Anyone Else A Compulsive Overeater?

[momof1princess]

looking for others like myself for camaraderie (hoping i spelled that right!) and support. my resolution is to STOP eating when i'm stressed, which is my biggest trigger, and i read that support can help. no one IRL can relate, but surely, i'm not the only one out there who eats when their anxiety level goes up, then feels horribly guilty about it. anyone?

i lost over half my body weight (pre-op weight was 374.5 pounds) 7 years ago via gastric bypass surgery, but, in the past 2 years, i've gained back about 25-30 pounds, due to my mom's mental health issues. it has but an unbearable amount of stress on my entire family, and we're all at the breaking point. thankfully, she seems to be doing a tiny bit better right now, but i NEED to get my emotions under control! i feel SO incredibly guilty when i feel my anxiety level rise, and i eat a handful of chips or a cookie...or 3...or 6. i used to have incredible willpower, now i have NONE. IT'S GOT TO STOP. who's with me?

 

[lisajl]

I know what you mean. I stress eat too.
But, I have found a way recently is to redirect myself. I start to feel a bit stressed out and I run for the chips. Within the last two weeks I have started cleaning instead of eating.
I am also planning two trips this year, so, I get on the computer and start
researching my info.
It is not perfect, but I am trying. I am down 12 lbs.

BTW-Congrats on your weight loss! That is amazing!

 

[momof1princess]

I know what you mean. I stress eat too.
But, I have found a way recently is to redirect myself. I start to feel a bit stressed out and I run for the chips. Within the last two weeks I have started cleaning instead of eating.
I am also planning two trips this year, so, I get on the computer and start
researching my info.
It is not perfect, but I am trying. I am down 12 lbs.

BTW-Congrats on your weight loss! That is amazing!

those are BOTH great ideas! thank you! my house could use a good, deep cleaning! i'd love to be able to walk at work during my lunch break, but it's just not a good neighborhood to walk outside alone, and i'm a staff of one...lol. thank you weight loss surgery definitely isn't easy, but it was worth it. keeping it off is even harder. unfortunately, surgery doesn't rewire your brain.

 

[belledreamer]

I used to eat because I was stressed in my teens, especially during my 2 years of depression. Nothing made me feel better...except a Little Debbie snack. I still think it's part of the reason I'm the weight I am now. Even though I've beaten depression, my body still craves junk several times a day.

But now when I get those cravings, I try to get a bottle of water and focus my energy on something else. I write and do photo manips as a hobby so I'll try to do one of those things. Or if I HAVE to have something sweet or I'll binge out, before I even go get it, I'll say to myself "Instead of having three or four cookies, I'll only have two."

You don't need to deprive yourself entirely all at once; that's what your body's used to and change isn't going to happen overnight. But if you gradually cut down, eventually you'll get to a point where you don't even want it anymore.

 

[loislane]

Jog in place, do some jumping jacks, put on some music and dance like a fool! Get moving and get those endorphins going to boost your mood and reduce your stress instead of junk food!

 

[momof1princess]

great, ideas, everyone!

 

[henrylarry6]

Stress eating ends up being too bad at times, my sister is hell of obese.

 

[tinkerbell of winter]

I know 100 percent how you feel. I am the same way! Stressful situations in my life always coincide with a weight gain of X amount of lbs. My most recent super stressful time was when I was finishing up my Master's this past year. I vowed that once I was done I was getting back on track. Of course what bowled me over was that starting a new job with a different focus and much higher level of responsibility threw things way out of whack. Add to that a 15 year old with hormone surges at home and it has been the perfect storm for overeating.

I am a major emotional eater, I know it's bad for me and I know I shouldn't do it. But it is hard to stop when that is seemingly "the only thing that makes me happy". I do know when I am exercising regularly I am much less likely to stress/emotionally eat, because then exercise takes over as a coping mechanism.

I think it is a matter of getting back to a point of balance. I am finally at the point where I am not so "freaked out" at work always thinking i'm going to make a mistake and have settled somewhat into my new role. School is of course well in the past now and it is time now to focus on me. That is what is important, focus on you. Do you have any regular exercise program? It doesn't have to be anything crazy physical, Yoga works wonders Know that there are others out there fighting this same battle