over eating disorder

[Zuzu]

Anyone have a eating disorder or over eating? Has raw helped you?

[rawpesto]

I have had an overeating disorder that has taken me a long time to overcome. Initially, become vegetarian helped with it but I was still a pretty chunky vegetarian and then again when I became vegan, it was better still.
Now that I've finally made my transition to raw (which was very difficult), my life and health has never been better. I am full of energy and when I feel the need to overeat (I'm an emotional eater) the food is so filling and life giving that I really get over the urge pretty quickly.
Hope this helps.
Jess

[tvillemom]

I suffer from over eating also. I think staying raw (100%) you may initially eat alot, but I think overeating comes from your body needing more nourishment....eating raw you get LOTS of nutrients, and the cravings and over-eating stops. I would start with eating at least 1 LARGE, filling salad everyday.and maybe 2 meals a day, I mean eat salad until you are full..you will get full on all those great veggies! Good luck.
Wendi

[lodestar]

i suppose i had an "unconscious eating disorder"...i pretty much just thoughtlessly put "stuff" in and then felt "stuffed."

[girlsmiley]

Yes, I am an over eater ... big time.

I eat when I'm happy
I eat when I'm sad
I eat when I'm excited
I eat when I'm tired
I eat when I'm nervous
I eat when I want to get "numb"
I eat mostly in front of the TV and don't even think about what I'm eating until the whole bag of (whatever) is just about gone and I realise that I'd eaten that much.
I eat because the food tastes so good I just can't stop

One problem I had in October was that I would crave bad stuff so bad my mouth would water and I would get dressed and go out and get what I wanted. However, I found that it didn't really hit the spot. So I know I need to work on that area of my life.

The best thing I like about raw is that I can still overeat on most things and loose weight (not when I over eat on nuts though). I eat my salad in a huge tupperware bowl that most people would use to serve a family of 4 or more people. And I eat the whole thing. 2 hearts of romaine lettuce, a heart of celery, cucumber, tomato, whatever veggies I can find. I get very stuffed.

I know it's not good for me to continue over eating ... and there have been more days where I don't overeat because my body is nutritionally satisfied ... I need to learn how to deal with emotions - and mostly to just go to bed when I'm tired instead of stay up so I can watch certain shows ... that's when I just go back and forth to the cupboard and fridge.

So, yes, raw is helping me although there are still issues I need to deal with.

[brwnrawgirl]

I over eat but I've also battled with an eating disorder for a large part of my life. When I found RAW food, at first I thought I might be secretly dabbling with unhealthy behaviors again and much of my friends thought the same thing. However, while I was 100% and time collected, the benefits became numerous...I can not explain the freedom and peace I found from food cravings and anxious feelings. I cried a little more in the beginning than normal, because without SAD as a sedative, I had to deal with issues/or disappoints the honest way.

Also, the best thing about being RAW I've found is that this lifestyle gives you the opportunity to be your best self, amidst this crazy world and its happenings. My mind grew still and peaceful, my energy increased, my weight decrease, I felt taller, smarter, prettier, wiser, more patient, slept better etc. etc...naturally.

Keeping a journal will can help release mental toxins that build up over the years while being RAW will aid the mind, body and soul regardless of your food background. :p

[**jessireebob**]

Anyone have a eating disorder or over eating? Has raw helped you?

Hi Zuzu. I've been poking around this board and reading, but haven't yet posted anything. Your post, however, made me want to reply.

I do indeed have an overeating disorder. I have been working on it for a very long time, and I can say that after 11 days of eating raw, I felt like I was making huge progress.

I found myself having to feel emotions that I would usually numb with food (sugar and cooked carbs like rice and popcorn). It wasn't comfortable, and I in fact found myself feeling seemingly inexplicable rage, sadness, frustration, loss, etc. But I also became quite clearly aware of the fact that when I felt that way, I craved sugar. I KNEW a cookie or chocolate would make the emotional distress go away. Which in turn made me very aware of the ways in which I use food to manage my emotional state. To cover it up rather than really working through my feelings.

Eating raw isn't helping by taking away cravings or making me suddenly not want to overeat or suddenly want to eat healthier foods, but it IS helping me recognize how deeply ingrained is my pattern of eating so I don't have to feel. And it's forcing me to give up that "addiction," leaving me with nothing but my feelings and thoughts. I journaled/blogged through it and I couldn't believe just how much I had to say and needed to express!

I went back to cooked for Thanksgiving and ended up feeling out of control w/ food, terribly sad and depressed, and like running away and hiding. It was enough to make me want to commit to at least 30 days raw...

Hope this isn't too much info in response to your short enquiry!