Help :(

KimberLinzey

I had been doing pretty good for a few months but I got off track with some emotional things and a family trip (a cruise with tons of food) and now I'm struggling hard core with binge eating again.

It's scary how out of control I can get.
I know I shouldn't but I do anyway.
I can be so full and still eat. It's like I have to be eating something.
I've see dietitians and therapists and all that.
And I thought I was past this issue but I guess I'm not.

I feel so out of control and so scared
A lot of progress has been lost but what I care most about is just finding my way back to a healthy positive course.

Any suggestions?

BuddhaB0y

I was the same way for years. Then my doc said if nothing changes I'll be dead in 5 years. That's what I needed to put things in perspective. Hopefully you won't get to that point.

I now look at feeling hungry as the new normal and positive reinforcement that I'm on the right track.

What has been so great about this site is, it taught me that I don't have to "diet" in the traditional sense. If I want something, I can have it. Just watch the calories coming in and out and track them honestly.

Now I choose not to eat certain foods because the immediate payoff I get from eating it isn't worth the hunger I feel later when I can't have anything else because I've reached my daily limit.

In terms of the mental stuff.... I guess you have to just make that decision in your head that food doesn't own you!

angelexperiment

Get the trigger foods out of your house! If it's elsewhere you go try going for a walk first or distracting yourself so you can't think about it.

maxit

A lot of progress has been lost but what I care most about is just finding my way back to a healthy positive course.

Starting today, add back one thing you were doing regularly when you were on your healthy, positive course. Keep adding weekly at least and love that you are doing that. Along the way, sooner rather than later, you will find yourself less likely to be filling an emotional hole with food.

tulips_and_tea

Sorry you are struggling. You say you've seen "dietitians and therapists and all that" but did they or you get to the root of the issue? That's not my business nor is this the place to discuss it, but, for example, you say you HAVE to be eating something. Could you satisfy that urge with something that keeps your hands busy? Or your mouth, such as chewing gum?

Regardless of the underlying issue, the 2 previous posters are both correct: you have to realize that YOU have control over food and it does not control you. Once you regain that power everything else will fall into place. Good luck!

PinkPixiexox

Well done for reaching out, OP - I'm sorry you're going through such a tough time with food right now. This can definitely be fixed though, I promise you that.

Since you are here on MFP, I assume you are familiar with tracking your food? I say this as I too had a huge issue with over-eating regardless of being full. Food made me feel good. Food was my hobby - I didn't want to limit what made me feel good. But my poor body was straining from this excess and after a lot of excuses made, I had to start caring for the one thing in my life that would never turn it's back on me and would never stop fighting me through life - My Body.

Once I started logging my food and (..cliche, I know) learn to be accountable for what I was consuming, I didn't feel this 'need' to keep eating all the time. You need to establish healthy control. I think your first move would be to start logging every thing you eat and spend a few minutes a day reading some of the posts on here. Knowing that other people certainly do know your struggles can be quite uplifting and not make it seem like such a daunting process.

You can overcome it. Promise