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?

  • DreamButt@lemmy.worldEnglish
    9·
    7 days ago

    The only thing that solved that for me was finally getting medicated. A lot of adhd meds curb appetite. So that plus the extra executive function makes it a lot easier

    • Noodle07@lemmy.worldEnglish
      3·
      7 days ago

      I’m medicated, still waiting for the loss of appetite while I know someone who has to stop taking meds to regain weight

      • quid_pro_joe@infosec.pubEnglish
        3·
        7 days ago

        If you’re prescribed stimulants, you should feel the loss of (over) appetite the very first day. If you’re using food for emotional comfort or as a coping mechanism, stimulants may actually increase your appetite. I used food for comfort/coping and boredom so I had to stop stimulants while I dealt with deep-buried emotional trauma. But even a decade later, if I have a really stressful week at work, no stimulant medication is going to prevent me from (wanting to) devouring a tub of ice cream over the weekend. P.S. if you have even a little bit of OCD, you can exploit that to keep yourself focused and engaged between meals.