I loved that book, Pita! I thought it was so informative and so matter of fact as far as explaining why my body craved what it craved. I have also been a complusive overeater, and I have overcome it and subcumbed to it more times than I can count over the years. I think your focus on health is very smart right now!!

I overeat for a variety of reasons.

Comfort - when I'm stressed, food is often the first place I turn.

Habit - sitting at the computer is a danger zone for me. Too easy to snack.

Taste - I like food.

My mother is skinny as a rail and always used food as a reward and comments about my weight as a punishment. Sometimes around age 30 I finally turned it around on her. Every comment she made about me, I rephrased to be about her smoking. After about 3 months, she finally got it and has been a lot more supportive since then.

I eat for comfort, and for energy. I'm on disability now, but I used to be away from home for 14-15 hours and for the last 3 years I worked, my commute was 150 miles/day. I was exhausted all the time, and food would provide a temporary pick-me-up. And there was nothing really in my life that gave me joy -- I didn't have time for a life. I was chronically depressed. So I ate. That at least was reliable pleasure. Now for the first time in decades I actually get enough sleep, I have a little bandaid box of a house that I loved because it's MINE, and my time is mine too. Finally at 57 I have the emotional resources to do this. Lots better now than never!

Masochism, anyone? I had a really rough weekend emotionally, and I slipped off plan a few times. I discovered that I wasn't eating to feel better - I was eating to make myself feel worse. Thanks to this thread, I found myself identifying the feeling. Didn't stop the slips, but I think it contained them.

So sorry to hear that, LaurieDawn.... :hug: But good for you for identifying it. Take care, you.

I feel like an echo...boredom, taste, comfort, blocking out the real problem...wait...is that denial? HMM...what else...mindless eating! Yup..I sat down once with a container of Hagen Daazs and all of a sudden it was GONE!

[QUOTE=Pita420;1763572]..... Unless it's carrot sticks, and you know I never have that craving. :carrot:
QUOTE]
Ditto! I wonder, would this kind of craving replace the one for chocolate! I would be eating so much healthier! I do crave sweet potatoes! I'm sure a therapist would have a field day with my inner fears/feelings/ etc. But I cannot afford therapy right now. So I get online to avoid snacking! This site and support group has been a blessing!

Ok. I have alot of issues from my childhood. I was molested by my cousin. And my dad has alot of mental issues and was verbally and emotionally abusive to me and my brother and physically to my mom. I have alot of abandonment issues, anxiety, confrontation issues, I dont say what is on my mind because I am afraid that someone will get mad at me and not love me. I just dont feel worthy sometimes. I was also picked on alot when I was a kid and didnt have alot of friends so food became my friend.

But I know what the issues are but how do I get past them and move on. I cant seem to do that and I dont know how.

Can someone help. I have been to like 3 therapists and they dont help.

Just once?? :D I could build temple to the ice cream gods out of the empty containers I've polished off in one sitting in my day!

For me overeating it mostly happening due to stress and anxiety.....

Wishing a great day to all ;)

What an amazing array of responses... lots and lots to think about..


Dek, I don't pretend to have any of the answers. Here is something I do know, though... the day I realized positively that NOT everyone was going to like me just as I wasn't going to like everybody was a very freeing moment for me. I really could not give a rat's youknowwhut if anyone likes me or not. I'm quite pleased with myself and I'm who I'm stuck with. :) However, that may also be a problem. I'm way too accepting of who I am the size I've allowed myself to get to.

X

NORANORANORA- I tell myself that all the time. Logically I know what the problems are and I know the end result that I want to get past all my crap that has been holding me back and has turned me into who I am today. But I just dont know how. I tell myself ok. This is a new day and you are going to live your life for you and be happy for you and love you and you deserve it. But then I walk away from the mirror and sit my happy A$$ on the couch with my diet soda and my 100 calorie doritos and eat a whole box of them so 100 calories turns into 500 calories. and watch montel and oprah and tyra and watch all these people like Bob Greene and all the guests that have been where I am and have succeeded and I cry because they did it and I cant and I sit there waiting for someone to say something that is going to as Oprah says give me that AHA moment. I havent gotten it yet. I know that I have to change my life and I have to be happy with me and love me. I just dont know how to do it.

Boredom I think is my main thing. Then stress.