How do I stop eating so much?
I've been using food to regulate my emotions a lot recently. I feel like it's a never ending cycle. Eat so much that I get sick then starve myself for a week and not eat anything and hate myself for it. I snacked all day yesterday and ate fast food. I feel ashamed of myself tbh.
@agreeableSkies9889
I too tend to emotional eat.
It is a hard cycle to break but when I am thinking of eating not for hunger but just snacking because whatever is bothering me i do a couple things ... if possible, take a walk or some sort of exercise or and this is an option log all the food I eat into an app (many apps are out there) and when I see how fast a number rises of calories it becomes clear how destructive it is.
the overeat / starve yourself cycle is unhealthy for your body and whatever emotions we are dealing with it is not worth physical health issues too.
Thank you for the advice!! 🙏🙌
@agreeableSkies9889 Hey Skies. No reason to be ashamed. It's all about mindset and behavior. You have to be active, so like the next time you want to snack be like no I'm not doing that right now. It gets easier with practice :)
I think we all overindulge at times, it's too convenient to reach for the munchies. Have you tried talking or journalling about what's going on at present?
Maybe you can pause before you reach out for another nibble and say, I'm not really hungry, I just feel preoccupied is all, I don't really need this, my tum is satisfied.
Or maybe you could have cheat days or save the snacking for the weekend?
What I try to do each day, is continually sip an icy drink, sometimes it's not hunger at all.
Or if you really crave something, what about a fruit salad? Or granola? Or Yoghurt?
I think eventually I just stopped seeing good/bad food and thought if I fancy takeout, I will just enjoy it because it's not a regular thing and the rest of the week, I can be more sensible.
I try to journal but it's hard. If I eat too much I'll starve myself and not eat anything.
I try to eat healthier recently but it's hard because my dad constantly buys junk food and that's all that's in the house sometimes. I try to buy my own food but I have been able to access my money recently so I haven't been able to as much 😞
@agreeableSkies9889 I know what that's like relying on others for the shopping. The junk food items are more cost effective unfortunately.
Instead of not eating, do you have a favourite exercise? That's a way to munch and burn off the calories?
Or you could do a meal prep and be in control that way, healthy or not, the body, hair, skin, organs need help to function correctly :)
I exercise and try to eat better but I work in a grocery store...I try to eat healthier... I think I might try an app to track my calories and what I'm eating.
I will buy a salad and see a cake and think "I'm going to eat a salad so it's okay if I also eat cake." And before I know it I'm eating tons of food and feeling bad about it later.
It doesn't help that I'm really unhappy with my body. I really don't like my gender. It makes me feel sad 😢
@agreeableSkies9889 I know this sounds weird but maybe you're being too healthy?
For me the moment I tried to restrict sugar or carbs, I craved it intensely.
So instead now sometimes I find the healthier versions, sometimes regular.
Maybe instead of buying multipacks of food try single versions?
Try to find something positive about your body.
Be careful of the calorie counting, try not too be too strict.
@agreeableSkies9889
I relate to the eating all of the time. Perhaps you could modify what you are eating. Could you try fresh cut vegetables like carrots, cucumbers, celery, peppers, pickles, baby corn, and olives. These would at least be a healthier choice that you could munch
on throughout the day.
Maybe I'll try to plan out my diet more! I'm trying to take better care of myself. I love Olives. I did buy veggie burgers and a salad for this week so that's cool I guess. I also bought a cook book
@agreeableSkies9889 I can relate, I also binge eat when I'm too stressed and to regulate emotions at times.. what helps is removing the unhealthy junks from my sight, going for a walk / doing some workout and not being too hard on myself.
You don't have to cut off all the food, maybe try to replace the junks with something else, like muesli or something that fills up your stomach/ cravings. Drink lots of water, it helps to keep you full too, and removes the sluggish feeling you get after binge eating 💖
When we're stressed it's normal for us to look for ways to regulate emotions. You're truly not alone in this. Sending you all my love and *hugs* 🐾💕
Thank you for your advice ❤️ I really appreciate you ☺️
@agreeableSkies9889 ❤️❤️
@agreeableSkies9889 I've been here, but for me it was body image issues. I know this is going to sound weird, but I wanted to be fat. I had to learn to love my body which meant drinking more water and moving around more. Even if I don't work out the way I should I at least take extra walks and try to find physical things to get into to help with regulating my appetite. I also slowed down on smoking weed and drinking so my appetite can be normal. Regulating emotions is a huge part of not emotionally eating, if work is a stressor then modify how you work so you don't eat your way through a shift - I hope that helps. And, sorry that you live with a parent who eats junk food - that can make it twice as hard
@agreeableSkies9889 I just signed up for https://bossasaservice.com/ for work and it turns out they offer diet accountability as well. It's very early days, but so far it's 100% fixed me. I went from bingeing uncontrollably to counting out the exact number of Pringles needed to stay under my calorie limit, shutting the can, throwing it across the room, and not reopening it till morning. Apparently once you pop you CAN stop, if you have someone holding you accountable!
@agreeableSkies9889, I hope things improve for you. Are you just venting here, or are you seeking practical solutions? If the latter, you'd need to provide a lot more context.
Meanwhile, to anyone also struggling with emotional eating, you might consider trying something called Neuro Linguistic Programming. You don't have to pay for a course or anything like that. It is very likely your public library will have some materials, and there are a few free YouTube videos on the subject.
If your local branch does not have anything, ask them if they participate in what is called the Interlibrary Loan Program.
I'm doing both lol.
Though I think I just need to apply myself more and look for actual solutions. It's harder though that I use as a way to emotionally regulate
@agreeableSkies9889
As I've got older and I can't get away with overeating like I used too food has simply become fuel. I exercise and move around regularly for health reasons so simply fuel accordingly although I've struggled physically recently and gained a few pounds I know I'll burn it off when able too.