medication that stack on the weight

[myswtghst]

I actually have kind of the same problem that you do, in that I don't eat particularly often and I'm terrible about eating breakfast. [...]But you and I do not a trend make

Count me in. And I know, often when looking at diet plans and the like, they recommend eating up to 5 or 6 "mini-meals" per day. I've also seen many mentions of our (Americans') tendency to skip breakfast and eat on the go.

I've been making an effort lately to bring snacks with me to work, so I'm not starving when my break comes. I bring in fruit/veggies, and keep dried fruit, granola bars and raw almonds in my desk for such things.

[Seshat]

Those with a tendancy to binge - heck, everyone! - can do what my friend taught me.

I kept reducing my portion sizes for normal meals until I reached a portion size which was just under what made me feel full when I left the table. Now, that's my normal meal size. If I'm still hungry half an hour after I've eaten, I eat a small amount more. A snack amount.

The process also taught me to recognise when I'd eaten enough. Now, even if the portion is larger than normal for me, I can stop just before I'm full.

Denying yourself food when you're hungry is no solution. It just leads to binging. However, waiting half an hour (even ten minutes, if half an hour is emotionally difficult) will let your body tell you if you really do need more food.

Another thing that can be difficult, but is worthwhile, is learning when you're physically hungry, when you're emotionally hungry, and when you're craving a particular thing: salt is common.

If eating a small amount of something salty satisfies a particular feeling, it's probably a salt craving. If eating a big bowl of leafy greens or bran cereal satisfies a feeling, it's an empty-stomach feeling. If a few lollies makes you feel good but only for a short period of time, it's a low blood sugar feeling*. If the only thing that satisfies you is comfort food, get a therapist to help you learn to be comforted by a stuffed toy or wrapping yourself in a blanket and watching Peter Pan instead.

* learn the glycaemic index to learn how to keep that feeling away permanently. Sugar addiction sucks, sugar withdrawal sucks a LOT, but once I got past the withdrawal phase, eating to maintain a steadyish blood sugar makes me feel much better. Nuts are now one of my common snacks.