Signs of Emotional Eating

[Connie 1]

I often get hungry quickly, often eat without noticing how much I eat, often crave fatty snacks in order to satisfy myself, and sometimes have the desire to stuff food down, rather than just eat at a normal pace.

Could these be signs that i'm eating just to feel good?

[BDL13]

I am not sure if  I am an emotional eater or not...I LOVE food. My problem isnt sweets and snacks though...I love real food. Pasta, soups, meats. I try to keep it healthy because in my mind I think that if it is relatively healthy that means that I can eat more....I am always munching on something. My biggest weakness in anything cheesy, so i try to only eat the low fat cheese...

[Roger Gould, M.D.]

Sorry, I did not see this post before...Yes, there is real hope. We have helped many people in the shrinkyourself program.  I recommend you buy and read the book first..it will tell you everything you need to know, and the latter chapters in the first half of the book will be particularly helpful to you.  Then take the program so you can get step by step help over a twelve week program. REad what others have said, that will give you a real basis for hope. Go to www.shrinkyourself.com...

[scooters]

I have been obese all of my life and I am so tired of hating myself and beating myself up because I can not get past the past. I am an emotional eater. I can be happy, sad, depressed, nervous, it don't matter, I continue this yo-yo dieting and never feel good about myself. How can I get to the bottom of this sick behavior of mine. I've had this sickness for 30 yrs. of my 48 yrs. and I'm tired of being a failure. Is there hope for me and if so, please send me in the right direction. I am desperate.

[asmit49]

Watch the Biggest Loser. It premiered tonight and comes on every Tuesday night around 7 or 8. This show always motivates me! They teach you how to eat right and that exercise really is possible when you are obese. These people work their butts off and if they can do it, we can too!

[Roger Gould, M.D.]

The cycle of obese, not exercising, feeling bad and eating more, getting depressed,eating more is all too common.  The only way to break it is a step by step program.  That is why I set up the website program and the book, shrinkyourself.  I can't tell you how in twenty words, but on my website you will find enough free information and help from others, and you will know what to do.

[kirsty0511]

I am obese. Yes although I try to deny it, make excuses for it or even get angry over it, the truth is now on the table. Recently I went into hospital with a PE (Pulmonary Embolism). These 2 yes 2 clots travelled through my heart and lodged into my lungs, apprently I was very lucky so the 10 day
Intensive care stay did not worry me. I work at the hospital that I was admitted to and worked for quite a high profile Professor so of course I got the best treatment. I was visited by an Endocrinologist and he offered me free services. I am on a drug called Reductil and Diaformin along with my 11 mg of Warfrin daily. I should be lossing weight with this combination and feel very depressed and upset when I step on the scales and see how much I weigh. As we do not have children yet, we go out for dinner at least once a week. I try to eat healthy every other day but it just seems to consume me. I don't exercise because I tire very easily, mainly because of my weight but also I feel that my lungs have suffered because of the PE. I am helpless now and feel really depressed!

kirsty0511

[Vicky122]

I found something online that helped me to stop emotional eating. It might well work you, Connie.

I downloaded a free e-book course from a website at http://.www.lasting-weight-loss-com. It is on their Emotional Eating page, which is listed on the menu buttons at that website. It doesn't cost anything. It's given to anybody who wants it.

I hope that it works for you too.

[dovebydesign]

I have been an over eater for years.  I am morbidly obese.  200 + over where I should be.  I also grew up poor and was not overweight until adulthood.  I noticed recently on a phone call to my Mom whom was caring for my 2 year old neice some thing interesting.....my neice fell and hurt herself.  She was crying and my Mom said..." Come here sweetie and Grandma will give you a cookie, it will make you feel better"  It is interesting that after all these years I so clearly saw that connection.

Now what.

[Barbarella]

Thanks for your comments.  This is very interesting because when I was a child there was no icecream, we were very poor.  In summertime, maybe once a month my mom bought me and my sister an icecream cone, but there was no icecream in the freezer during the year.  I didn't eat popcorn until I was a Teenager, had a job and could afford to buy some snacks including popcorn.  We had three meals a day, but meat only once a week which was on Sundays.

Now I can have icecream in the freezer, popcorn and other snacks during the day without touching it, but once its evening, and after supper, and TV time I feel like snacking.

I will try to find out what I'm suppose to cover up.  Right now I am at a loss of ideas what it could be.

[Roger Gould, M.D.]

It sounds exactly like what is called a conditioned reflex. It is automatic. Although its not a big health problem for you, it could be an interesting way for you to learn a little bit more about who you are today.  Interrupt the pattern by not snacking on your favorite comfort foods, and begin to put into words what you are feeling, and in particular, think about the history of this kind of food, and what it meant to you as a child growing up in your own home.  Let your inner voice talk to you, you'll learn something, and discover something you are covering up, but don't really need to do anymore.

[Barbarella]

I could go all day without eating, or snacking, but as soon as I sit down in the evening to watch TV, after supper, I HAVE to have something to snack while I watch TV, kind of "topping it off with a snack".  My biggest weakness is icecream or popcorn.  I'm maybe 10 pounds overweighed it depends what doctor I see, the last one said "you are not overweighed".  

Is this "having to snack in front of the TV" all in my head?  I tried watching TV without snacking, and its like an alcoholic who would have to drink water the whole evening.  The graving to snack is there.  Yet when we are on vacation, and no TV I have no urge to snack.

[Roger Gould, M.D.]

First of all, thank you for being the first one on this new forum today, and starting us out with such an interesting question. It's interesting because you have all the signs of emotional eating, but you are not overweight.  Usually, being an emotional eater guarantees that you will be overweight because you can never get enough food, and never stick to a sensible eating schedule, and will always eventually break your diets.  You have conquered one part of emotional eating, i.e. eating too much, but I would like to see you go even one step further so that you break the preoccupation with food.  It's as if you now have mastered food, but are still a little afraid of the lure of certain foods at certain times.  Build on the fact that you have taken charge and are enjoying the rewards of feeling good and not stuffed by continuing to ask yourself, when the cravings are there, what are you really hungry for other than food. That will keep you tuned into yourself, and the food will lose its power to intimidate you.

[RC1969]

I have always been an emotional overeater however I notice fatty foods make me feel sick, so I don't have a big overweight problem.  I did however feel overstuffed and guilty after eating.  About 3 months ago I  changed my eating habits and what has worked for me is to actually have a plan on what you are going to eat starting with breakfast.  I eat alot of fruits in the morning and before lunch and I am so stuffed with the fruit that I don't eat heavy meals or junk anymore.  Having a plan has helped me shed some pounds and keep them off.  The best reward is feeling good, I don't get that overstuffed feeling anymore.