Why can't i stop over eating?

Question

i am 29 and weigh 11 and a half stone, im 5'5 and consider myself to be overweight, the thing is i am so unhappy with my weight and body image yet seem to be unable to do anything positive to fix it. infact recently i have been stuffing my face..i'm like a bulimic that is not sick afterwards. im not unhappy i dont think...yeah there are areas of my life that bother me but in general i'm happy. i have a boyfriend that adores me...normally i gain weight when i am single. i just dont understand...i eat then feel terrible for it..then i might eat more. i procrastinate going to the gym for some reason. i used to be really into it. i have always been on diet and my whole life is dominated by my weight and what i look like. it just seems like i have given up trying just now and in turn is making me more conscious of it. anyone else feel like this or can offer some advice??

Answer 1

I suggest that you attempt to develop and implement a cognitive sequence to replace your current obsessive thoughts about food.

When you feel the urge to snack or indulge in a second helping, resist that immediate urge by cognitively embracing the idea that you can reap higher and more satisfying rewards for restraint in the face of an almost overwhelming desire to overindulge.  For example, think about abstaining from a dessert for five days in a row, and then reward yourself by having a modest, but delicious, dessert on the sixth day.

And, at some point, you can realize that the pleasure and the joy that is manifested within you when you learn how to control your weight is a much more satisfying emotional response then the repetitive highs and lows of overeating and resultant regret about lack of self control.