stress, boredom, being lonely are the biggest for me.

I also overeat if I skimp earlier in the day then eat way to much later on in a hurried shoveling fashion.

Stress. And I don't know how to stop doing that. One thing I've done is to try to reduce the amount of stress in my life. I've started getting more sleep, which is a big help, and trying to say no more often when asked to take on extra projects that I don't really want to do, things like that.

But we can't avoid all stress. Right now, my mother is several states away and going through some serious health problems. Yesterday I was on tenterhooks all day, waiting for nurses and doctors and family members to call me with information, and I just KNEW something sweet would make me feel better. And I ate it, and it DID make me feel better. I wish I knew a different way to deal with that particular situation--the stress that's real and that can't be avoided. I suppose that's an issue for a therapist, but if anyone has strategies they can recommend, I'm all ears.

I'm starting to try to train myself to get up and move when I feel stress. I don't always do it, but when I do I usually feel MUCH better after exercising. Plus, no post-binge guilt trip. BONUS! :D

But the trick is to notice while you're feeling stressed that you need to exercise!

Mindless Eating
 

I am a definite mindless eater. If it is out, I just start eating it. I have never logged my food on paper before, so thought it was about time I tried it. This is only day 3, but it has really opened my eyes to what I am putting in my mouth and how much of it.

Wyllen already said exercise, but I just wanted to share something in that line. About two weeks ago, I had just left for my evening walk when my husband called on my cell phone, and the conversation escalated into an argument. When I hung up, I so wanted to quit walking, go home, and eat. But I had committed to the walk, so I just kept going. I went faster because I was so angry (which made it a better work-out), and as I kept going, I started to feel the stress melting away. It gave me time to think (rather than brood, which I would have done if I was eating) and by the end of the walk, I wasn't even angry any more. I wrote my husband a quick e-mail when I got home, and that was that. Not that the situation with your mom's health can be resolved that easily, but maybe a long walk would help give you some perspective on it?

Wow. Thanks for all the great responses, everyone. There's lots to think about there.

I'm trying so hard to be okay with just okay. I decided only this morning that I would devote myself to taking good care of myself (direct translation: following my food plan and exercising). Well, I got a swim in before work this morning, and I did take my lunch. I still couldn't talk myself out of fast food on the way home tonight. I had a small muffin and a handful of almonds but still, I couldn't talk myself out of that damned drive through. I've done lots of things that required discipline in my lifetime, things I didn't want to do but knew that I had to. I'm trying not to beat myself up about it and I'm already back on track now but man, this stuff is so demoralizing.

i am a boredom eater - big time.

When I'm ill and when I'm in pain. It's a comfort thing.

You name it and I have overeaten because of it.. feeling ashamed, sad, lonely, too happy, stressed etc

I have slowly come to realise that I am not very good with just staying with myself.. the good the bad or the ugly. I seek to zone out a lot. It was booze when I was younger, then work, then food and it can also be the internet. Anything that numbs me and draws me away.

Meditation has been incredibly helpful. I flirted with meditation a few years ago and stopped when I found it too confronting. I have restarted my commitment to it over the past 6 months or so, and while I still find it confronting a lot of the times, I stick with it. I think that ability to stick with it helps me when I am not on my cushion. Regardless of what I am feeling during the day I can seem to just stick with it these days... not feed it either with adding lots of dialogue to my emotions, nor do I ignore it... just label how I am feeling and let it be ok to feel that way.. makes me feel very gentle with myself.

I haven't had an emotional eating binge in ages but had one at the beginning of this week. It really took me by surprise actually. I just let it happen and figured that the reason behind it will make itself apparent to me soon enough.

I think I'm just greedy. I can't just have a bowl of ice cream - I want the tub. I don't want a small steak -I want a HUGE one, I want the works.

I am not like this in other areas of my life but with food I am greedy. I wan't what I'm having and what you're having too. I am trying to deal with this issue - I have been good, but I still have the desire.

Mindless eating. 100%. I mean, I can eat SO much food without thinking about it, it's just scary. Those 100 calorie packs were invented just for me, I think. I can eat the whole bag of cheetos and not do any damage. Because one chip? I guarantee I'm eating the whole bag.

And the "exercise instead of food" for stress is so true, too. It's really hard to maintain a good pace walking AND stay really angry. Something about multi-tasking maybe?

For me it is becoming more of a spiritual journey. I think I had a need to fill my self and instead of choosing Jesus I chose food. I was going to post this for anyone you was interested. This is a course I am going though to help battle this very issue. I know it will not be for some here and I'm not trying to preach at anyone. But here is the link if you are interested.

I mainly overeat out of boredom and stress..I overeat when I get fast food cravings...and I also overeat if something is delicious, because I don't want to stop til there is nothing left. I never thought about how I could just eat a little bit of it, and save some for later to enjoy next time. I had to eat and eat until I thought I would pop...And sometimes then some LOL.

Boredom. I eat because I'm bored. Don't get me wrong...I have a job and I go to school full-time. But those are both evening things. During the day when my husband's at work is when I'm home. I find myself watching a LOT of TV, playing games on the computer, and...of course...eating. I'm doing a lot better since finding 3FC though. :)

I have many of the same reasons as you all do; boredom, stress, greed, love of food, mindlessness, habit.

It's like this trigger goes off in my brain to eat and even if I know I'm not hungry the compulsion to get in the kitchen and get something drives me forth. I can manage now a days to get things that aren't considered "bad foods" but if I'm not hungry and my calories are where they should be then even the good stuff is bad for me. Unless it's carrot sticks, and you know I never have that craving. :carrot:

This time I am determined to keep my focus on health. I am reading the You on a diet book and it is freaky how the body works and how it responds to food. I just want to apologize for all the horrible stuff I have stuck in my body over the years, and how hard my poor liver has had to work. Health, energy, and feeling great are my motivation now. Of course a size 8 won't make me cry. ;)