about the only way I can tell I've had enough to eat, is when I have to unbutton my pants, if that makes any sense?

but I mean, if it wasn't for the fact that my stomach starts to bulge out, I'd eat 24/7 I really would, thats what scares me.

im no dr but i would say our not recognising that you are full because your trying to fill something else inside of u maybe. i would love to eat all day and i think that might just be the indicator towards an eating disorder. go see your dr there may be a physical reason but it does sound emotional

I don't know anything about Crohn's disease, but could your constant "hunger" be related to that somehow? Do you actually FEEL hunger pangs with your stomach growling and causing you significant discomfort? Or is it more of a MENTAL feeling of not being able to satiate your appetite and your DESIRE to eat?

What you describe sounds like exactly what I've been experiencing. NOTHING fills me up anymore, and even when I don't want to eat, something MAKES me seek out food that I don't even want! Even when I wake up at night, my mouth needs to eat. I have no physical indication EVER that I've eaten. I don't even get the bulge in my gut because the food moves out of there so quickly, and right on down and out of my system from there. I can't stop trying to fill up a void so huge, it's like a black hole I've fallen into. There's just no end to it. I'm so glad you understand.

How bad does this problem affect you mentally? It's obviously causing you enough concern that you'd join our community. It definitely sounds like a food addiction, but it may be something medical too. Has this been happening for a long time, or did it just start up recently? I hope you'll consult your internist and let me know what he/she thinks as I'm desperate for answers too.

thanks guys. I am just happy to see that I am not the only one with this problem.

Actually, I've been an over eater since I was a teenager. Most of the time people just told me it was "teenage growing pains"

but when it continued on to my 20's, and now even my 30's, and coming close to that big 4.0 now LOL, its been a concern of mine.

I mean, I don't care what I look like, or anything like that. Its just, its hard to concentrate on anything (schoolwork, sitting watching a movie, anything) when all you feel is "hungry".

Funny thing is, if I am busy enough at the computer, I can get my mind off food, like if I'm on here for instance, but if I'm in my room watching a movie, I can't do it without something to munch on the entire movie thru..

like just yesterday, I watched "back to the future" 1,2, and 3 in a row on Saturday, just for something to do to keep my mind off food. ya know what I did? I ended up eating 6 bags of microwavable popcorn, and like 6 little boxes of raisins. and like 5 bottles of water.

I couldn't help myself, I could not just lay there and watch a movie, I either had to eat, or sleep, but could not just sit there.

its difficult for me, because I'm also on this special diet for crohns, so I'm not even supposed to be eating popcorn at all to tell you the truth, but if I don't eat, my tummy just crowls and crowls, I don't know what to do.

I am seeking a counselor, for autism related issues, so I may bring this up at my next appointment next month, assuming my insurance covers it. Right now I don't know if Medicare or Medicaid are going to cover the cost of that, but I am hoping they will..

I just wondered, because I don't throw up, or make myself throw up or anything like that, but I eat and eat and eat until I feel like I have to throw up, which I haven't in along time, but I have before, eaten until I actually throw up I mean.

definatly talk to a dr. but i want to caution you, if you have crons disease, don't eat things yer not supose to, there are other things to munch on that won't make you loose part of your intestines.