[#1]

Hi

I don't really know what to start, I have a serious problem and I don't know how to control it.

I've always liked food more than other people I suppose, but last couple of years its got worse. I constantly eat now, I cant actually stop myself. During work the only thing that stops me from eating 1 thing after the other is the social aspect, the thought of people thinking bad of me thinking how greedy I am.

I associate everything with food, tv, watching a film even reading a book. Its got to the point where ill kid myself into thinking im buying "treats" for a film and once I finish my junk food I loose interest in the film.

I used to eat when I was unhappy but I am happy now, I have an amazing partner who I now live with and he makes me so happy. but I cant shake off my eating habit I had years ago when I was unhappy.

I used to go to the gym regularly but now I think id struggle with the gym as I haven't don't proper exercise in ages, I'm now a size 16 and scared if I don't do something now ill just keep putting on weight. I used to be a healthy size 12 which id do anything to be again.

I broke down and told my partner everything last night, he was very supportive and says we will go swimming together etc  and eat healthier but because of his work he works until 8 most nights and I work normal hours which will make going to do exercise hard. Until he gets home from work I have the place to myself to eat what I want in secret, and thats one of my biggest problems, I have no self control over food, if its there ill eat it.

Has anyone else had the same problem? I know there is no easy solution or magic wand. I just feel just know that there is no way out and I suppose im looking to see if the tunnel does has a light at the end of it as just now I cant see it.

Thank for so much for reading x

[#2]

Hi

I don't really know what to start, I have a serious problem and I don't know how to control it.

I've always liked food more than other people I suppose, but last couple of years its got worse. I constantly eat now, I cant actually stop myself. During work the only thing that stops me from eating 1 thing after the other is the social aspect, the thought of people thinking bad of me thinking how greedy I am.

I associate everything with food, tv, watching a film even reading a book. Its got to the point where ill kid myself into thinking im buying "treats" for a film and once I finish my junk food I loose interest in the film.

I used to eat when I was unhappy but I am happy now, I have an amazing partner who I now live with and he makes me so happy. but I cant shake off my eating habit I had years ago when I was unhappy.

I used to go to the gym regularly but now I think id struggle with the gym as I haven't don't proper exercise in ages, I'm now a size 16 and scared if I don't do something now ill just keep putting on weight. I used to be a healthy size 12 which id do anything to be again.

I broke down and told my partner everything last night, he was very supportive and says we will go swimming together etc  and eat healthier but because of his work he works until 8 most nights and I work normal hours which will make going to do exercise hard. Until he gets home from work I have the place to myself to eat what I want in secret, and thats one of my biggest problems, I have no self control over food, if its there ill eat it.

Has anyone else had the same problem? I know there is no easy solution or magic wand. I just feel just know that there is no way out and I suppose im looking to see if the tunnel does has a light at the end of it as just now I cant see it.

Thank for so much for reading x

[#3]

Hi there,

Welcome to the board, i am so sorry that things are so difficult with food for you at the moment and althought i havent personally experienced the same problem i know there are lots of people out there who will have very similar dificulties with food.

Don't despair, because you have got the will power to change it. The first big step was to tell your partner, and then to write on this board- you have accepted you have a problem and next step is to tackle it and change things.

Have you thought about trying to see a counselor or therapist about your attitudes towards foods? If you dont feel you want to do that then it's important to keep talking to someone, your partner or other friends aswell who can help support you.

What kind of foods do you eat?

If you keep lots of snacking foods in your cupboards i would suggest you get rid of them all to try and help remove the temptation, i'm not sure what i can suggest without sounding patronising because i know it's not as easy as  it sounds and changing your habits will be really hard.

Exercise is great because it will really boost your metabolism so you can eat more without putting on weight and it might take your mind off food even if just for a bit.

If you find being around people helps you from stopping eating than try and see people as much as possible to begin with to help stop the association of food with all those activities. Or if you do find it too hard to do this then allow yourself to eat but make sure you have 3 decent meals a day, balanced-with wholegrain carb, protein, veg and a little fat and then snack on fruit, vegetable crudites with low fat homous, tomatoes, crispbreads  etc... so that although you are eating frequently, it's all fairly low calorie so you are unlikely to gain weight. Another thing to try might be chewing gum to help rid yourself of the desire to reach for more food. Obviously eat if you are genuinely hungry but try and figure out whether you are REALLY hungry or whether it is thirst or habit. As soon as you feel it is just habit try and stop yourself by going for a walk, having a bath or phoning a friend so it's more difficult to eat at the same time!

If it's difficult to exercise with your partner on weekdays, stick to weekends and then try and find another friend you can buddy up with to go to the gym or swimming. Dont be too hard on yourself because things wont change overnight but i have confidence in you that things can slowly change, don't focus on size 12 at first, take small steps, set yourself little goals and reward yourself with something 'non-foody' when you reach them like a new top, or some pampering.

Sorry if i havent been much help but please ,if you feel it does help, keep posting and letting us know how you are getting on. I'm sure there are many more people in the same boat as you than you think so dont feel alone.

Good luck,

Frances  

[#4]

Hi,

I know it can be very hard trying to stop yourself from eating. Do you ever actually feel satisfied with food or is there always room for more?

One thing that will help you is to distract yourself. Every time you want to eat something, have a sip of water and just tell yourself you are not going to eat.

Secondly, do exercise. Go for walks, swim, anything you like. If you don't like it, you will. Haha.... Exercise is addictive! Give it enough time, even force yourself through it and it WILL make you feel better. It's likely that after a good work out, you will not want to spoil the effects of exercise and it might help you stop overeating.

Exercise releases happy hormones too, so you will feel better about yourself. Yay!

Do not be scared of the gym. No one will judge you, most people won't say anything, but they will probably think 'good on you'! Give it a go, bit by bit you will be able to do more and that will be encouraging. If you absolutely don't want to go to the gym, you don't really have to as long as you exercise in some way and as long as you get your heart going. You should also break into sweat.

It's a shame your partner works so much. Make sure you guys do something fun at the weekends though. Walking, swimming, etc. During the week though, do not stay home to eat. Sign up for some fun classes. Pilates or yoga are good because they are gentle enough for beginners but they will get you moving. How about dancing? I go to street dancing and I love it. Spinning. Self defence. Lots more fun classes!

Sign up for other classes too. You will probably find it too hard to exercise every evening during the week but we don't want you to stay home and eat! lol so sign up for other things, like art or healthy cooking classes, choir.. whatever takes your fancy.

Healthier eating goes without saying. I am glad your partner is up for eating better. So make sure you throw out or give away all the junk you've got at home and simply do not buy that stuff any more. If you struggle with healthy snack ideas, let us know. Drink plenty of water. Eat lots and lots of veggies. You don't have to go hungry, just choose what you eat. Your body is a temple, don't put rubbish in it!

Lastly, do it for your partner! Yes, we all know you should do it for yourself etc. It's true, but just think how wonderful your partner will think you are when you manage to lose those extra pounds.

xxx

[#5]

Hello (from a fellow Scot)

I am sorry to hear how unhappy you are but I hope I can give you some hope.  You can and will change your relationship with food.  I used to overeat a great deal when I was at school and University.  I could eat whole loaves of white bread, endless bowls of pasta etc etc.  I have lost (and kept off) weight in recent years (I am now 28, 5ft9 and a size 12) by a. cutting down on my drinking, which not only added to my calorie intake but also made me eat more (eating to stay awake, eating to feel better with an awful hangover) and b. improving my diet to include more good quality protein (fish, beans, lentils etc) rather than so much starch e.g. now I always include fish or beans when I eat pasta and sauce so that I get a full feeling.  Exercise definitely comes into it too but I have to say I exercised probably more when I was overeating but I would always over-compensate.  Now I try to exercise every other day.  My partner also works late but we sometimes go for a run when he gets in from work before we eat dinner, even if it is only 15 mins round the block it is better than nothing!)  We also swim together at weekends and whenever we get a chance. 

I think the key is also to tap into the emotional side of things.  Why are you eating?  Are you bored, tired or does eating fill an emotional void?  Food was always offered as a 'reward' for being good when I was young, and while I certainly don't 'blame' my parents for my relationship with food, I do acknowledge that for me food will always be associated with comfort.  I can't necessarily change that (I still love food!) but I can try to avoid using it negatively.  I think that getting into cooking your own healthy foods and really enjoying preparing nice meals for your partner can be a way to channel your emotional energy surrounding food. 

If you still really struggle to stop eating after following the advice from people on this page it might even be worth approaching your GP to see if you could access someone to talk to about your over-eating.  Keeping a food diary for a few days, including notes on what you were feeling when you ate certain things at certain times might also reveal the source of your need to over-eat.

If you treat yourself well, do things at a moderate and sensible pace, try to find time for relaxation (through exercise, meditation, yoga or other things you enjoy - reading, movies, walks on the beach/in the park, pampering yourself with a face mask etc) hopefully you will find a way through this and begin to improve your relationship with food. 

Good luck, let us know how you get on.

Luckybunny xxx