[RubyRedd]

i like watching the discovery channel and saw the beginning or a real-type emergency hospital show. they were interviewing a doctor in between emergencies and the dr said he had trouble with "reward eating". i'd never really heard it put that way, but i know exactly what he means. now that i'm on my own i eat to celebrate everything. i think i've gained about 25 pounds that way. i also eat to ease "the Pain". i've joined weight watchers in the past and lost a lot of weight, but i'm not in the mind set to go to meetings and concentrate on making a grocery list. poptarts stay fresh longer than fruit.. . i want to loose weight because if its a disease related to the human body my family has a history of it.
and i hate the way i look now compared to my younger days.
{big sigh}

[Slothrop]

I could SWEAR I have read that bipolars often crave carbohydrates. But I can't remember where.

I know that a tasty (and usually unhealthy) snack or meal really seems to get the right neurotransmitters going. I wouldn't call it a "rush," but it does feel good. In an exaggerated way.

And then so many psych meds contribute to weight gain...

I'll tell ya, dropping 50 lbs. sure would boost the self-esteem here.

[thinker22]

My meds suppress my appetite, but when I'm manic I crave chocolate, candy, carbs, caffeine, anything bad for me. I'm bouncing around and saying gimme MORE. So, I know how that is. Depression makes me tend to lose weight, but mania...well, I'm just plain old unhealthy and everything tastes yummy. When I'm studying for college too. I reward myself with food and drinks. I think even non-bipolars do that though.

Hope you can get to feeling better and more able to manage things.

[bridgie]

I have always had a problem with binge eating so I can't say whether or not its disorder related. I know a cpl medications I've taken made me jump up in weight. I have to force myself to exercise except I'm lazy so it dsnt always work in my favor. But reward days are a big thing now. Be good all week one day to eat whatever they want

[VickiesPath]

I can relate to everything you guys are talking about. I read a really good article that says it's ok to reward yourself with food if you do it "mindfully" with purpose, a definite start and a definite end. It's from right here on PC. Here's the link:

http://blogs.psychcentral.com/mindful-living/2009/07/3-principles-of-mindful-emotional-eating/

Hope it helps.

[Berries]

good article Vickie. Thank you!

[ouroboros]

Originally Posted by thinker22

My meds suppress my appetite, but when I'm manic I crave chocolate, candy, carbs, caffeine, anything bad for me. I'm bouncing around and saying gimme MORE. So, I know how that is. Depression makes me tend to lose weight, but mania...well, I'm just plain old unhealthy and everything tastes yummy. When I'm studying for college too. I reward myself with food and drinks. I think even non-bipolars do that though.

Hope you can get to feeling better and more able to manage things.

I was always told that people eat more when they're depressed, but I've always had more of your experience - I don't eat when I'm depressed, and I gorge when I'm manic (usually). Sometimes I drink, though my intolerance to alcohol has kept me from really enjoying anything past a few drinks, and I quit smoking - chewing seeds instead. I think a lot of it may be neurotic, though the eating I think is a coping mechanism for many...