Eating for the sake of eating?

Just wondering if im alone in that...if i go shopping and i buy a little treat for the weekend or snacks for friends coming over, Easter eggs even... lol knowing they're there, in the cuboard, i cant settle knowing that they're there and im not eating them, lol. It niggles me until i give in an eat them. I cant buys treats and not eat them straight away (i know u probs say, dont buy them, but if im buying them for parties for example).

does anyone have this problem? ur not hungry, but u have to eat it cos its there, lol.

yeah i do. it sparked a binge last week cause i had stocked my cabinets with healthy snacks like rice cakes, fiber bars, and almonds, and i was just incorporating snacks into my previously strict diet. needless to say my thoughts kept traveling back to those cabinets and within two days i completely lost it and binged. so be extra careful and aware of what your feeling, develop back up plans for those possible times of the "eff it im gonna eat it all" feelings. buy some healthy snacks, or load up on fruit and when you have thoughts of eating those bad snacks, eat the fruit instead, and dont even worry about cals cause ultimately its better eating too much in fruit for a day than ruining a day eating too much in junk. maybe you could take all the treats and like throw them in your trunk to store until the day you have to serve them. go to any means necessary not to eat them. cause when you eat them all you feel like the lowest crud ever after. trust me.

I know what you are saying... I just recently bought chips for dinner when a bunch of my freinds came over... Now they are sitting on top of my fridge and I have them every night... just cuz they are there. Like you, I don't usually buy these things, but once there are in my apartment, I feel the need to eat them just because. Sometimes if I get frustrated with myself when I eat these things I just throw them out. Yeah, it's a waste of money but it was really only like $5. Sometimes I'll challenge myself to see how long I can go without eating them before having to throw them out. You could also "accidentally" leave the container open, then the food goes stale and you wouldn't want to eat that!

Once my friend left a coconut cake at my place and after I had 2 pieces in one hour I decided it would be in my best interest to throw it out.... I couldn't handle having it in my apartment!

I try to make healthy stuff for people, but also try to satisfy the friends of mine that aren't concerned about what they eat. It is tough. Maybe try to buy things just once a month or so for them.

Not sure what kind of advice to give out since I'm in the same boat!! :)

There are a couple things you could do.  You say you can't buy treats without eating them straight away.  That makes it sound like they don't make it to the party.  Don't buy them.  Or if you are truly having guests, don't buy them until right before your guests arrive.  Send any leftovers home with your guests, or throw them away.

You can also make sure you have a healthier option on hand so that you can eat that instead of whatever fat city junk is lurking in the cupboard.  Try buying some low fat options, some baked chips, some whole grain crackers.

You can also serve healthier choices to your guests.  Just because guests are coming to your house doesn't mean you have to buy crap.  Buy whole grain crackers, veggies, and low fat dip.  Have one of those pre packaged shrimp cocktail trays.  There are all kinds of healthier foods that make excellent party munchies.

Its so good to know I am not alone.  I can't buy these snacks for my kids because I will get into them . I really am trying to turn my family of 6 (4 girls) into healthy eating.  I didn't grow up that way and at 44 it is a very difficult change.  I think about food 24/7.  I would love to go to a hypnotist.  I'll take any advice and support I can get.

I'm in the same boat as you guys. Like just last week I bought the special K bars so I could have one each day for breakfast and then I bought the Rice Krispie Bars which were amazing and only 90 cals. Well all this went downhill one night when I had to write a paper and no joke I think I ate like 8 bars in a little less then 2 hours. I mean that's insaneeee, that's 900 cals easy. And the thing is I was still hungy coz they dont fill you up at all. Lol anyway after this disaster I decided to never every again buy more then 1 single bar.. even if it means I have to go to the Duane Reade by my house every single morning. Oh and I've started doing the same with cookies and ice cream. I get only one serving and get out of the supermarket before I can buy more junk.

You guys are lucky!! I have a 6'1, 160 lb boyfriend who's trying to put ON weight.  I always have food around the house.  It's so hard!!  What I try and do is buy him snacks in flavors that i don't like too much or only he likes. I'd eat sour cream and onion chips in a second...salt and vineager...not so much.

I tend to do this to.  The best way I've been able to deal with it is to just keep myself really busy or get out of the house.  That way I don't give myself an opportunity to raid the cabinets.  And never go to the grocery store hungry!  ;-)

This is all such good advice for Joanna.  It's called binging eating is necessary for survival and it is one of the great joys of life it's the binging that is bad.  Stock your pantry with healthy snacks trust me the family will enjoy healthy snacks all the bad ones should be probably just vanish forever.  If there isn't any junck snacks they will eat the healthy one's.  Last night I put together a BIG bowel of mixed fruit and this morning it was half gone..Yeah I guess they liked it.  And, when my guest ask "Want me to bring something" It's ok to say to your friends cause they are your friends.  Bring the desert of your choice.  I have told everyone I am getting healthy that is my goal.  If anyone in this house wants a treat they can go to the store buy it eat it and be done with it.  I was near 300lbs never again Healthy is my favorit word no heart disease, strokes or diabetes here.  Yes, be extra careful and aware of what your feeling.  We are all here to prevent bad health and this means adopting a healthy lifestyle, not just looking for a quick fix.

Joanna, It's not easy for me either.

I eat when I am bored, but I suppose that is a different issue.

 On my break from college, I am bored from my mind and it is cold outside.... Well, Snacks are good! ... (I just ate this really unhealthy cupcake my brother offered me, even though I said no inside :(  )

I am inclined to have this problem so lately I have been consciously working on it. I eat dessert everyday, so now I am experimenting with buying my dessert early in the day and carrying it around with me, but planning to not eat it until after dinner around 7pm. I'm getting much more used to not feeling like I have to rush to eat something just because it's there.

If you buy treats for you and your friends, you will still get to eat some even if you don't open the bag right away. You'll feel better opening the bag with your friends and sharing it then rather than passing around a half-eaten bag that you have already started in on.

I totally understand what you are saying. For me, the ugly habit of having to eat stuff immediately started when I was beginning my recovery from anorexia. It was almost like I was afraid that the food would disappear if I didn't eat it right away. I also wanted to be sure to eat it all while no one else was around. Now, I know I will feel better if I can:

1) Wait and have a treat when I really want and deserve it.

2) Share it with another person. I eat less and feel caring and generous, a feeling much better than full and guilty.

~Good luck! Getting over our little vices is part of the process.

Thanx guys, and to ajiah- i also eat when im bored. its still eating for the sake of eating isnt it?

Its good to know im not the only one. I appreciate all ur comments. and also to bkipling- i have a 130lb boyfriend who is also trying to put on weight and its so hard eating together. Especially when i still seem to eat more than him. or when he eats my fav treats lol. i hate that. grr

I used to hate going food shopping for this very reason.

I would buy all these awesome, healthy snacks...and then go home and have to sample all of them!

So I changed the way I buy.  I don't buy those little 100 cal snack packs or quaker minis or anything "snacky" like that.  Nope.  If I want a snack, I walk 5 minutes to the C-store on campus and buy a snack there. (thus, I get a 10 min walk out of it, and only eat a snack when Im actually hungry for one).

Things I buy at the food store?  Fruits, my one-a-night CocoaVia bars, my breakfast (oatmeal), carrots, and some different drink mixes (teas, propel, etc).

It's seriously cut down on my shopping expenditure too!  Hope that helps a bit :)

NOOOOOOO, ive been given easter eggs.......

feels sometimes like i have to eat the so i can get rid of them and then diet again. lol strange mentality

Yeah, I tend to eat food if it's there, whether it's food that I buy or food at friends' places or free food lying out at a public place.  Since I know that I have this habit and I doubt I'll be able to get rid of it, I'd buy food only when I know I'll eat it immediately afterwards.  So no more long-term stocking up, because while you think it'll last for XX months, you know it'll really disappear in X days.

Joanna, Everyone has given very good advise and solutions to the problem here.  Good luck