Overeating...

[mleec]

Over the past year have had this need to keep eating. I have always struggled with eating habits. One, I love food, 2 emotional eater. However, I have learned over the years to reign it in before I go too far off. About 1 year ago I struggled to lose about 15 pounds with WW. In the past year I have had this insane desire to salt everything. (Loss of smell, explains this.). But I have this need to keep eating until I finish or find something else to consume. I have put most of the weight back on. Has anyone had these issues as it relates to Parkinson's? I am NOT on meds yet and just diagnosed this past spring. I do eat relatively well, except for the overeating.

[M-o-ggy]

I have been the same. For me Black cumin oil and Borroco boost have been the answer. Suggest it is a case of how efficient your stomach works than anything else.

Going to try emergenc C instead of Borroco Boost

[honeycombe3]

Hi Mleec,

I am a 69 year old female, UK, dxd PD 13yrs (age 55).

Like many women of a certain age I was generally battling with my weight. After starting on the agonist Requip (ropinirole) I gained nearly 3 stones. This a well documented side-effect so did not surprise me. I tried all sorts but I finally found success with hypnotherapy. The way you are affected by the compulsion sounds very similar: like a switch being pressed after which it is eat, eat, eat. There are many charlatans out there but if you find a good one you will not look back. Mine works with the rest of my medical support team & we have overcome other symptoms as well.

[mleec in reply to honeycombe3]

Thank you for the suggestion. Interesting...I will look into it.

[park_bear in reply to mleec]

Also stay away from dopamine agonists like Requip which will only aggravate the problem.

[mleec in reply to park_bear]

I will. So far have not meds. Thanks.

[soup]

Please tell your specialist about this. It sounds as though you have one of the dopamine agonist side effects. You may need to reduce the dose but this is recommended only with medical advice.

[mleec in reply to soup]

Thank you for your reply. Not on any meds yet. 😊

[soup in reply to mleec]

When my husband's meds wear off he resorts to getting his dopamine from the pleasure of eating. Luckily his eating switches off once his L Dopa kicks in.

[asmckay]

The emotional stuff is there. No point denying it. Of course it is great to deal with the underlying issue (hypnotherapy etc) but sometimes we just need to cope. These are my damage limitation strategies which work for me (and can eliminate the problem entirely).

Fill the fridge with delicious vegetables and vegetable dishes, some of which are ready to eat. For me, when I'm feeling emotional, I need abundance. I'm a good cook. So I go to the market and buy whatever looks good and is cheap. A carrier bag of green mangoes, a pile of peppers. Stick to the vegetables stalls and avoid the supermarket. Too tempting. At home, I make green mango thai salad, roasted peppers, Vegetable curry, whatever. And it goes in the fridge, the freezer. So that it is there, looking delicious. We can eat a mountain of roasted vegetables without putting on any weight. Also, a big pot of soup stays on the hob. At the moment it is root vegetables and celery, Avoid buying bread, fruit juice or anything sweet, other than fruit. They will make the whole insulin / cortisol / addiction thing worse, and they are bad for people with PD. If you need something bulky (I sometimes do) beans or potatoes may do it. Chick peas or potatoes as part of a stew may be good enough. In extremes, poppadums (gram flour, so lots of protain and fewer carbs) or buckwheat noodles. Remember that potatoes, when cooled and reheated, developed resistant starch, which is much better for us. This kind of eating will give lots of fibre and good gut bacteria both of which are good = constipation is a major risk factor in the development of PD and good gut bacteria helps the enteric nervous system, which is compromised in PD. And root vegetables deepen sleep - also important in PD.

When you feel hungry, drink a glass of water. Feel if the sensation is thirst, rather than hunger.

Chew well and eat slowly.

Make sure that you eat enough good fat. A tablespoon of coconut oil at night may prevent night time hunger and overeating.

Supplement chromium picolinate.

Be kind to yourself.

Good Luck

[mleec in reply to asmckay]

Thank you! Good advice 😊

[ddmagee1]

Yes, I have had that exact problem. I don’t know whether to blame it on PD, or my lack of self control, or both. I had gained about 20 lbs. over several years. I decided to use a food tracker app. for calories, etc. and that helped. I utilized portion control, cut out most breads and sugars and sodas, and dessserts, and I’ve lost 18 pounds in the last 9 months. It takes discipline, but it works. I have one day a week, where I’ll get a “ goody”, so to speak.? That helps, so that I don’t feel totally deprived.