Can you use willpower to stop compulsive eating?

Question

I'm an emotional eater and recently I've found myself out of control! I am trying to unterstand the underlying causes of my urges to eat. I am wondering from an educated position if it is possible to stop this kind of behavior relying only on willpower.

Answer 1

Yes.

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Answer 2

I very much doubt it. I guess you're taking this approach because you don't want to be given drugs or some form of treatment. I also doubt if finding the underlying causes would do much good, you would probably be much better just accepting the present situation. The problem is that once you're labelled as 'compulsive' you may feel guilty about enjoying eating. Certainly those who eat less tend to live longer. Are you in control of your larder? If so, why not buy foods that are nutritious but that are either new to you, or you don't particularly fancy. Having comfort food too conveniently to hand is not the best idea. The general rules are, have a varied diet, eat well, eat slowly and really take time to enjoy and savour your food, and whenever practical eat in company When you find yourself transgressing why not write down the excuse you give yourself. The next day look at it and ask yourself is it true or are you just kidding yourself, and whether eating actually resolved the problem? Finally remember the old adage always leave the table feeling you could start all over again. And I wish I heeded that one a little more often than I do.

Answer 3

I am also an emotional eater. I eat when I'm happy, but I tend to BINGE when I'm down. This is all because food makes us feel happy.

I think willpower is the only best way to stop compulsive eating!
it is very unlikely for you to stop compulsive eating when people force it on you.

However, you can team up with another person, say a friend to work toward the same goal together. this is a great way to remind of each others' goals.

Usually, what I do is, instead of having the bag of chips laying open in front of you, I put a small portion into a dish and eat from there, storing the bag as I eat. this way, i know how much i've eaten.

good luck!

Answer 4

I don't know if you are diabetic but overeating is a good way to get yourself there. I am a compulsive eater and I know why. Dr. Phil has a book about losing weight and part of it is figuring out why you overeat. You can't control it until you understand it. Also, beside my emotional side, I was the type of person whose body never says full or just always tells me that I want to eat. My doctors says I'm the type of person that would survive a famine, but unfortunately there aren't any of those here. . .and I'm thankful for that. But the constant hunger has to do with prediabetes and the insulin/glucose levels. If you're diabetic try getting put on Byetta. It stops the constant hunger and you only have to deal with your emotional side but that's half the battle won for me. Read Dr. Sears Diet book. He talks about the insulin/sugar level, eating balanced, being prediabetic, foods that kick your sugar level crazy. It's good basic knowledge. Then keep questioning. I found it really helps to have someone on my side when I get those urges. I fI can help you, feel free to email me. I'm on your side and in your boat. . .

Answer 5

If you are Type I diabetic or have advanced Type II you may be deficient in Amylin. Amylin is a hormone secreted by the same cells that secrete insulin (at the same time they secrete insulin) and the hormone acts in a few ways:
-promote satiety (feeling full)
-inhibits glucagon secretion during episodes of hyperglycemia (reduces insulin demand)
-slows gastric emptying

A synthetic form has recently become available (injections, probably 1-3 times/day) and can be used in either Type I or Type II diabetics. With Type I (basically a total loss of insulin producing cells, you also lose amylin production....this can make you feel hungry when you shouldn't)

Do your own research and speak with your healthcare practitioner about whether amylin (Symlin/pramlintide) is right for you.

Some of the other non-clinical advise given out above can be helpful. Medical interventions like this should be used in conjuntion with will power and other non-clinical techniques.

Answer 6

Recovery Is Possible

“We are faced with a choice: Quit drinking and recover, or continue drinking and die.”—A recovering alcoholic.

IMAGINE suddenly waking up one night to discover that your house is on fire. Moments later help arrives, and eventually the fire is extinguished. Could you just go back inside and pretend that nothing happened? Obviously not. The house is devastated, and reconstruction will be needed before normal life can resume.

A similar challenge faces the alcoholic when he begins to recover. His life has been ravaged by alcohol, perhaps for many years. Now he is abstinent. The “fire” is out, but major reconstruction in attitudes, life-style, and behavior will be essential if the alcoholic is to remain abstinent. The following suggestions can help the alcoholic to attain permanent sobriety.

1. Know the Enemy

The Bible states that fleshly desires “carry on a conflict against the soul.” (1 Peter 2:11) The Greek word rendered “carry on a conflict” literally means “doing military service,” and it carries the thought of destructive warfare.—Compare Romans 7:23-25.

Just as any good soldier takes the time to study his enemy’s tactics, the alcoholic must educate himself regarding the nature of alcoholism and how it destroys the alcoholic and those close to him.—Hebrews 5:14.

2. Change Drinking and Thinking

“Sobriety means getting rid of the bottle and the baby,” says one physician. In other words, much more than the drinking must change; the inner man must change as well.

The Bible wisely admonishes: “Be transformed by making your mind over.” (Romans 12:2) “Strip off the old personality with its practices.” (Colossians 3:9) If the actions change but the personality remains, the alcoholic will simply move on to another harmful dependency—or get the old one back.

3. Get an Understanding Confidant

A Bible proverb says: “One isolating himself will seek his own selfish longing; against all practical wisdom he will break forth.” (Proverbs 18:1) Even with sobriety, the alcoholic is susceptible to rationalization. Therefore, he needs an understanding but firm confidant (often called a sponsor). It is advantageous when the confidant is himself a recovering alcoholic who has been successful in meeting the challenges of sobriety. (Compare Proverbs 27:17.) Such a confidant should respect the alcoholic’s religious convictions and must be self-sacrificing and available to give ongoing support.—Proverbs 17:17.

4. Be Patient

Recovery is gradual. It takes time for the alcoholic to reconstruct his life. There may be financial strain, tensions on the job, chaos at home. Becoming alcohol free does not mean becoming problem free. The recovering alcoholic at first may feel anxieties as he faces life without a chemical ‘problem solver.’ When such anxieties seem insurmountable, the recovering alcoholic should remember the comforting words of the psalmist: “Throw your burden upon Jehovah himself, and he himself will sustain you. Never will he allow the righteous one to totter.”—Psalm 55:22.

5. Acquire Healthy Associates

The alcoholic should honestly ask himself: ‘Do my associates support my sobriety or do they continually talk about the “good old days,” making me feel that I’m missing out?’ Proverbs 18:24 says: “There exist companions disposed to break one another to pieces, but there exists a friend sticking closer than a brother.” It takes perception to see who are true friends and who are potentially damaging associates.

6. Avoid Overconfidence

“I feel great—I don’t even have the desire to drink anymore!” The alcoholic who makes this statement is overestimating his progress and underestimating his alcoholism. The exhilaration of initial recovery, called a pink cloud, is temporary. “Strive for a balanced perspective,” recommends the book Willpower’s Not Enough. “Without it you’ll be setting yourself up for a fall, and it’s a long way down from a cloud.”—Compare Proverbs 16:18.

7. Beware of Substitute Addictions

Many stop drinking, but then they develop eating disorders or become workaholics, compulsive gamblers, and so forth. ‘What’s the harm? At least I’m not drinking,’ the alcoholic in recovery may reason. True, some physical outlets may be healthy. But when any substance or activity is used to anesthetize your feelings, this only leads to a false, temporary sense of security.

8. Adjust to New Family Roles

Many alcoholics sabotage their recovery when things start going well! Why? Simply because sobriety is new territory. The alcoholic may feel a pull toward the familiar life-style. Additionally, when the alcoholic becomes sober, he rocks the family boat. Therefore, each family member must change his or her role. “The entire script for the family performance must be discarded and a new one created in its place,” notes the booklet Recovery for the Whole Family. For good reason, recovery has been called a family affair.—Compare 1 Corinthians 12:26.

9. Be on Guard Against Relapse

Overconfidence, unhealthy associations, substitute compulsions, and increasing isolation may be stepping-stones to relapse. Maintain open communication with a confidant about any such tendencies.

One recovering alcoholic says: “All alcoholics quit drinking. Some of us are fortunate to quit while we are still alive.”

Answer 7

Depends on how strong your will is. If you have been able to stop other compulsions easy, then you should not have a problem. If on the other hand, nothing seems to work and you continue to overeat, I would look into another alternative that is right for you. ♥

Answer 8

If you consider what the word compulsion means, then you will see that the answer is NO. You need help from others. If you can't afford psychological treatment, maybe overeaters anonymous can help.

Answer 9

i believe willpower to be the most effective way to help with most argues, its not easy but it all depends on how bad you wont to give up something it worked for me. good look x

Answer 10

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