David Kessler on Why We're Prone to Eating Too Much

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i never get hungry when im sad or happy because in my mind i'm putting the food at the ledt level of my desire if im getting hungry i'll go for a walk see people distract me and i dont think anymore about food this is what im saying possibly he would not be for everybody the same but just try when u hungry go for walk and then yu'll see the difference ye and good luck

antonia sorgi of NY 10:32AM May 19, 2011

This is so true. It takes some discipline to break the cycle, but totally possible. Great article.

Bread.ly of FL 8:33PM December 22, 2010

yeah well i thought this was a great book an all BUT i have now reverted back to my old behavior..... please HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Laura Smart
240-240-7851

Laura Smart of MD 5:54PM November 28, 2010

Dr. Kessler is resonating with me. I disagree with the previous statement suggesting will power is the answer.
My experience is I was 50 pounds overweight. I lost 50 pounds, gained back 10, and then maintained a 40 pound loss for almost 4 years. I could occasionally overeat and gain no weight. After a while I succumbed to the false belief..."I can eat what ever I want" I have been struggling for the last 6 years.
What happen back then was I attended a 12 step group. They had a "food plan"; 3 meals, weighed and measured; nothing in between except sugarless drinks or gum. I was very structured and it worked. I viewed food differently. I had plenty to eat, I didn't starve or feel hungry. What I did was learn to eat normally.
What happened and I struggle with now is, craving, beyond mental control as described by the lack of control, a lack of satiation, and preoccupation in the face of certain trigger foods. The dopamine and opioid theory makes sense to me since I crave, eat and then feel worse.

Clay B of CA 1:27AM July 13, 2009

I read the book, it was very informative. I have lost 15 lbs. I have given up sugar and bread. I eat a lot of chili, with beans. Actually what I do, since I live alone and dont like to cook, is I buy small Wendys Chili's, split them in half and for lunch I have a can of chili beans and half the chili. I eat a banana or another piece of fruit with each meal. Usually it is bananas. I bake a package of chicken and make several dinners out of it. I do eat a sandwich about once a week. But since I have given up the bread, and its been alomost two months, it doesn't really taste good. I work out 6 to 8 times a week. I get up in the am before work and go to the Y and do the elliptical for and hour. 3 times a week I go back on my lunch hour and do cardio for 30 minutes. I also water walk a couple of times a week so I don't wear my legs out. Also, I walk my Lhasa Apso a mile each morning. I weigh 250 down from 265. My cholesterol is normal for the first time in 20 years as well as my sugar. My cholesterol is 184 HDL 59 LDL 108 Sugar 91 and triglycerides 100.

Pam of IA 9:34AM June 06, 2009

I'm overweight. I decided to slim down. I stopped eating so much. I'm loosing weight. It's no big thing. If you eat too much you get fat. If you want to slim down, stop eating so much.
The over-analysis of this is ridiculous. The books, the system, the crying. Just give it a break. If you want to slim down, grow some balls and stop eating so much. Who is in charge? Are we so pathetic that we have to give in to every urge?
If you are fat and happy, fine. If you are fat and hate yourself, then stop stuffing your face. Maybe your developing backbone and visible toes will give you some self-esteem.
Than again, how pathetic are we if we rely on slimming as a source of self-esteem?

Katherine Hobson: Congratulations on losing weight! You seem to be doing it, and hopefully maintaining the loss, without much angst, but for many people it is extremely difficult. Even when the most highly motivated people sign up for clinical trials and get counseling, ongoing support, and other services the most of us don't have, they have an extremely difficult time keeping the weight off once it's gone. Lots of reasons why, many that we don't fully understand, but suffice it to say that for the vast majority of people who are highly competent and disciplined in every other aspect of their lives, simply saying "eat less" isn't enough. Oh, and I think many people would argue that losing weight is more for health reasons, and that if self-esteem improves as a result of that accomplishment, that's great too.

Bud Mor of CA 4:10AM May 06, 2009

Since March of 2008 I have lost 64 lbs (with 37 left to go). It took a hernia for me to finally wake up to the fact I was killing myself. I believe we all have some obsession. I had replaced chain smoking with eating. Now I've replaced over-eating with excessive exercise (6-7 nights at the gym). I am wired to be obsessive compulsive, but thankfully I am now in good health (I do eat good foods....almost no desserts, no fried foods, few breads/starches, etc). It is no sense to even try to "diet" unless a person is ready for a life change. My diet is thru a medical program which insurance covers most of the costs. There is no end to my program and it's the first "diet" where I have changed my lifestyle. Anything quick is pretty much doomed for failure. Losing weight is a mindset. You either have to want it bad enough or you'll fail. I am now working on cutting back on exercising w/o feeling guilty AND without turning back to overeating (or eating junk). I have told myself I CAN do this and I believe the odds are finally in my favor.

Katherine Hobson: Congratulations! Keep it up. What was the event or moment that really convinced and motivated you?

FLNonny of FL 8:38AM May 05, 2009