Help point me in the right direction

This is a series of questions in which i hope someone here can help me out...

So lemme start by saying i believe i have COE(compulsive overeating disorder).. i'm usually ok.. until i start eating.. and then im eating constantly.. it really drives me nuts.. i dont want to do the support group thing because it is religion based here in town.. nor do i want to be 6ft deep in bills from seeing some doctor trying to figure me out.. So are there any good herbal remidies/suppliments i can take to help supress my appitite? i know some of this is will power and what not.. but i really need assistance here

next question...

I'm going sober.. haven't smoked in over 2months.. haven't put a single drug in my body in probably about a week.. marijuana/alcohol included.. nothing.. quit it all.. for reasons undefined PM if you really need the story.. but since going sober.. falling asleep is nearly impossible.. im not going to bed til like 3-4am and i work mornings.. this cannot keep happening and i cannot "deal with it" until my body works its shit out and i get back to being "normal".. so my question is do you know of any good herbal OTC products for sleeping?

now i'm not looking for either of these to take over where drugs left off.. im just looking for something to help until i can figure it out myself.. and any help would be greatly appreciated..

also if you know of any foods that can help suppress appitite or help with sleep.. that would be great.. thank you very much.. j_man

 

before we get to appetite suppressants - what do you normally eat on a day to day basis and in what quantities?

for sleep, i would look to pick up a good magnesium supplement (a non oxide form of magnesium) and some zinc as well.

 

i try to stick to fruits.. and stuff.. but usually a lot of grains... breads... pastas... nuts.. whatever i may end up snacking on at work.. which i've really been tryin to cut down on

 

Zinc and Magnesium.. in straight form? or do you think i may be better off with a Multi Vitamin like Centrum Complete?

Also i've grown a good bit of Social Anxiety over the years.. my guess is from over indulgence of drugs.. especially marijuana.. does StJW really work?

 

buy the magnesium and zinc separate. for a multi-vitamin, you wanna get the most bang for your buck - you want to get one with good bioavailability for each vitamin and mineral, so it takes a little fact checking on what forms are best for bioavailability and what not, but its worth the effort.

not all multi-vitamins are equal. saying that if all you can get is centrum complete, then go for it - but a little shopping around and you can get a decent multi for a little bit more.

that looks like a ton of carbs you are eating - i would really look into cutting down on that - or subbing out for a sprouted bread or leavened bread. snacks - beef jerky is great to snack on - low carb, some fat, high protein

 

my diet is so inconsistent at the moment overall with lack of $$$ to really afford what i should be eating.. so i go with the most bang for your buck.. which is normally grains.. and hotdogs LOL.. fruit when i can afford it.. salads here and there.. i do love cereals.. but i cannot afford them either.. milk when its not spoiling..

personally a lot of my diet will change with my next check.. one of my main problems was keeping certain items fresh in my fridge.. its been on the fritz for years.. winters were fine.. summers it would get a lil too warm for dairies.. but come tomorrow i will have a fridge that runs and things should be different..

what multi vitamin brand would you suggest? theres co-ops.. walmarts.. health stores here.. i don't really know what i should be looking for overall

by the way.. thanks i really appreciate this

 

i personally use NOW foods Adam multivitamin
so anything comparable to that would be great - but it is one of the better multi-vitamins out on the market.

i also get my magnesium and calcium through Now Foods as well - i get magnesium malate, and calcium citrate. the zinc is in the multi

money is tough, i know. but for cheap foods that will be the most bang for your buck (in terms of nutrients per cost) are meats, dairy (milk and cottage cheese), frozen veggies and fruits. get those out of the way and then if ya want some cereal or what not, get it, but it can't be the bulk of what ya buy. nuts are great. and if you will be cutting back the carbs, then that'll give ya some more room to eat a bit more nuts if ya want - but they are usually full of fat, which can bring up your calorie intake real quick and totally skirt around the negative balance you created with taking carbs out.

 

but aren't nuts full of the "healthy fats".. excuse me for my ignorance.. but i'm a child of the 80/90s. when candy and fast food were staples of the house hold and the repercussions of those things were of no thought what so ever

 

support group will help, definitely pursue that.
i can relate to what you're going through. struggled w/eating disorder for years.

chromium for appetite, melatonin for sleep. these are natural supplements.

as far as changing diet, consider seeing a nutritionist who has worked w/people w/eating issues. they can help you w/specific things right down to the meal and the numbers and can be an important tool in changing your eating habits for the better. therapy and support take care of the mental and emotional.

i truly believe that it takes a comprehensive approach to heal. not to say it's impossible to heal alone, but my man, reach out for help that is there for you. you will make your chances of succeeding even greater.

best wishes to you and i'm here if you'd like to chat
eace:

p.s. total side note, but yes nuts are healthy and awesome and everybody needs lipids.

 

if you figure this shit out, let me know.

but yeah, i guess if there's no support group in your hometown that's not religion based, i imagine you might be able to find one online if you put enough time into your google search.

 

yes, they are. however, they are still fat, and fat calorie from nuts are still 9 calories. small scale, not that important - bigger scale (think long term weight loss), much more important, especially when you are a compulsive overeater.

so in a roundabout way, the answer is "it depends" - control quantity to a few servings and you're golden

 

Does this hold true for all nuts/seeds?

 

depends on the fat content of the nut/seed.
some you'll get to eat more, some less. but they are good and full of much more than fat. which is why i like mixtures from a co-op or something - get a little bit of both and some variety in nutrients to boot.

so 1 gram of fat is 9 calories

 

okay... rice and beans from the bulk section of a health food store, add nutritional yeast for added protein.

Red cabbage (high in fiber, which helps you fill full longer) very good for the colon. Slice really thin, add a thinly sliced apple, vinagrette (sp?) so delicious!

Whole grains (brown rice, steel cut oats) bulky and long lasting for staying off hunger.

When looking at supplements, quality is important. Magnesium's sedating effects are canceled out by calcium. There is a powder form of magnesium sold at health food stores ( there are lots of good helpers that are informed about what you need at health food stores) but be careful about taking too much magnesium, as you can get a bad case of diarrhea.

There are herbal teas a plenty that help with nerves or anxiety. Celestial seasonings, sells a few. Mood mender, sleepytime tea, cammomile, mint... other brands same-same, but different names. There's valerian root ( short term, as this can lead to depression, and you have to have a good liver) there's skullcap...

L-5- hydroxy tryptphan, by solaray is a combination of vitamins b-6, and c, and L-5-HTP which enhances synthesis of serotonin in the brain, b-6 is the cofactor for enymes that convert L-tryptophan to serotonin, and the vit. c catalyzes the hydroxylation of tryptophan. This help relax the central nervous system off of that flight or fight "anxiety" stage.

powdered kava mixed with hot chocolate (no milk) will also mellow you out.

I used all this when I was going through a period of high stress about a year ago.

Get off the dairy. Try almond milk instead, and have you looked into raw foods? The more biologically available your food is, the more nutrition goes into your system.

Have you heard of that saying "overfed under nourished"? Well empty calories really lead to over eating.

I am sure you can find some literature on the net about mindful eating... being aware of how you feel while you are eating.

I know a guy who lost 300 #s going vegan. He said he started eating a salad (big salad) in every meal, then it just transitions from there.

Sprouting alfalfa is cheap, and it has enzymes and protein. Keep the seeds and nuts in your diet. They are very beneficial. Soak them and cast off the water, they transform into a live food! A handful a day.

Know portion sizes. Write down your eating. Get clear and organized. Bon Chance!

 

Thanks for that bit of info Flower... personally though.. staying away from the alfalfa sprouts.. too many times do they get contaminated and they cannot be properly sanitized..

 

what about physical activity it sounds like you are trying to be on the healthier side of things with the questions about diet, and the quitting of drugs and booze. physical may help the mental side of the over eating, not only does strenuous work out release endorphins which make you feel good ( a feeling you may subconsciously try to get by over eating), but it can also increase your discipline, and once you start seeing results you may be more inclined to watch what you take into your body... or something like that

 

you can buy melatonin or whatever its called. my friend takes it to sleep. although, it does make her produce breast milk, odd side effects.

 

Now that i've been exercising/sober.. over eating has been a null issue.. actually according to others from another site that im now addicted too.. im not eating enough lol FML

 

I was talking about doing your own sprouts