I am a garbage disposal system...

[Bamboozle]

Hello, everyone. Something I wanted to complain about...you know, get off of my chest and all...

I have food problems. I've had them since before I can remember.

I'm also an alcoholic (problem drinker, whatever) who has found it easier to leave the booze behind and nearly IMPOSSIBLE to fix the food problems. I don't know what to do. I really don't. I'm laughing as I'm typing this, although I know it's not really funny.

I have such a strong urge to shove food in my face (non-specific) and gorge myself until I cannot move or until I get sick. For some reason, this has been a bigger (no pun intended) problem than usual during the last couple weeks. I almost feel like I'm out of control.

Other than going for professional help (I know, I know…if it stays the same for a while or gets worse, I’ll find a place to go for help), does anyone have any suggestions as to things I can do alleviate this in the short term? Should I suck and chew on a pencil? I'm tired of feeling this way. Maybe I should get out of the house, but I can't do that all the time. I just don’t understand…Earlier in the year this problem was easier to deal with. It just feels different this time around (meaning after I quit drinking again). I’ll admit it, I’m a little worried. Oh yeah…I’m not laughing anymore.


I don’t know if it’s related, but I haven’t been sleeping well. I know I’ve upped my caffeine intake greatly…all of this is happening at the same time! I tried to cut out the crap and I got some nasty headaches….so I went back to the crap. Why does this have to be so difficult?

[Biscuits]

"I am a garbage disposal system..."

That used to ring so true to me many years ago, i was definetely a human dustbin, our little dog never stood a chance when there were leftovers.

Compulsive overeating just like alcholism is a progressive illness and gets worse if not treated somehow.

I feel i was lucky as someone told me about overeaters anonymous, a twelve step programme for people just like me whose life was ruled by food.

Anyhow after many years of recovery i can tell you that overeating like all addictions can be arrested one day at a time with HP's garce.

There are many resources available today but for starters check out overeaters anonymous on the net and see if you get any recognition from what you see on there.

Good luck

[historyteach]

Check the stickies above, bamboozled. There's a link for where to find online meetings and much more. There's lots of support right here on these boards too!

I strongly suggest an eating diary to keep track of what you eat and drink each day. It really helps to know exactly what we eat and when we eat it. That helps us modify our emotional eating. And just keeping track helps us with the unconscious eating that we do, too. When we keep track of whatever goes into our mouths, we tend to become much more judicious, and make better decisions.

Keep a bowl of fruit and cut up veggies in the refridgerator, right at eye level. Whenever you open it up, that will be the first thing you see, and the easiest thing to reach for. Keep it available all the time. You'll be more apt to reach for it if it's prepared and ready.

Finally, realize that if you slip, it's not the end of the world. Just start over again. It's always one day at a time.

Shalom!

[roxiestone]

I began to get a handle on this when I started to work with my body and not against it as I always seem to rebel against "restriction". If I went on a diet, that was the best way to trigger a binge. So I tricked myself by telling me that I would never have to go hungry, but I would avoid food that for me, triggered me to eat more. For me that was excessive carbohydrates, specifically in the form of sugars and flours.

I could eat as much as I wanted of good quality, real food. No fast food, no chips, no fake food. I didn't give a thought to portion control. If I wanted two pork chops, I had two. If I wanted three, I had three. But I cut out junky carbs. And I found that for me, my overeating diminished.

For me, I still have to avoid junky carbs, as I still have no brakes when it comes to eating them. But by focusing on what I can have, it just seemed to help.

I do have slips, as I'm not perfect, but I've managed to maintain a significant weight loss and a fairly stable (for me) weight for the last ten years.

I do understand how difficult this is. I continue to work on it everyday.

Peace.