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It's been 15 days now and I don't know how to stop

I've been overeating for 15 days and I feel terrible- physically, mentally, etc. Anyone have experience with this and have tips on breaking out of it? I'm at a loss...I don't know how I got in this rut but I really really need to get out!!!

Tue. Apr 10, 11:41pm

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if you know you are doing it you need to make the choice to stop. There isnt a specific way to put an end to it other than will power. Go for a walk. Work out first thing in the morning so you are more aware of what you put in your body that day.

Wednesday, April 11, 2007, 4:13 AM

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I think the fact that you KNOW how many days you've been overeating is great!! You aren't as far gone as you think! At least you are aware of what you are doing.
Make today Day #1 of eating sensibly! Start counting those days!!
Good luck!!

Wednesday, April 11, 2007, 6:57 AM

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first step: go to the store and stock up on healthy breakfasts, lunches and dinners. i find that if i don't have enough supplies in the house, i go on take-out benders. next step: prepare your own food, make the time. THROW AWAY any of the foods that are causing you temptation. finally: take a walk & breathe in the fresh air. i think it's a great step that you're still on PT, a sign that you want to change your behaviour. good luck!

Wednesday, April 11, 2007, 7:49 AM

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Don't look back, stop counting the days!

I say stop looking back and obsessing about the amount of time you've been bad. If I "fall off the wagon" I instantly try to forget it and start fresh with my next meal. I find if I focus on the past I get in even more of a rut. You know, when you talk to yourself and say "well, I had that piece of chocolate cake for lunch so I guess I'll just make this a cheat day and have some ice cream with dinner." Then the next morning you say, "Well, yesterday wasn't so great, I'm already in cheat mode so maybe I'll just have one more day...the weekend...the week." If you slip up and indulge, so just that, enjoy what you're eating and don't obsess and guilt over it, but stop there and start with a clean slate. You can't do anything about the past but you can completely change your future. Good luck!

Wednesday, April 11, 2007, 8:16 AM

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First... The fact that you are aware you need to get out of it is a good start. But now take a deap breath, by putting so much pressure on "having to get out of it" makes it something that you are required to do. Try and approach it in a different mind frame, everytime I say I have to , need to (Even though I do) I am setting myself up for disaster. Rather this time I snapped out of a rut by writing down what it is I realllly want and adding one thing to the list every morning. So not only are you re-reading all the postive things you have thought about from the days past but you are begining your day on w/ the right mind frame. One of my favorites is
"I have been depressed about how much weight I have gained in the last 20months and by making these changes I am adding one more day that I can look back on positively , and those 20mths flew by so in 20 more months I am going to be looking back on this experience proud, satisfied, accomplished, and skinny!!"
...long winded but I hope it helps!

Wednesday, April 11, 2007, 8:49 AM

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15 day bender

I can totally relate to your story. Been there, done that. Trying not to do it again. I just get so darn larthargic. And I overeat. Looking back (not that far back), I think I was caught in a nasty circle. Overeat, sit around, over eat, sit around, overeat, sit around. I had to start looking at what was causing it. And regardless of what was causing it, I had to stop. I don't know, it was kind of weird. It was also kind of scary. I'm just now slowly coming out of it in the past two weeks. A small part is joining this online community. I also decided "ENOUGH ALREADY. This is ridiculous, get up and move, start eating right and make that change!!" Literally, I had to do a lot of self talk. Not being mad at myself, but just getting real and getting honest. I've been mad at myself for months now for overeating and for not moving enough, but being mad at myself didn't change a thing. I think it made me dig in my heels even more. I decided to just let the negative thoughts float around and NOT respond to them. I felt so frustrated though by the overeating and not moving. Especilly because I love to run. Yes, I love to run. I'm still a little scared, but here I go. I also think I was missing out on my spirituality. (Please note: My spirituality) I got some of my favorite books, one is a day by day for overeaters and the other I just started reading, called "Meditation in Motion" and it's about inactive people who began to pray while they exercised. It's got some cool stuff. I'm the kind of person who needs to feed their soul and their body, but instead, I ended up in a bad rut of only feeding my face. Oh well. Today's a new day, the sun did come up this morning and I get to start over again. Hang in there and best wishes.

Wednesday, April 11, 2007, 9:31 AM

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are there any overeaters anonymous meeting nearby that you could drop in on and check out?

Wednesday, April 11, 2007, 9:35 AM

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what helps me is to figure out why I am overeating is writing down why I think this is happening. So I pull out a notebook and just write write write. Usually what comes out is that I'm frustrated, sad, scared or something..and really, when I see it on paper, it looks so silly and I'm able to say, is that what is pushing me to overeat?? I can change that. I try to do this regularly through my PT notes and this has really helped me get my overeating under control. check in with yourself, find out why you are sabotaging yourself, and you will get it under control.

9:31am --that books sounds excellent!! thanks for sharing that info..sounds like the kind of book I'd enjoy too.

Wednesday, April 11, 2007, 9:38 AM

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So what is happening in your life emotionally? Talk to a friend or counselor to help you get at the root of this. Unless you have some new medical condition the root of the problem is most certainly lies with your mental state - like feeling a loss, compensating for something. "Will power" alone will never help you get at what is bothering you. I wish you well.

Wednesday, April 11, 2007, 6:08 PM

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great observation 6:08 about willpower.

Wednesday, April 11, 2007, 11:54 PM

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Thank you all for your wonderful insights. I am def. dealing with quite a bit right now, but knowing that didn't seem to help.
I am happy to report that I was able to break the cycle yesterday. I think having you all to get positive feedback was the last push I needed. Sincere thanks to all of you for getting me over the hump.
30 lbs down, 20 to go!

Thursday, April 12, 2007, 7:35 AM

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To the OP.
Have you checked to see if you are suffering some depression? One of my friends started "hibernating"... not eating well, sleeping too much, etc... It turned out that due to the winter months, lack of daylight and other things going on in her life, she was actually in a state of depression... She finally started getting better when she took some time to talk to her doctor...

I hope you're okay--I've been in a slump lately, and I KNOW that it has to do with the dreary gray days we've had lately. Every time the sun comes out, I'm much more cheerful, energetic and more likely to exercise and eat properly. Because of I know that this is happening, I've been trying to make more of an effort to eat more properly, etc...

I agree-- dump out your "problem" foods (and don't eat any while dumping it out!) and re-stock with "good" foods. That way you're less likely to grab the wrong thing when you go to eat something... It's good that you know you've been "weak"... hopefully, your fellow teammates here at PT can help "talk" you through to a feeling of strength and positive outlook for the future! ;-)

Thursday, April 12, 2007, 10:49 AM

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A couple of things that may help.

First off, this will be the second thread I've posted Sparkpeople links on and before anyone accuses me of spamming, please understand I'm just adding info I would like to have gotten myself had I been the OP. And as someone who writes as well, I didn't want to just cut and paste as I think it's unfair to the professionals who wrote the pieces not to view them in their original context whenever possible. And with that...


Hussy

Link

Saturday, April 14, 2007, 4:56 AM

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Tips to stop emotional eating before it starts

Some quick "emergency" tips. Hope these help.

Hussy.

Link

Saturday, April 14, 2007, 4:57 AM

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15 day binge

Hussy: Thanks for the link. I appreciated it, even though I'm not the poster. I am, however, an over eater. I realized last night or the night before that, that I don't necessarily recognize when I'm full, especially at dinner. I just keep right on eating until I realize, wow, I am really full. Too full. I also binge eat at work. I go back tomorrow after a week of. I love my job, but it is very stressful and it also tends to be desk oriented. Again, love the job, but way toooo much sitting. Thanks again everyone. Let's stay positive.

Sunday, April 15, 2007, 8:31 PM

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yeah, I wish I'd read that before I stress-ate, doing my taxes tonight :)

Tuesday, April 17, 2007, 1:34 AM

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Sometimes I find that my appetite is like a bottomless pit. I can put sooo much food away. I find that my overeating is usually linked to something emotional (got into an arugment with someone, did poorly on an school assignment, or feel disconnected from someone in my life, etc) and it comes back emotional for me. I tend to use food as comfort and regain control over something that is indirectly related to what I don't have control over.
Remember why you started down the path of weight loss to find some guidance. Take some time out of your day (I find that thinking and walking are a great combination for me) and focus on what could be bothering you and do what you can to make best of it (apologize to your friend, study harder or more efficiently, or reconnect).
Best of luck to you!

Wednesday, April 30, 2008, 8:12 AM

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Re: 15 day binge

I realized the same thing last night. A friend and I went to a local fast food restaurant and grabbed some dinner. I have learned (through years of reinforcement) that it is okay to indulge when we go out to eat. Unfortunately we do it way to often and all that over indulgence makes for a very unhappy person. Anyhow, I realized last night that I begin eating (and I am hungry) and then all of a sudden - I am overly full. This is the time I need to go for a walk but can't seem to phyically get up.
Funny enough - my friend and I discussed this after our meal. He tends to under eat and I tend to over eat.
Best of luck to you.

- Uneeq -

Wednesday, April 30, 2008, 8:23 AM

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HUSSY

Thank you for all the links you provide. I am not the OP but I enjoy the links you have provided. I agree that they are always best to read in orginal format when available. Thanks for sharing them.

- Uneeq -

Wednesday, April 30, 2008, 8:42 AM

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remove your self from being able to over eat. When I know I have been on a binge I will head off to school (or where ever I need to be that day) with small meals for the day and NO money, (if you need it for parking bring just that amount) its unnecessary to bring a visa and lots of cash or debit everywhere you go, it will prevent you from buying food when you are out...

Thursday, May 1, 2008, 12:29 PM

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put a rubberband on your arm, each time you have a though of over eating, or a negative thought snap yourself with the rubberband.
I know it sounds strange but you need something strong and hard to break your pattern. This snap works for me.


Thursday, May 1, 2008, 2:01 PM

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