[AJ'sAwesomeMom]

...to be addicted to food without being hugely obese?

The other night I was watching this show on the Discovery Health Channel called "Addicted to Food" about these morbidly obese people in Ohio, and it got me to thinking. I have never been able to be on a diet, ever. I try to eat less, or eat healthier, and all I can do is obsess about what I want to be eating until I have some. And by some, I mean the whole box. I've always been very active, so I've never really gained weight because of it, but it also makes it virtually impossible for me to LOSE weight.

Like, I can eat whatever I want really, and maintain the weight that I'm at. But as soon as I try to lose weight, nothing happens. It didn't really bother me before I was pregnant, because I didnt really need to lose weight, but now that I do, I'm getting really frustrated.

I started taking that hoodia stuff, because my friend said it works really well - and it does. The only problem is, I eat anyway. Not because I'm hungry, but because I want to eat. Last night, I had already eaten a steak and cheese sub and some Oreo cake that was in the fridge when I decided I wanted rice. So I made four servings worth of rice, had two bites, and was full. Did I put it away? No. I ate it all anyway.

Sometimes I think I would benefit from something like Overeaters Anonymous, but then I would feel weird going because I'm not really that fat. I would feel like Dave Chapelle in Half Baked, when he goes to Narcotics Anonymous for pot.

I don't know...Does anyone else ever feel this way, and/or have any advice?

[imready]

It's incredibly possible. You sound like a mirror image of me. I’m trying diet pills right now and they control my hunger but not my urge to eat. I eat breakfast thinking about what I’m going to eat for lunch only because I want more food not because I’m trying to be prepared. “They” say there is a bigger problem that lies beneath the impulsive eating. I’ve yet to find my problem.

[JPennies]

I do the same thing when I'm "overly" active at the gym and don't eat the bulk of my food during the day. I think you'll find cravings are easier to control if you have lunch and bfast be your two big meals of the day and have light something for dinner. That way when I get home at night I'm not starving... you know?

If I don't eat two bigger meals...my appetite is frightening! I could sit down and eat a quart of starbucks coffee almond ice cream in one sitting. Yes, it was not a typo - one QUART.

Hope it helps knowing you aren't alone. Sometimes it's finding what it is that triggers that need for you... then you do what you can a day at a time. Good luck!

[Bikini Dreader]

You are definitely not alone. I became an overeater just over a year ago. I have never been overweight according to the doctor but you know when you are larger than you need to be for your body. It was only recently that I have been able to turn things around and I think it was due to a couple things:
1. I was ready to make a change. I was sick of bingeing and eating more than I needed.
2. I read a lot of self help books: "The Taming of the Chew" and "The Secret" are two that made a big difference in my life.
3. I got rid of my trigger foods and stopped pretending I was capable of having them around.
4. I made the decision that I would get to my goal.

A lot of it was in my head. I could eat all night long if I let myself. And I know I wasn't that hungry. I made tons of excuses like: what if I can't get food later? I work out a lot. It's my night off.. whatever. I really was just not appreciating myself and sabotaging any effort to lose weight. Mostly because I didnt believe I could ever get back to the way I used to be.

You dont have to be obese to be an overeater. I'm not saying you are, that's for you to know. I found that the Chicks in Control group helps a lot. It's a huge help just to talk to people who aren't going to judge you.

I dont know about you but I think my friends and family are tired of hearing about my weight, my food, the changes I have made that I go back on. now I'm just doing this for me and it feels great.

I hope you find some good info and friends on this site. Good luck with your goals. You can get there!

[bida]

You and me = same problem.
though i am big - i don't look as big as I am because I have been overly active in my life and have really big boobs
but I obsess about food - and lately i am trying to stop. I wonder how people can live without this obsession - they must be able to get so much more work done - or maybe they have other obsessions?
Currently I am wondering if or how I can tell my new trainer this (it will be my third work out today) but am unsure if I can - it is kind of embarressing. I don't think I have ever really told someone in person about my food obsession.
I try to eat a lot of vegtables now to fill my stomache up - because I know if I don't eat too much of that so that I feel really full - I will obsess about eating something else that is really bad for me.

if you ever wanna chat give me a PM.

[AJ'sAwesomeMom]

Thanks ladies, it's comforting to know I'm not just making this up in my head.

I get so frustrated sometimes, especially when I talk to my little sister, and she tells me about how all she's eaten that day is a bag of almonds and a Lindt truffle....I'm just like, How can you not be hungrier than that?

Sometimes I wonder if there isn't more to that whole "underlying issue" thing...On the surface, I couldn't tell you one thing that would make me overeat - I have an adorable son, a boyfriend who loves me and thinks I'm the sexiest girl in the world, and an amazing internship that will lead to an even more amazing job. But then today, I got into a fight with my dad, and instead of going to the gym I ate an order of cheesy bread and a pepperoni calzone. And then I spent an hour crying because I'm going to be fat forever, and another hour researching tummy tucks.

I think what I need is someone to "go" to the gym with me - basically, someone who goes to the gym every day to be my workout buddy in absentia. I know that if someone is counting on me to work out, I always go.

Bikini Dreader - I'm definitely an overeater, there's no question. I'll definitely check out the Chicks in Control board.

Bida - Thanks for the offer to chat...likewise for you! And you should talk to your trainer - he or she might have some insights that will help.