Comments on: Impulse vs compulsion

By: Linda-

Linda- — Sat, 27 May 2006 04:48:07 +0000

You know, I never thought of it this way- I always assumed I was over eating- but after reading this I think there IS a difference and I eat compulsively. Sometimes I can be in tears and be miserable while eating something and just can’t stop. Something to think about- thanks.

By: susan

susan — Fri, 26 May 2006 20:55:08 +0000

I’m glad you went for the chicken. Often times the “healthy” choice isn’t too tasty. I feel much less deprived if I order what really hums to me and eat half of it than if I order the “low calorie” dish and eat the whole thing and still end up feeling somewhat gypped because it wasn’t what I really wanted. I know I ordered wrong if I end up gazing longingly at everyone else’s choices.

By: Marla

Marla — Fri, 26 May 2006 10:55:16 +0000

It occured to me while reading this, that I never have an impulse to do something GOOD. Like, I’m never just sitting around and think “Hey, I should get up and do some sit-ups!” or “Wow, I have an uncontrollable urge to have half a slice of whole wheat toast, an orange and a quarter cup of low-fat cottage cheese for breakfast!”

Stupid brain.

By: carlaviii

carlaviii — Fri, 26 May 2006 04:33:00 +0000

I agree with Librarian that making an impulsive decision for something that may seem less healthy is not as “bad” as it might sound. We’re not “on diets” here, and a small indulgence now can be the equivalent of letting off steam rather than building up to a major incident.

I’m glad to say that I’ve never felt genuinely compelled to binge, but on the other hand I can also say that every time I did binge, I knew when I should and could stop and chose not to. I know what Susan meant by “trying not to feel something” — it’s been demonstrated in the lab that fats and/or sugars trigger soothing neurochemicals. Any critter can get hooked on those feelings.

Heck, I spent a year trying to switch my cat to raw food, but he won’t give up the high-fat, chemical-filled commercial stuff.

By: LibrarianOnTheLoose(elaine)

LibrarianOnTheLoose(elaine) — Thu, 25 May 2006 20:32:56 +0000

I have compulsive behaviors that arent “binges” all the time. These things for me mostly evolve around thinks like, swiping a spoonful of a leftover as I package it and put it in the frigde, stealing a slice of cheese and/or lunchmeat when I make my hub’s sandwich for the next day, swiping half a bagel and cream cheese from meeting leftovers at work, or helping myself to the candy on someone’s desk. I also have been known to binge when I am not “dieting,” but usually it is because I feel emotionally deprived (I worked hard today, my husband is late, I’m tired, I didn’t like my lunch or dinner).

I think you’re right, you made an impulsive not compulsive decision, but it WAS mindful. My therapist teaches that we should think about what we feel like eating by imagining how certain foods feel at that moment. Do I want rice cakes and a salad with lemon? a broccoli and cheese omelet? Fried oreos? When we become in tune with what our body wants, it almost always becomes the most nutritious, which is probably what that chicken was, despite the higher fat content. You listened to your body and gave it what it needed. Way to go!