a gym. I looked great for 6 months but felt empty so started eating and stopped the gym again :(

I am. Good to see your post and to hear that there might be some help out there. Do you have concerns about ADs?

After a summer of reading lots of books (Beyond Chocolate etc), a change in jobs and the stress (and all the food issues) that brings made me decide to try again with therapy.

This time I have gone with a bloke, he is, I thought he might be more "straight talking" than my previous experiences of therapists. And I went to him with the brief - I want some practical steps to limiting this behaviour.

He uses hypnosis. I have been to a hypnotist before, but she was very expensive (£100 an hour!) and was rather fat herself. And I know that is judgemental of me, but she didn't seem comfortable with her size (and I know what uncomfortable with your size looks like!), so I didn't really have much faith in her abilities.

Anyway, 5 sessions in I am feeling a bit better. I would say that the "feeling & compulsion" has reduced a little. He has given me some practical things to do when I get the feeling. He has also tried to put me off cakes ? a big part of my downfall ? by imaging they are just fat ? which they are!

Weight hasn?t actually gone down as yet, but I am feeling more hopeful.

Glad to hear you are taking action that is making you feel positive, WS :).

My reservations about ADs are: 1)side effects, 2)surely my thinking/ behaviour is the problem so drugs aren't the answer? 3)do they really work? and 4)If I take them it must mean I have depression :(.

Why do they call it "depression" anyway - surely it is lack of serotonin, and depression is just one of the symptoms of that? If someone was lacking in other vitamins/ chemicals they wouldn't give it such an emotive name.

Is anyone from this original thread still here? Just wanted to talk anout compulsive over-eating...

I am so sad with my life right now! I shouldn't be as i have wonderful boys that keep me on the go! Before i had my 1st boy i was 9 st since balooned to nearly 16st....this makes me feel VERY unhappy! Have tried numerous diets, even GP but nothing working! Can anyone suggest anything pls??