Why Can't I stop thinking about food/eating?

Question

i really need help. i can't stop thinking about food. every time i finish a meal, i'm eagerly awaiting the next meal. but, sometimes i can't even wait it out. i'll go find something to snack on (usually ice cream). lately, it's gotten worse. i've started binging and find it almost impossible to stop eating. it doesn't matter how full i am or that i'm not even hungry, i just want to eat. food is ALWAYS on my mind. here's an example. today, i woke up and the first thing i did was make myself a bowl of cereal. pretty normal, right? after i finished, i was thinking how much i couldn't wait until lunch so i could eat again. i told myself i wouldn't eat until i was actually hungry. instead, i ate at noon because that's "lunch time." (speaking of "lunch time," for a while i've been making myself eat at exactly 8am, 12pm and 5pm because that's breakfast, lunch and dinner time.) sometimes i watch the clock waiting for it to hit 12 or 5 then i immediately find something to eat, whether hungry or not. anyway, at lunch i ate some leftovers and veggies. nothing too strange there, except i was still thinking about food and how i couldn't wait to eat again. around 2:00 pm i went to jack in the box (we were out at the time) to get an oreo shake. i wasn't feeling hungry, really - not needing a small snack. i was just craving a shake. that filled me up, but not too badly. i came home and exercised around 3:10 pm and afterward watched a movie. during that time, i couldn't stop thinking about dinner. i ate around 5:30ish, though i wasn't really hungry. after dinner, i made myself another oreo shake for dessert. i told myself i would not eat again after the shake. no more food until breakfast. that didn't happen. i ran a small/fast errand, came home, then decided i would eat some chips n cheese-salsa. i ate a bunch of that plus more than a handful of cookies, telling myself it would be the last one after each cookie. now here i am. my new year's resolution was to start eating healthy. it's obviously not going good so far. i've also noticed i haven't been working out as much or as hard as i was. i joined a gym in july and have since lost over 20 lbs and gone down 4 sizes. i'm afraid that this obsession with food will ruin my success and i'll be back where i was, but even worse. i've actually gained 4 pounds in the past week or two due to binging. i've even binged and purged a couple times. the only thing i've read that comes close to my problem is that boredom can cause you to eat and/or think of food often. i'm honestly bored almost every day. i'm a stay at home. i don't know what to do about this. why can't i stop thinking about food? is this something i should see a doctor about? i seriously feel out of control. HELP!

"i'm a stay at home MOM" was what that one setence was supposed to say. sorry 'bout that.

Answer 1

I had this problem. I solved it by doing something with my hands. For example play video games, make furniture,etc. If this doesnt work try eating healthier foos like carrots.

Answer 2

You answered your own question with the last part of it:

i'm honestly bored almost every day. i'm a stay at home. i don't know what to do about this. why can't i stop thinking about food? is this something i should see a doctor about? i seriously feel out of control. HELP!

You are substituting food and eating with the lack of fulfilling goals and activities, and you are feeling like you have lack of meaning in your life. Replace eating with activities that give you pleasure and fulfiillment. and then you'll be too busy to think about food 24/7. And watching TV is not considered an activity. As a matter of fact, turn it off. Volunteer or do some charity work if you can. It's all just psychological.

Answer 3

See a doctor,not because there's something wrong with you, but maybe you can just talk about why you feel the need to eat. It could be because food is a constant it's always there for you. You never have to worry about it because you control how much you can take. I could be totally wrong. You could just be so used to it that you convince yourself that your hungry even though you really just want the food for a good taste. Try chewing gum with a flavor you like. It'll give you a taste, and you can't eat while your chewing gum. Also make the food less available in you house aka don't buy a billion junk foods, just what you need.

Answer 4

Don't tell anyone else. Calm down and tomorrow,take the same amount you stole and put it in the tip jar. Then you should calm down some. Just try to forget about it after you've put the money in the tip jar. Worrying won't do you any good.

Answer 5

I guess you are probably too free at home plenty of time thinking of foods. Maybe you can make yourself occupied with some activites such as gardening, reading, craft project, etc.

Another thing... dont store too much foods at home, make only healthy choices available, eg. fruit, salad, yogurt, mixed nuts. I used to keep coke at home, once I drink it...i want chips, then I want dips... then the list goes on. Now, the only drink I have in the fridge is milk.

Answer 6

my gut feeling is that you are feeding your feelings. chances are you're experiencing emotions that are hard to digest, or decipher, so you are "stuffing your emotions".

find someone to talk to. a mentor. a pastor. a teacher. a counselor. a therapist. someone you look up to and admire, and above all, trust.

you are not alone. i know this is a very real malady. your unconcious emotions are getting the best of you. you are right that this could end up controlling your life.

Answer 7

Holy s h i t! See a doctor. Purging? Yuck. Bad for your teeth. Binge eating? It's a symptom of bulimia, but you don't have it. Bulimia involves binges, but you don't exercise madly to try to work it off. I'm not saying you're not getting enough exercise, well you aren't, but the point is, you don't have bulimia. I say just see a doctor.

Answer 8

ur obssessed with it