this post was submitted on 22 Aug 2025
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ADHD

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I figured my overeating might be caused by my undiagnosed inattentive ADHD I have been suspecting to have it.

Like with other habits I try to make any plan or strategy falls apart in max few weeks. But I need a long term solution. However I have never thought about it as caused by ADHD. But When I think about it, I overeat only when I am bored.

During meals I eat normal portions. But when I am bored I will be eating small chunks of food every time I visit fridge. I do not stop that because of my inattentiveness I do not even know I ate a lot. While watching a movie I get bored - even if it is interesting and I am very invested in it. I get some snack and I will eat a whole bag not even knowing when that happened. This happens even if snack was some special offer that tasted bad.

Few examples I get bored and overeating:

  • watching a movie - somehow movie is not enough stimuli for me
  • after I eat my meal and I wait for others to finish (I eat exactly as twice as fast as my wife)
  • when I am visiting someone and there is a food in front of me (conversation somehow is also not enough stimuli)
  • random parts of the day - usually if I have to wait.

No standard recommender diet practices worked in the long run (portion control, mindful eating, intermittent fasting, healthy eating, building a healthy lifestyle/routine...) Especially those based on building routine failed the most.

Do you have similar issues? Do you have a strategy that works in the long run? Have you successfully substituted eating for other stimuli?

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[–] MonkderVierte@lemmy.zip 4 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

Get some multigrain snack (like a bun not chips) or an apple. You eat less after.

A low-sugar (Monster, Nightwatch) energy drink can be a temorary substitute. Zero-sugar just get me more munchies(?) long-term.

What i noticed:

  • less pasta/potato in my diet: less appetite for snacks
  • two meals over the day is better than 3, as long as they are not too far apart, or else you can't trick your wish for a snack with "i'll cook in a hour anyway".