Any suggestions on what to do? I have developed an unhealthy relationship with food. It is now my best friend. I think about it all day and find myself hiding out and eating alone. I don't know how to get out of this rut. Any suggestions from those who have been in my shoes would be helpful. Thanks!!

The only advice I can think of is to constantly chew gum? You also need to keep yourself busy and you mind off food. It's hard at first, but eventually you realize food is not your friend. We need it to survive, but thats all.

It may help if you can figure out why. I know that I ballooned up to my SW because I was in a really unhappy marriage, a lot of bad stuff happened to me, and I was depressed. Now that I am out of that marriage and have been on anti-depressants for awhile, I was able to see that food was not the solution. Good luck!

Been there lots of times.
Try finding a hobby to keep you busy. Eat high protein that will keep you satisfied longer. And return to 3FC for support often. That is what I do. These chicks are great motivators!

Plan. The thign that works best for me is to plan. When I first started, I too wanted to eat ALL the time. So do so.

Plan out meals and snacks that you can eat all day if you need to and still stay within a reasonable range of calories. This is very similar to what I do, except I don't have breakfast until about 10a.m. and then I eat dinner around 7.

9 a.m. - 1/2 a peanut butter sandwich on whole grain bread (275 calories)
11 a.m. - an apple and a slice of cheddar cheese (190 calories)
1 p.m. - a big salad with lots of veggies, olive oil dressing, and maybe some sliced chicken breast (350 calories)
3 p.m. - cottage cheese, or a v8 juice (100 calories)
5 p.m. - piece of grilled fish, baked sweet potato, steamed veggies (350 cals)
7 p.m. - low fat yogurt (150 cals)
9 p.m. - airpopped popcorn (150 cals)

That, right there, is about 1565 calories and you're eating every two hours, give or take.

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I have to disagree with you, and my advice is, don't chew gum.

When I chew gum, it makes me hungrier. I've been told it's because when you're chewing, your brain sends signals to your stomach to make stomach acid to digest the food, the food that isn't there. Therefore, you get hungrier.

So, I'd have to say, eat high in fiber foods. Whole wheat tortillas, Wasa crackerbread, etc. Or, you could make sure you have a drink by your side, and when you feel hungry, DRINK like the wind!

Good luck my dear!

Hi Naturelady,thanks for sharing with us - we have all been there.
Photochick is spot on- you have to paln "good" eating to avoid bad.

Get the right foods in the house - her menu suggestions are great- as are the suggestions others hav made.

Go high fibre, have some protein - wholegrains have this too - in each meal and avoid refined , white sugar,corn syrup etc carbs which will send you out of control.

I find drinking water helps more than chewing gum- but that is just me.

Good Luck and keep posting - we are all here to help each other.

None of us is perfect or we would not be coming here for support and motivation.

I plan out my lunch to last all day. Otherwise I'd make my way down the hall to get chips and chocolate if I were hungry.
So my lunch is really an all day affair.
8.a.m.- Toast and Natural PB, coffee with soy milk. (chocolate soy) I'd have lots of sugar and cream anyways.
10:00 - orange or apple
12-1:00 ish - granola bar maybe
2:00 is - miso soup and yogurt

I feel full all day long and I usually have coffee and water. I have a healthy dinner most days and I think it's just being satisfied that helps me not to have too many bingey days.

Thanks for the replies, they are all great suggestions. I guess willpower is ultimately the hardest thing to work on. One day at a time...

I've noticed the exact same thing! Chewing gum makes me ravenous!

Hi naturelady

I have foods that my nutritionist called "vulnerable foods" they are foods that I simply cannot control my self around. Cheeze-its, cookies, any baked goods...

I recognize them as vulnerable foods - and I don't buy them, ever. If I have to be around them, I make a plan of action before hand. After a while, I felt stronger, and now I can buy these foods in single serving packages. It was hard at first not to eat all the little bags, but I'm doing better... My nutritionist also suggested that if you can't find a favorite food in single servings, Buy it, and then put it into little baggies yourself. I do this with pasta, so I don't end up dumping a ton out of the box into the pot. Instead I just grab a perfectly portioned baggie of it.

Just completely eliminate the foods that trigger a binge for you, and then SLOWLY start to add them back in small portions.

I have the same problem. I have been checking out this site for a while now and decided I just can't do it alone. I can't stop eating. I think will power is the hardest part of it. I can eat and eat and eat and never feel "full". I need someone or many someones to help me and keep me motivated. Maybe that is our will power. Since I'm new here I hope I didn't post this in the wrong place or anything.

Carry a water bottle.

I have the same problem, and after reading all the responses, I want to try them... I have been told by may people to try and drink water or eat a banana when I feel I need to eat something. Or to eat some fruit... BUT doesnt eating alot of bananas make you constipated? Im confused? is there ever too much fruit?
But I understand you and feel the same way. I find myself thinking what I am going to eat and how I am going to eat something before someone else eats the last piece! Let me know what works for you!

I think all fruits have their own natural fiber in them so I wouldn't worry about being constipated. They say fruits and veggies are the best foods cuz they are natural. So I think I might try that and drink lots of water too.