Does everyone have a voice in their head (so to speak) urging them to do this kind of thing, or just some of us?
Of those who have had this voice in their head, did anyone ever figure out how to make it go away?
(Context: Out of most food, and not responsible for feeding anyone but myself, I just boiled up a 1 lb box of spaghetti then poured a jar of sauce over it. Had a small bowl. Had another small bowl. Then spent the rest of the night fighting the urge to eat it ALL. This is a typical situation for me, and I’m wondering what can be done, not to resist the temptation, but to make the temptation stop happening. I am very, very sad that I am not eating it all. But of course, if I did, I’d be “happy” for about five minutes, then very very sad again that I just ate it all. I know it can’t be like this for everyone, right?)
Not all of us feel that way about food. I don’t think I could eat a lb. of cooked spaghetti regardless how good it was. After half I would not want to eat any more…no voices. I may have voices about the cheese cake for desert, but nothing I couldn’t silence… one way or the other
I don’t know what you can do about this. If you had a problem with your plumbing or your vehicle, or you were just bit by a moccasin… I could help.
Oh I’ve done it. I will eat a ton of the crappiest, crappiest food if I’m not careful. Probably my worst episode ever was a year or two ago when I had a giant meal at Mcdonalds–then went and grabbed a meal at Steak and Shake because I saw a billboard.
Yeah.
That was my “I have a serious problem” realization.
Right there with you. The only solution, for me, is to not prepare that much food in the first place. In fact, for the most part I just won’t even buy that much food. I go grocery shopping every few days and generally avoid buying food that is cooked in bulk. Is it more expensive that way? Absolutely. But it’s the only way I’ve found to cope.
I spent 25 years fighting those feelings, and blaming myself for not have more willpower and self-discipline. Then I finally went to therapy, and learned a lot of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy techniques. I can honestly say that it’s been over seven years since I’ve heard that voice. People commend me all the time on my fabulous willpower. I used to try to explain to them that I don’t have a lot of willpower, I just no longer have food urges that need fighting. But no one wanted to hear it, so I stopped explaining.
The bottom line is that if it’s really important to you, you can make those feelings go away. But it takes a ridiculous amount of work. You have to figure out better ways to deal with the feelings that are making you want to eat.
I also used to tell everyone who had food issues that they should try therapy. Then I realized that we all have different issues that need different solutions. But if the issue is what’s going on in your head, then the only way to resolve it is to address your thoughts directly, and CBT is the best way I know to do that.
I have binge issues. Just in the last couple weeks, I’ve taken an earnest weight loss endeavor. I started about three months ago with food logging only, dipping my toes in the water, exploring what I was really doing and making myself face it. MyFitnessPal was recommended, and it’s a very useful food logger and calorie counter. Once I faced the fact that I was often consuming 3000 calories, it’s time to stop it. The app also gives target calories for modest weight loss, so I’ve finally told it to help me lose a pound a week. The food logging keeps me honest and the huge database makes it easy to calorie count, especially with the Barcode reader.
But it took three months of food logging to reconcile it all in my head.
My Labrador retriever evidently hears these voices.
I frequently make too much spaghetti. I get halfway through the giant bowl and then put it in the fridge. I think it tastes better on reheating.*
*Calvin Trillin wrote about getting a sudden craving for Kraft macaroni and cheese, only to discover that what he really was hungry for was reheated leftover Kraft macaroni and cheese.
DON’T, as in do not, cook an entire pound of spaghetti. Measure out a 1/4 pound (although even that is a lot) and cook that and put the rest away. It is the only way of dealing with it. I know, I’ve been there, done that and now I don’t. Good luck!
I know exactly what you are talking about, and I agree with Hari Seldon - you need to control this as early in the food prep process as possible, preferably at the grocery store. Buy small quantities where possible (although you can’t fool yourself by buying 10 single-serving packages of something, because you will just keep opening more packages). It’s more expensive but it may be the only way to control cravings - i.e. by not having things in the house you can easily over-eat. If it is food that requires preparation, by all means only prepare one serving at a time.
You didn’t say whether you have a weight issue, but if this is your eating pattern then I’ll bet you do. I have struggled with this all my adult life. When I was young I could just “binge diet*” every so often and lose a bunch of weight. When I got middle-aged that didn’t work any more and I started putting on a lot of mostly permanent weight.
One thing that helps a lot is to religiously write down everything you eat, amount and calories. I know it’s a PITA but it’s also a very effective way for your brain to overcome your cravings by seeing in black and white how much you are putting into your body.
Over time I have found out that I can reduce cravings like that by just not giving in to them. Writing down the food is critical for this. If I know I have to write down “1 lb spaghetti 716 calories; jar of pasta sauce 456 calories (and look at the sodium!)” then I just won’t eat it.
*That’s what I called it, just gutting it out for a couple of weeks of eating next to nothing to lose 10 pounds, or eating a little more for a lot longer if I need to lose more.
For years, I’d spend hours preparing food, enough for 4-5 meals. Then, plopped down in front of the TV, with food piled high on the plate, ate the entire plateful . . . on autopilot. But the TV show isn’t over, so I’d go back into the kitchen and reload. By the time the program is over, I’ve eaten all 4-5 meals worth of food.
But in May I injured my hip. I can’t stand more than 1.5 minutes, so cooking is out. In fact, just walking to the kitchen is painful. I’m too lazy to go out to fast food, so I’ve lost 35 lbs., 30 in the first month. But once the hip is fixed, I know the old voices will return, and I’ll still pile the food high and eat it all. I hope I’m wrong about that.