Advice on how to curb compulsive overeating?

[DudeLooksLikeALady]

I'm going through a bad patch at the moment - I'm probably a bit depressed in any case and I've worked myself up into a state that I need to lose weight (I do - about 2 stone). I've gone into a binge eating episode, which is making me feel terrible.

I keep flitting about between diets and not being able to stick with any because I don't like the food (went to SW yesterday, only to come home and eat a box of cakes, ice cream, a full dinner, then ended up making myself sick -have had periods of bulimia in the past but never for protracted amounts of time).

Incidentally, at SW there were loads of people who were a lot bigger than me who talked about going mad on the biscuits saying "and not just 1 or 2, but 3 or 4 or 5"...but when I go mad I eat the whole packet - I think considering how much a eat I should be massive, and perhaps that is how I will end up.

Have even got to the stage of hiding food and eating it in secret. I wouldn't say I'm being greedy - I don't even really enjoy the food, I just feel compelled to cram it down to try to stop myself feeling bad.

Does anyone recognise this and how can I start to heal a bit?

An entire industry worth billions grows off the myth that if only underlying 'issues' are explored, matters will resolve themselves.

Really, for a second, entertain the idea that doing something is a million times more effective than thinking about it.

Well apologies for sounding flippant. I am coming at it from a behavioural perspective (subject of MSc) to which CBT closely linked.

One of the so called 'third wave' of therapies, Acceptance nad Commitment Therapy (ACT)is proving even more effective than CBT in clinical trils.

Long and short of it is that thoguhts are just that.Thoughts. You are free to let them ppass.

Navel gazing patently doesn't work or else why would women be getting fatter nad fatter? I've just been at a kid's party.Most of the women were overweight and were hoovering up leftovers.

Just Say No

I have been a compulsive over eater for years.

I have just managed to stop by doing a low carb diet. It has really decreased my appetite and eating good fats keep you full up and is really tasty !

It's not real hunger thoguh Burns.
Real hunger is what I see in Bangladesh where my dh works and children clutching babies with severe malnutrition swarm around the car when it stops.

We buy too much crap
We eat too much crap
We move too little

I think that's a good rational start

Why keep Paul bleeding MacKenna in fancy cars to state the staggeringly obvious? I just don't get it.

That's a very noble and novel approach MDS.

I found the best way to curb my over eating was to go to weight watchers.

The reason being, if you choose the points plan, you can only eat a MEASURED portion - be it baked beans or Nutella - and all calories are equal. YOu have no guilt for living on crisps and white bread - you'll be hungry, but if you don't go over your points allowance, you have stuck to your diet and that is that. And tomorrow is a new day.

The upshot of eating measured portions for 8 months is that I have stopped eating so much even when I'm not measuring, because my stomach won't hold it.

I too used to crave (and in all honesty still do sometimes) that uncomfortable bloated feeling after a meal, but you do learn that you do not need these feelings to msk misery, and you can teach yourself to let a craving pass by having a cup of tea and re-evaluating your hunger 10 minutes later.

But moondog, the point is that very often overeating is an addictive thing... and while you may say to a smoker "just stop smoking" or to a drug addict "just stop using", the point is one simply can't stop eating altogether or one will die. Several times a day the person has to face up to food.

Sure, you can go cold turkey and resolve to eat only breakfast lunch and dinner and plan healthy meals but you're still going to feel the cravings or compulsions, and you're still going to have to feel the negative emotions you're trying to not feel. It really doesn't matter if you just stop the behaviour.

Thoughts are just thoughts, you are free to let them pass. Well, quite. Exactly what is taught in the better books I've read about overeating, as part of a range of tools to help people overcome their destructive behaviour.

Your use of phrases like "navel gazing" are insensitive but also inaccurate in this context. I started the thread, I pretty much know my recent food issues ultimately stem from being sexually abused as a young teen - but according to you , I'm a naval gazer? Because I want to address the cause of my problems?

Since I posted in some despair yesterday I've not overeaten and I was helped by the action of talking about it on this thread. Admittedly you made me feel a bit shit with your comments but it's an internet forum innit.

d'oh! navel obviously

Unless you address the cause of a problem it will just keep coming back and biting you on the bum. If you're an expert on counselling you should know that often CBT and 'mind over magtter' isn't the best way forward, and that psycho dynamic counselling, psychotherapy or some other sort of therapy that addresses the root cause of the problem is far more appropriate for lots of people.

I don't buy into the whole diet industry. I won't join SW or WW, I've never bought a diet product or even gone on a 'diet' in my life. However, I do struggle with my eating and I need to 'navel gaze' a bit on order to work out why I use food as a reward, a comfort and a consolation.

When I stopped smoking, I replaced cigarettes with food, and so far the only way forward I have found is to replace food with exercise. I'm still not breaking the cycle of addictive behaviour, which does worry me, but at least i am getting fit and curbing my appetite a bit in the short term

This is a real problem for lots of people and it is unhelpful and insensitive to belittle it.
So far the only way I have found

Excuse typos and waffle

DLLAL, no waffle there, very well put!

It would be nice if this could be a support thread, I bet we're all hard enough to cope with moondog.

'If you're an expert on counselling you should know that often CBT and 'mind over magtter' isn't the best way forward, and that psycho dynamic counselling, psychotherapy or some other sort of therapy that addresses the root cause of the problem is far more appropriate for lots of people'.

I'm not an expert in counselling nor did I claim to be.I'm doing an MSc in ABA and looking at evidence base for ACT is a big part of that. It is clinically speaking a far more effective therapy than psychdynamic stuff but obviously people have differnet needs and wants.

I wish you all well in your quest. If this thread helps then that's great.At least Paul McKenna isn't filling his coffers.

Moondog, your blunt and to the point we get it! Alot of people get a big kick out of it, but seriously if your not going to be supportive why can't you just not post on this thread?

Some women actually have a problem and don't want to be the way they are, its not simply a case of 'just don't eat as much' and 'excersise more', some people actually need the support to continue doing it.

Slimming World and WW may get loads of money off people but they do work, mainly beause of the support.

For those looking for support - I just found this site - link