Any other closet eaters out there?

Hey guys. I have known for a while that I am a closet eater, but the past two days have really frightened me.

I live at home with my parents (I'm saving for a house!). They are away this weekend, and what's the FIRST thing I think of when I wake up and they're gone? "What can I eat?" So what do I do? I make a batch of brownies "for work" (is what I told myself). After eating several, I did bring the rest to work. On the way to work, I got a large burger and fries. (I work nights). I eat more brownies through the night at work (because the lady who I talked to about starting my diet was off last night and not there to judge me), and what do I do when I get off in the morning? I go straight for McDonald's breakfast. All because I was alone and I could. Now I feel like a big blob, but I also feel like the urge to eat all this was uncontrolable at the time. And this is just today and yesterday. I've been known to get donuts and scarf them down before I get home so my family won't see me eat them, and then throw away the evidence before I get inside. And these are just a few examples. I officially suck at dieting because of these binges!

Are there any other closet eaters out there? I'm just looking for advice on how to stop this horrible habit, or any of your stories about closet eating so I'll know I'm not alone in this. Thanks!

Why dont you fill up your freidge with plenty of fruits?

Snack on those instead...it does really curb the sweet cravings and so energising!!!!

btw...i used to be a really really bad closet eater and when i look back at all my tactics and crap i ate....i feel more disgusted than when i was actually binging away ---literally in the food pantry!

I found that I was a closet eater when I was in the following situations. First I was usually feeling pressured from outside, either by well meaning friends or family, to diet for them. Secondly, I was feeling angry about the situation. And thirdly I was not ready to diet. The closet eating was about feeling unfilled, either physically starving from over-dieting or emotionally starved from feeling unacceptable to friends, coworkers, family or society due to my size.

I used to have this problem.  In high school I wouldn't eat a good breakfast, or a decent lunch, because I felt skinny if no one saw me eat.  Then I would walk home from school...right past the 7-eleven.  I would buy a bag of cheetos, 3 large cookies (only $1, what a steal!) twizzlers, and diet coke...trudge on home and indulge in my room before my mother got home.  One day she found the twizzler wrappers (what? they're low in fat!...) and she was like "No wonder you're gaining weight!"  I finally realized that just because no one saw me eating, the calories still existed.  Now I hold myself accountable.  You can do it to, you just have to set your mind to it! :) 

Didn't know 'closet eater' was a real term, but yes, I was one yrs ago becaue my hubby (who left for a heavy woman), insisted I stay too skinny. 

First, I wished I'd leaned to let his words wash over me and not affect me or not take them to heart.  I couldn't change how he was, but I could have changed how I reacted.

Are you stopping for donuts because you are so hungry?  Can you carry or buy a power bar instead.  Maybe limit your forbidden foods to one day a week?

Thanks for all your suggestions guys. Keep them coming. I need all the help and motivation I can get!!

Dietdemons: Fruit is a good idea. I love grapes and oranges. I need to make a trip to the fruit stand and see what I can find!

fatdoc: I actually think you hit the nail on the head. I have always felt pressure to diet from my mom, and that may be the reason I binge when she's not around. It makes me angry that she always seems to be watching what I eat and making judgments (although she never says anything). I think the eating comes from boredom or just plain rebellion when I'm alone, because I rarely let myself get to the point that I'm hungry before I eat something (which may be another reason, habit).

tangledsmile: I am the same way. I realize what I'm doing is bad when I'm doing it, but the urge to eat the bad things overpowers any willpower or accountability I have. I need to journal my feelings as I eat, and not just the calories. Thanks for the motivation!

ohio45: I am not hungry enough when I leave work that I can't wait until I get home. I live a whole 7 minutes away from work, and I actually take a longer route to pass the donut place. I think It's because I'm alone and don't have to account my actions to anyone besides myself. Power bars are also a good idea, as is the one day a week food outing. Thanks!

Try treating yourself more! That way you won't indulge so much when you do eat somthing sweet!

 

(No rhyme scheme intended, hahah)

Best of luck, dear.<3

Since I have started on my weight loss journey, accountability has been a very important part of my plan.  I told everyone I was doing it, and I refuse to "sneak" food.  I also log everything I eat, and post it in a public place with a couple of other loggers.  I do this even when I eat something I "shouldn't".

The important thing to remember is that every time one "cheats" by "sneaking" food, the only person that you are cheating is yourself.  You are the only person that you are trying to fool, and that's just not possible.  Your mom isn't going to lose anything by your sneaking food, and you aren't gaining anything by it.  It's only slowing you from reaching your goals.  Try using a simple rule of thumb.  If it's something you wouldn't eat in front of a roomful of people, then don't eat it on your own. 

If what your mom is doing is putting pressure on you instead of giving you positive reinforcement, try talking to her about it.  She may not realize how you feel about the way she is acting.  Some folks are not naturally very good about being supportive, but fall into nagging by accident.  Talk it over with her, and maybe you can work out ways she can help you stay focused without nagging you.

Tell me about it sister! I was SO bad for SO long. Honestly. Even when I was really little. I'd steal my Dads Crunch bars (what happened to those :( ) and I would hide them, and eat them. I would do the same with pop tarts, dunkaroos, chocolate bars etc. When my friends would give me food I would hide all of it, and then binge on it randomly. During the summer I would buy Depp N Delicious cakes, and then eat the whole thing. I was so bad. I got better as I got older, but I still did silly things like that. Then I was so good. Now I'm more lenient. Thank God though! I love having a bit of fudge here, and there when no one is watching :P

i'm a HUGE closet eater. i eat the most when no one is home, an even when people are home i find myself stuffing my pockets with snacks, or hiding them and eating them in my room where no one will see.

i'm a yo-yo dieter, so many times when i say i'm dieting people are like "not again". so i dont want them to see i'm eating, because then they'll lose faith in me. you're right, at the time that you're binging it always seems like you need to and you're going to go crazy if you dont. right now my solution is to keep myself busy and to always try to keep food out of my room. its been working well so far. i'm trying to narrow it down to just the kitchen, but you know how it is when your eating lunch and your favorite television show comes on.

I live by myself. I am moving into my bf's place soon so that will make these things easier for me to not be like that. I used to go get a weeks worth of groceries and eat like half of them in one day... I would work out like a crazy woman after everything I ate and burned it all off... I mean ALL off. It would take me anywhere from 5-6 hours of working out. I haven't done this in a long time... But I do find that when I'm alone I eat more than when I'm around people.

I wonder if an appetite suppressant would help or if it's more psychological. hmmm...

Also when I was 13 I would take like 6 slices of bread into the living room where no one was and would eat them one by one, dipped in corn syrup. lmao.... god... I really am sad.  

you and me both girlfriend .. i eat normally when i'm out, but when i get home i'm just stuffing my face like crazy .. it's so bad .. and i feel like i "deserve" it .. when i really don't .. sometimes i feel like i'm trying to find happiness .. and that i get stressed when it comes to doing things and i know that food will always be there to make it better .. i think i just need to take my mind off food, and focus more on other things that will make me happy .. like listening to some good songs, reading a magazine or hanging out with people i love .. i think that would help us all =)

I am a closet eater.  I eat whenever I am alone in my car.  I am realizing that I need help now, before health issues creep up on me.  Please....What can I do?

 

I am a closet eater as well. I am trying to get out of this pattern.

 

I wonder if this has to do with some sort of deprivation from childhood which causes the closet eating. I do remember my mother not really buying us candy when we were little (donuts were ok though, only because she liked them). Today I don't buy donuts or even eat them even if they are free for the taking. I notice I tend to binge on the things that we hardly ever had or got in the house. On the other hand I also tend to like ice cream which we always had in the house because my dad liked it. I guess it can be a pattern that we have learned as a result of being told not to eat that and you can't eat that or possible good feelings/old memories we get from binging on this food??

im right there with you!!!!

what i would do is be soo goood during the day, and then when i came home BINGE like crazy. Definately stalling my weight loss efforts. And more recently these binges are alcohol induced, since my will power is totally gone!

Anyways what i found helped a lot was making an ACTION PLAN. And doing this on a day where you are thinking straight, not the DAY or NIGHT of. So for example if you know your parents are leaving for a weekend, writing down what you are going to eat for that day and maybe a list of reasons not to binge. As well as having old pictures and roots of motivation around to look at! With a plan you are less likely to binge, because you will now be aware of the consequences.

As well, make sure that the number one reason you are losing weight is for yourself!

Good luck!

that's me

i'm a vegan and i secretly had some pork rinds at work today when nobody was looking

grossssss