I'm a binge eater too
 

I have been reading posts in this section of the board all morning, and I can so relate to all of you.

Some of my destructive food habits are:

I do a lot of mindless eating -- it has nothing to do with hunger, I eat just because the food is there and it looks good. Or if there is something I like in the fridge or kitchen, I'll go get it and eat it just because I know it's there.

And I eat long past the point of discomfort -- even if I am full, I'll just keep eating anyway.

Another thing I do is -- I way overeat at meals -- I pile the food on my plate, taking mammoth portions, and then maybe taking seconds or even thirds and eating until I am uncomfortable. When I was still drinking coffee (I quit in March -- I drank several cups a day -- sometimes I drank as much as 12 cups in a day), I would drink coffee after eating to help speed my digestion to get rid of that over-full feeling, and after I started to feel a little less full (but not at all hungry), I'd eat again just cuz I knew I could physically fit it in my stomach.

And I snack -- crackers are my worst -- I used to easily polish off a half a box or more of Cheez-Its while sitting at the computer, just mindlessly stuffing them in my face.


I am happy to say that since I started counting calories in May, I haven't really had a bad relapse of any of these destructive behaviors, but I still tend to eat when I am not hungry -- if I add up my calories for the day and discover that I am under my goal of 1500, I may eat some crackers just cuz I know I can, even if I am not hungry. I have had a few days of way overeating since I started, but I always get back on plan the next day.

I truly believe I am a recovering food-aholic, and while I may be "on the wagon" at the moment, I will always have to be careful my whole life...

I'm right there with you! My S.O. has to literally take food away from me if it's something bad like chips or french bread, or cookies. Once I got passed the "serving size" i have to either tell him to pull it away, or if he sees me throwing them back at a rapid pace, he'll jump in and take them away from me! It's hard, but i need that kind of support. Let's just say my wagon is "wobbly" and anything can easily fall of it. :(

I can sooooo relate, I don't have to be hungry at all but if I am watching my favorite show, bored, just because etc..... One thing I noticed this weekend on Saturday I was cleaning out my closet/organizing and I hadn't eaten all day but as soon as I finished and got a snack (apple/PB) I sat down and started watching TV and everytime a new show came on or I went downstairs for something I had to grab something to eat.

When I'm upstairs it's not as bad but if I'm lounging downstairs near the kitchen or if I have to go down for something it's like I am just drawn to the kitchen and have to eat. I snacked all weekend (semi binge) pretty much out of boredom and b/c the food was there.

I hate being like this!!! :(

Another huge problem for me is portion sizes -- I know what size portions are considered to be "correct" based on how many calories, etc -- but when I put that amount on the plate, it just looks so -- little. So I add more because I think that I could never be satified on such a small amount of food, and guess what? I start to feel full long before I finish -- usually I am full enough on the amount that would have been "correct" -- but -- here's the thing -- I eat the rest anyway just cuz it's on my plate. The bottom line is that I guess I have shrunk my stomach to be satisfied with the right amount of food, but my eyes haven't caught up with my stomach yet...

I see those "Healthy Choice" type dinners and I think that no way could I be full on that small amount of food -- I don't eat those, because I am trying to stay away from processed food as much as possible -- but my point is, if I only put that same amount of food on my plate, I'd think it was way too little, even if it did fill me up.