Anyone struggle with binge eating disorder?

bootskitty96

I've had a long battle with binge eating disorder and it is somthing that in the past I wasn't aware I had until i went to my doctor and discussed my very unhealthy eating habbits. She put me on phentermine for a year which helped me lose over 50 pounds but now being off the phen I've got to deal with my love hate relationship with food and it's been a struggle now for 2 years I've yoyoed the same 20 pounds never going above or below any goal weight and it's been really down putting to my mind. I was so confident and sure while on phentermine because i never thought about food at all. But now I am back in the when what and how much can i have before I hate myself today. Anyone ever have any experience with overcoming eating disorders or now what could help??

cmriverside

Exercise helps me a lot with over eating. It keeps me busy and tends to blunt actual hunger. I always eat more on days with no exercise. Plus it helps with stress and sleep, both important in weight loss.

Also, setting a realistic weight loss goal so my calories weren't too low which leads to that restrict/binge cycle.

We know little about you, but if you set a reasonable goal and get a little exercise every day it becomes much more manageable.

How much weight do you have to lose to be in a healthy weight range? What do you have your goals set as on this site? (Lose 2 pounds, 1 pound, 1/2 pound per week?) Are you eating more on exercise days, the way this site is designed to be used? All this information is helpful.

picturebook

I'm with cmriverside - exercise is the only thing that almost always keeps my nutrition on point. Definitely make sure to put a huge emphasis on exercise, something that is a structured plan to focus on. And yes, please, eat enough. If you follow MFP's calculators at the beginning, you pretty much have to set your loss at .5 pounds a week. I set mine at 1 pound when I signed up yesterday, and it set my calories to 1210. Yeah, not happening. As you know, that is bound to cause failure and a return to the binge/restrict cycle.

norcalichick395

As a fellow binge-er I've found that therapy has really helped me, as I am an emotional eater. Firstly it greatly helped in feeling validated in my feelings, which helps with the love/hate dialogue in my mind. Then it helped me to process my feelings, to where I wasn't always turning to food when going through something.

Exercise helps a lot too, especially with my depression. It's really helped me have more balanced days. I've also tried to keep myself busy, as being idle or bored could potentially start a binge cycle.

I'm wishing you lots of peace and I know you will find the balance that works for you. I'm here for support in anyway!

-Sarah

gracegettingittogether

I've never been diagnosed but I've struggled with the binging/starving myself since I was twelve. I read somewhere on this site some talking about begging and pleading with themselves not to give way to binging, and they just can't. That rang such a bell! How many times have I pleased with myself in the shower to just stop binging, and I can't.
I've just started MFP, and I've lost 12 lbs out of 70 lbs to go. Right now, I'm in the familiar stage of completely losing all appetite and really struggling to eat my calories. I'm dreading the binge at some point, but it's been a month now and I'm still in the losing all appetite stage. I'm really working on trying to eat my alloted calories, otherwise I know it's a matter of time because I get sucked back into binging.
A lot of it is because my appetite is completely out of whack and pretty much always has been. The more I eat, the stronger the urges to binge are, and the less I eat, the stronger the urges to starve myself are.
I think I'm always going to have to count calories and have MFP calculate how many I need, because my body has no clue, apparently.

HellYeahItsKriss

If you have an eating disorder.. there is no over coming it.. you just.. live with it and try your best.
I have been on Vyvanse for a year and despite medications, i am still struggling with it now.. just.. not as bad as without..

Maybe some people might find exercise to help, but with me, it never made a difference.. the brain controls the binge urges and its not based on appetite, you eat no matter what, no matter how full, no matter what food, no matter how much you plan..

unfortunately the part of the brain that screams to eat is often the side that wins.. all you can do is try your best and if you fail that day.. try hard again the next day... and the next day..

idagaines

I’m struggling too. I work all day and never have time to sit down and eat properly. I go to work before the sun rises and I get home after the sun has gone down. I don’t have time to exercise. I’m exhausted every day. But yes I’m scared I’m going to end up binging and purging. That’s my issue

ladetoxoulavie

I pretty agree with Hellyeahitskriss.
Besides, we can also take back the control of our mind. It will not work everytime, but sometimes, a small win is acceptable.

There is no unique solution. You have to find what works best for you.

I workout everyday, from endurace running to weights lifting. It worsten my condition, giving me difficulties to eat right after but a lot more appetite the day after.

Yoga helps me a lot. I practice everyday, and the most important session is my 15 min evening relaxation, after dinner and teeth brushing. This is the most critical moment of the day in terms of binge eating, and yoga helps me to focus on what I really need or want or mean.

maybyn

HellYeahItsKriss wrote: »

If you have an eating disorder.. there is no over coming it.. you just.. live with it and try your best.
I have been on Vyvanse for a year and despite medications, i am still struggling with it now.. just.. not as bad as without..

Maybe some people might find exercise to help, but with me, it never made a difference.. the brain controls the binge urges and its not based on appetite, you eat no matter what, no matter how full, no matter what food, no matter how much you plan..

unfortunately the part of the brain that screams to eat is often the side that wins.. all you can do is try your best and if you fail that day.. try hard again the next day... and the next day..

Actually, ED can be overcome and a significant percentage of sufferers do get cured with treatment.

What appears to be key is to get help in the form of specialist psychotherapy which your doctor may be able to advise you on, OP.

mamadon

maybyn wrote: »

HellYeahItsKriss wrote: »

If you have an eating disorder.. there is no over coming it.. you just.. live with it and try your best.
I have been on Vyvanse for a year and despite medications, i am still struggling with it now.. just.. not as bad as without..

Maybe some people might find exercise to help, but with me, it never made a difference.. the brain controls the binge urges and its not based on appetite, you eat no matter what, no matter how full, no matter what food, no matter how much you plan..

unfortunately the part of the brain that screams to eat is often the side that wins.. all you can do is try your best and if you fail that day.. try hard again the next day... and the next day..

Actually, ED can be overcome and a significant percentage of sufferers do get cured with treatment.

What appears to be key is to get help in the form of specialist psychotherapy which your doctor may be able to advise you on, OP.

I think though that for some of us the “urge” just never completely goes away. For me, it’s kind of like quitting smoking. Even after several years, I still struggle with the urge sometimes. I’ve been maintaining a large weight loss for a few years. I still have days where the urge to binge is over whelming. Like Kris said, I take it a day at a time.

maybyn

mamadon wrote: »

maybyn wrote: »

HellYeahItsKriss wrote: »

If you have an eating disorder.. there is no over coming it.. you just.. live with it and try your best.
I have been on Vyvanse for a year and despite medications, i am still struggling with it now.. just.. not as bad as without..

Maybe some people might find exercise to help, but with me, it never made a difference.. the brain controls the binge urges and its not based on appetite, you eat no matter what, no matter how full, no matter what food, no matter how much you plan..

unfortunately the part of the brain that screams to eat is often the side that wins.. all you can do is try your best and if you fail that day.. try hard again the next day... and the next day..

Actually, ED can be overcome and a significant percentage of sufferers do get cured with treatment.

What appears to be key is to get help in the form of specialist psychotherapy which your doctor may be able to advise you on, OP.

I think though that for some of us the “urge” just never completely goes away. For me, it’s kind of like quitting smoking. Even after several years, I still struggle with the urge sometimes. I’ve been maintaining a large weight loss for a few years. I still have days where the urge to binge is over whelming. Like Kris said, I take it a day at a time.

Yes, I understand that for some/many (or all but a few, perhaps) sufferers, the urge may not completely go away.

What I was trying to say in my post was that there is still hope and to not give up. An ED sufferer reading that "there is no overcoming it [your disease]" may be quite triggering for that person.

KeepRunningFatboy

Maybe try reading "The Binge Code: 7 Unconventional Keys to End Binge Eating and Lose Excess Weight by Alison Kerr. I might give you some insights.

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ratherbeskiing

I am a binge eater with depression. I have had it for a long time and have been through therapy. I have have been really good but lately not so much. I am struggling hard.