On the Thin Within forums, we have had a discussion about why we overeat.

See how many of these you can relate to.

  • I am happy.
  • I am sad.
  • I am late.
  • I am early.
  • I am agitated.
  • The kids are fighting.
  • The weather is bad.
  • The extended family (Mother-in-Law!) is visiting.
  • My Mother is living with us.
  • I exercised a lot and need the energy.
  • I will exercise a lot and need the energy.
  • I am sick and I need the energy.
  • I am tired and I need the energy.
  • I won’t be near food for another 3 hours so I better eat now.
  • I may never get this kind of food again.
  • There is a movie on.
  • The movie ended.
  • The movie is sad.
  • The movie is intense.

Well, you get the drift, I bet! 🙂

Some of the women at the forums have mentioned that there are some bad habits–like, perhaps:

  • Eating while at the computer. 
  • Eating while driving.
  • Eating when reading.
  • Eating in the bathtub.

Again…you get the drift.

Finally, as we are honest with one another and ourselves, we might sometimes simply feel like this:

I like food. I want it. I will eat it just because I want it and I like it.

I would like to suggest something, though.

What is really behind this? I mean, if we eat for all these reasons and more, even though we know that it might be killing us (when it is), what is really behind it all?

Is it possible that, if we were to dig a bit deeper we might come up with some answers that might lead to our healing?

What do you think?

I would love to hear from you about this.

If you have health issues that are due, indirectly or otherwise, to overeating, what is at the heart of continuing to overeat?

Why do we do this?