Food Addiction

[Narz]

Does anyone else have this problem? Whenever I am bored I will eat massive amounts of food, usually that is not especially good for me. Mostly its because of boredom or just for some stimulation, also it might be to supress my energy when I have no obvious outlet for it (if I was fully energized and feeling healthy it might frustrate me that I had nothing to do, but with a bloated stomache and a slight headache somehow I can more easily accept sitting in front of the computer all day rather than going out into the world). I think the main reason I do it is simply because I like the taste of food (and also the creative aspect of preparing it)...

People probably have steriotypes of a food addict as a large woman, rejected, and consoling herself with a carton of donoughts. I don't fit this model of course. I don't have body image problems, in fact I could use to gain about 20-30 pounds + some muscle. I don't gain weight when I binge, my stomache just gets bloated and I feel lousy for a few (2-8) hours and I think: shoot I'm not gonna do that again. But then of course the next night I'm bored I do it again.

Anyone else experience this? Any advice?

- Narz

[Jaguar]

I find that funny actually. If you were overweight it wouldn't be, but because you aren't it's very funny.

My advice is for you to go buy a high quality computer game.

[Skanky Burns]

Take up exercise. This will give the food you eat somewhere healthy to go to, and also help aleviate your boredom.

[curtsibling]

Hi Narz!

Well I would recommend a time-consuming hobby that transcends eating.

I find that art or cartooning does this for me...
Perhaps doing digi-art on your mac may help burn up those spare hours...

What you have to do is just assert your self, and break that barrier of boredom, which can be hard to do, I know.

Do something new and creative, and immerse yourself in it...

And do it until you feel genuinely peckish...

Eating is far more fun when hungry.

[Narz]

Hey Curt!

I do try to excersize. Most days I swim, but I can't excersize all day. Also in regards to creative activity I know you're right but its hard to stay immersed all day.

I think one of the main problems is my isolation. Out here in California I don't know anyone and I am out of work right now (which accounts for me having too much free time).

I have an "occupational idea" (can't tell you yet ) for when I return to New York (in 12 days now) so hopefully that will occupy more of my time & energy.

Also it'll be nice to see my GF again! Its been far too long...

[Skanky Burns]

I have an "occupational idea" (can't tell you yet ) ... Also it'll be nice to see my GF again!

/me puts 2 and 2 together...

[Narz]

Originally posted by Skanky Burns

I have an "occupational idea" (can't tell you yet ) ... Also it'll be nice to see my GF again!

* Skanky Burns puts 2 and 2 together...

Not what you're thinking. I said "" not ""

[Skanky Burns]

[Richard Bruns]

Re: Food Addiction

Originally posted by Narz
Does anyone else have this problem?

I do. If I am stuck in my apartment with nothing to do I often find myself wanting to cook and eat something. In fact, just about everything you described applies to me, including the part about being underweight and never gaining weight if I do eat too much. Are we clones?

The problem is compounded by the facts that I have no computer at home, and that the school and library are completely closed most of the weekend. Here are some solutions I have found:

1) Get out of the house. I often go on bike rides on Sunday, when there is nothing else to do. But sometimes the weather is too bad.
2) Keep a supply of good books on different topics. Switch between them if you get bored of one.
3) Learn exercises that you can do with a small amount of floor space and no equipment. My dorm room at WCU was just barely big enough for me to practice karate katas, but the rooms here are too small so I just do a lot of push-ups, sit-ups, and pull-ups. My favorite, for some reason, are pull-ups. I do them so often out of sheer boredom and excess energy that I can easily do ten off the door lintel, even though the grip is bad and not reeally suitable for pull-ups.
4) Brush your teeth. This has several advantages. It gives me something good to do, and it reduces the desire for food. Things taste bad with toothpaste aftertaste, and I don´t want to waste the brushing by getting my mouth dirty.
5) If all else fails, give into the urge, but cook something really heathy, preferably vegan. It is practically impossible to gain weight on a strict vegan diet, no matter how much you eat. My snack food of choice is oatmeal. Not that instant junk, but plain, whole grain rolled oats, cooked and flavored to my specifications with fruit and peanut butter. I could probably write a small book on cooking with oatmeal. I eat a quarter of a kilo (dry weight) every day for breakfast, and yesterday when I was trapped inside I ate a whole half-kilo package over the course of the day.

[JohnT]

"In fact, just about everything you described applies to me, including the part about being underweight and never gaining weight if I do eat too much. Are we clones?"

No, you're just (likely) young.

[Richard Bruns]

I know that most young people can eat a lot, but very few of them actually have a habit of doing so, as Narz described. Also, few young guys enjoy the creative aspect of preparing food; most of the ones I know grab small quick meals of things like candy bars or burgers.

[mox]

Narz, are you sure you're not depressed?

[Spec]

Stop smoking weed!

[Straybow]

I think I'm addicted to food. If I go a couple days without it I feel like I might die.

[Japher]

I cook when I'm bored, but I don't eat. I waste a lot of food this way.

Also, when I'm bored I drink a lot... is that the same?

I need a hobby.