Compulsive

I'm having trouble with compulsive over eating. It's like I've lost control. I should be able to eat supper and be full, but I snack all night even if I'm not hungry. I don't know what to do because I keep telling myself that I can't have anything, but I keep having the craving to eat. I guess I'm venting more than anything.

 Aww, first ((((((big hug))))))

Do you have bad snacks laying around?  If so get rid of them!  Maybe keep some sliced veggies and fruits in your fridge at all times.  What I'm trying to do when I get the "urge" to put something in my mouth I get my water instantly.  I just started this myself not long ago, but so far it's working pretty well.  Once I get like 30 oz of water down me I feel like a balloon, but my cravings usually go away.  I also am taking on Em's and Neccee's suggestions and eat only one to three bites of something if I have too.  Neecee has a three bite rule, while Em says the first bite tastes the same as the second. :) (thanks Em and Necee)..I actually love those rules! :) 

Tonight my dh popcorn smelled sooo good, after I drank water it still smelled good.  I knew I wasn't hungry because well...I just drank a gallon of water! hehe  So I took three kernels from his bowl and ate it.  Suprisingly that satisfied me!  Well sure I could of ate the whole bowl, but I was able to make a better choice because I knew I was already full of water.  The urge wasn't as strong as I was this time. :)  Between water and the rule I think it works pretty well.

It's worth a shot!

What are you already eating?  First, cut sugar out and if you need to put it out of the house (give to a food pantry if it's unopened).  Second, and I know others don't want to hear this, cut starches, even if just for a week or two. When I was on diets that allowed everything or had notable amounts of sugars and starches, I too would find myself wanting to eat when I wasn't hungry. Haven't felt that way in months.

Hello Maggie.... I chewed gum or ate sunflower seeds.... I had to come to grips that I have an oral fixation of some sort.  So I chewed gum.... Like the bag says eating sunflower seeds is a "snacktivity".  Like the other state, if you can replace the bad snacks with good ones, you may feel better... and they are right ... the first taste of something does not change....  Cheer up....  ((((Big Hug to you from a fellow Minnesotan))))))

Hey Maggie - I'm with you; I too have a compulsive over eating addiction.  I have to stuff myself until I'm almost sick before I stop eating.  It's taken me a long time to tie a rope around it's neck, and even now, I still don't have total control.  Snack on things high in protein, like cashews, sunflower seeds, like Diva said, or peanuts.  You'll find that after a while, you'll stop wanting to snack anymore, and you'll put the nuts down sooner and sooner.  Before you know it, you won't want to snack as much.  Hang in there.  It's hard, and we all know what you're going through.   (((((BIG HUG)))))

Thanks guys. As far as what I'm eating, it mostly college food. Hamburger helper, spahettios, and spaghetti. I don't really keep any snacks around because I know if I have them, I'll eat them all in one sitting and I don't have money to keep downing bags of chips. I do have plain popcorn kernels that I'll pop for a small night time snack. Mainly, the problem is the craving. It's maddening. I've been sure to drink lots of water before I eat anything and even chew on ice, but it doesn't seem to do much other than make me run to go potty all the time. I guess I'm just frustrated with it because I feel like I have no self control. Meh. Maybe my big tushie just needs to get to the gym.   : P

Maggie, it's your food choices that are doing it.  Bag the processed crap and living on starches or it will keep you in this cycle.