Well, antidepressants could help but I think it would be better to work on breaking the link you have between eating and your emotions.

I am reading a book written by Geneen Roth entitled "Breaking Free From Emotional Eating" and it's quite good. I am told she has a number of good books published. She had a #1 Times best seller with "Women Food and God."

You have a least two problems and if you can separate eating from depression you will have solved one of them. But beware. Your depression may manifest itself some other way that could be just as damaging. The depression really needs healing also. I pray God helps you in this and heals you of the bouts of depression.

tom

I have the same problem lately. I've always been an emotional eater. However, my son died in April at the age of 13 very unexpectadly. In almost 8 months time, I have gained 20 pounds. The other night I was up at 2 a.m. eating chili. Although I was disgusted with myself the whole time I was eating it, I kept eating. I am to the point now that my fiance' has even asked me to lose weight. We start vacation on January 14th and I want so badly to have lost about 10 pounds by then. I'm thinking of starting Atkins.

Are you exercising at all right now? Exercise is not a cure for depression, but I do think it helps. It might help you sleep better so that you are not up at 4:00 a.m., thinking about food. I guess I would also look at whether there is anything else you can do besides eat that would help you feel better, like write in a journal, or do 15 minutes of stretching, meditate, or work on a puzzle or a craft of some kind. These activities also won't cure depression, but they might distract you, and help you substitute a healthy activity for an unhealthy one. Have you looked into working on the depression and self esteem issues with a counselor or therapist? I am a believer in working on things inside of us that prompt us to act in ways we know are not good for us. Talking to somebody about why you feel depressed or why you lack self esteem might help.

well. im new to this. this is the first time i am posting here. Reading your entry was like listening to myself. I feel you entirely. In reading TomMix's reply i too am afraid that my depression will manifest in another way. If i were you Id find a hobby such as reading, writing, drawing, excercising. whatever your hobby may be. I have found that when i feel like eating although i am not hungry, i quickly find something to distract me, ex:writing or surfing online. Im sure you know quite well that it is very hard to distract yourself, but it can be done. I hope my advice works for you.

I have been in your boat a million times. Unfortunately fighting these urges is almost always an uphill battle. I will text my best friend in the middle of the night when I start feeling that urge. She has been a great support to me. Do you have someone that you could maybe do this with? It may not completely solve the problem, but it may help!

A lot of great advice here!

FIrst, I think you need to take hold of what's available to you in the food department. I wouldn't think noodles should be in there. Your health is important.

My research has led me to believe that yes, exercise can help depression and immediately. However, anyone with diagnosed clinial depression could have a bigger battle requiring meds although I would look at treating myself practically first. There is evidence that a prescription of treadmill, exericse, walking, etc. lifts up the spirits and balances hormones and enorphins. This is a serious issue. We are underexercised in our society.

I owuld put you first. That old saying about being good to yourself so you can be good for your family, etc. - keep that in mind.

We need to be the best we can be. I don't keep anything in the house that tempts me. My son loves his Ben and Jerry's but I know it's off limits for me. I keep almonds and if I'm really needing a snack, I'll have 10-20 of those or a hardboiled egg. Don't forget water.

Do you have a decent eating/diet outline? YOu probably need to be shifting your emotional energy on to something helpful. Remember that it's natural to sit down and cry on occasion or get angry and nack a towel around. Healthy releases. Exercise is the healthiest!

I've read lots of books on getting into a good frame of mind for all of this. If you're a reader, I'd take a look at "The Joy of Appreciative Living" by Jacqueline Kelm.

John Ratey's SPARK is a great book on the importance of exercise; Mark Hyman's book on the UltraSimple Diet was a great help to me.

Good luck on your journey to a happy you!!
~Lorrie

Hi there,
I understand how you feel. I have trouble losing weight and I cannot have gluten either. I don't crave noodles, but chocolate chip cookies. Huge downfall for me. What helps me, is that I know I won't feel well after I eat it, also, the amount of weight I would gain; means I would have to start all over again.
Hope that helps.
Smiles,
Cheryl

Lots of good advice here. Like you I binge, well I used to but then I joined OA and found the Weight Loss Buddies group here on DS. One of my reasons for binging was because I was lonely but now I have a whole group of friends here on DS who are always available. They've given me great ideas and tips and their love and support have pulled me away from binging. Depression and binging are the occupations of lonely people and you really don't have to be alone. At 4 in the morning you should be sleeping. I got up at three this morning, made tea and watched tv till six when my hubby got up but before OA and DS I would have been eating my way through the cupboards and fridge. I promise you, life is so much better without binging. Hugs.