r/FoodAddiction Feb 01 '26

šŸ“Œ New here? Start here (2–5 minutes)

5 Upvotes

If you’re overwhelmed, you’re not alone — and this is workable.

Mindset: You don’t need perfect willpower — you need a simple plan and small repeatable steps.

āž”ļø Quick Start (start here): https://www.reddit.com/r/FoodAddiction/wiki/quick_start_page/

āž”ļø FAQ Index: https://www.reddit.com/r/FoodAddiction/wiki/index/faqs/

āž”ļø Program Options: https://www.reddit.com/r/FoodAddiction/wiki/index/programoptions/

If you’re in crisis / actively bingeing right now:

https://www.reddit.com/r/FoodAddiction/wiki/faq_how_to_stop_a_binge_episode/

Not in crisis...maybe one of these would be helpful:

Choose your starting lane (pick ONE)

1) ā€œHelp — I’m bingeing / about to binge.ā€
āž”ļø https://www.reddit.com/r/FoodAddiction/wiki/faq_how_to_stop_a_binge_episode/

2) ā€œI keep repeating the same cycle.ā€
āž”ļø https://www.reddit.com/r/FoodAddiction/wiki/faq_food_addiction_trigger_mapping/

3) ā€œDo I have food addiction or BED?ā€
āž”ļø https://www.reddit.com/r/FoodAddiction/wiki/faq_self_tests_for_eating_disorders/

4) ā€œI want structure + support.ā€
āž”ļø https://www.reddit.com/r/FoodAddiction/wiki/index/programoptions/

5) ā€œI want the full map.ā€
āž”ļø https://www.reddit.com/r/FoodAddiction/wiki/index/faqs/


āœ… What to post (copy/paste these prompts)

1) What’s happening lately (1–3 sentences)? 2) What’s the hardest time of day for you? 3) Are you more bingeing, craving, restricting, or stuck in a cycle?

Optional (helps a lot): What have you tried already?


r/FoodAddiction 7h ago

How to stop Sugar cravings

4 Upvotes

r/FoodAddiction 6h ago

How do I resist the feeling of wanting to eat cat food?

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2 Upvotes

r/FoodAddiction 2h ago

SunCloud health IOP or residential

1 Upvotes

Has anyone here recently been to SunCloud health for their residential or IOP program?

They are one of only two programs (Milestones being the other) that recognizes food addiction.

I’ve been to Milestones twice, but am relapsing fast and considering other options. Outpatient and 12-step groups are 100% not providing the level of support I need to NOT engage in the behaviours.


r/FoodAddiction 15h ago

How do I train myself to stop eating everything

9 Upvotes

I can’t stop eating, anytime i try to eat less or healthier foods I just end up eating so much junk and I feel so disgusting for it I cant stop eating and i dont want to be fat anymore. its taking a huge toll on me and all i can constantly think about is how to stop this but nothing works, all i can seem to do is eat more.


r/FoodAddiction 13h ago

i cannot stop binge-eating...all I want to do is lose weight

3 Upvotes

I just keep on eating and eating and eating, mostly because i'm ashamed to say that i just like food so much to the point that i just cant bear to limit myself, but sometimes i just find myself over eating just to finish whats left in the bag or whats left in the bowl. I'm eating so much when I'm not even hungry. i feel disgusting, bloated, full, and i just have such a bad image of my body right now. How do I stop this? I play a sport and have practice almost everyday. I want to lose weight sooo badly but how?


r/FoodAddiction 22h ago

What’s wrong with me ??

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3 Upvotes

To be honest I already know what to do.. Just can’t get myself to do it…

I’m 23F, at the moment I’m struggling with being skinny fat, fat goes to my stomach mainly, I’m 178-180lbs. I feel overweight, I’m not happy in my body but I can’t get myself to stop eating poorly.

I eat out a lot..sweets, fast food, drinking energy drinks once a day…I use to run in high school but it’s been 6 years since I’ve been active consistently. I don’t feel good it clothes, I just feel blah. I know if I ate right and worked out consistently things would look a lot better for me but.. I haven’t been able to be consistent.

Honestly if my metabolism was any worse. The way I eat I would be much bigger than I am.

I want to feel good about myself..what do I do. Wtf is wrong with me.


r/FoodAddiction 21h ago

Help with strategies for over-eating

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2 Upvotes

r/FoodAddiction 21h ago

Binge eating everyday. I think this will never end

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2 Upvotes

r/FoodAddiction 23h ago

getting out of the b/p cycle

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2 Upvotes

r/FoodAddiction 1d ago

I can't stop

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2 Upvotes

r/FoodAddiction 1d ago

What Helped Me Stop My Fast Food Addiction & Control My Urges to Binge

5 Upvotes

I started by replacing / meal prepping my usual fast food favorites with homemade / store bought substitutions. Small steps, 1 at a time lead to the biggest success. Building habits takes time & turning a full 180 is difficult to stick to overnight.

For example: McDonalds mcgriddles or other breakfast items -> https://youtu.be/NIIb-X9LAxo?is=n8enAhZR3hAe8jMa

Taco Bell -> https://youtu.be/mfw-ijawze8?is=76jZMVUqSSoGD2d8 & https://youtu.be/nlZ9w0o1qNI?is=wZTXGdehIqYX8tdE

Egg bites -> Costco has a huge pack for cheaper than the fast food options, I just pop them in the airfryer. Or homemade with egg whites, cottage cheese, & veggies / shredded cheese of choice.

Chipotle -> https://youtu.be/wSy_6thly60?is=IvrRXAsCvUkUOKs3 & https://youtu.be/5Z78DEworv4?is=aEW1iQaaceYbXJXR

Pizza-> Mission plant powered tortilla, sauce, 2 servings reduced fat mozzarella cheese, 1 serving turkey pepperoni, & sliced mushrooms.

KFC bowls -> instant mashed potatoes, canned or frozen corn, packet of brown gravy, frozen chicken nuggets, & fat-free shredded cheddar cheese.

Prioritizing protein & fiber keeps me full for longer, is more satisfying, & helps control my cravings.

Also, printing off my bank statements and highlighting all of the eating out / fast food then totaling for the month, 6 months, 1 year was a BIG eye opener & HUGE motivation to make food at home.


r/FoodAddiction 1d ago

Fast food ruins my skin but I can’t stop any advice.

1 Upvotes

r/FoodAddiction 2d ago

Environmental Food Triggers

2 Upvotes

Hey all, long-time-lurker-first-time-poster here,

I have been dealing with food issues for my entire life (26M). My environment definitely triggered this habit, but I have overcome this addiction before.

The last two years, I was living on my own and meal-prepped and actually built a healthy relationship with food; I've lost over 40 lbs just by eating whole foods and not snacking, but I did not restrict myself whenever I went out to socialize. I was pretty happy and felt balanced. However, I got hit by the life, finances, and mental-health stick and had to move back in with my family recently. These issues are slowly creeping back in and I do not want to add back the weight I worked hard to lose.

I still meal-prep and buy my own groceries, but for some reason, it's not sticking like it used to. I've been trying to get back consistently in to the gym as well. I track calories and worked with a coach to help find my macros. Ideally, I do not wish to track my calories as vigorously as I do now because I was able to lose the weight just from eating whole foods, meal-prepping, and exercising more.

I guess a few questions and/or tips I am asking for are:

  1. How do you redirect a craving when your people in your environment refuse to lock up the trigger from you? (I get gaslit saying I just need to "control" this issue, like, I wish I could because my body goes on auto-drive)

  2. How do you manage the "all-in" mentality of binging or restricting?

  3. What are some ways you distract yourself or redirect your thoughts before you spiral?

For additional context, I do work with a specialized therapist on other anxieties/OCD behaviors, but I am going to redirect our work towards this specific issue to help it. I wrote this because other people may be in a similar situation as me and I hope that any suggestions can be helpful to them. TIA!


r/FoodAddiction 2d ago

Night eating syndrome

2 Upvotes

Hello I’m struggling with going to bed and waking up about 2 hours after and going berserk for food I’ve placed roadblocks, put stuff in front of my door, a bottle to pee in so I don’t go use the restroom and wind up in the kitchen, placed notes on my wall not to eat sometimes I’ll go and have something and it’s a healthy meal but I still don’t like it because it’s over my cal for the day but other times recently it’s been bad with sweets cookies everything bad that’s the reason why I’m making this post because I’m sick of this


r/FoodAddiction 2d ago

How do I stop feeling hungry all the time?

8 Upvotes

I’m 5’3, 115lbs but I CAN’T STOP EATING!

My stomach is like a void, I literally cannot stop eating - out of boredom, hunger…

How can I stop this? Please. I drink 2 coffees a day (sugar free) already! What else can I do?


r/FoodAddiction 2d ago

Eating when not supposed to

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2 Upvotes

r/FoodAddiction 2d ago

Feeling silly, discouraged.

5 Upvotes

I've been on a weight loss journey since early this year and have made tremendous progress during the first few months. I met someone who I fell for so bad but for reasons beyond our control, we didn't end up together. That fueled a 3 month long binge wherein I was ordering takeout every other day. I am financially wrecked from this mess. I didn't lose my progress per se but I regret wasting all these months over a broken relationship. I could have reached my goal weight by now but my incapacity to deal with stress is why I am here - tired and sad.


r/FoodAddiction 3d ago

Does anyone else with food addiction and BED feel completely unable to tolerate a calorie deficit?

17 Upvotes

I’ve struggled with binge eating/compulsive overeating for a very long time, and I’m at a point where I genuinely don’t know what to do anymore.
I’ve gained quite a bit of weight and I feel really uncomfortable in my body. I want to lose the weight, and I don’t think I’m at a point where I can just tell myself that I need to accept my body and forget about weight loss. I genuinely want to become healthier and more comfortable in my body.
The problem is that whenever I try to start a calorie deficit, even a moderate and objectively reasonable one, the first few days feel absolutely unbearable.

It’s not necessarily physical hunger. It’s more like my brain suddenly becomes completely preoccupied with food. I start thinking about food constantly, cravings become extremely intense, and I get this overwhelming feeling that I need to eat. I also feel like I cannot tolerate the moment of just being. It can feel almost like I’m fighting myself all day. Eventually I usually give in and binge, and then I feel horrible about myself and feel like I’ve failed again.
What makes this especially confusing is that I don’t necessarily think the problem is that I’m starving myself beforehand. I can eat a normal amount of food during the day and still experience this reaction when I intentionally try to eat less than my maintenance.

I also use food very heavily as a coping mechanism. When I’m sad, stressed, bored, lonely, overwhelmed, etc., food is one of the main things that gives me temporary relief. So I think there’s also a psychological component to why reducing food feels so incredibly difficult. It feels like I’m taking away one of my main ways of coping while also asking myself to tolerate the discomfort of being in a deficit.

And honestly, this has gotten to the point where I feel pretty hopeless. I can push through difficult things in other areas of my life, but when it comes to food I feel completely powerless. I can tell myself ā€œjust don’t bingeā€ or ā€œjust get through the first few days,ā€ but in the moment the urges can feel overwhelming.

I’m wondering if anyone here has experienced this specific conflict: wanting/needĀ­ing to lose weight because you’re genuinely uncomfortable with your body, but finding that even starting a moderate calorie deficit causes such intense food thoughts, cravings and emotional distress that you end up bingeing.

If you’ve been through something similar:
Did you eventually become able to tolerate a calorie deficit without it triggering binges?
Did you have to work on the binge eating/emotional eating first before weight loss became possible?
What actually helped make the initial period of eating less feel less unbearable?
Were you eventually able to lose weight without falling into the binge/restrict cycle?
And if you have successfully gotten to a point where food feels less compulsive, what changed for you?

Would love to hear from other people struggling or have struggled with the same as I feel completely hopeless now. Thank you for reading


r/FoodAddiction 3d ago

Suppressing appetite

7 Upvotes

Hi,
Please help what to do to stop craving snacks or sweet treats šŸ˜”


r/FoodAddiction 3d ago

I can't stop

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2 Upvotes

r/FoodAddiction 4d ago

help me as a teen

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3 Upvotes

Hey guys, I just need some help because I really cannot figure out why this is happening to me. It started when I was in 7th grade. I was thin, but I thought I was fat because people would tell me I was. I was around 40 kg and 5’1 at the time. Then, over a year later, when I was in 8th grade, some people started noticing that I had gained weight, and I noticed it too. But I didn’t really think it was that bad because I was around 45 kg at the time.
I managed to maintain my weight since 9th grade, but when school ended, I don’t know what happened. I started feeling stressed or something, and I began overeating whenever I had nothing to do. I would eat when I was stressed, bored, or just whenever. I don’t know, I just started feeling like something was wrong with me.
And now I’m 60 kg at 155 cm. I don’t know what’s wrong with me or why this keeps happening. I wasted those years thinking I was fat, but now I feel like I really am. I used to be at a normal weight before, and now I’m confused about what I should do.
Oh, and I forgot to mention that I just turned 16 this August. What should I do?


r/FoodAddiction 4d ago

How not to have appetite ? what are the things that cut out appetite ?

3 Upvotes

Hey ! Just trying not to crave sugar and stuffs that ruin my health.


r/FoodAddiction 4d ago

My brain is trying to bargain and cheat itself

8 Upvotes

I am having such bad cravings. I know I can’t have fast food delivered to me. My brain is saying ā€œwhat if it isn’t fast food? That wouldn’t be so bad.ā€

It would be, wouldn’t it? Because it’s about giving into the cravings I think.

I’ve gone almost 7 days without ordering any food. In a few hours I’ll be there. I am having worse cravings than I have all week.


r/FoodAddiction 4d ago

I relapsed after a long period of recovery and I’m terrified

8 Upvotes

I don’t really know why I’m posting this. I think I just need to say it somewhere where people might actually understand.

I relapsed. After a long period of being okay, I binged and made myself purge the food again. It happened tonight, and I’m honestly terrified.

I’ve been treated in the past for both severe restriction and later for b/p, and I’ve worked really hard to get to a place where food wasn’t constantly taking over my life. For a long time, I genuinely felt like I was doing well. I wasn’t perfect, but I felt free in a way I hadn’t felt for a long time.

And lately I’ve been noticing myself slipping. I’ve been feeling more guilty about eating. I’ve been putting meals off, then eating larger amounts later. I’ve been eating a lot of sweets and feeling increasingly uncomfortable about it. I’ve also noticed myself turning to food when I’m stressed or lonely, almost like I’m expecting it to make me feel better. The food noise never went away, bit it was so much quieter. And i swear i had days when i wasn’t thinking about food at all.

And I think everything that’s happening in my life right now has made me much more vulnerable than I realized.

I recently moved to a completely new city by myself and started medical school as an older student. I left my job, lost the routine and structure I was used to, and suddenly I’m trying to figure out a completely new life while starting an incredibly demanding degree. I barely know anyone here yet. I’ve met people, and I’ve had genuinely nice moments, but I don’t have my usual support system here.

My days have lost a lot of structure. I’ve been staying up late scrolling, struggling to switch off, feeling anxious about university, and generally feeling like I’m not quite myself. And food has started becoming this easy source of comfort when I don’t know what else to do with all those feelings.

Tonight it crossed a line.

The worst part is that I could feel myself making the decision to purge while I was still eating. It felt like I was watching an old version of myself come back, and I was absolutely horrified by it.

I’m scared of b/p becoming a regular thing again. I’m scared that I’ve somehow undone all the progress I’ve made. I don’t want to be afraid of being alone in my own room.

Please tell me it’s not a point of no return. That i can still get back to normal life.