Extreme Binge Eating.. Please Help!

carissa_sawyer97
carissa_sawyer97 Posts: 6 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Binge eating is something I've struggled with since I started dieting in high school. I'll go through a month or two of healthy eating, just to ruin it with a month-long binge. Since Christmas, I've been eating whatever I want and I know I've gained. I just ate so much that I'm bawling my eyes out. Something HAS to change, I'm so miserable. What can I do??

Replies

  • shadowfax_c11
    shadowfax_c11 Posts: 1,942 Member
    Very possibly you are suffering from depression. You need to get to the bottom of the real reasons behind the eating. Very few people can do this without professional help. I would suggest that you seek some counseling.
  • cmriverside
    cmriverside Posts: 34,420 Member
    OR...you don't have much weight to lose and you are cutting your calories too much. That will always result in extreme hunger, then over-eating.

    Open your food diary so we can see what you are eating.

    How much weight are you trying to lose, and how many calories are you eating on a regular day? At age nineteen, if you don't have much weight to lose, you should be eating quite a lot on a daily basis - like 1800-2500 depending on your activity, your height, and your current weight.

    Under-eating results in binges. It's a cycle.
  • zoeysasha37
    zoeysasha37 Posts: 7,088 Member
    Some people find when they restrict too much and don't allow themselves treats during dieting, that it backfires and they end up binging. once it starts , its often very hard to stop. It turns into a vicious cycle of overly restricting then binging then overly restricting to try to make up for the binge and then binging again.

    For me, it was easier to allow myself to eat the foods I loved while losing weight by incorporating them into my calorie goal. This way I never felt deprived . I used moderation not deprivation. I never feel the need to binge when I know I have a treat lined up along with of my well balanced diet.

    If you feel like you are in a cycle that you can not control, it may be time for professional help. Getting to the root of the issue is a good idea. Finding out what leads you to binge and ways you can fix it will likely help a lot.
  • snickerscharlie
    snickerscharlie Posts: 8,578 Member
    I agree that it might be time for some professional help.
  • Zizou34
    Zizou34 Posts: 1 Member
    It happened to me too so i know what it feels like. U binge eat because u are depressed and then after the binge u. Get more depressed, my technique was to have all the *kitten* i was craving until the point i didn't want any more so now i think about it and i feel like throwing up :smile:
  • bellabonbons
    bellabonbons Posts: 705 Member
    I have a family member who is an eating disorders therapist. Control. Guilt. A number of causes. Fo not despair. Millions suffer with potential and sometimes serious eating issues. Binging also includes using good to sabbatoge and medicate. The most important first step is to realize that your not crazy and that once you understand where it is coming from is the first step to overcoming it. Another cause us self denial. It is important to allow yourself the goods you love. This is the best of MFP. There are no forbidden foods. If you can find a therapist who specializes in eating disorders will take you far. Lutheran social services is an excellent avenue as they offer sliding fee scales. You pay only what you can afford. Catholic social services offers sliding fee scales also. You just need insight and more understanding and you will be okay. You are not abnormal. It happens to many of us. I personally believe that one of the most damaging triggers is guilt. Hang in there. And please reach out to as many as possible so that you will know you are not alone. You can overcome this. Do not despair.

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