Here is my question, what am I missing?

[byebye12]

I eat when I am not even hungry. I snack on things I don't even like. I do this because I am stressed out,or sad, or happy or excited. Any emotion, I eat. Funny thing is, in the morning I am fine, it's that late night block of time like 5pm-9pm LOOK OUT!. I will eat anything that looks even remotely good. I binge on whatever is here in my pantry or fridge. Sometimes I think I may have an eating disorder but I have been afraid to ask my Dr about it. Right now, I am about 40 LBS overweight. I am miserable with the way I look but then I have this vicious circle of life where I keep binging, eating things that I know are not good food choices. I come from an entire family that is overweight, emotional eaters, people that are thinking about their next meal before they finish one. I am 36/F. I hate the way I look, but I just keep plunging into this night after night. Gaining more and more. What are the steps I can take to stop this terrible lifestyle habit I have created? I have gone on diet pills (phentermine) and they work for a short time and then stop. But that has been the only way I can block out the "Need" I have inside of me to eat.

Thanks in advance Dr!

[byebye12]

Thanks for your reply Dr. I am going to check out your site right now!

[Roger Gould, M.D.]

You are right, nothing you have tried or what is ordinarily recommened is going to work.  Emotional eating is a strong learned habit where food has become a kind of tranquilizer, and as much as you want to lose weight, it is small in comparison with your psychological motivation to hold onto your tranquilzer...it is like a baby's pacifier. It can be done, and is being done every day...you just have to know how.