This guide is a continuation ( view guide # 8 first ), of the survey taken on: "Why We Over Eat During the Holiday Season".                                 1/17/09  Larry writes:  I like to overeat during the holidays because I love food. Sometimes, I mean, most of the time, I like food more than I do people. There is always an abundance of food around during the holidays, and when it's there, and I'm there, it's a beautiful thing. It never talks back, and in fact the more of it I eat, the more comforting it is to me.                           1/17/09  Billy says:  When you say "Overeat", by whose standards are you referring to? When one eats what they want, and the amount they want, that may very well be perfectly right for that person.  Overeating for one individual, may have a totally different meaning for another. We have probably all experienced one person getting full on eg., 1 hot dog, where another needs 3 or 4 to get full and be satisfied. That's all I have to say.                                    1/18/09  Josh writes:  Tomorrow is Martin Luther King Day, which is a holiday. As of right now, I don't have any plans to over eat. But if I do, I guess I'll just have to email you back with the reasons I did.                                    1/20/09  Terry writes:  Instead of watching the inaugeration of the new president right now, I'm participating in this survey because it hits home for me. I consistantly gain weight every holiday season, and I consistantly make the same New Years Resolution to lose weight ever new year. I'm ashamed to admit that I have a 100% failure rate. I am also ashamed to run into certain people because of my weight gain. All of my life I have enjoyed being an outgoing person, but now I find myself becoming an introvert. I find myself going out less all the time. I'm even starting to suffer from depression. If it is depression, it is causing me to hibernate, and binge on food. Then I cry.  If there is a way out of this vicious cycle, I'm praying that this survey will uncover it. Thank You for listening.                                   1/20/09  Dave writes:  If I'm anything like the average person, I overeat during holiday season because of the party atmosphere. I tend to notice that relatives probably over shop, over cook, and then repeatedly say that this good food can't go to waste, so have some more! SO DO YOU KNOW WHAT REALLY HAPPENS IN THE END?  ALL OF THAT good food DOES GO to "WAIST"...                            1/21/09  John writes:  Eating more around holiday time is an American tradition. Where it started, or why it started, I'm not sure. I personally eat more myself because I now realize that during holidays I find myself at tables more often, for longer periods of time, and with more food on them. It's the time of year, (I assume we're referring to christmas time), that more visiting goes on, and more parties are thrown. Personally, I wouldn't want to change a thing.                           1/21/09  David writes:  I respect myself and my body too much to overeat at any time. That's all I have to do is sit at my local mall and watch overweight people waddle by. They usually are also eating something during their waddle. With the extraordinary cost of health insurance these days, I believe that people should be charged according to their weight. Just as everyone now knows that smoking is a health danger, everyone also knows that excess weight serves no healthy purpose. MY POINT: Why shouldn't those who knowingly and consciencely create health problems by overeating, pay for the excess costs of health insurance? Registration fees on our automobiles are based on weight, so how far fetched would health insurance premiums be if they were based on people weight?                                1/21/09  Karl writes:  Eating is a form of celebrating, therefore the more you eat, the more you celebrate. I know it sounds stupid, because eating is supposed to be for sustaining life. I don't mean to be crude, but a good analogy would be to sex. Let me explain here. Sex between a man and a woman is supposed to be for the procreation of mankind. Yet it seems to be practiced more for recreational purposes. Get my drift?                        1/22/09 Darlene says:  For me, holiday time is party time. With all of the festivities, visiting, exchanging of gifts, and oh I can't forget drinking, I guess eating a bit too much fits right in there. Doesn't it? Well even though I regret it later, it does for me. Hope I've helped!                                1/22/09  Mary writes:  I always over eat during the holidays, only because I thought we're supposed to. I haven't seen anybody mention it, but Christmas time is a big "Birthday Party".  In fact it's the biggest birthday party. It is the birthday of our savior - "Jesus Christ". I remember growing up as a child, whenever I went to a classmates birthday party, the birthday child always not only got the first piece of cake, but also the biggest piece. Maybe this is where we learned that eating more was just a part of the celebration.                              1/23/09  Barb writes:  After reading these remarks todate, it would appear that many people have uncontrolable appetites. I have a sister with the exact symtom. Although I could never quite understand it, she would tell me how it has literally ruined her life. I guess I told her to just stop eating so much, one too many times, and now we haven't spoken for over 2 years.  I really do love my sister, but now my life too has changed due to her overeating. I no longer have a relationship with her.                             1/23/09  Susan writes:  When we were growing up, overeating during the holiday season, or any other time for that matter, was never an issue. Now in adulthood, every one of my sisters and brother are over weight. Looking at childhood photos is an absolute nightmare. How our once beautiful bodies have changed in shape, (& I'm not even talking about the natural aging process), is mind bogling. My sisters and I have simply concluded that it's an adulthood phenomina, for a major percent of the population. All those years that have passed has shown that we can't change it. Oh I wish it were'nt this way. Help!                                    1/23/09  Sue writes:  Last month I ate enough to feed two small elephants. Now that I reflect back, I first got stuffed with turkey & all of the accompaning trimmings on a fine Thursday in November. I ate right through that entire Thanksgiving weekend and then worked my way to Christmas - eating all the way. I knew this was no problem though, because on January 1st., I would begin my "New Year's Resolution".  It always starts with the  "Big Diet" as resolution number one.  Yep, by summer time I was going to have the body I always wanted. And I meant business this year. Absolutely no fooling around. Well, not everything always turns out the way you plan. As of  January 4th, I went off my diet, and every time I try to get back on, I remember how painful those first four days were. I'm beginning to think there is something wrong with me. Seriously though, I'm already planning my next diet for right after the "Easter Holidays".                                          1/24/09  Ralph writes:  I think that overeating is caused by our five senses. To refresh your memory, they are Sight, Smell, Taste, Touch, and Sound. If you stop and think about how all of these senses play a role with food, you will understand where I'm comming from. I'd love to explain more, but it would take too long. Just dwell on each sense for a moment, and I know you'll understand.                           1/25/09  Raymond writes:  Why does there have to be a reason for overeating during the holidays or any other time? I know that I overeat because I love food! When you love something, you just want it - and then more of it. The media keeps saying that Americans are getting heavier & heavier all the time, but evidently that's what the people want. Especially when you look at today's economy, where people are struggling to pay their bills. Many are struggling just to keep their jobs. There is very little to none when it comes to spendable income for recreation & other of lifes' pleasures. Let the people eat. Many have experienced or at least hear about depression times, soup kitchens, bread lines, & famine. It's even quite possible that subconsciencely people are overeating out of fear of bad times ahead!                           1/25/09  Pauline writes:  It seems that many people have really opened up in this forum on their responses to overeating. That has given me the courage to do likewise. I'm tired of being the jolly fat girl always laughing on the outside while crying on the inside. I believe overeating on my part is a mental problem. I have not had any health insurance since my husband left me 6 years ago. Therefore I am not able to afford the medical help that I think I need. I am willing to share my symptoms with you. Food is always on my mind. Even when I'm busy I'm thinking about my next meal or snack. The worst is that even while I'm eating I'm thinking about what I can eat next. I don't know if the cravings are mental or not. I just know that they are real, and that they hurt if I don't satisfy them. As I am writing this, it seems as though I'm describing a drug addict.  I can't change my life style where food is concerned because all of my attempts made over the years have ended in failure. This includes many broken promises to my husband, who I really loved and didn't want to lose. Yes, my continual weight gain even cost me my marriage. I have no more to add, other than this jolly fat girl is now once again painfully crying in tears.                              1/26/09  Jennifer writes:  The only reason I over eat during the holiday season is because for me it's a depressing time. Why you might ask? Well I have several reasons. It starts with the financial pressure of gift giving. You might say that's a choice that I make. Not really - because I feel obligated to buy for my kids, my other extended family, and everyone who buys me gifts. I hate the tradition and all of the stress it creates. Another reason I get depressed is because of loved ones who have died, and will never be present again. For some unknown reason, these feelings really become magnified around Christmas time. I don't know why depression & sadness makes me over eat, but it always does. The cycle continues into the winter & spring because of the new weight I've gained and can't seem to get rid of. Just like all the other years. In the summer I can no longer be seen in public in the proper seasonal attire because of my weight. Again depression takes over, I become a recluse, and eat more than I should. It's a constant battle and I'm sick of fighting it. My self respect is so low it could win a limbo contest!                               1/26/08  John writes:  I've been trying very hard in recent years not to over eat during holiday season. It gets harder & harder each post season to lose the weight gained. I knew I had to make changes. While I have had some success, I do know that my past excessive eating days at holiday time were caused by the mass amount of good cooking. I hadn't realized it when I was over indulging, but now that I've learned to refrain, I am more keen at noticing what I'm missing out on. There are also many more homemade deserts than you would normaly see at other times of the year.                                        1/27/09  Ronnie says:  Some of these comments make overeating sound like a crime. Others claim to be on a guilt trip. Why not call it what it is? When I read some of these remarks, I see many overeaters treating themselves as victims. Instead, they should be taking responsibility for their actions. They need to first admit they are lacking discipline. Until they realize this and are willing to admit it, they must accept more of the same. Practicing some simple and well known principles are important. For instance: If you are not happy with where you are, you must make changes. You will then see the desired changes. Do nothing different, and your problems will continue on. In summing up, it goes back to the old adage, "We make the bed we sleep in".                             1/27/09  Valorie writes:  For me, eating good food is a luxury. Around the holidays there is always a lot of good food offered in various presentations. Now I am not saying it's all healthy eating, but most all of it is certainly tasty & enjoyable. Due to the fact that holiday time brings out some unique foods, (some due to traditions of different nationalities or religions), I sample more than I should because they won't be around again until next year. That's my story and I'm sticking to it!                                   1/28/09  Alice writes:  I've read all of the peoples coments and I might have a new twist to share with your readers. A good friend of mine entered a rehab facility about 4 years ago to deal with an alcohol problem. To his credit he has not had a drink since, got his life back together, and faithfully attends weekly AA meetings. About 3 years ago, after 20+ years of cigarett smoking, I finally kicked the habbit cold turkey. I haven't had a cigarett since. My friend & I were recently comparing notes, on how we both have gained an excessive amount of weight since letting go of our bad habits. We both had good bodies with our weight in check prior to quitting those vices. He insists that we're suffering from our previous addictions in another way. The more we talked about it the more it made sense. Our similarities of symptoms was utterly amazing. We both crave food constantly, when we never did before. Neither of us can lose the weight we gained, and in fact, we continue to gain more. I have often heard that when people stop smoking they gain weight, but never heard this applied to other types of given up addictions. It would be interresting to know if cured drug users also experience constant food cravings. I leave this writing with an unanswered question. Could it be that our bodies won't allow us to rid an addiction without replacing it with another?                                 1/28/09  Mike writes:  I overeat around holidays and most other times because I'm a pig. At least that's  what my friends tell me. Who would know ya better than your friends? I don't have a girlfriend only because most dames think beauty is only on the outside. Some have told me I'm fat. I can't write what I told them to do. I only wish I had a strawberry milkshake to wash down these 2 pies.                              1/28/09  Mickey writes:  I believe I overeat during holiday season because it's fun & relaxing. Especially if you're watching a good sporting event. I find it to be a great way to relieve stress.                                     1/29/09  Mary writes:  I wasn't sure before, but after reading these diversified stories & coments, I am now positive they're putting something in the food. Who? Anyone that can profit by making people eat more. The list could include food processers, the health care industry, and funeral parlors. It's no coincidence that Americans are getter heavier.                               1/29/09  Tom writes:  This Sunday is the Superbowl. I know it's not a holiday, but I will drink more beer and eat more food than at any other time of the year. It's my tradition and I love it!                                 1/30/09  William writes:  I grew up poor, in a poor neighborhood. Remembering back at holiday times, me, & my brothers and sisters loved the holiday times because we would visit relatives who were better off than we were. There was always plenty of food to go around, and we ate to our hearts content. I think even today that poor people are heavier and at younger ages, because less expensive food choices seem to have more calories. To this day, when I find myself overeating at holiday time, I remember back when it was not a choice, but a necessity.                         1/30/09  Kelly writes:  I know that I gain weight every holiday season, and I also know that I keep puting the pounds on. One more thing I know is that I do overeat. But that's all I know. I feel like I'm trapped in a room with no escape route. As I get larger, there is less space and air in the room. I want to get out. Help!!!                                 1/31/09  Greg writes:  Holiday time is time set aside each year for the purpose of celebrating something. The question is how does one celebrate? Since back in the early times of civilization, we can read about feasts for celebrating always included people, food, and drink. Thus, we continue on with such tradition today.                          1/31/09  Art writes:  I overeat during the holidays because I am a human being, and we weak & frail human beings have bad habits. Yes, I know it's not the responsible thing to do, but I hope our insurance costs are never based on our weight, as that one mindless ass in this survey suggested. It appears to me that most people are not overeating by choice. They just are.                      2/1/09  THIS CONCLUDES OUR SURVEY ON "OVEREATING DURING THE HOLIDAYS", WHICH WAS STARTED ON 12/03/08. PARTICIPANTS HAVE SUBMITTED AN ARAY OF INFORMATION IN THEIR RESPONSES. SOME VERY THOUGHT PROVOKING, SOME SAD, YET OTHERS WITH A TINT OF HUMOR. UPON YOUR REVIEW OF BOTH GUIDES, # 8 & # 9, YOU CAN THEN FORM YOUR OWN CONCLUSIONS...   Thank You,  Atticus Alberts