How to Stop Complusive Eating

Compulsive eating is the term for a psychological condition that is characterized as food addiction and results in overeating and weight gain. People that suffer from compulsive eating often go on eating binges, in which they consume copious amounts of food and do not feel that they are able to stop. Compulsive eaters often use food to help them deal with emotions. Various tips can help people on the path to stopping compulsive eating.

Instructions

• 1

  Make rules. Decide for yourself when you can and cannot eat, such as not eating in between your meals. If you set aside some strict rules about when you can and cannot eat, your mind will be less tempted to bring you to the refrigerator. Mealtime structure can be a vital aspect of your compulsive eating recovery.

• 2

  Surround yourself with positive influences. Instead of only being around people that have similar emotional relationships to food, try to be around and meet people that have healthy dietary habits and positive body images instead.

• 3

  Focus on other things when you feel a compulsive episode coming on. If you are feeling compulsive urges, instead of thinking about gorging on ice cream or last night's dinner, try to engage in some other activity to get your feelings out, such as writing in your journal, going to the gym to work out, meditating, speaking with a friend on the telephone or watching a television program.

• 4

  Confide in someone. Compulsive eating is often tied in emotional issues, whether it is loneliness or feelings of inadequacy. Do not try to fight the battle alone. Being alone and not having anyone to share your thoughts with could also lead you to more compulsive urges and behaviors.

• 5

  Enjoy your favorite food in moderation. Do not completely deprive yourself of all the foods that you enjoy and crave. Allow yourself to eat controlled amounts of foods that you love, whether it is a small piece of chocolate or a slice of French bread. This can help you to stop thinking about it all day, and to quash obsessive cravings.

• 6

  Make note of your progress and improvement. As you become healthier and your thoughts move away from food addiction, keep track of everything in a daily diary. This diary can be used as a motivational tool, especially when you are feeling weak and like you might want to give up your efforts to take control of your life and your eating.

• 7

  Picture yourself healthy. Try to envision your life without compulsive eating and binging episodes. Think about how happy you would be and what other activities you would be engaged in and what other goals you would have accomplished, in a world where you're not obsessively thinking about food and partaking in overeating.