Binge Eating Disorder (B.E.D.)

xandralaw

darcieplarcespr_2015 wrote: »

It's really hard to admit this but I think I'm a binge eater. Everyday I come home and it all happens so fast! I barely know what's happened until I've eaten a lot of food but I'm going to try to break this habit. Food seems to be the only thing that makes me feel better, the only thing that I look forward to at the end of the day... Is that really sad? I know that I need to stop but some days, my cravings for sugar are so bad that I cry! Well done anyone who is or has lived with these things! This is really hard! I think it's important that you go in with that mindset, not that it's too hard, but that it is really difficult because then, you won't give up when it's not easy.

I have absolutely been in tears before trying not to eat the things I want to - i get angry that I can't have them and then feel like I'm being punished for all the awful things i've eaten my whole life so im supposed to suffer and cry. Its a horrible, horrible cycle and feeling - lately I think I've hit bottom, but that doesn't seem to make it easier to change. It is hard, every day, but I am trying to just take it one day at a time. There is nothing else I can do than that.

This group and knowing there are others that feel like me is already helping me. I had no idea that I wasn't alone.

Hearts_2015

N4T4L1E130 wrote: »

I have struggled with this for most of my life. There are a lot of factors that influence whether or not I lose control, but the thing that is most helpful to me is avoiding junk food. If I stick to healthy foods, I am more likely to maintain control of my portions. After a bit of success I'll try to enjoy a slice of pizza, a burger, or some wings, which almost always sends me into a backslide. Right now I'm trying to make some substitutions that can help with a craving, like cauliflower crust personal pizza or buffalo cauliflower bites. I'm hoping to avoid relapse with this change. Good luck to you @GoodThymes , and thank you so much for sharing!!!! Btw, this thread led me to finding a support group, so double thanks!!

@N4T4L1E130;31912230 The support group you're referring to...is it the link above on pg. 1 of this thread or are you referring to something else? This might sound weird but I feel safe on this thread but joining the other group (OK, so I did join it but haven't been active yet) I don't. No reason other than this is small and intimate and ppl have opened up... I probably just need to get over it...

Actually it's been 3 days with no binge and no desire for one but I've not been going out much because when I first start to get strong again that seems to be a trigger. Going out somewhere means food, spending money etc. Wow, not sure what I'm saying is even making any sense but it hit me maybe I'm afraid because I've gotten to the 3 day mark which for me seems to be a 'turn the corner' place.

any supportive ideas would help
Hearts

missyjg99

I just started a vyvanse drug trial. For me, it's been working amazingly well. I never thought I'd go the medication route. Binge eating is so embarrassing and depressing. Then you have the "it's not real" skeptics. But it is real for me. This medication has decreased my urges to binge, increased my focus, increased my energy, and I just feel more in control of my life.
I still go to group therapy as well.
Best of luck to you!

pechepanda

find other outlets for your emotions that arent food related, dont reward yourself with food and when you eat, just eat, dont do anything else, no TV, or music or work, just eat. And hold yourself accountable and figure out why its a thing you do, 90% of the time there are other emotional factors that influence it

oxleym08

I've been struggling with BED for most of my life which I suspect was caused by my mother being a dancer with an eating disorder, and I am currently a paltry 2 days into trying to take back control of my eating and my life. I find it akin to an addiction and I find the judgement of people who don't understand that it isn't as easy as just 'not eating' the things that are bad for you really difficult. I am currently receiving CBT for my poor relationship with food and the NHS have offered for me to see a nutritionist once every 6 months which doesn't seem too helpful.

I wish you all the luck in the world on your weight loss journey and hope you find it comforting to find like minded people

suejoker

What a timely thread! I just came through a long period of binge eating and it caused me to gain back 19 pounds, which I'd worked really hard to lose. It only took a short while to gain that, but it had taken me 5 months to lose it.

Thanks to all of you for sharing your experience, strength, and hope. This was the perfect place for me to land today.

xandralaw

Hearts_2015 wrote: »

Actually it's been 3 days with no binge and no desire for one but I've not been going out much because when I first start to get strong again that seems to be a trigger. Going out somewhere means food, spending money etc. Wow, not sure what I'm saying is even making any sense but it hit me maybe I'm afraid because I've gotten to the 3 day mark which for me seems to be a 'turn the corner' place.

any supportive ideas would help
Hearts

@Hearts_2015;31913605 I am on the same schedule as you - Day 3! and I totally feel you about the going out to eat - that is my weakness - at the end of the day I am so spent that the thought of going home and cooking or even waiting for my husband to cook is agonizing - I just want to eat, so restaurants loom like a monster in the closet. I gave in last night but I didn't binge - I allowed myself to have one thing I would normally binge on, but split it with my family so I couldn't eat it all. Then I made rules about what I could order - I forgave myself for being there but didn't go off the handle - I had one martini, not the usual 2 and I ordered only raw sushi rolls (no fried, tempura, crunch with sauces) - and I only had one special roll and a hand roll (and didn't even eat the hand roll until I got home). I guess what I'm saying is that being in a restaurant doesn't have to be a failure, nor does eating something unhealthy as long as you attempt moderation (share with family, ask for half order, know how much is coming and commit to only eating a specific number)... I hope this makes sense. lol

Either way - I totally hear you

zebacuff

This article has been helpful for me:

http://www.niashanks.com/20-tips-binge-eating/

jellybeanhed313

Wow, I am so glad to have come across this thread today. I have struggled with this every day of my life. I would agree with recognizing your triggers. I am just learning mine. Being bored is a big one for me. I love the idea someone put up about planning to take a walk or do something around those times when you know you are prone to a binge. I am going to put that one to work for me this week.

xandralaw

OK - don't laugh - but my trigger is going home - so what do I do? not? lol Its really a stress factor and that there is just so much at home and i escape with the food - so stress management i guess? Not really sure how to do that. My schedule allows for so little time for myself its very challenging.

melimomTARDIS

recovering binge eater here. I find it helpful to log my binges on MFP and to not wallow in shame.

aektroop

xandralaw wrote: »

OK - don't laugh - but my trigger is going home - so what do I do? not? lol Its really a stress factor and that there is just so much at home and i escape with the food - so stress management i guess? Not really sure how to do that. My schedule allows for so little time for myself its very challenging.

I'm with you! My binges happen when I go home and decompress for the day. Whether I'm tired or stressed or excited about good things at work, I binge for comfort and pleasure. I find if I work out right when I get home or just take some time to play with my dogs or sit outside, I am less likely to binge. Every day is a struggle, though.

Zombella

I've dealt with this as well. I'm getting better but one way that I've changed is to not keep junk in the house

mary1217mfp

@xandralaw - I'm right there with you....end of the day and I believe it is my stress reliever. Now that the weather has improved I intend do use the suggestion about sitting outside for a bit before hitting the couch to zombie-out. My real bewitching hours are 5:30-9:00 pm. I've got to get out of this binge-restrict-diet-binge-restrict-diet cycle

adriiienne

Hey guys!!!

Hearts_2015

adriiienne wrote: »

Hey guys!!!

N4T4L1E130

@Hearts_2015 I joined through the link that was shared but have not yet become active either. Even sharing through this thread is a huge leap for me, so thanks again for being brave enough to open the dialogue and giving all of us space to talk about our struggles.

As many have mentioned stress at the end of the day is killer. I am trying to pace myself through a 100 calorie bag of kettle corn right now, as I had a pretty stressful day and depleted much of my will power passing up drive thru after drive thru on my way home. Still hanging in there with lots of water!

Hearts_2015

coney724 wrote: »

Hi there. You can add me. I've developed a binge eating habit about 7 years ago and it's gotten worst as the years went by. Currently I am 18 days binge free but I still get the urges. I struggle back and forth a lot and need support from others!

OMG that's awesome! I'm finishing out Day 4 binge free and feel such a sense of freedom even in this short of time... empowered. I know there will be days that are not easy and I appreciate those of you that have shared tips and tricks and are being open as you are.

Even letting in new friends here that also have binge issues is a new thing for me. It's both exciting & comforting to feel I'm not alone in this and that there's others to talk to that don't think it's bizarre.

It's the highs to lows that are hard ...I was just sharing on my page in comment to @xandralaw that for me it's like a roller coaster. If I go with a trigger food it's not just that day but days after or weeks or longer in the past. Like I eat whatever is an issue and then need another fix the next day and so on. Is that how it works for you guys?

It's just me and my kitty ^..^ here so bringing food in is where my issue is, I don't keep any in the house regularly. But it's going out to get it (grocery store, fast food etc.) in the first place that grinds at my mind until I cave or somehow alter my thoughts and don't do it. It's like it's gotta be enough to get me through the binge and I have to eat it all THAT Day so I don't have trigger stuff in the house the next morning. smh.. It makes no sense but it makes all the sense in the world in my mind when I'm in the mode.

Thanks for listening
Hearts

Ursine714

Sigh. Hi, my name is Lea and I'm a binge eater. I've been fighting it most of my life. I didn't put emotional eating and binge eating in the same category, but I see now I binge when I let my emotions get the best of me. I have many triggers - anger, sadness, loneliness, and being tired. Eating is my comfort. I think it's my way of having control over something since I couldn't control the negative events. I gained back 20 pounds in the last 3 years and I'm on another downward swing. So I guess I really don't have as much control as I thought?? (I did quit smoking and it's been about 15 months, so I'm not as hard on myself this time as I normally would be.) Each time I think is the time I'll lose even more weight and keep it off. I keep fighting the same 25 pounds. I don't let myself get above 215 now or below 190. Once I get down to 190, I think I'm good and the cycle starts again. I also know I use my weight for protection. :-(

Right now, I'm in a good place, it's been 3 days. Another holiday coming up though.,,

I can't do this alone anymore. I'm hoping by posting, it will help. But, I do tend to run when I start getting closer to people or opening up more. Sigh

hollyholbrook75

I just started overeaters anoynomous, I finally feel like I can get help for my compulsive overeating

adamitri

I didn't take control until I finally broke down and told my therapist. I was so ashamed and hiding it that it was like second nature to never let the secret out. But, I'm so grateful I did talk to her because I was doing it out of depression and hibernation (what she said) and until I conquered those I couldn't move past it. I'm still not over the hill yet but I'm learning triggers and when binges are starting. I'm learning to divert myself so I don't feel like a drunk person that just awoke in a blind stupor not remembering what I ate. My last binge was somewhere over 3700 calories and that's only what I remember from it. I'm still stabbing at the root of the problem but one day at a time.

Hearts_2015

Ursine714 wrote: »

Sigh. Hi, my name is Lea and I'm a binge eater. I've been fighting it most of my life. I didn't put emotional eating and binge eating in the same category, but I see now I binge when I let my emotions get the best of me. I have many triggers - anger, sadness, loneliness, and being tired. Eating is my comfort. I think it's my way of having control over something since I couldn't control the negative events. I gained back 20 pounds in the last 3 years and I'm on another downward swing. So I guess I really don't have as much control as I thought?? (I did quit smoking and it's been about 15 months, so I'm not as hard on myself this time as I normally would be.) Each time I think is the time I'll lose even more weight and keep it off. I keep fighting the same 25 pounds. I don't let myself get above 215 now or below 190. Once I get down to 190, I think I'm good and the cycle starts again. I also know I use my weight for protection. :-(

Right now, I'm in a good place, it's been 3 days. Another holiday coming up though.,,

I can't do this alone anymore. I'm hoping by posting, it will help. But, I do tend to run when I start getting closer to people or opening up more. Sigh

I understand

jwebb579

Hello! I've struggled with just about evey type of ED, but primarily BED for nearly the last 20 years. This is really the first time I've seriously acknowledged it and have decided to stop shaming myself for it, but rather seek help in the way of support for myself, and hopefully supporting others. I'd love to continue dialog with whomever would like to follow me. This time around my goal is not to be losing, or gaining, counting or obsessing, but rather a goal of overall health and happiness!

wainsfort

I dont know where to begin! Well firstly its great to read all your stories and get your advice. I'm 37 and have had a BED since I was 8yrs old. I have attended numerous therapies/groups. I've been binge free for periods of time here and there and I experienced great freedom during those times but mainly because I was smoking to control my urges which I found such a great tool but it's obviously an unhealthy one. I haven't smoked in 2yrs and have literally spent one week eating healthily only to binge solidly the next for the last two years. I've been careful not to restrict during those healthy weeks knowing that'll only lead to a binge yet I still end up there. It's a living nightmare as I found it so shameful and the weeks I'm binging I literally cannot bare myself. I feel liberated and strong when I am not binging and I'm so proud of myself yet somehow I just cant maintain it. My poor husband is so supportive & im so lucky to have him but he's so tired of this crazy cycle. Anyway, thanks for listening! Wishing you all the very best and hoping for lots of binge free days ahead

puja25

I am a binge eater, mostly when my emotions fluctuate. I would binge late night when everybody is off to sleep. It included chips, bread, leftover even fruits. I just needed to stuff my mouth and watch some movie while binging so that i can shut off my mind and mechanically eat until I feel sick. The entire day I would eat normal, but at night I would easily consume 1500-3000 calories at one go. I also loved eating out, any fatty , salty food. My Binge started after I lost a massive 45kg. Then due to my binge eating and drinking alcohol I put all my weight back. For the past one month I have avoided eating out and and have binged just one day. I am proud of myself. I am taking baby steps and trying to control my urges and understand my emotions better. That is the key I assume, to find balance.

cruisingthrough

It's so relieving to see actual people with actual tips and stories to share on BED because it's something that before recently, never came up in media and I was always way too ashamed to admit...

I need serious help and I'm not sure whether I should seek a professional or not. It's really impacting my performance at the gym and in my sport, but when I am about to begin or beginning an episode, I seem almost out of my own control. It's like my brain blacks out during a binge episode and just can't stop until I've thoroughly overdone it, and then I'm in pain and have trouble falling asleep that night (because my episodes are usually late-night, when I'm alone).

Help

NoIdea101NoIdea

I'm also a binger (a struggling one) but I've been doing really well at controlling it recently; obviously these won't work for everyone, but here is what has been helping me out:

Not keeping food in the house; I do little shops but often, and only buy healthy things.

Working out WHY I was binging; I discovered that I am also an emotional eater, so any emotion is an excuse to eat. I also see food as a treat, so when I get rare 'me' time, my first thought is always to go and buy a load of crap to enjoy. So now, when I have my 'me' time, I buy healthy snacks and find something active to entertain myself such as scrapbooking, rather than just sit in front of my laptop eating. I also worked out that I am more likely to binge late at night, when I'm tired. My body is actually telling me to sleep, but because I want to stay awake I think it is telling me to eat, so I start binging on chocolate and sugary things. Now, when I feel that late night binge coming on, I just go to bed.

Allowing myself treats everyday; I always allow myself a strip of dark chocolate or something in the evenings, so I don't feel like I'm denying myself anything.

Sounds a bit 'airy fairy' to some people, but meditating helped me a lot. Focus on your goal; how much do you want to lose? Now, HOW are you going to lose it? Convince yourself that 'slow and steady' wins the race and that you CAN control your binges.

Obviously, it won't cut out binges altogether, I still have my bad days, but definitely not anywhere near as many of them and I am actually seeing a decent weight loss rather than bounding between losing and gaining the same 5lbs over and over again. Good luck to everyone who is struggling with binging, it isn't easy

adamitri

Logging most of my binge sessions on MFP has let me see a strange pattern;. I was bingeing on Wednesday and Fridays. Each week Wednesday or Friday was a binge day. I don't know what about those two days upset me.

Nuka_Gina

I just wanted to say thank you for posting this!

xandralaw

N4T4L1E130 wrote: »

As many have mentioned stress at the end of the day is killer. I am trying to pace myself through a 100 calorie bag of kettle corn right now, as I had a pretty stressful day and depleted much of my will power passing up drive thru after drive thru on my way home. Still hanging in there with lots of water!

I hear you on the drive thru hell - i made the mistake a few weeks ago of going home a different way and discovered MORE that way! ugh.. I try to distract myself so I forget- I've been listening to podcasts - specifically storytelling ones - that are so hysterical or intriguing that I sometimes don't even notice that I am already past the drive thru.