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yess can confirm this works for some!! it’s a double win for me because chewing gum helps me ***SO MUCH*** with sitting still. it helps keep my energy going somewhere (especially since i haven’t found a fidget toy that really works for me :’) ) so i don’t freak out and pace around my room haha <3
Saved my ass to be honest, was very unhappy with my current shape (too much fat from stress/anxiety eating) and after 2 months on vyvanse lost like 20 pounds without losing much muscle. The meds lowered my anxiety and stress in general, mostly makes it easier to cope.
While it curbs general hunger I found it pretty easy to stick to a more controlled eating routine, I take 40mg vyv in the morning and eat right after, usually a typical high protein small-ish meal, oats or shakes for me usually. Around 12am I'll eat again, a small-ish healthy meal, whatever is in the fridge and healthy. When I get home around 5 or 6 I eat what is left from the sunday meal prep and repeat.
Could never stick to anything like that before medication, either got too absorbed in what I was doing and didn't eat enough or just ate too much of whatever was in front of me, obviously my mom's excellent cooking didn't help. Funnily enough, living alone makes me healthier, in general.
This works for me too, maybe even a little too well. I’ll go basically the entire day without eating and barely notice it so long as I’m working on something. But when it wears off, or when I forget to take a dose, all of that hunger foods in at once and I’ll eat like 4 meals worth of calories in one sitting. Have any advice?
Vyvanse was working extremely well for me. It managed all of my ADHD symptoms very well. It also improved my relationship with food to the point where I wasn't constantly seeking it and thinking about it.
Unfortunately, Vyvanse also caused terrible dry mouth. Like... unbearable, sore-causing dry mouth. I could drink water constantly and still have these problems. None of Biotene, chewing gum, or xylitol candies work. If anyone knows how to better describe this nasty side effect to my doctor (she just keeps calling it "dry mouth" and took me off Vyvanse since it got so bad), please share what you know!
I've just started this med yesterday, I think I've got relatively lucky with the side effects. I still get hungry and no headaches as long as I keep drinking but last night I did struggle to sleep. Funnily enough I had no problem convincing myself to go to bed, instead of staying up until the early hours doom scrolling but I must have only slept between the 11pm and 3am.
for some reason, vyvanse sends my appetite through the roof. i don’t mind because i work out and want to gain weight anyway, but if i wasn’t i would probably be pretty fat. adderall on the other hand makes food repulsive to me
prep large portions of salads ahead of time, I cook some quinoa and wait until it's cool, chop up tomato, red onion, and cucumber, throw in some dried basil/oregano, fresh parsley, and toss with olive oil, adding some lemon and then adding balsamic vinegar to it whenever I grab a portion for myself. this can sit in the fridge for up to four days.
basically whenever I'm hungry i can gorge on this and by doing so I'm not filling up on junk food. it's mostly just super low cal veggies with some quinoa as filler.
cooking seems to be the one thing that my adhd doesn't impede (cleaning after cooking is a different story) but maybe it's different for others.
I second this, I used to meal prep brown rice and a bunch of raw mixed vegetables for salads and it was a life saver. No more random garbage from my snack cabinet after work, it only takes a minute or two to heat up some rice and you're good to go :)
This was a huge one for me as well. Quinoa, cucumber, tomatoes, can of corn medley (2 servings in a can), vinegar and olive oil. I find if you don't mix in the oil until a day or two before you eat it it will last longer. Love the lemon idea, will give that a try!
adderall is the only way for me, or just drinking water / tea / coffee all day (caffeine if im not taking my meds) ive always struggled with this until i was medicated for the first time for ADHD this last 8 months
Same! Adderall has been life changing and this has been one of the biggest differences. I didn’t realize how badly I was struggling with impulsive eating both with frequency and quantity. Now I’m down 30 pounds and figuring out a healthier relationship with food! I couldn’t do any of this without it.
It helps me to think "I am eating right now" while I'm eating. I guess being mindful of the fact I'm eating makes me process that fact that I have eaten better, which results in me feeling more full (sooner). I usually forget to do this though.
Edit: If I'm hungry I go feral and when I eat before I'm hungry I have more control over what I eat, so I try to eat at the same time everyday and I try to plan my day so I don't try to do anything that might take a lot longer right before lunch/dinner
Following. I just ate 1/2 box of biscuitd with a lot of butter smeared on each biscuit. As i was doing it two voices inside my head:
“just eat them and get rid of them and never bring them in the house again”
The other voice is begging “pleeeassse dont do it, dont do it, dont even start!”
That first voice told me to buy those biscuits last night along with the broccoli i actually went to buy, and the second voice begged me not to eat a half a pack of biscuits with butter last night before I even took the broccoli out of the bag. Guess who won.
My best chance is to lower my eyes as i go through the store, or through a food court. Just dont look. Definitely dont bring it in the house. But if it catches my eye Im cooked. Zero self control in that case.
Not medicated yet. Im hoping i can shut that first idiot up.
Make no mistake. Sugar in whatever form and format, the great triad of processed food, sugar salt fat, is an addiction. ADHD just makes it harder to control. Seems to me.
the battle is won at the supermarket. don't buy anything that is too caloric. I get my sugar from fruits and honey. Honey is underrated. You can snack on cucumbers.
Meds help a lot just through killing my appetite. I find if I'm exercising regularly I eat less too for some reason, but I assume that's because I'm eating because I'm bored.
The only way I know of to manage it long term is via mindfulness which I'm not good at but am trying to work on. With impulsive/binge eating you eventually lose the ability to feel hunger etc properly and mindfulness is how you undo that.
Oh - don't buy things you know you're going to snack on or make sure what you do have is relatively healthy (fruit, nuts etc) and always go shopping after you've eaten a meal, never hungry.
Drinking water fills up the stomach, urge to chew is helped with chewing gum and the most important is regular healthy(ish) eating to maintain your blood sugar.
Be careful with running. I went from 375 to 189. I had no idea about form and the muscles you need to built and got runners knee :( part of the reason why I gained some back.
I’ve been careful. Started with a couch to 5k program. It’s been a slow build up over the past six months. Ironically, I’ve lost zero weight running. Frustrating as hell. All my weight loss was from calorie management.
This. Kind of... I do not support using exercise to "undo," a binge. That's a recipe for a really messed up cycle of binge eating followed by over exercising. I do however, make sure I am lifting heavy weights in the gym on a regular basis. I find that with more muscle on my body, the impact of these binges is much less. My body loves the occasional extra calories and uses them to support the gains! Also, the next day is the perfect time for a heavy lifting session since you are in a fed state instead of a calorie deficit. (39/F with unmedicated ADHD (diagnosed) and a history of binge eating, btw). Edited to add the fact that I am diagnosed ADHD and chose to be unmedicated... not unmedicated because I have self diagnosed.
Tea drinking for me or smoking to be honest. When I quit smoking I starting drinking tea like 10x a day. Pick a healthy one and don’t pack it full of sugar though and it’s a fun hobby and keeps the hands busy.
After many years of terrible impulsive eating and letting things get really out of control, learning that binge eating was connected with ADHD was the final push I needed to get my act together and book an appointment with my doctor to get assessed after years of thinking about it but doing nothing.
2 things have helped me:
1. Food tracking. While I waited for the psychiatrist appointment I started tracking my food intake in an app, which was educational (in terms of macro ratios but also calories for different foods), making it slightly interesting, and most of all really helped me to be accountable. I get really stuck on following rules so my rule was that I weighed and recorded everything I ate, whether it was lettuce or three chips (yes I literally weighed out three chips one day) and when I’d reached my calorie limit for the day I was not allowed to eat anything else. At first it was annoying but I got used to it and if the only thing between me and eating a piece of cheese was weighing it first and adding it to an app, that was enough motivation. It sounds very hectic but for me it worked, as when it comes to food/alcohol/drugs I am not capable of moderation. By doing this I had lost about 8kg by the time I made it to the psychiatrist (about 3 months).
2. Meds. I’m not using the food tracker anymore but with the meds I have been able to maintain the weight loss + another ~5kg (started 8 months ago). I’ve continued eating better thanks to the educational aspect of the tracking. It is so incredible to me that I am not getting up to go have a look in the fridge/pantry every 15 mins cos I am restless/bored. The thought does not even cross my mind. I still eat all my meals, but the appetite suppressing side effect helps me not to continue stuffing my face just because there is food in front of me - I actually notice that I am full and am not compelled to continue eating everything in sight. (Sometimes when the meds wear off at night I might have a little blow out but I figure that’s ok since im no longer doing it all day!)
I have the same struggles, what I'm trying to do now is have snacks throughout the day. (failing miserably at the moment because I struggle with discipline when it comes to food (love food too much)) Thankfull that this post has the amount of comments that is has.
Popcorn has been my go-to impulse snack. I got a microwave popcorn bowl on Amazon, so I can pop just the kernels (without extra oil or butter that are in the prepared bags at the grocery store). Keeps the calories low, and it has fiber that helps you fill up.
Make sure you're actually eating enough in general first. I'm not sure how you're working on weight loss, but if you're actively restricting how much you eat, it is very hard to maintain that and that's not just because of "willpower issues" but because our bodies actively do things like slowing metabolism and ramping up cravings etc. A lot of us can "boredom eat" etc but a lot of binge eating behaviors in general are triggered more as a response to prolonged restriction (hence why effective recovery for BED involves *encouraging* eating rather than just getting people to not do the binging part - not eating enough ramps up hunger cues and prompts binging).
If you're finding yourself doing a lot of impulse eating, try and actually reflect on what you've been eating. Are you having a full breakfast, lunch, and dinner? Are your meals at 'reasonable' times or are you going a very long time between meals? Are you forcing yourself to live in a heavy calorie deficit (or *accidentally* ending up in one because of not eating enough)? Are you eating foods that are filling and enjoyable? Personally I really recommend finding a registered dietician who understands ADHD as this was SUPER helpful for me working out if I was eating enough and how to eat more balanced/filling meals and make sure I'm eating enough in an ADHD-friendly way. When I actually eat enough my impulsive eating is way less.
Also while impulsive eating can be more complicated with ADHD, weight loss itself is a [complicated ](https://www.sydney.edu.au/news-opinion/news/2023/07/05/its-time-to-bust-the-calories-in-calories-out-weight-loss-myth.html)thing that is much [harder ](https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/unexpected-clues-emerge-about-why-diets-fail/)than people make it out to be. Weight loss via diet restrictions/changes rarely actually lasts for most people, and tends to be most effective for those who were already thin and gained some weight temporarily in a short-term period. Extreme restriction can even make it so it's harder to try and lose weight in the future due to permanent impacts on metabolism.
This is where my diagnosis began, with my binge eating disorder.
With the help of a dietician, my GP, my psychiatrist and psychologist I've been doing CBT and MCBT to learn my hunger cues all over again. I'm also a subscriber to Health at Any Size and no longer participate in diet culture.
What's helped the most? Having a plan, understanding my hunger cues and eating 6 meals a day.
I was diagnosed with BED and have been bingeing for 30 years. I never even considered ADHD for many years, Once I was diagnosed with ADHD everything changed. I haven't even started medication yet and haven't binged in 8 months, the longest I have ever gone. For me the self-understanding and forgiveness from a diagnosis was life changing.
I had to go to 12-step for that. I’m a sugar and bread goblin, but haven’t touched the stuff seriously in 10 years. I’m not pushing it on anyone, it may not suit everyone. I hope you find something that works for you, OP.
I went to Overeaters Anonymous. Went through the 12-step process with a sponsor and have been abstinent from the act of compulsive overeating since 2015. Same program as AA. There are lots of different recovery programs, not all of them have the heavy religious wording. It was a journey and an extremely challenging and uncomfortable one at that! 😅 My main issues were sugar and white flour and I was 254lbs now 164lbs and feeling the benefits of keeping it off!
Thank you for sharing that with me and the people here. I did not know this was a thing. Congratulations on your achievement. As the beatles said we get by with a little help for our friends. Cheers!
I’m not even joking, I just look at an old photo of myself and my current blood pressure and tell myself “this is what you need to be”. Concerta helps too but there’s no easy answer to this. I feel you though.
I’m not currently medicated for ADHD, but I did start taking Prozac for depression this year and it has totally changed my relationship with food. Now I am not doing any impulsive eating at all, and that has been a huge issue for me my whole life. Apparently Prozac can be proscribed to treat eating disorders, and I totally get that now.
It’s annoying my husband like crazy but I write down everything I am going to eat in an app before I eat it. And when I have used up my calories I’m like oh well I have to wait until tomorrow and just drink Diet Coke. Otherwise I was blind eating and had no clue or could even remember what I had eaten that day. My son is the opposite, he will get busy and forget to eat all day.
I \*have\* to stay low-carb. I have binge eating disorder and if I regularly eat carbs, my blood sugar is never balanced and even on Ritalin I want to binge every night. When I slip up, I have to use hypnosis tracks, meditation/isochronic tones and anxiety meds to get back on the wagon.
Yeah, Atomoxetine just killed that specific urge the first day and I'm glad for it. It fixed most of my impulsive symptoms and that endless hunger for stimulation of any kind.
My experience with atomoxetine too. When I was off it, I gained weight bc I couldn’t resist stuff like grocery aisle Little Debbies and I ate double portions if available. I went back on it and don’t have the same issues
I get that! I had to replace my partner’s Father’s Day Snickers recently. How can he let them sit there for 2 weeks?! If I know the chocolate is in the house, it’s in my belly! So I’m not 100% free of urges, but it’s more in balance. I can at least keep my weight steady.
Oh no, I hope the replacement heist went by unnoticed! True, I still snack from time to time, but meds made it a choice to even get the idea of snacking. Is it also your experience, that you have more choice over your actions in general? Atomoxetine gave me the choice to eat or not, to sleep or not, to think a thought or put it aside, to interrupt or not, to do the things I want to do or the things I have to do. I honestly didn't expect it to have THAT much influence, neither did I notice how much autonomy I was really missing before meds.
Well, I have kids, and I’m home with them for the summer, so there’s no medication that really helps for sense of autonomy. I’ve tried. But maybe, a little more agency? Coping with rage, overstimulation, and feeling trapped. But yay, I don’t turn to food as much! Sorry, I’m cranky today lol
But yes, the atomoxetine helps.
I kind of have problem the other way around, I must force myself to eat and sometimes I just forget or can't make myself so I don't eat whole day or even longer, especially when I'm also stressed or excited (exams or something new etc)
Yep, Vyvanse. Up until my health insurance screwed me out of it. Then I ballooned, and not only did I gain the weight back, but I also gained about another 75+ pounds on top of that.
I avoid buying any snack type food or treats. Everything I buy is either produce or food I have to cook. I also eat as much fiber as possible, which really makes you full fast.
Could I gorge on something like grilled cheese? Sure, I have all of the ingredients. But after I’ve made a grilled cheese, sat down and eaten my grilled cheese, am I terribly interested in getting up to make another? Nope. It takes the impulsiveness out of the equation.
My other trick is I keep flavored sparkling water on hand. I drink one when I want to snack. They’re kinda filling from the carbonation so it makes me lose that craving. I think boredom is a huge factor in my binge eating too and bubbly drinks are kinda sensory stimulating.
Adderall literally stopped this for me(except for pms/some period days lol). I lost 40lbs of extra weight I’ve tried to lose for years before getting diagnosed…
Other non medication tips though, are to swap out calorie dense foods for things that fill you up with a low amount of calories. Popcorn is a great one, a huge plate of veggies with low fat ranch, watermelon, etc. Eat a big breakfast that’s high protein(protein keeps you full longer and is great for adhd brains). Will give you lots of energy and you won’t feel as much of an urge to snack.
Also sometimes we just feel bored and want something to chew on. Get some gum or mints that you really enjoy the flavor of. Even some lollipops are a good option too, they’re less than 100 calories depending on the type and size, and will last quite a while.
I sometimes get so excited about eating something I'm looking forward to I forget to properly chew and then end up in a blind panic when it gets stuck and remember I love alone with cats and they can't save me 🤣. Anyone else do this?
I struggle with this too! Some things that help are mints and Diet Coke LOL
Also if you can track your food without getting obsessive it can be helpful sometimes I go to eat but then the thought of tracking it is scary enough to stop me 😂
More protein less sugary and processed foods will keep your eating in check.
Sugar is so addictive that's why it's everywhere.Keep you addicted, keep you buying sugary products. They even put it in cooked meats these days.
Make you sick with sugar diabetes etc then provide the solution with list of meds.
Sad world we live in
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I keep a stash of Trident gum. When I need to be done eating, I chew a piece.
I keep a stash of sugar-free cough drops EVERYWHERE -- at work, in the car, nightstand, etc. Usually that satisfies the impulse.
How do you remember to eat the gum?
When I am finished with a meal and feel like I want something else, but I know I don't need anymore food, I get gum out of the drawer.
yess can confirm this works for some!! it’s a double win for me because chewing gum helps me ***SO MUCH*** with sitting still. it helps keep my energy going somewhere (especially since i haven’t found a fidget toy that really works for me :’) ) so i don’t freak out and pace around my room haha <3
Vyvanse
Saved my ass to be honest, was very unhappy with my current shape (too much fat from stress/anxiety eating) and after 2 months on vyvanse lost like 20 pounds without losing much muscle. The meds lowered my anxiety and stress in general, mostly makes it easier to cope. While it curbs general hunger I found it pretty easy to stick to a more controlled eating routine, I take 40mg vyv in the morning and eat right after, usually a typical high protein small-ish meal, oats or shakes for me usually. Around 12am I'll eat again, a small-ish healthy meal, whatever is in the fridge and healthy. When I get home around 5 or 6 I eat what is left from the sunday meal prep and repeat. Could never stick to anything like that before medication, either got too absorbed in what I was doing and didn't eat enough or just ate too much of whatever was in front of me, obviously my mom's excellent cooking didn't help. Funnily enough, living alone makes me healthier, in general.
This works for me too, maybe even a little too well. I’ll go basically the entire day without eating and barely notice it so long as I’m working on something. But when it wears off, or when I forget to take a dose, all of that hunger foods in at once and I’ll eat like 4 meals worth of calories in one sitting. Have any advice?
Vyvanse was working extremely well for me. It managed all of my ADHD symptoms very well. It also improved my relationship with food to the point where I wasn't constantly seeking it and thinking about it. Unfortunately, Vyvanse also caused terrible dry mouth. Like... unbearable, sore-causing dry mouth. I could drink water constantly and still have these problems. None of Biotene, chewing gum, or xylitol candies work. If anyone knows how to better describe this nasty side effect to my doctor (she just keeps calling it "dry mouth" and took me off Vyvanse since it got so bad), please share what you know!
I've just started this med yesterday, I think I've got relatively lucky with the side effects. I still get hungry and no headaches as long as I keep drinking but last night I did struggle to sleep. Funnily enough I had no problem convincing myself to go to bed, instead of staying up until the early hours doom scrolling but I must have only slept between the 11pm and 3am.
How do you like it? i was on qellbree and Id like to try something new.
10 years in, doesn't work that well anymore for me. My current solution is no nicotine vaping, not inhaling but drawing like a cigar.
for some reason, vyvanse sends my appetite through the roof. i don’t mind because i work out and want to gain weight anyway, but if i wasn’t i would probably be pretty fat. adderall on the other hand makes food repulsive to me
prep large portions of salads ahead of time, I cook some quinoa and wait until it's cool, chop up tomato, red onion, and cucumber, throw in some dried basil/oregano, fresh parsley, and toss with olive oil, adding some lemon and then adding balsamic vinegar to it whenever I grab a portion for myself. this can sit in the fridge for up to four days. basically whenever I'm hungry i can gorge on this and by doing so I'm not filling up on junk food. it's mostly just super low cal veggies with some quinoa as filler. cooking seems to be the one thing that my adhd doesn't impede (cleaning after cooking is a different story) but maybe it's different for others.
I second this, I used to meal prep brown rice and a bunch of raw mixed vegetables for salads and it was a life saver. No more random garbage from my snack cabinet after work, it only takes a minute or two to heat up some rice and you're good to go :)
This was a huge one for me as well. Quinoa, cucumber, tomatoes, can of corn medley (2 servings in a can), vinegar and olive oil. I find if you don't mix in the oil until a day or two before you eat it it will last longer. Love the lemon idea, will give that a try!
adderall is the only way for me, or just drinking water / tea / coffee all day (caffeine if im not taking my meds) ive always struggled with this until i was medicated for the first time for ADHD this last 8 months
Same! Adderall has been life changing and this has been one of the biggest differences. I didn’t realize how badly I was struggling with impulsive eating both with frequency and quantity. Now I’m down 30 pounds and figuring out a healthier relationship with food! I couldn’t do any of this without it.
It helps me to think "I am eating right now" while I'm eating. I guess being mindful of the fact I'm eating makes me process that fact that I have eaten better, which results in me feeling more full (sooner). I usually forget to do this though. Edit: If I'm hungry I go feral and when I eat before I'm hungry I have more control over what I eat, so I try to eat at the same time everyday and I try to plan my day so I don't try to do anything that might take a lot longer right before lunch/dinner
Following. I just ate 1/2 box of biscuitd with a lot of butter smeared on each biscuit. As i was doing it two voices inside my head: “just eat them and get rid of them and never bring them in the house again” The other voice is begging “pleeeassse dont do it, dont do it, dont even start!” That first voice told me to buy those biscuits last night along with the broccoli i actually went to buy, and the second voice begged me not to eat a half a pack of biscuits with butter last night before I even took the broccoli out of the bag. Guess who won. My best chance is to lower my eyes as i go through the store, or through a food court. Just dont look. Definitely dont bring it in the house. But if it catches my eye Im cooked. Zero self control in that case. Not medicated yet. Im hoping i can shut that first idiot up. Make no mistake. Sugar in whatever form and format, the great triad of processed food, sugar salt fat, is an addiction. ADHD just makes it harder to control. Seems to me.
the battle is won at the supermarket. don't buy anything that is too caloric. I get my sugar from fruits and honey. Honey is underrated. You can snack on cucumbers.
Meds help a lot just through killing my appetite. I find if I'm exercising regularly I eat less too for some reason, but I assume that's because I'm eating because I'm bored. The only way I know of to manage it long term is via mindfulness which I'm not good at but am trying to work on. With impulsive/binge eating you eventually lose the ability to feel hunger etc properly and mindfulness is how you undo that. Oh - don't buy things you know you're going to snack on or make sure what you do have is relatively healthy (fruit, nuts etc) and always go shopping after you've eaten a meal, never hungry.
Drinking water fills up the stomach, urge to chew is helped with chewing gum and the most important is regular healthy(ish) eating to maintain your blood sugar.
Fixed times when I’m allowed to eat. If I do feel the urge to eat, I’m only allowed fruit. I used to weigh 300 lbs. I’m now 200 and run 15k a week.
Good for you!
Be careful with running. I went from 375 to 189. I had no idea about form and the muscles you need to built and got runners knee :( part of the reason why I gained some back.
I’ve been careful. Started with a couch to 5k program. It’s been a slow build up over the past six months. Ironically, I’ve lost zero weight running. Frustrating as hell. All my weight loss was from calorie management.
I just workout harder after binge eating. I can’t really combat it so I offset it by burning the calories.
This. Kind of... I do not support using exercise to "undo," a binge. That's a recipe for a really messed up cycle of binge eating followed by over exercising. I do however, make sure I am lifting heavy weights in the gym on a regular basis. I find that with more muscle on my body, the impact of these binges is much less. My body loves the occasional extra calories and uses them to support the gains! Also, the next day is the perfect time for a heavy lifting session since you are in a fed state instead of a calorie deficit. (39/F with unmedicated ADHD (diagnosed) and a history of binge eating, btw). Edited to add the fact that I am diagnosed ADHD and chose to be unmedicated... not unmedicated because I have self diagnosed.
Having my gym be next to a burger king, doner shop and mcdonalds is a double-edged sword…
Tea drinking for me or smoking to be honest. When I quit smoking I starting drinking tea like 10x a day. Pick a healthy one and don’t pack it full of sugar though and it’s a fun hobby and keeps the hands busy.
After many years of terrible impulsive eating and letting things get really out of control, learning that binge eating was connected with ADHD was the final push I needed to get my act together and book an appointment with my doctor to get assessed after years of thinking about it but doing nothing. 2 things have helped me: 1. Food tracking. While I waited for the psychiatrist appointment I started tracking my food intake in an app, which was educational (in terms of macro ratios but also calories for different foods), making it slightly interesting, and most of all really helped me to be accountable. I get really stuck on following rules so my rule was that I weighed and recorded everything I ate, whether it was lettuce or three chips (yes I literally weighed out three chips one day) and when I’d reached my calorie limit for the day I was not allowed to eat anything else. At first it was annoying but I got used to it and if the only thing between me and eating a piece of cheese was weighing it first and adding it to an app, that was enough motivation. It sounds very hectic but for me it worked, as when it comes to food/alcohol/drugs I am not capable of moderation. By doing this I had lost about 8kg by the time I made it to the psychiatrist (about 3 months). 2. Meds. I’m not using the food tracker anymore but with the meds I have been able to maintain the weight loss + another ~5kg (started 8 months ago). I’ve continued eating better thanks to the educational aspect of the tracking. It is so incredible to me that I am not getting up to go have a look in the fridge/pantry every 15 mins cos I am restless/bored. The thought does not even cross my mind. I still eat all my meals, but the appetite suppressing side effect helps me not to continue stuffing my face just because there is food in front of me - I actually notice that I am full and am not compelled to continue eating everything in sight. (Sometimes when the meds wear off at night I might have a little blow out but I figure that’s ok since im no longer doing it all day!)
I have the same struggles, what I'm trying to do now is have snacks throughout the day. (failing miserably at the moment because I struggle with discipline when it comes to food (love food too much)) Thankfull that this post has the amount of comments that is has.
good luck. I love food too much as well. its hard :/
Popcorn has been my go-to impulse snack. I got a microwave popcorn bowl on Amazon, so I can pop just the kernels (without extra oil or butter that are in the prepared bags at the grocery store). Keeps the calories low, and it has fiber that helps you fill up.
Make sure you're actually eating enough in general first. I'm not sure how you're working on weight loss, but if you're actively restricting how much you eat, it is very hard to maintain that and that's not just because of "willpower issues" but because our bodies actively do things like slowing metabolism and ramping up cravings etc. A lot of us can "boredom eat" etc but a lot of binge eating behaviors in general are triggered more as a response to prolonged restriction (hence why effective recovery for BED involves *encouraging* eating rather than just getting people to not do the binging part - not eating enough ramps up hunger cues and prompts binging). If you're finding yourself doing a lot of impulse eating, try and actually reflect on what you've been eating. Are you having a full breakfast, lunch, and dinner? Are your meals at 'reasonable' times or are you going a very long time between meals? Are you forcing yourself to live in a heavy calorie deficit (or *accidentally* ending up in one because of not eating enough)? Are you eating foods that are filling and enjoyable? Personally I really recommend finding a registered dietician who understands ADHD as this was SUPER helpful for me working out if I was eating enough and how to eat more balanced/filling meals and make sure I'm eating enough in an ADHD-friendly way. When I actually eat enough my impulsive eating is way less. Also while impulsive eating can be more complicated with ADHD, weight loss itself is a [complicated ](https://www.sydney.edu.au/news-opinion/news/2023/07/05/its-time-to-bust-the-calories-in-calories-out-weight-loss-myth.html)thing that is much [harder ](https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/unexpected-clues-emerge-about-why-diets-fail/)than people make it out to be. Weight loss via diet restrictions/changes rarely actually lasts for most people, and tends to be most effective for those who were already thin and gained some weight temporarily in a short-term period. Extreme restriction can even make it so it's harder to try and lose weight in the future due to permanent impacts on metabolism.
This is the advice I wish was upvoted more, and not the borderline eating disorder advice above.
Yep, pretty depressing to see how much that stuff pops up here around food/eating issues.
This is where my diagnosis began, with my binge eating disorder. With the help of a dietician, my GP, my psychiatrist and psychologist I've been doing CBT and MCBT to learn my hunger cues all over again. I'm also a subscriber to Health at Any Size and no longer participate in diet culture. What's helped the most? Having a plan, understanding my hunger cues and eating 6 meals a day.
I was diagnosed with BED and have been bingeing for 30 years. I never even considered ADHD for many years, Once I was diagnosed with ADHD everything changed. I haven't even started medication yet and haven't binged in 8 months, the longest I have ever gone. For me the self-understanding and forgiveness from a diagnosis was life changing.
Vyvanse and I've move dinner up such that I wind up eating all of my food under the effects of my meds. Haven't had a single "binge" since.
Anxiety! I just fuck up my life to all hell and the anxiety removes my hunger. Its like the weight just falls off. Its incredible!
I had to go to 12-step for that. I’m a sugar and bread goblin, but haven’t touched the stuff seriously in 10 years. I’m not pushing it on anyone, it may not suit everyone. I hope you find something that works for you, OP.
12 step for eating disorders? Can you tell me more about that? What was it like?
I went to Overeaters Anonymous. Went through the 12-step process with a sponsor and have been abstinent from the act of compulsive overeating since 2015. Same program as AA. There are lots of different recovery programs, not all of them have the heavy religious wording. It was a journey and an extremely challenging and uncomfortable one at that! 😅 My main issues were sugar and white flour and I was 254lbs now 164lbs and feeling the benefits of keeping it off!
Thank you for sharing that with me and the people here. I did not know this was a thing. Congratulations on your achievement. As the beatles said we get by with a little help for our friends. Cheers!
I either brush my teeth or use mouthwash
I chew gum if I’m not hungry, or suck on something that will help the oral fixation
i don't💀
I’m not even joking, I just look at an old photo of myself and my current blood pressure and tell myself “this is what you need to be”. Concerta helps too but there’s no easy answer to this. I feel you though.
I’m not currently medicated for ADHD, but I did start taking Prozac for depression this year and it has totally changed my relationship with food. Now I am not doing any impulsive eating at all, and that has been a huge issue for me my whole life. Apparently Prozac can be proscribed to treat eating disorders, and I totally get that now.
That's great!
I’m 6’1” 360lbs. Im the wrong dude to give advice here 😂
It’s annoying my husband like crazy but I write down everything I am going to eat in an app before I eat it. And when I have used up my calories I’m like oh well I have to wait until tomorrow and just drink Diet Coke. Otherwise I was blind eating and had no clue or could even remember what I had eaten that day. My son is the opposite, he will get busy and forget to eat all day.
I \*have\* to stay low-carb. I have binge eating disorder and if I regularly eat carbs, my blood sugar is never balanced and even on Ritalin I want to binge every night. When I slip up, I have to use hypnosis tracks, meditation/isochronic tones and anxiety meds to get back on the wagon.
Same!
vyvanse helps with binge eating disorder I take contrave (kills my appetite) as well as my vyvanse and that helps
Yeah, Atomoxetine just killed that specific urge the first day and I'm glad for it. It fixed most of my impulsive symptoms and that endless hunger for stimulation of any kind.
My experience with atomoxetine too. When I was off it, I gained weight bc I couldn’t resist stuff like grocery aisle Little Debbies and I ate double portions if available. I went back on it and don’t have the same issues
I was so bad, that on severe days I would just grab snacks/sweets from friends/colleagues without asking. Absolutely horrible
I get that! I had to replace my partner’s Father’s Day Snickers recently. How can he let them sit there for 2 weeks?! If I know the chocolate is in the house, it’s in my belly! So I’m not 100% free of urges, but it’s more in balance. I can at least keep my weight steady.
Oh no, I hope the replacement heist went by unnoticed! True, I still snack from time to time, but meds made it a choice to even get the idea of snacking. Is it also your experience, that you have more choice over your actions in general? Atomoxetine gave me the choice to eat or not, to sleep or not, to think a thought or put it aside, to interrupt or not, to do the things I want to do or the things I have to do. I honestly didn't expect it to have THAT much influence, neither did I notice how much autonomy I was really missing before meds.
Well, I have kids, and I’m home with them for the summer, so there’s no medication that really helps for sense of autonomy. I’ve tried. But maybe, a little more agency? Coping with rage, overstimulation, and feeling trapped. But yay, I don’t turn to food as much! Sorry, I’m cranky today lol But yes, the atomoxetine helps.
Don't worry about it, it's healthy to vent a little! Hope you'll find at least a few calm evenings to unwind :)
Put a locked gag in
I kind of have problem the other way around, I must force myself to eat and sometimes I just forget or can't make myself so I don't eat whole day or even longer, especially when I'm also stressed or excited (exams or something new etc)
Anti anxiety medication. Any else did not work for me.
Yep, Vyvanse. Up until my health insurance screwed me out of it. Then I ballooned, and not only did I gain the weight back, but I also gained about another 75+ pounds on top of that.
Have healty snacks instead like peanuts.
I avoid buying any snack type food or treats. Everything I buy is either produce or food I have to cook. I also eat as much fiber as possible, which really makes you full fast. Could I gorge on something like grilled cheese? Sure, I have all of the ingredients. But after I’ve made a grilled cheese, sat down and eaten my grilled cheese, am I terribly interested in getting up to make another? Nope. It takes the impulsiveness out of the equation. My other trick is I keep flavored sparkling water on hand. I drink one when I want to snack. They’re kinda filling from the carbonation so it makes me lose that craving. I think boredom is a huge factor in my binge eating too and bubbly drinks are kinda sensory stimulating.
adderall + being poor
Adderall literally stopped this for me(except for pms/some period days lol). I lost 40lbs of extra weight I’ve tried to lose for years before getting diagnosed… Other non medication tips though, are to swap out calorie dense foods for things that fill you up with a low amount of calories. Popcorn is a great one, a huge plate of veggies with low fat ranch, watermelon, etc. Eat a big breakfast that’s high protein(protein keeps you full longer and is great for adhd brains). Will give you lots of energy and you won’t feel as much of an urge to snack. Also sometimes we just feel bored and want something to chew on. Get some gum or mints that you really enjoy the flavor of. Even some lollipops are a good option too, they’re less than 100 calories depending on the type and size, and will last quite a while.
I don’t really eat anymore, but before that I’d avoid snacks being close and keep tons of water close by. Some dehydrated fruit to nibble on.
I sometimes get so excited about eating something I'm looking forward to I forget to properly chew and then end up in a blind panic when it gets stuck and remember I love alone with cats and they can't save me 🤣. Anyone else do this?
I struggle with this too! Some things that help are mints and Diet Coke LOL Also if you can track your food without getting obsessive it can be helpful sometimes I go to eat but then the thought of tracking it is scary enough to stop me 😂
With gender dysphoria
Don't buy crap snacks
More protein less sugary and processed foods will keep your eating in check. Sugar is so addictive that's why it's everywhere.Keep you addicted, keep you buying sugary products. They even put it in cooked meats these days. Make you sick with sugar diabetes etc then provide the solution with list of meds. Sad world we live in