Overeating

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There's a surprising lack of posts on this subject, or I'm just not looking hard enough.

Anyway, I've struggled for a long time with keeping my eating under control. I post this message in this forum because for the particular problem, I don't want necessarily to hear a bunch of health advice. I'm well educated in health, I just am not so inclined on the stress reduction part... Anyway, I eat for every reason imaginable. Some reasons, however, I can prevent, like from happiness, exhaustion, or boredom. The ones I cannot prevent, sometimes, are stress or anxiety related eating, or, this one makes no sense, when my self-esteem is at a low (mostly because physically I don't look how I'd like to, or I'm afraid people aren't responding to me the way I'd like).

The question I posit: does anyone have techniques they've tried for themselves that reduce your cravings for food? For example, sometimes I eat when I'm overloaded, and I don't realize that it's not food, but just getting away from people that will lower my overall anxiety. Something like that. Oddball techniques perhaps that they don't give for NTs with overeating issues, because they don't have to deal with the pesky sensory issues and/or they are not as easily consoled with simple changes in sensory stimuli (such as rocking, etc).

Help? I am tired of being fat because I think food is the answer to every discomfort.

I struggle with some of the same things, mainly overeating when I am anxious or when I feel bad about myself.
The anxiety causes me to eat too fast and I eat more than I intend before I realize what I am doing. Feeling bad about myself causes me to eat more often and also not care about what I am eating, in a self-sabotaging way.

I don't usually eat a lot of junk food or fast food. I'm not saying it is never part of my diet, though I do struggle with this more when I am feeling down for an extended period (more than a week.) For me, trying to follow some kind of diet is not something I can do. I can't keep track of all that and if I did, it would take over and take my attention away from things I'd rather be doing. I know I could lose weight if I eliminated sugar from my diet, but that would require so much effort and fake sugars make me sick, so that's out. I'd rather be a little plump than have no sugar at all, I guess.

The *ONE* thing that has helped me most is exercise. It helps my mood. I don't know why, but it seems to help minimize some of my Aspie traits. It also does a wonder for my appetite. I actually have a decreased appetite after a few days of exercising. (If I haven't exercised in a while, I will eat more the first few days, but then I even out and eat less.) I have just about no cravings and my blood sugar is more stable. All-in-all, exercise helps me to be more "even." It also helps me feel better about myself because I am doing something, and I am also more motivated to eat well because I don't want to undo the work I did at the gym.

I am not a huge fan of exercise, though I do like a few activities (hiking, biking, swimming.) I want to be able to do those for longer stretches and I want to eventually go on a backpacking trip, so I try to keep those goals in mind. I don't get a lot of those wonderful feelings of euphoria after I workout like I hear some people get. I only exercise because I should, and because I know that in some way I feel "better."

In no way has this helped me lose weight quickly. My body is changing shape for the better, but it is SLOW. I can't do much more about my diet without going nuts, so I just have to accept it.

I've dealt with similar issues. I think you might have better luck dealing with your anxiety first, and then your eating patterns may change.

I've been going to therapy for nearly two years at a place that specializes in eating disorders. As I was learning about both eating disorders and autism, I saw a lot of overlap. I was also amazed by the lack of knowledge relating the two diagnoses available.

I believe eating was my stim, and it was also my way of dealing with anxiety. I do not believe I have an "eating disorder," but I am receiving excellent therapy there all the same. I also deduced that my lack of hunger and fullness cues were related to autism. My anxiety in particular was preventing me from feeling full when I had eaten enough so I frequently just kept eating.

About a year ago I decided to try a medication for anxiety. A couple weeks after I started taking it regularly, I became aware of a feeling as if it was for the first time, fullness. I found myself actually pushing away the plate when there was still food on it. I find that if I get forgetful with my medication schedule that I start to eat more senselessly when I don't take it regularly.

The med that has been working for me is called buspirone.

I agree that exercise has also been helpful in the past. However, I have a lot less motivation to be active when I am overweight. The pills have helped me curb the weight gain at least.

I still crave sweet stuff.

I eat healthy by eating fruit and fish and also cereals with wholegrains.