Does anyone else struggle with compulsive eating? I became interested in this program because I suffer from panic attacks. I also have a problem with compulsive eating. I thought I had two separate problems, but since starting the program (I'm in my 5th week), I'm beginning to realize that these two issues are very closely related and I'm hopeful that I can address both disorders now and forever!! During the past week, I have started to cutdown on sugar and am using positive self-talk to better control my eating but I sometimes feel as if I will never be free of this need to always be full. I'd appreciate hearing anyone elses experience and advice on this issue.


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JWB,
I have a similar experience. I have been overweight for quite some time now. But during the last few weeks I have noticed that some days I cannot eat. This goes on for about a day or two and then boom...I cannot get enough to eat. I am glad that it is not the latter all of the time or I would be in big trouble but I do not think that this is healthy either. Good for you on cutting down on sugar. I don't eat an extreme amount of sugar but I crave salt. I know it sounds weird but I have always craved salt. Oh well. I do not have any real advice for you except to stick with the program...that's what I plan on doing!!
~Flutterby

I too, have periods of time with uncontrollable eating. I first associated it with my menstrual cycle but it seems to occur at other times as well. I hadn't connected this to the anxiety but I think you may be on to something. What kind of positive talk do you use when you have those urges to eat non-stop?

I also have a problem with overeating. I get depressed over all the weight that I have gained & then it just "feeds" my desire to eat. I crave mostly sweets. I will make cookies & eat 12 or more. I know what I'm doing when I'm doing it but it doesn't help. I still do it. It's like a completely seperate person is doing it-not me. I too would like some ideas about the self talk that I could use in this instance.

Hi JWB, I actually emailed you yesterday and that email was returned to me, don't know why. Hadn't realized i could leave you a msg. right here! I'm new at this site,although i've had this program for over 8 months. I have had an eating disorder for as long as i can remember. In my case, it was binging and it made my life a misery oftentimes. No diets helped, no self-talk helped, nothing 'reasonable' helped....not for me. In 1982 i discovered the 12 Step Program, O.A. i can only suggest to you what helped me and so many others around this world! Eating disorders, once you've crossed a line, are an addiction. You can't talk it away, not usually. It isn't a weakness in your character and willpower doesn't work for long. For myself, i knew i could not control this compulsion. It was always my way of 'disappearing'... of 'numbing' myself, from feeling all kinds of things. For some, it hasn't gone that far and other things can work. For myself, O.A. was the only way that worked for me. 12 Step Programs are invaluable and the spiritual component (NOT connected to any organized religion) was a major source of strength (and actually miracles!) for me. I no longer diet or struggle with the compulsion to indulge. When I do get a craving and think i might act on it, i pick up the phone. Five minutes of talking with someone else who works that program....saves me from perhaps months of unhappiness. I can only share with you what I know has been the answer for me. I hope it helps in some way. God bless, Linda (Toronto)

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Linda

Nothing to fear and yet 1,
What is the 12 step program O.A.? Is it a book? Please let me know. Like the others who have posted here, I stuggle with compulsive eating. I eat when I'm sad. I eat when I'm depressed. I eat for no reason. I eat to escape my thoughts. Even when I'm able to stop it, I can't lose the weight. It ultimately will sent me off on a future tangent when my clothes don't fit! LOL

Feeling fluffy,
New Hope

Hi there "feeling fluffy", i just woke up, i'm half-asleep but i want to reply to you quickly, as i have to go out and won't be able to write until much later. So, just for now, i'll reply to What is O.A. or a 12 Step Program? The 12 Steps are based on Alcoholics Anonymous. It's a self-help group (group is putting it mildly) there are thousands of 12 step meetings all over the world for many kinds of addictions.You only need to look it up in your phone book "Overeaters Anonymous" and make a call. Ask where there is a meeting close to you, if possible. You ought to try several meetings to see which suits you best. I would suggest going to a 'General Meeting' first. Here, a speaker shares her (his) experience, strength and hope. There are also meetings where people read something called the 12 Steps and share on their progress. Hard to explain the program for O.A. right now...wish i had more time. I think it would work beautifully hand in hand with THIS program.If you need to know more, PLEASE feel free to ask me. I'll be back home later on in the day. Linda

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Linda

Nothing to fear and yet 1:

Thanks for your reply. I'll try checking our phone book. I haven't heard of this before. It's worth checking into!

New Hope

[Linda, Thanks so much for your reply. Sorry I haven't been able to get back sooner, I've been out of town. Yes, you are right, positive self-talk is not helping me out! I'd be very interested in getting more details from you; I tried to e-mail you and received a message that you are no longer a member of this site. I will look into OA and take your advice with starting with a general meeting. I too binge but I'm not at all certain why. This program has been great for my stress-related issues (mostly panic attacks) but I'm going nowhere with my compulsive eating. Again, I'd like very much to communicate with so we can share some of these experiences; I feel that I will never be able to turn this compulsion around and do blame myself making it very hard to stay positive in working the rest of this program. JWB0625.
QUOTE]Originally posted by nothing to fear, and yet1:
Hi JWB, I actually emailed you yesterday and that email was returned to me, don't know why. Hadn't realized i could leave you a msg. right here! I'm new at this site,although i've had this program for over 8 months. I have had an eating disorder for as long as i can remember. In my case, it was binging and it made my life a misery oftentimes. No diets helped, no self-talk helped, nothing 'reasonable' helped....not for me. In 1982 i discovered the 12 Step Program, O.A. i can only suggest to you what helped me and so many others around this world! Eating disorders, once you've crossed a line, are an addiction. You can't talk it away, not usually. It isn't a weakness in your character and willpower doesn't work for long. For myself, i knew i could not control this compulsion. It was always my way of 'disappearing'... of 'numbing' myself, from feeling all kinds of things. For some, it hasn't gone that far and other things can work. For myself, O.A. was the only way that worked for me. 12 Step Programs are invaluable and the spiritual component (NOT connected to any organized religion) was a major source of strength (and actually miracles!) for me. I no longer diet or struggle with the compulsion to indulge. When I do get a craving and think i might act on it, i pick up the phone. Five minutes of talking with someone else who works that program....saves me from perhaps months of unhappiness. I can only share with you what I know has been the answer for me. I hope it helps in some way. God bless, Linda (Toronto)
[/QUOTE]

[Flutterby, Thanks for your response. If I find a solution, I will definetly post it!!
JWB0625
]Originally posted by flutterby:
JWB,
I have a similar experience. I have been overweight for quite some time now. But during the last few weeks I have noticed that some days I cannot eat. This goes on for about a day or two and then boom...I cannot get enough to eat. I am glad that it is not the latter all of the time or I would be in big trouble but I do not think that this is healthy either. Good for you on cutting down on sugar. I don't eat an extreme amount of sugar but I crave salt. I know it sounds weird but I have always craved salt. Oh well. I do not have any real advice for you except to stick with the program...that's what I plan on doing!!
~Flutterby[/QUOTE]

[Sugar, Sorry it took so long to get back to you. The self talk I was using was to state that I would be taking better care of myself by eating healthy foods and exercising more. Unfortunately, I have not been as successful as I would have liked. I'll keep working at it!
Originally posted by Sugar:
I too, have periods of time with uncontrollable eating. I first associated it with my menstrual cycle but it seems to occur at other times as well. I hadn't connected this to the anxiety but I think you may be on to something. What kind of positive talk do you use when you have those urges to eat non-stop?[/QUOTE]

[Tammy, I understand exactly how you feel. I have not been too successful with the self talk but will continue trying.
Jwb0625.
Originally posted by Tammy:
I also have a problem with overeating. I get depressed over all the weight that I have gained & then it just "feeds" my desire to eat. I crave mostly sweets. I will make cookies & eat 12 or more. I know what I'm doing when I'm doing it but it doesn't help. I still do it. It's like a completely seperate person is doing it-not me. I too would like some ideas about the self talk that I could use in this instance.[/QUOTE]

Hi JWB, just received your msg. on my posting "having trouble with panic attacks" It's me, who wrote you all about O.A. and eating disorders. I never left the Site, i was just in the process of changing the User Name to my name, which is Linda. Linda was taken, so now I'm Lindi. I have to go out right now, but i want to let you know that i received your msg. and your comments on this site re: eating disorders. I'm going to try to write back to you tonight. Until then.....

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Linda

For those that feel hungry because you are upset or nervous -- try this:

Suck on sugar free low calorie candy that does not have nutra sweet. Keep the candy in your purse, near the TV and fridge.

Buy Stewards diet rootbeer and sugar free popsicals. Slice of lemon in your water. Put root beer also in ice trays.

The candy will satisfy that need for a sweet as will the rootbeer. Also, sugar free bubble gum. Step further with sugar free jellow and a lite cool whip.

You may see that you are loosing weight doing so and still can have something to grab.


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Victoria