If You're Overweight, Are You a Compulsive Overeater? There's Help.
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Overeating Is Rooted in Psychological, Not Physical Cravings
The majority of Americans are now overweight. Many people feel that the urge to overeat is a physical sensation. But in reality, overeating has more to do with your psychology than with your body's physical hunger. In fact, many people who compulsively overeat haven't actually felt truly hungry in years.
There are many reasons why people overeat. Loneliness, sadness, and even positive emotions such as happiness and excitement can be psychological triggers to eat. Food is used as a medicine to numb pain and as a tool for celebrations instead of a substance to nourish the body.
Here are some of the signs and symptoms of compulsive overeating:
- Binge eating
- Weight is the focus of your life
- Fear of not being able to stop eating voluntarily
- Self-deprecating thoughts following binges
- Depression
- Withdrawing from activities because of embarrassment about weight
- Feelings about self based on weight
- Going on many different diets
- Eating little in public, while maintaining a high weight
- Believing you will be a better person when thin
- Social and professional failures attributed to weight
- Feeling tormented by eating habits

It's Not about Food:
Change Your Mind; Change Your Life; End Your Obsession with Food and Weight

What emotions were running through your mind? Were you happy, sad, lonely, bored, or angry? As you keep your journal over time you'll begin to see patterns and be able to understand the issue that drives your overeating.
Once you understand what lies beneath your eating triggers, you can begin to learn new coping skills for handling those emotions. For example, instead of eating out of boredom you can find a new hobby that you enjoy using to fill your time. Instead of eating because you're stressed you can take a hot bubble bath and relax with a good book.
[photo credit - cmerow site from Flickr]
See what's included in this lens on compulsive overeating
- Stress Is a Major Cause of Compulsive Overeating
- Tired of Forbidden Foods?
- Solutions to Help You Stop Overeating
- 4 Basic Rules "Normal" Eaters Follow:
- Overeating Leads to Diabetes, Heart Disease, and Depression
- Real Stories from People in the Throes of Overeating:
- Do You Feel Powerless Over Food?
- What Are Your Thoughts About Compulsive Overeating?
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Stress Is a Major Cause of Compulsive Overeating

If you're suffering from compulsive overeating, you could be using food to mask the symptoms of stress. In today's world, stress is a bigger problem than ever before. While we have technology that's supposed to make life easier, we find ourselves running faster than ever and pushing ourselves to do more.
Instead of focusing on trying to control your diet and food, it makes more sense to attack your overeating at the source. Learning stress management techniques is essential to coping with the daily grind and keeping your mind and body healthy.
There are many strategies that can help you manage stress and regain control of your life. Learning time management skills is critical. You need to give yourself plenty of time to get to appointments, enjoy time with your family, and get time to rest and relax.
Sleeping 8 hours every night is essential and can help you to recover from the stress of the day. You can also schedule massages, yoga classes, or even just take a walk to help your muscles relax and recharge. Eventually you'll find that you depend less on food for comfort and relaxation.
Tired of Forbidden Foods?
Intuitive Eating: A Revolutionary Program That Works
Amazon Price: $7.79 (as of 06/03/2012)![]()
List Price: $15.99
"This book is the only "plan" you'll ever need to get off the dieting roller coaster and become a healthy eater. Skeptical? So was I. However, after a year of practicing Intuitive Eating, I am a COMPLETELY different person."
Release Date: 12/31/1969
Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Solutions to Help You Stop Overeating

Do you have a problem with compulsive overeating? If so, you may feel desperate to end the cycle of overeating, weight gain, stress, and overeating more. There are many solutions available for overeating - to help you put an end to this viscous and unhealthy circle.
Instead, overeating becomes a coping mechanism for deeper issues that are pushed aside. Talking to a professional can give you a new perspective and a permanent solution.
Other solutions from alternative medicine can provide what you need to stop overeating. For example, aromatherapy can help you to de-stress and relax without having to overeat. You can also get help from acupuncture to balance the energy in your body - restoring and rejuvenating your body and mind.
Hypnotherapy provides another solution for overeating. A trained hypnotherapist can help you to replace your food triggers and learn to relax and refocus your energy when those triggers occur.
Finally, some herbal supplements can help you to end the cycle of overeating. Stress, fatigue, and depression can all lead to overeating. Many herbal formulas are designed to improve your energy and decrease your stress levels making it easier to made good food choices.
[photo credit - qwurky site from Flickr]
4 Basic Rules "Normal" Eaters Follow:
The Rules of "Normal" Eating: A Commonsense Approach for Dieters, Overeaters, Undereaters, Emotional Eaters, and Everyone in Between!
Amazon Price: $8.81 (as of 06/03/2012)![]()
List Price: $14.95
"Probably the most complete, step by step book ever written for those dealing with dysfunctional eating. Karen gets directly to the core issues and beliefs and thus setting the stage for the reader to create a pathway to freedom. Feelings are survivable, although so many of us will do anything not to feel them. When you are staring at the kitchen cupboard looking for food when you are not hungry, there were thoughts, feelings and beliefs that brought you there. This book, coupled with her "Food and Feelings Workbook" truly provide the way out of the labarynth."
Release Date: 12/31/1969
Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Overeating Leads to Diabetes, Heart Disease, and Depression

If you or other family members have a problem with overeating, you probably already know that it can have an effect on both weight and overall health. But did you know that it can lead to serious medical issues such as diabetes, heart disease, and depression?

Why Can't I Stop Eating?:
Recognizing, Understanding, and Overcoming Food Addiction

More serious complications of diabetes include blindness, kidney disease, heart disease, and even amputations. It's critical that you get control of your overeating to prevent the harmful effects of this disease.
Heart disease is also common in people who overeat. Weight gain puts extra strain on the heart as it pumps blood throughout your body. A poor diet can also cause the blood vessels in your heart and throughout your body to become clogged putting even more strain on your heart.
Eventually, the heart can become so diseased that bypass surgery becomes necessary. Heart attacks are also not uncommon, many of which can be fatal.
And finally, people who overeat tend to have more problems with depression. You may actually begin overeating because you're using food to cope with your emotions. As you overeat, gain weight, and feel out of control you can actually increase your problems with depression. This can lead to even more overeating.
By learning to cope with your emotions in a more healthful way you can prevent diabetes, heart disease, and depression.
Real Stories from People in the Throes of Overeating:
Do You Feel Powerless Over Food?
Talking to a professional can give you a new perspective and a permanent solution. Getting to the root of the causes of your overeating is key to helping solve it once and for all.
by Feeling_Great
Hi. I'm the editor of Savvy Women's Magazine, an online source of information for women who want to know. Come visit us at
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