How do i overcome comfort eating?

[Sade12]

I was upset about something and ate and drank ridiculous amout. I plan not to eat today, i have walked and plan to do indoor exercises at home. I will appreciate any tips on what else i can do to make up and how to overcome in future.

Thanks

[alisonx]

Do not starve yourself! you are punishing yourself and that creates a negative relationship with food. I am sure whatever upset you is not a cause to punish yourself today, you don't deserve it.

Exercise should also be something you enjoy, do not link it to eating as this will create negatives. Use this as a way to relieve your stress and release the happy chemicals

Instead - think about what you want to eat today - get in loads of fruit and vegetables, write off yesterday as a day to learn from. It is in the past now and cannot be changed.

I have found having a bag of frozen mango in my freezer invaluable - when i am sitting there of an evening and want to pig out guilt free i have a bowl - and it takes ages to eat because its frozen! i love it.

Its all about finding a strategy - and trying to replace the foods you don't want to pig out on with something good so that you have a back up should you need it for the off days.

Good luck!

[BridgeGirl Administrator 2 stone in reply to alisonx]

Great positive reply alisonx

[Sade12 in reply to alisonx]

Thank you Alison x

[moreless Administrator 7 stone]

I agree with Alison, Sade, starving after a binge, just keeps that yoyo way of eating going. You need to find different ways to comfort yourself, other than eating. Maybe this could help?

helpguide.org/articles/diet...

[Sade12 in reply to moreless]

Thank you. Great tips from the link

[Active_43]

Hi Sade12 , I think a lot of people comfort eat, myself included, so you are not alone.

What you need to try and do though is prevent the swings of binge and starve that in itself will probably cause you to comfort eat. Plan regular healthy meals and snacks to prevent actual hunger causing you to comfort eat.

When you hit a crisis, try and write down your feelings. Talk to someone about how you feel. It might not help every time you are upset but if it helps sometimes then it is a start.

Eat today, eat tomorrow, don't use exercise as a punishment to burn calories just do it because it makes you feel good.

Good luck.

[Sade12 in reply to Active_43]

Thank you

[Tiggerr]

... and I agree with the both of them.

I've gone through a similar process and by going down that path it's likely to get more and more out of control. Your body will get hungrier and your mind less likely to resist bingeing again. I had an unplanned kebab last week but I just had to suck it up and carry on the next day as usual and learn by being more consistent.

Good luck!

[Sade12 in reply to Tiggerr]

You are right! Thank you

[molly165]

I agree too! I tend to comfort eat. Things that have helped are to find healthy treats as a stop gap if I’m feeling really bad. Long term strategy is to try and find something you enjoy doing like (for me) reading a book or having a hot bath and doing that for comfort instead. Hope that helps

[Sade12 in reply to molly165]

Thank you Molly

[Sade12]

Great responses, I plan to take on board all your tips. Feeling better now and hoping to carry on from where I stopped.

[Hidden]

I love your last positive statement Sade 12! Think what a clever girl you are to want to do something and never beat yourself up when you make a mistake, realise it and carry on.

[Sade12 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you Annie