I've had a food addiction since I was born - love wheat, pizza, cakes, et al. If I'm at a party I'll keep stuffing my face until I leave. Snacking at night is another sore spot. I tell myself to stay away from the fridge but I almost always get something.

I've brought my weight down from 365 lbs. to 260 lbs., but I've been stuck on 260 for well over a year.

Lately I've used visualization to keep myself from overeating. I see myself taking my time eating, enjoying the flavor. I involve all my senses. Unfortunately this has not helped. In fact, last night I ate three pieces of cinnamon raisin toast and two cups of tea, along with a couple spoons of peach preserves and a spoon of peanut butter on which I sprinkled some chocolate chips. Getting the picture? Good, maybe you can help.

Thanks

Hi Fortis,

I don't think coaching/therapy by forum works that well but here are some things that might help.

First, I noticed you said you've used visualisation to keep yourself from overeating. Maybe that's just an accident of the way you typed it up but that sounds like visualising what you don't want rather than what you do. (Similarly, you tell yourself to stay away from the fridge.) I don't know if you've learned any NLP, however it's more useful to think about what you do want rather than what you don't.

Second, it seems to me that the pictures/movies you make that build the desire only run as far as the pleasurable bit of chewing it. How about if you run those movies on to the bloated feelings you'll have after, the regret, the looking and being overweight and all the things you don't want but get. Maybe that'll take the edge of.

Third, the problem isn't that you eat or even that you eat things that are nice. The problem, probably, is that you just eat too much of it. I definitely recommend you take on the 4-rule system described in Paul McKenna's I Can Make You Thin.

Fourth, the imagination is more powerful than the will. If you imagine how nice something will taste while saying to yourself, "I shouldn't" or even "I mustn't", you'll give in. If you tell yourself "I can" but imagine somebody's been sick on it, flies have been defacating on it, there's hair in it, etc, then probably you won't.

Finally, if you're eating to suppress feelings you don't like, well Paul McKenna's programme deals with emotional eating, but I recommend you actually book some time with someone to re-pattern your feelings.

One or more of those might give you something to do.

Cheers

Stephen,
Thanks for the advice. I don't have any training in nlp but have been reading about it for a year or more.

Your point about visualizing the guilt and effects of overeating makes more sense than seeing myself before I eat.

Last night I didn't eat anything but I had a cup of tea. I don't use sugar in my tea or coffee and sometimes not even milk. So that was a victory. Unfortunately, today's another day, and I'll be thinking about having a nighttime snack constantly. It really is ridiculous, to be so obsessed with a damn cookie or brownie.

I'll also look into the McKenna book. Thanks again.

Hi Fortis,

No problem. However, definitely don't try to get thin by starving yourself or avoiding meals. That would probably just promote binge behaviours around food.

Sure, think about that night time snack just run the movie through till it's not so attractive and then come back and play a new movie through of you having a glass of water instead and being pleased with your weight loss. And step into that movie.

The Swish pattern can be very helpful here.

If you need extra help, remember - you can always use your imagination to make the snack 'eeew!'.

The McKenna book will explain all.

Be successful.

Cheers.

Hi Fortis,

I have been able to help people overcome emotional eating very successfully.

I will be teaching a one day workshop at The London College of Spirituality on 15th March 2009.

Here is the Link to the College and the new spring brochure is due to be posted soon.

London College of Spirituality: Evolving Consciousness — Spiritual, Psychological, Reiki, Therapy, Consciousness, Self-Awareness, Self-Development, Stress Management

The course is called 'The Ins and Outs of Emotional Eating' where I will take you through some skills and also some stuff that goes beyond the Saboteur archetype. Don't be put off by the name 'spiritual' - the college is open to everyone who needs emotional healing and and NLP Skills combined.

I will also be presenting at the Mind, Body and Soul exhibition on the topic on 16th November Mind Body & Soul 08

Hope this is useful info.

Best wishes
Nina