Compulsive Overeating Disorder

Off Topic
1

I’m assuming with eating being such a huge part of many T-Nationer’s lives, some of you have developed overeating compulsive disorder.

I am pretty much positive I have it. I can be spot on, and nothing can break me for a couple of months. After amazing results, and feeling healthy, I’ll have a taste of something oh so sweet, and all hell breaks loose. I’ll devour an entire loaf of bread over an hours time, with a half jar of peanut butter and nutella. Followed by whatever else I can eat before I get to the point where it’s impossible for my stomach to handle any more. Sleeping goes out the window after a binge like this.

It’s getting a bit ridiculous, and the worst part is, I can’t regain that control. That one taste of the forbidden fruit lights a fire that doesnt stop raging until the damage has been done. I admire bodybuilders’ dedication to stick with extreme diets for 3 - 4 months. I hope to overcome these aweful bouts of gluttony.

2

I’ve had a “reason” to eat pretty much everything that I’ve had in the past 4 years (I include a large pizza as a food eaten for a reason. Bag of chips or chocolate or a pastry: not so much). I wouldn’t say I’ve had a cheat meal since I began eating with a purpose. So I can’t really identify with the concept of breaking a diet.

What I can say about having an “over eating disorder” though is that if I fail to reach my calorie goal for a given day I feel alot of guilt going to bed and feel that I’ve failed myself for that day’s goal. (Since I’m essentially on perpetual bulk).

As for binging, I wish I could. I have to eat small portions all day every day because I can’t eat alot in one sitting unless its at a buffet, in which case I’m willing to endure the pain, given the fiscal benefit of doing so.

3

[quote]MementoMori wrote:
I’ve had a “reason” to eat pretty much everything that I’ve had in the past 4 years (I include a large pizza as a food eaten for a reason. Bag of chips or chocolate or a pastry: not so much). I wouldn’t say I’ve had a cheat meal since I began eating with a purpose. So I can’t really identify with the concept of breaking a diet.

What I can say about having an “over eating disorder” though is that if I fail to reach my calorie goal for a given day I feel alot of guilt going to bed and feel that I’ve failed myself for that day’s goal. (Since I’m essentially on perpetual bulk).

As for binging, I wish I could. I have to eat small portions all day every day because I can’t eat alot in one sitting unless its at a buffet, in which case I’m willing to endure the pain, given the fiscal benefit of doing so.[/quote]

I think your mindset is different than the OP. Considering the sheer quantities of food some of these pros shovel down daily, I am pretty sure most hardcore lifters would WELCOME a good homestyle quality “compulsive eating disorder”.

Have you seen Kai Greene eat?

4

[quote]WannabeBigBoy wrote:
I’m assuming with eating being such a huge part of many T-Nationer’s lives, some of you have developed overeating compulsive disorder.

[/quote]

Some of us have discipline

5

Sometimes I actually have the OPPOSITE problem. I don’t binge and purge by any means, but I find that sometimes I don’t have a very large appetite, even after working out like a fucking wolverine. I’ll try to down a shitload of food, but I just can’t do it. I go thru phases where it’s all I can do to get 3000 calories in a day without eating a bunch of empty calorie bullshit.

I’m 6’1" 200lbs but I’ve been stuck there for a long time and as a result, my lifts have begun stalling on me, regardless of how hard I go. It happens in phases, but it worries me a little because I’ve always had an appetite that could put an all-you-can-eat buffet out of business. If I didn’t lift weights at all, my natural weight would be about 175-180, but I can’t see any reason why I shouldn’t be able to put more than 20-25 lbs on with this much of a struggle to eat a lot.

Prof X: you seem to be one of the most knowledgeable people here. Is this conundrum I face simply a matter of sucking it up shoving shit down my throat no matter what? Or is this perhaps a natural occurrence as my metabolism slows down? Loaded/vague question, I know. Any thoughts?

6

[quote]Professor X wrote:

[quote]MementoMori wrote:
I’ve had a “reason” to eat pretty much everything that I’ve had in the past 4 years (I include a large pizza as a food eaten for a reason. Bag of chips or chocolate or a pastry: not so much). I wouldn’t say I’ve had a cheat meal since I began eating with a purpose. So I can’t really identify with the concept of breaking a diet.

What I can say about having an “over eating disorder” though is that if I fail to reach my calorie goal for a given day I feel alot of guilt going to bed and feel that I’ve failed myself for that day’s goal. (Since I’m essentially on perpetual bulk).

As for binging, I wish I could. I have to eat small portions all day every day because I can’t eat alot in one sitting unless its at a buffet, in which case I’m willing to endure the pain, given the fiscal benefit of doing so.[/quote]

I think your mindset is different than the OP. Considering the sheer quantities of food some of these pros shovel down daily, I am pretty sure most hardcore lifters would WELCOME a good homestyle quality “compulsive eating disorder”.

Have you seen Kai Greene eat?[/quote]

Dude this is totally different. OP’s problem is more psychological than anything. OP I don’t know what you are doing as far as goals(dieting, trying to gain) but at this point you need to tackle this problem by not being so strict with food. Food is just that…food and it provides us with nutrients so that we can survive.

You are starting to see it as something else so at this point you need to just EAT, of course try to eat as healthy as possible(protein in every meal etc) but if u feel like eating ice cream or something one day don’t hold back…also keep working out HARD…do this for a few weeks or until you can see food as what it is…FUEL.

7

[quote]ronaldo7 wrote:

[quote]Professor X wrote:

[quote]MementoMori wrote:
I’ve had a “reason” to eat pretty much everything that I’ve had in the past 4 years (I include a large pizza as a food eaten for a reason. Bag of chips or chocolate or a pastry: not so much). I wouldn’t say I’ve had a cheat meal since I began eating with a purpose. So I can’t really identify with the concept of breaking a diet.

What I can say about having an “over eating disorder” though is that if I fail to reach my calorie goal for a given day I feel alot of guilt going to bed and feel that I’ve failed myself for that day’s goal. (Since I’m essentially on perpetual bulk).

As for binging, I wish I could. I have to eat small portions all day every day because I can’t eat alot in one sitting unless its at a buffet, in which case I’m willing to endure the pain, given the fiscal benefit of doing so.[/quote]

I think your mindset is different than the OP. Considering the sheer quantities of food some of these pros shovel down daily, I am pretty sure most hardcore lifters would WELCOME a good homestyle quality “compulsive eating disorder”.

Have you seen Kai Greene eat?[/quote]

Dude this is totally different. OP’s problem is more psychological than anything. OP I don’t know what you are doing as far as goals(dieting, trying to gain) but at this point you need to tackle this problem by not being so strict with food. Food is just that…food and it provides us with nutrients so that we can survive. You are starting to see it as something else so at this point you need to just EAT, of course try to eat as healthy as possible(protein in every meal etc) but if u feel like eating ice cream or something one day don’t hold back…also keep working out HARD…do this for a few weeks or until you can see food as what it is…FUEL.[/quote]

I know full well it is totally different. I also know that the OP seemed to misunderstand the difference between all out eating for gaining muscle…and some inability to control yourself at all.

Making that distinction even more apparent is what is also needed, even if I didn’t explain every step of the thought process.

You also won’t be solving a deep psychological issue in 8 lines of text.

8

OP, your problem described what I have been going through exactly to a tee (Except ONLY one loaf of bread?)

First, can you distinguish whether this is psychological or physiological? The first being something beyond the scope of anything on this board and you needing to see a professional in the field, and the latter being disrupted hormones yadda yadda yadda.

I mention the latter as these little ‘binges’ occur to me whenever I do not manage my carb intake and my Insulin / Blood sugar get screwy (I am one of those ‘carb intolerant’ people, Insulin overproducer), and the prevalence of these types of binges in typical dieters leads me to believe that a good chunk of them may be influenced by hormones.

As for not being able to control it, all I can say is ‘Dopamine reward circuit’

9

[quote]WannabeBigBoy wrote:
I’m assuming with eating being such a huge part of many T-Nationer’s lives, some of you have developed overeating compulsive disorder.

I am pretty much positive I have it. I can be spot on, and nothing can break me for a couple of months. After amazing results, and feeling healthy, I’ll have a taste of something oh so sweet, and all hell breaks loose. I’ll devour an entire loaf of bread over an hours time, with a half jar of peanut butter and nutella. Followed by whatever else I can eat before I get to the point where it’s impossible for my stomach to handle any more. Sleeping goes out the window after a binge like this.

It’s getting a bit ridiculous, and the worst part is, I can’t regain that control. That one taste of the forbidden fruit lights a fire that doesnt stop raging until the damage has been done. I admire bodybuilders’ dedication to stick with extreme diets for 3 - 4 months. I hope to overcome these aweful bouts of gluttony.[/quote]

What do you eat when you have these binges?

Bread, pizza, lasagna, stuff like that?

For if that is the case it might have more to do with the effects of exorphins on your brain and maybe gluten on your intestines than with lack of willpower.

Try to eat one slice of bread in the evening and see if you gain 3-5lbs overnight.

If you do, your body is retaining water in order to fight what it considers to be pathogens.

10

Interesting…

Nearly every tome I go on a food bender, it consists of bread, cereal, simple carbs basically. Also, to clarify for some posters, I am not trying to gain much size at all. My main focus is health at the moment, while maintaining strength. If anything I am slightly losing weight. I recently was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis, and my eating cleaned up immediately in an attempt to find foods that trigger my UC symptems.

Hydra - When your blood sugar rises, you think this triggers your binges? I have been trying to see why I do it. I have a personality where everything I do is “All of Nothing” When I eat healthy, don’t let a single thing get by, my focus all day is basically on when my next meal is and whether I’m getting a balanced, yet physique improving food. I’ve started to see a link between eating when things become stressful. All this week I have tests and projects/papers due in school, and yesterday I didn’t have the additional energy to think about what I should eat and when. I just ate, and ate a lot.

An example of my eating: (not on binge)
Oatmeal with flaxseeds and MD
Salad with turkey breast, no dressing
Chicken breast w/ steamed vegetables
Greek yogurt
Almonds
Atleast 3 servings of fruit each day (Apple, Orange, Blueberries, Raspberries)
Shakes throughout

I’m not counting calories, but that is obviously not going to be a huge amount, while I can still maintaining weight and keeping carbs high enough to perform well in the gym at each workout.

To the bulkers and Pro X, I have a huge respect for those of you who wish to put on tons of size, but this website is filled with people who are trying to look good and who love lifting and being strong(strong is relative to each person). People who don’t want to compete, but use this information to better their training and eating habits. I am one of those.

11

Stop buying shitty food you binge on - easy enough solution. You can’t binge on it if you don’t have it laying around. If you want to cheat go to the store and buy the amount for your cheat meal/cheat day and whatever you don’t finish throw away. I think it’s damn near impossible to binge on oatmeal, eggs, steak, chicken, sweet potatoes, vegtables, ect.

12

I agree that simplifies things, but when living at home trying to save money, that solution is impossible. I live a completely different lifestyle than my parents, and they have tons of food that doesn’t fit my perception of healhty. There are no excuses, because I realize I could move out; but while going to college, living at home allows me to save money to transfer to a more expensive university in the future.

13

[quote]WannabeBigBoy wrote:

To the bulkers and Pro X, I have a huge respect for those of you who wish to put on tons of size, but this website is filled with people who are trying to look good and who love lifting and being strong(strong is relative to each person). People who don’t want to compete, but use this information to better their training and eating habits. I am one of those. [/quote]

Oh, Dear Gawd. If you are maintaining your weight, what is the fucking problem?

If you crave carbs THAT much, it is more likely you are eating WRONG. Quit cutting out carbs so much through the rest of the week if you aren’t even trying to gain or lose or anything.

What you just wrote is easily translated as, “I don’t have any significant goals and just show up at the gym and go through the motions”.

You are eating like a bodybuilder trying to lean up for a contest. There is no way in hell you will gain much muscle eating like that so what is the issue? Are you gaining weight uncontrollably?

14

[quote]Professor X wrote:

[quote]WannabeBigBoy wrote:

To the bulkers and Pro X, I have a huge respect for those of you who wish to put on tons of size, but this website is filled with people who are trying to look good and who love lifting and being strong(strong is relative to each person). People who don’t want to compete, but use this information to better their training and eating habits. I am one of those. [/quote]

Oh, Dear Gawd. If you are maintaining your weight, what is the fucking problem?

If you crave carbs THAT much, it is more likely you are eating WRONG. Quit cutting out carbs so much through the rest of the week if you aren’t even trying to gain or lose or anything.

What you just wrote is easily translated as, “I don’t have any significant goals and just show up at the gym and go through the motions”.

You are eating like a bodybuilder trying to lean up for a contest. There is no way in hell you will gain much muscle eating like that so what is the issue? Are you gaining weight uncontrollably?[/quote]

I agree with you that craving carbs is proabably a sign of needing them in my everyday diet, yet I am at odds with that statement. I eat plenty of fruits and veggies and a bowl of oatmeal every morning. I feel I shouldn’t be craving carbs, but maybe my body is telling me I am.

I certainly have goals. I want to be lean, nearly bodybuilder lean. I just don’t have the desire to compete, because a)I’m not big enough and b)I don’t want to be big enough. I want to be an all around athlete, which requires less muslce mass, and different training approach than bodybuilding. Binging on foods stalls my progress in becoming and maintaining an extremely lean physique. That is where the problem lies.

Cultural differences may help explain my goals. I live in a “granola” area that is known for skiing and outdoor activities. Rarely do I see massive people around, and many social activities require above average cardiovascular abilities.

15

[quote]DBCooper wrote:
Sometimes I actually have the OPPOSITE problem. I don’t binge and purge by any means, but I find that sometimes I don’t have a very large appetite, even after working out like a fucking wolverine. I’ll try to down a shitload of food, but I just can’t do it. I go thru phases where it’s all I can do to get 3000 calories in a day without eating a bunch of empty calorie bullshit.

I’m 6’1" 200lbs but I’ve been stuck there for a long time and as a result, my lifts have begun stalling on me, regardless of how hard I go. It happens in phases, but it worries me a little because I’ve always had an appetite that could put an all-you-can-eat buffet out of business. If I didn’t lift weights at all, my natural weight would be about 175-180, but I can’t see any reason why I shouldn’t be able to put more than 20-25 lbs on with this much of a struggle to eat a lot.

Prof X: you seem to be one of the most knowledgeable people here. Is this conundrum I face simply a matter of sucking it up shoving shit down my throat no matter what? Or is this perhaps a natural occurrence as my metabolism slows down? Loaded/vague question, I know. Any thoughts?[/quote]

Too bad we can’t trade eating habits. I guarentee eating ample amounts of food would help you break through the barrier. When I’m done workout out I can shove food down with the best of them. I control myself 90% of the time.

16

[quote]WannabeBigBoy wrote:

[quote]Professor X wrote:

[quote]WannabeBigBoy wrote:

To the bulkers and Pro X, I have a huge respect for those of you who wish to put on tons of size, but this website is filled with people who are trying to look good and who love lifting and being strong(strong is relative to each person). People who don’t want to compete, but use this information to better their training and eating habits. I am one of those. [/quote]

Oh, Dear Gawd. If you are maintaining your weight, what is the fucking problem?

If you crave carbs THAT much, it is more likely you are eating WRONG. Quit cutting out carbs so much through the rest of the week if you aren’t even trying to gain or lose or anything.

What you just wrote is easily translated as, “I don’t have any significant goals and just show up at the gym and go through the motions”.

You are eating like a bodybuilder trying to lean up for a contest. There is no way in hell you will gain much muscle eating like that so what is the issue? Are you gaining weight uncontrollably?[/quote]

I agree with you that craving carbs is proabably a sign of needing them in my everyday diet, yet I am at odds with that statement. I eat plenty of fruits and veggies and a bowl of oatmeal every morning. I feel I shouldn’t be craving carbs, but maybe my body is telling me I am.

I certainly have goals. I want to be lean, nearly bodybuilder lean. I just don’t have the desire to compete, because a)I’m not big enough and b)I don’t want to be big enough. I want to be an all around athlete, which requires less muslce mass, and different training approach than bodybuilding. Binging on foods stalls my progress in becoming and maintaining an extremely lean physique. That is where the problem lies.

Cultural differences may help explain my goals. I live in a “granola” area that is known for skiing and outdoor activities. Rarely do I see massive people around, and many social activities require above average cardiovascular abilities.

[/quote]

Maybe you are looking for Men’s Health?

Guys like you never make much progress…because you really don’t even know what your own specific goals are. You have no clear mental image of what you are trying to reach.

17

You weigh 157 and you think you have compulsive eating disorder? No, sweetie you don’t. I’ve known people with compulsive eating disorder and it’s a horrible thing. People who suffer from this disorder will eat out of trash cans if they have to. They will eat until their body rejects food and then when they’re done vomiting, they eat more.

If you had this disorder, you would be overweight. It doesn’t go dormant for several months and then hit you for one binge. It sounds like you are starving yourself until your body just starts screaming for food and then you go a little apeshit.

18

I may not have it, but I have similar symptoms. Dormancy isn’t an accurate term for it. I demonstrate control, until I give in, and then as you put it go apeshit. Also, many of those people aren’t active. I have a very high metabolism, and workout far more than most people. I live a very active lifestyle. If I was sedentary and eating exactly as I do, I would undoubtedly be overweight.

19

Maybe you’re just hungry. It sounds like you’re afraid of food and have inappropriately attached meaning to it. If you have an eating disorder it is on the other side of the spectrum. Carbs are not sins.

Of course if you ate the same inactive then you would be overweight. Your appetite is driven by your activity. If you have a high metabolism then what do you think you should do? Starve??

And ++ to what MarvelGirl said.

20

OP, given your screen name, are you sure you don’t want to get bigger?