Binge Eating Disorder

the_fit_chef

i have been on an MFP hiatus for the past two years. I thought I was doing myself a favour by not obsessing over logging my food. However, in that time I've discovered I have a terrible binge eating disorder.
It isn't really triggered by anything. It just kind of happens.
Who else has had a binge eating disorder? Have you been able to overcome it? What helped? What didn't help?
Right now I'm focussing on just eating better and using proper nutrition to help clear my mind.

Asher_Ethan

I have BED (doctor diagnosed) these are the habits that help me stay on track-
Logging EVERYTHING
Don't have too aggressive of a goal (I can never have my diary set to lose anything more than .5 a week or it will send me into a binge)
Taking up a cardio hobby you enjoy- I do enjoy running and I enjoy being able to eat those extra calories.

FJcntdwn2sknyluv

Asher_Ethan wrote: »

I have BED (doctor diagnosed) these are the habits that help me stay on track-
Logging EVERYTHING
Don't have too aggressive of a goal (I can never have my diary set to lose anything more than .5 a week or it will send me into a binge)
Taking up a cardio hobby you enjoy- I do enjoy running and I enjoy being able to eat those extra calories.

Pretty Much! I'm also BED, been this way since I was 8. Food was my ONLY coping mechanism growing up. So ANY stress and my face is circling the fridge and trying to comfort myself with food.
I have overcome it mostly, but yes I HAVE TO LOG daily, that way I can 'see' that I'm full.
Take if slow, it's taken 8 years to get the weight off and keep it off. While learning how to life with out needing food.
And daily working out for at least 30 mins helps me with the stress, so I don't want to eat so much..
Also I journal on my bad days, so I can write down all my triggers and debunk them.
You can do this!
You can conquer it!..

DerangedPixi

I also have doctor diagnosed BED.
- I have a therapist that helps work through the underlying issues as to why I binge (binges for me don't just happen - they seem like they just happen but there is often an emotional reason - even if I don't know what it is).
- Logging my food - everything, including binges, the numbers suck but being accountable really makes a huge difference.
- Being accountable - my friends list is amazing and when I stumble (like I did on new years eve where I lost my 177 binge free streak they helped me to not beat myself up too bad)
- Journaling - before/after a binge, going back and reading those feelings really help shed light on whats happening.
- My family - seriously telling them I have an ED was one of the hardest things but they help keep me accountable, my brothers often check in with me and ask how I'm feeling and they know the signs pre-binge.
- Not cutting things out of my life - if I want cake I am going to eat a piece of cake, if I tell myself I can't have cake I will eat that whole cake.

You need to find out what works for you but if you think you have an ED please seek help, there is no shame and BED is an ED, and there are people who can help, they will help you find ways around those 'must eat all the food' feelings and give you techniques to do when you feel you NEED to binge.

Heather060801

I'm starting to realize that I may have a binge eating disorder
My dr suggested it one time and I dismissed the thought
I am on day one again of what I hope is a lifestyle change. I'm diabetic and mostly hom bound and can't walk very far- all due to my weight.
I hope for great success for you and me.

MelaniaTrump

@heather - Log everything, even the binges. A doctor/therapist will scan through them if you decide to get help.
My last binge was on air popped popcorn. Someone here told me to do this. Unlimited. Made in the microwave in a brown paper bag. Lots of water. Supportive people here.

robingmurphy

I've recently come to accept that I probably have BED or another ED. When I just "eat what I want when I want" I very quickly fall into eating disordered behaviors like bingeing, stealing food (someone left some cupcakes sitting in their office!), mapping out where all the candy dishes are in the office and making a circuit multiple times a day, massively overeating when not hungry, etc. I used to think that planning and tracking your food was disordered behavior ... I've come to accept that planning/tracking using MFP is what keeps me from falling into eating disordered behavior. Having those clear numbers to tell me when I've eaten enough and when I'm overeating really helps keep me accountable. I can't fool myself when I'm tracking it. I feel so empowered now that I'm planning and tracking my food consistently. The other big change I've made is taking control of my food environment. I don't keep trigger foods in my sight. I ask the kids to keep their treats in a bin. If I want a treat and it fits into my calorie goal I treat it like kryponite and am careful to measure out what I will eat and put the rest far out of my sight and reach.

Rachel0778

I was diagnosed with BED. I struggled for years but was only able to kick it through therapy with an ED recovery clinic. Over 6 months binge free currently (and only 1 episode in the last year).

What helped me kick it was removing the "good food, bad food dichotomy". If I want a doughnut I can have a doughnut.

I also give myself slack when I go over my "budget". It takes away the obsessiveness and the need for perfection that used to go along with my restriction. Along those lines, I gave myself a much higher budget. Am I losing weight slower, yes. But I would rather be on a comfortable plan that I can follow for the rest of my life than restrict, restrict, BINGE, repeat.

kshama2001

the_fit_chef wrote: »

i have been on an MFP hiatus for the past two years. I thought I was doing myself a favour by not obsessing over logging my food. However, in that time I've discovered I have a terrible binge eating disorder.
It isn't really triggered by anything. It just kind of happens.
Who else has had a binge eating disorder? Have you been able to overcome it? What helped? What didn't help?
Right now I'm focussing on just eating better and using proper nutrition to help clear my mind.

For Binge Eating Disorder, I suggest seeking professional help, specifically cognitive behavioral therapy. Sometimes people avoid therapy because they think it will be years and years about talking about your childhood. That's Freudian, not CBT

While you get the ball rolling on that, you can check out this book on CBT for overeating. It was available in my library system, so maybe yours too.

The Beck Diet Solution: Train Your Brain to Think Like a Thin Person

Can thinking and eating like a thin person be learned, similar to learning to drive or use a computer? Beck (Cognitive Therapy for Challenging Problems) contends so, based on decades of work with patients who have lost pounds and maintained weight through Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). Beck's six-week program adapts CBT, a therapeutic system developed by Beck's father, Aaron, in the 1960s, to specific challenges faced by yo-yo dieters, including negative thinking, bargaining, emotional eating, bingeing, and eating out. Beck counsels readers day-by-day, introducing new elements (creating advantage response cards, choosing a diet, enlisting a diet coach, making a weight-loss graph) progressively and offering tools to help readers stay focused (writing exercises, to-do lists, ways to counter negative thoughts). There are no eating plans, calorie counts, recipes or exercises; according to Beck, any healthy diet will work if readers learn to think differently about eating and food. Beck's book is like an extended therapy session with a diet coach. (Apr.)

robingmurphy

I love Beck's books and they have helped me tremendously. I go back and re-read them.

the_fit_chef

Thank you everyone for your comments and support.
I did enter therapy last year and went through CBT. I couldn't afford to continue with the therapy but it has helped.
I'm hopin that by logging once again I will be able to get back on track.

P.S.
I do have the neck diet solution. Maybe I should pick it up again.

Chanchka

Rachel0778 wrote: »

What helped me kick it was removing the "good food, bad food dichotomy". If I want a doughnut I can have a doughnut.

I also give myself slack when I go over my "budget". It takes away the obsessiveness and the need for perfection that used to go along with my restriction. Along those lines, I gave myself a much higher budget. Am I losing weight slower, yes. But I would rather be on a comfortable plan that I can follow for the rest of my life than restrict, restrict, BINGE, repeat.

This ^

the_fit_chef

Is the PCOS related to the binge eating? That is something I never considered before.

DancingDarl wrote: »

Hi I have the same problem,turns out I have polycystic ovarian and also my bpd triggers eating binges

MrsSchimmy

I'm just jumping in as another person with BED. I have not been formally diagnosed but my self-diagnosis has always been spot on. (I've always been able to walk into a doctor's office and tell them EXACTLY what's going on and where).

Does anyone have the added trial of being a perfectionist? Or having an All-Or-Nothing personality? Because I do and that seems to make recovery hard.

After the birth of my 3rd child (5 years ago next month ), I was able to control my eating and lose all the weight PLUS some by the time he was 6 months old. I exercised and ate well/proportionately. I lost weight in a healthy manner and was able to maintain for nearly 3 years. After that, I don't know what happened. I think my attitude of trying to prove people wrong (You know, the ones that say crap like, "You can eat whatever you want! You're skinny"). I ate enough back then and I ran and lifted HEAVY weights. The downward spiral started.

Now 2 years later, I have low motivation for the gym and if I start the week/day good but slip up once or can't get to the gym once, I basically bag the whole week/day. The perfectionist in me just doesn't accept anything less than... well, perfect.

chastity0921

VainFlake wrote: »

I also have doctor diagnosed BED.
- I have a therapist that helps work through the underlying issues as to why I binge (binges for me don't just happen - they seem like they just happen but there is often an emotional reason - even if I don't know what it is).
- Logging my food - everything, including binges, the numbers suck but being accountable really makes a huge difference.
- Being accountable - my friends list is amazing and when I stumble (like I did on new years eve where I lost my 177 binge free streak they helped me to not beat myself up too bad)
- Journaling - before/after a binge, going back and reading those feelings really help shed light on whats happening.
- My family - seriously telling them I have an ED was one of the hardest things but they help keep me accountable, my brothers often check in with me and ask how I'm feeling and they know the signs pre-binge.
- Not cutting things out of my life - if I want cake I am going to eat a piece of cake, if I tell myself I can't have cake I will eat that whole cake.

You need to find out what works for you but if you think you have an ED please seek help, there is no shame and BED is an ED, and there are people who can help, they will help you find ways around those 'must eat all the food' feelings and give you techniques to do when you feel you NEED to binge.

Some of these things have helped me tremendously as well. Journaling, seeing a therapist and opening up about things, logging food, and allowing for indulgences. I also work in a clinic with my RD friends who know that I binge, so they watch out for me-- especially when I'm depressed or anxious (since that's when I notice I binge the most).

kshama2001 wrote: »

For Binge Eating Disorder, I suggest seeking professional help, specifically cognitive behavioral therapy. Sometimes people avoid therapy because they think it will be years and years about talking about your childhood. That's Freudian, not CBT

While you get the ball rolling on that, you can check out this book on CBT for overeating. It was available in my library system, so maybe yours too.

The Beck Diet Solution: Train Your Brain to Think Like a Thin Person

Can thinking and eating like a thin person be learned, similar to learning to drive or use a computer? Beck (Cognitive Therapy for Challenging Problems) contends so, based on decades of work with patients who have lost pounds and maintained weight through Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). Beck's six-week program adapts CBT, a therapeutic system developed by Beck's father, Aaron, in the 1960s, to specific challenges faced by yo-yo dieters, including negative thinking, bargaining, emotional eating, bingeing, and eating out. Beck counsels readers day-by-day, introducing new elements (creating advantage response cards, choosing a diet, enlisting a diet coach, making a weight-loss graph) progressively and offering tools to help readers stay focused (writing exercises, to-do lists, ways to counter negative thoughts). There are no eating plans, calorie counts, recipes or exercises; according to Beck, any healthy diet will work if readers learn to think differently about eating and food. Beck's book is like an extended therapy session with a diet coach. (Apr.)

@kshama2001 is right. Beck's Diet Solution is a great book. I think therapy is the best option, and CBT sucks (because of getting real with yourself and doing homework) but it works!