Binge eating...HELP!!!

Dear Sarah,
You should call you doctor and make an appointment. Be very honest with what is going on. It sounds like you are depressed and this is how you are dealing with it. Maybe you have a thyroid problem. It sound like sheer will power is not working. The right medication could get you on the correct path. Good luck!

Go to this website. I swear by it. www.CEAHOW.org It's a 12 step program...and before you tell me you are NOT a food addict...there are questions you can answer to help yourself decide. I also worked from home for 2 years and I have lost 110 pounds because of this awesome program. It has also helped to settle me spiritually. The depression thing is why I suggest this program. It also costs a $1 if you go to help pay for the room. If you are not local to any meetings...they have bridge meetings just about every hour that you can call in to and meet people that way and get a sponsor. It is simply the best. Feel free to send me a message if you have any other questions. God Bless...
M.

I noticed I eat more when I'm down - you mentioned that you get depressed, but maybe you're a little depressed already which contributes to the eating issue. Perhaps your church has counseling or support that you could use.

Of course, keeping the unhealthy food out of the house will help. Find foods that you like but are better for you and keep them instead. Good luck!

I tend to be a binge emotional eater, so I know how you feel. When I figure out how to kick it, I'll let you know! In the meantime, I learned about www.mypyramid.gov in my nursing nutrition class. It is headed by USDA and has SOOOO many tools, including being able to track your meals and tell you down the the vitamins and minerals of what you ate on a particular day.

here's another website you can try - myfitnesspal.com - it gives you the "big picture" of what you are eating and what you should be eating by counting your calories - i've lost almost 10 pounds so far and it helps me keep track - it's totally free and since you are a SAHM you probably have time to track your food!

Hi Sarah - I totally understand. Boredom is a huge factor in this. I work at home too and it is way too easy to take a break by dropping by the pantry. You might try to figure out some strategies to get out of the house more - like buy an inexpensive laptop and do your work from the patio or at a coffee shop etc. You might also have your Vit D level checked - many people, even those in sunny places like FL and CO, are low.

A couple of things that helped me was to start eating more fruit and veggies to snack on and keep the salty and sweet stuff out of the house. It's better for my kids too. An orange, an apple, 8oz of strawberries or 8 oz of canteloupe only has 70-80 calories and can really fill you up and calm a sweet tooth. 4 oz of celery or cucumbers only has like 15 calories.

Since making the change to snacking on veggies and fruit rather than starchy carbs and sugar (and increasing my lean protein), I've dropped 14 pounds and not much is different.

Just keep fruits and veggies (the more veggies you eat, the better!!) for snacks. If you eat veggies and some fruit all day, that can't be a bad thing!! Drink as much water as you can, also. It will keep you more full. I also agree with more cardio.

I feel for you.. did you know when you often eat you are thirsty? Most of us do not drink enough water anyway but thirst is often mistaken for hunger (per my doctor, so it's sound advice) Also I am a SAHM and can relate. At night I make up a few pre cut snacks...apples, veggies and grab those so when i am bored and still want a snack i grab those with minimal damage to my diet. Writing stuff down forces you to see all of the bites you eat, etc and makes you aware. Sparkpeople.com is a free site a lot of people swear by and also has daily support forums for weak days/moments i have a few friends who used that. My motivation was losing the weight and keeping to off b/c I was running out of clothes to wear and buying new clothes was no exactly in the budget.

I think the binging could be more emotional reasons for you not a question of you simply lacking will power. Most people binge for emotional reasons. Are you bored? Need a few hours alone of the weekends to enjoy a hobby or friends? Do you have an outlet for yourself? This is critical to do when you are a SAHM. This unhappiness with a rut and not having this to look forward to can cause you to binge. Good luck!

How about stop keeping the foods in the house that you keep eating , that way you can only snack on good stuff. I know how hard it is though , I am from England and my family send me parcels with British Chocolate in and I am ALWAYS in the cupboard taking bits!

I'd say the same thing, Try to NOT buy the things you binge on.
Otherwise try turning your kid into exercise equipment to help add extra cardio and such in your day.

Or try buying healthy things to snack on.
instead of buying candy, but mixed nuts & dried fruit.
etc

Try reading Women Food and God. It talks about emotional eating and how we try to fill a void or numb our feeling with food. It was a pretty easy read and makes you stop and think. I know my worst pig out time happens in front of the computer too.