Binge eating problem, really embarrassed and hopeless about the situation?

[Anonymous]

I'm having problems with eating. Many times a week, usually 5 times (nights) I binge. I eat pretty healthy and light during the days because I'm trying to lose weight but then at nights when I'm alone I eat tons of junk. I feel like I'm addicted to food. I can't control myself and I hate this!! I have gained over 20 kgs (about 50 lbs) in a few months :( I'm really overweight now. I hate myself for doing this and I'm so embarrassed I can't tell anyone. I think my boyfriend would leave me if he knew. He doesn't understand why I just gain when I'm on a diet. I have tried to stop this but nothing seems to help. Any ideas what I could do? I just cry like every night because I'm so fat and disgusting and can't stop eating.

[DodgersGM]

This is far more of a psychological issue than it is a nutritional one. I think the reason you're having the most trouble with this is that you're tackling the problem on the surface by trying to diet and focus on the food itself.

Instead, focus on the emotions that you're attempting to stifle with your eating habits. What are you feeling when you binge? What feelings are you trying to bury by eating all that stuff?

I've been an emotional eater in the past, so I get it. For some people it can become a vicious cycle: you try to bury your negative emotions with food, then you feel guilt about your eating, so you return back to the food all over again.

Can you speak to a therapist about all of this?

[slimcharles]

This is extremely common. The reason you binge is that you are depriving yourself of calories all day, so that by the time the evening comes, you have a ferocious hunger drive and over eat. Many, many people do this, and I inadvertently did the same thing for a couple of years - 150 calorie turkey and egg white muffin for breakfast and a 350 calorie turkey frozen meal for lunch.

I recommend you eat three or four times and build the meals so that they average 500 - 600 calories with a great deal of fiber. Shoot for around 1800 - 2000 calories per day. If you do that and get a little exercise, you will lose 2-4 pounds per week until you are at your optimal weight.

[Anonymous]

Junk food is engineered to make you addicted. You've gotta eat natural foods to kick the cravings. Exercise, meditation, journaling and even therapy can help with any emotional issues. But the junk food itself causes a lot of the drive to overeat. It's like cigarettes that way.

[Anonymous]

Get rid of all the junck food, and get more sleepy. Stop taking any caffine. Take fiber or oatmeal at dinner to keep you full...

[MothMonsterMan]

You need to get professional help. Find a psychologist to talk to and work from there. Don't go to the internet for advice like this. This is your health you're talking about.