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food is taking over my life
I am 19/f. 5'7" tall and currently about 140-145 lbs.
I think have developed a negative relationship with food. I feel like food is taking control of my lifestyle because I overeat a lot. I pretty much always have access to junk food, and when I don't, I seek it out.
And I am ashamed to binge in front of people, with some exceptions: like I've talked to my boyfriend about this problem with food, and he's one of the people that I will eat moderate amounts of junk food in the presence of.
I'm very conscious of what I am eating though, and I've never finished an entire bag or box of anything before. I do deprive myself of certain things because I'm terrified of becoming bigger than I am.
I mostly overeat when I'm sad about something, or stressed about relationships, my job or school, and especially when I'm alone.
I try to counteract the food I consume with exercise, but I'm afraid to give up my habit of eating. It comforts me and makes me feel happy...but I always feel bad afterwards, so that's the only reason I feel like it's taking control of my life.
I think my problem stems from a desire of wanting to be skinny and fit, but I'm not in shape, and it's because I keep eating for comfort.
I've always liked junk food, but I recently was thinking that the bingeing became worse when I fractured my jaw this past winter and I had to go on a liquid diet for a month. So I couldn't chew ANYTHING that whole time, and I had to resort to things like milkshakes to satisfy my cravings for junk food. But ever since the liquid diet ended and my jaw healed, I've been overeating more and more, and I feel like it's because I was deprived from coping by physically chewing and eating for so many days.
I have researched binge eating disorder and I got really upset reading about it because I feel like I have many of the symptoms.
My boyfriend thinks I should talk to my doctor and possibly look into therapy. He also thinks I am depressed and use food to cope with whatever problems or depression I am experiencing.
I've also talked to my mom about my issues with food, and she thinks there's nothing wrong with me and that it's all in my head. She thinks that I have normal eating habits and says that everybody overeats once in a while, and that therapy would be unnecessary.
I don't know whose side I'm on about this. I've never looked into therapy for this because I do agree with my mom when she says that it's all in my head, and I don't really have or want to have a problem. She disagrees with my boyfriend's thought that I'm depressed. She thinks I'm perfectly fine.
What do you think? Should I seek therapy or is this not really a problem?
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Maybe give some free advice about: Nutrition?
Go high carb, low fat, whole foods, plant-based VEGAN! It's not a diet, it's a lifestyle change. I went vegan this year and have lost 40 pounds, with minimal exercise, and eating AS MUCH as I desire bringing down my BMI from 30 to 24. I weigh less now than I did throughout high school, as an overweight teenager, even when I exercised for hours while on Junior Varsity and Varsity sports teams. I went to my annual physical earlier this month, and even my doctor was in shock.
My goal for next year is to lose 30-40 more pounds, I just need to start exercising on a regular basis. Nothing crazy, just 30-60 minutes of jogging, Ballet Beautiful, bike riding.. things like that.
I think it's amazing what I've accomplished so far, just by changing my diet, though. It's a lot easier to go vegan than it seems. I was never vegetarian, I went from being able to eat an entire box of pizza or entire tub of ice cream in one sitting to a full-fledged vegan. I now spend a lot less money on groceries, have more energy (never need caffeine, and never feel lethargic like I used to on a regular basis), have more concentration, am learning to cook, and etc. Try it for a week, that's how I started, and I felt so good that I just kept going, and it's now been 5 months! You can get every nutrient from plant foods, including protein!
Where do you get your protein?! 10 comebacks from a Vegan.
[Link](Mouse over link to see full location)
The only vitamin you need to supplement is B12, and one I personally recommend is Garden of Life's B12 spray (cause I personally hate swallowing pills, and methylcobalamin is better than cyanocobalamin). You can buy it at any health foods store (Whole Foods, Sprouts, Trader Joe's, etc.), or online.
More on vitamin B12
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These two movies turned me into a vegan overnight.
Forks Over Knives
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Processed People
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Cowspiracy
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Here are some good YouTube channels that have helped me, too.
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Good luck!
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Well you said you eat when you're sad, alone, or stressed maybe you should substitute that time of eating with cheering yourself up. When your sad talk about it to a close friend and get it out and do something that will take your mind off of it like going shopping a little bit. When you're stressed sit down and make a list of reasons why you're stressed then try to fix those problems rather than eating during that time. No one knows you the way you know you so if you feel that you really do need therapy go get therapy or just go to your doctor. Hoped that I could help thanks bye!
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Dear "food is taking over my life",
I was 6 foot tall, and 154 lbs at the age of 19.
I too started my long battle with junk food. I was addicted to Cheeseburgers from McDonald's, chocolate peanut butter cups, and my all time favorite. . . CHEETOS!!
Your description of the issues you have, are almost identical to mine at that age.
Before I knew it, I was finishing the bags. At one point in my life I weighed 415 lbs. I was 25, and could barely walk the distance required to get from the house to the car.
You must get past this. You are addicted to the euphoria you experience from the junk. I call it chemical crack! I found a way to eat healthy, and still get the euphoria from the food.
Today, I am still 6 feet tall, but I am only 250 lbs. I found the list in 2004. I have been sober for almost 8 years.
Your mom is partially right when she says it is all in your mind. Addiction like this originates in the brain, so she is correct in that sense. You must understand your relationship with food. This stuff is made readily available to us in large quantities to weed out the useless eaters. The human is a creature of habit and one of the few species on this planet that eats for pleasure.
I know you said that you are afraid to give your habit of eating. That should not stop you. Falling did not stop you from taking your first step as a child.
I say this to you from my own experience. I had the same thought; I will just work out harder tomorrow, or as long as I stay active I will not get fat. I was a cross country runner, 6 miles a day for training, plus other sports I played.
The chemicals that the foods are made with, and have added to them do damage to the human DNA. Over the course of 10 years, my metabolism had slowed to a crawl and I began packing on massive amounts of weight. My energy level dropped and I found myself FAT!!
Here is the quick explanation. MSG, Corn Syrup, CORN PRODUCTS, Maltodextrine, hydrogenated oils, natural flavors, etc. . all inhibit the body's ability to produce insulin. More importantly than getting fat, is your ability to think clearly on this drug.
Eating these foods will exaggerate your moods. That causes unwanted thoughts, depression, overeating, and the need for more.
The junk food has no nutritional value, so your body needs more of it to get the proper nutrition. It is a vicious cycle that is easy to get caught up in, with both body and mind needing more.
Believe it or not, no human should consume some thought to be healthy foods like tomotoes, chicken and corn. It is not just junk foods. Along with shelled fish and pork, these foods inhibit the insulin production, as well damaging other areas in the human body.
Use this link to find your list and use food as a medicine, not a drug. Use food to fuel the body and your mind. The foods that say beneficial will act like a healing agent for your body. The foods that are avoid, will destroy your genetic make-up. Eat wisely.
[Link](Mouse over link to see full location)
Good Luck!
Doktor Tammy
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