If I want to eat and it's not lunchtime or dinnertime I'll chew gum and drink water. Seems to help a bit xx

i am also a binge eater and i find that if I am able to keep myself busy than I don't think about food and eating so much. If I am sitting at home, by myself, and the food is there I will eat it. If I am out doing something, anything really, than the temptation is not there. This does not work for me all of the time, but it works sometimes. That is about the only advice i have. I really don't know how to control it either, so I guess I need some advice also!

I actually wake up multiple times through the night and my first and only thought is to find something tasty in the kitchen. I even eat stuff I don't like, if it's got chocolate or something in it. The whole time I can be telling myself in my mind "you don't want to do this, you don't want to eat that, you're a fat fu**er" but I still eat that crap so fast I don't even taste it.

I don't know how to stop myself.

Have you ever tried talking to a therapist or a dr?

There is also a support group called Food Addiction if you would like to join. It might help to talk to people going through the same thing.

I see a therapist weekly (sometimes more)... I'm on medications (one of which messes with my satiety). Am I addicted to food? I honestly can and do go all day without eating sometimes simply b/c there's nothing that I want to eat. It's just night time that I really can't control it.

Sometimes cleaning and flossing my teeth helps because I don't want to have to do it again and food doesn't taste as good after minty fresh toothpaste! LOL!

That is mostly what I do. I will do really good during the day and then lose all control at night. I have actually started going to bed extra early just so I don't binge.
I can't tell you if you are addicted to food because I don't know your whole story. But answer these questions for me:
1-When eating do you ever feel out of control or like you will lose control and not be able to stop; and/or do you try to avoid eating because of this fear?
2-Do you typically feel guilty after a binge?
3-Do you hide food so that you can eat it later?
4-Do you lie about your eating behaviors?
5-Do you eat until you are so full you are uncomfortable and then sometimes still continue to eat more?

I know what you mean about eating after minty toothpaste.

I don't eat until it hurts, I don't hide my food in hopes that someone else might find it and eat it before I do, I feel extremely guilty any time I eat, I binge during the day a couple times a week sometimes....I don't eat stuff like chocolate, candy and cakes though until the middle of the night.

I wake up anywhere from 2-7 times per night...and most if not all times I eat something.

I hate to recommend this because it's only a band aid and not even a great one. But have ever taking sleeping pills, like Ambien? They keep you asleep for at least 5 hours. So you won't get a chance to eat during the night and you will get some needed rest. Also don't buy or let your family by anything with chocolate. If you have the craving go and get one choc bar at the store but don't buy in advance. And have fresh veggies and fruit prepared at all times.

Thanks...I took ambien for quite some time....I was one of those unfortunate people that woke in the morning with piles of food surrounding in me...and I didn't remember ever getting it. I would sleep walk and eat. One time I woke with my face in a plate of carrot cake! I do need to talk w/ my psychiatrist about an alternative med to help me sleep though.

try a sleeping pill just to help u make it threw the nite w/out waking up.

I take 3.0 of xanax (which is a lot) to help me sleep...I still wake up on my own, but I also have the help of my 5 year old son w/ psychiatric illnesses that wakes me up in addition to my own waking up.

I hate to sound like I'm just making excuses. I truly appreciate everything everyone is telling me. Thank you all.

This is completely from my own personal experience but be very, very careful when considering sleeping aids/anxiety/depression meds of any kind because some people with ED get addicted to things more easily than some. You may exchange one problem for another with medication. I took Imovane and it was a horrible nightmare for a few years. And please do not ever believe it when they say "Non habit forming". This is usually the opinion of someone who's never tried them.

i think the first step is 2 admit the problem, (obviously) which u r already doing... im thinking of a guy who was 19 years old, thin and healthy looking as a horse, well, he obviously had an eating disorder... wud eat an entire half-gallon of ice cream in one sitting, just constantly eating huge amounts of food... he was having a ball b/c of everyone exclaiming about how can he stay so thin, it will catch up 2 him, that kind of thing... well, then he began 2 expand, and ppl told him he'd better slow down with eating b/c he is gaining a lot of weight... he just laughed it off....... 2day, he is one of the widest, most pitiful-looking ppl i know, has all kinds of heart problems, diabetes, u name it, he has it... and can hardly work, all b/c he just denied and made a joke out of killing himself with food.... so wud suggest that u take all the advice others have given here, very, very, very seriously, so that what happened 2 that guy does not happen 2 u... maybe thinking of the health problems that cud result when ur struggling not 2 binge will help u...
u know, that toothpaste idea is EXCELLENT! i just wish i knew how 2 turn that one around 4 myself, b/c im anorexic, and i love clean teeth... but i know that if i brush my teeth, i will not eat another bite for hours.... so i sit for hours with dirty teeth, feeling disgusting, just so i can eat a bit more.... so, anyone have any advice on that? thx, IMA