I figured my overeating might be caused by my undiagnosed inattentive ADHD I have been suspecting to have it.
Like with other habits I try to make any plan or strategy falls apart in max few weeks. But I need a long term solution. However I have never thought about it as caused by ADHD. But When I think about it, I overeat only when I am bored.
During meals I eat normal portions. But when I am bored I will be eating small chunks of food every time I visit fridge. I do not stop that because of my inattentiveness I do not even know I ate a lot.
While watching a movie I get bored - even if it is interesting and I am very invested in it. I get some snack and I will eat a whole bag not even knowing when that happened. This happens even if snack was some special offer that tasted bad.
Few examples I get bored and overeating:
- watching a movie - somehow movie is not enough stimuli for me
- after I eat my meal and I wait for others to finish (I eat exactly as twice as fast as my wife)
- when I am visiting someone and there is a food in front of me (conversation somehow is also not enough stimuli)
- random parts of the day - usually if I have to wait.
No standard recommender diet practices worked in the long run (portion control, mindful eating, intermittent fasting, healthy eating, building a healthy lifestyle/routine...) Especially those based on building routine failed the most.
Do you have similar issues? Do you have a strategy that works in the long run? Have you successfully substituted eating for other stimuli?
Overeating has been my thing. I've done two main things. First, exercise. Exercise has been so helpful. I like to exercise in twenty minutes bouts and so do two session. I've known this about myself for a while and couldn't do it. Two things helped. First, doing something at home. And second, taking creatine. Exercise has been difficult because of not having enough energy and creatine has been helpful at a low dose.
The other things that have helped is taking a digestive with my meal. I always felt tired after a meal, but the supplement helped. Finally, ending the day with psyllium. It just topped me off so I wouldn't eat at night.
So far it's been good. Let's see how the next few weeks go.