Hello everyone! My name is Connie and I REALLY REALLY REALLY want to lose weight. I'm utterly disgusted with myself often. My problem is easy - food. I like to eat it. I'm almost obsessed with it. The more I tell myself NOT to eat something, the more I binge on that item repeatedly. I work out all the time. Last year, I competed in 4 triathlons and I was probably in the best shape of my life; however, I still had excess weight. The more I work out, the more I eat. I've tried to control my portions and often I will find that I just forget. The worst problem for me is my eating when I'm bored. I've often read and heard that people eat out of boredom because there is something in my life that I'm missing and I am using the food for comfort. They say to write down what you are feeling when you eat, but honestly, the only thing I usually want to say is that I "just feel like it." I just want to eat because I like food. I like the taste in my mouth.

Does anyone have any suggestions on how to overcome boredom eating? I feel like I'm out of control. How come I could quit smoking 4 years ago, but I feel like I literally can't NOT eat??? I have tried over and over. I know diets don't work, its a way of life. I can't figure out how this is a large part of my life that I feel is out of control and I don't know what to do about it. Any advice/suggestions would be really helpful. Thanks!

Connie

I think a lot of us have the same problem! I do. My first suggestion is to log on here as much as you can, join some chats, it's great to have someone that understand you I still have the boredom problem, it's a never ending battle, but I have finally found a way to help me not gain weight even though I eat as much as I want! I read the book Skinny B****, obviously this book isn't for everyone. Especially if you can't take a little dirty mouthing, but for me it has changed my life! There is a lot of other great things that will help. I did Weight Watchers for a couple months and I did lose weight... so check through the forums and see what soudns best for you!!

I haven't read it yet, but the nutritionist I've started seeing recommends a book called "Mindless Eating". I need to get it and check it out, because I sure have done a lot of that in my life!

Best of luck, and that is SO awesome that you are so physically fit!!

Welcome, Connie!

Oh, I hear ya, hon. The thing about quitting something like smoking is that when you quit it, you quit it. But you can't not eat.

Great advice from Jill!
Another book recommendation is, "Does This Clutter Make My Butt Look Fat". I think that having a cluttered house/life is probably my biggest obstacle to eating properly. My mind is cluttered with the stuff I have to do, and it's overwhelming, so I eat.

Please post anywhere you feel comfortable. You'll find lots of great support here.

Mindless Eating! That's a good one, too, Shannon.

I'm sorry your struggling with this. I know a lot of women do. On thing I noticed from your post:

Did/do you eat much protein?
I know binging can more emotional than anything else, but if your full from eating protein and well balanced meals you wont be hungry to eat anything else (in theory).

You sound like you were/are an athlete. Are you eating enough? Not just enough, but enough of the right foods?

HI Connie!
I'm not sure if I know exactly what you're going through, but I know there was a time I couldn't figure out what on earth was wrong with me that I couldn't seem to get my life together and on track healthwise/weightwise.
I think I eat and binge when I'm avoiding stuff.
I try to snack during the day often. Lots of protein laden foods. Lots of nutrients and whole foods. It's the only thing that keeps me motivated to exercise and not binge like crazy.
That's just my little 2 cents. Post often, these people here are so helpful and supportive. Good luck!
Tam

Thanks everyone for your advice! I will definitely check out some of those books. Right now I'm living in South Korea teaching English, so I feel that this is a good chance for me to really change my life especially because I'm not surrounded by all the temptation of foods I know - heck...I can't even read the signs to restaurants! Although so far I love Korean food, its also challenging because I don't know what's in anything.

So I'm going to work on eating smaller portions, chewing slower (I am an extremely fast eater), and not allowing my life to be controlled by food. After one day (yesterday), it went pretty well. Thanks everyone for your advice!

Connie