Members Please Introduce Yourself here:

pinkleah456

Hi, I'm Leah, I'm 25 and I'm struggling with binge eating.

I think I've been doing this for months, maybe years but I could never bring myself to admit it. In recent weeks it's crept up on me more and more and I've finally admitted to myself I've got a problem.

I go through periods of dieting and then binging. I've tried eating normally and healthily without restricting anything but I still find myself binge eating. I feel constantly tired from worry, stressed about how I look, and just guilty really. I can't stop thinking about food and it just isn't right to be this way all the time

cm1458

Hi, I'm Carli. Anyone from this group may add me as a friend (just please send a msg with the request saying you are from this group, so i will know) We could help by supporting each other

(possibly slightly triggering?? not a lot of detail)
I have been struggling with some form of an ED for as long as I can remember. I Binged constantly even when i was a small child (around age 6-7). By the time i was in 7th grade (12/13 years old) I got up to over 250lbs because I binged so badly so often. I got made fun of for my weight, which only made my binges worse and didn't do a whole lot for my self confidence. I lost a little weight throughout middle school and in my freshman year of high school I developed Anorexia (and possible body dysmorphic disorder). I dropped a lot of weight and screwed up my metabolism. Soon following, Ana turned Orthorexia (EXTREMELY "healthy" eating, that is very dangerous to the body) and Compulsive Exercising (over exercising). Then, for a few weeks, I experimented with using laxatives after binging. I later developed BED. Now I've been flip flopping between BED and Anorexic behaviors for a couple months. I've been through various eating disasters and I just want to recover and obtain a normal relationship with food. I realize it will most likely take years for me to fully recover. but im going to try to do better and get better. I do have some "normal" eating days, but that doesn't usually stick. I know I can do it if I set my mind to it and give it my all.

mrsbrownsfan

I found my way over here because of a link to the May/June discussion thread that Mollie posted in another group that I am a member of, and I would like to join in.

My name is Mary, and I am 36 years old. I am separated from my husband and planning to divorce, after finding out back in December that he had a four-month affair last year. Prior to that happening, I had been on a pretty healthy weight loss journey for about two years and had lost a healthy amount of weight (first through calorie counting and then through Weight Watchers). However, once we made the decision to separate (which was about 2 1/2 months ago), my old binge eating behaviors came back with a vengeance. I now find myself on my own with my dog, struggling with binge days every four or five days and having trouble getting "back on track."

I have been seeing a therapist since January who I found through the EAP at work, and it just so happened that the person with whom I made my first appointment, who I still see, is also an eating disorders specialist. Prior to meeting her, I never really saw my behavior as an eating disorder at all and instead just thought I was weak or lacked discipline. She has really shown me that this is not all about willpower and that there are physical reasons that people develop these kind of eating behaviors. However, I am still a long way from recovery, I think.

Basically, I am not good at "feeling the feelings." I tend to internalize and intellectualize everything. My family was not an emotional family, and I still have difficulty relating to them on that level. My marriage was heading south before my husband had his affair, and we were not relating well on an emotional level. Therefore, I turned to my old "friend" food to meet my needs (Ha.). Since finding out about my husband's affair, I can count on one hand the number of times I have cried or allowed myself to feel the emotions that are bubbling below the surface. Basically, I am just numb/closed off, and I find myself using food patterns to "cope." My therapist even hesitates to recommend I take medication for anxiety because I am already pretty numb/flat, and she doesn't want to exacerbate that.

Anyway, I also have times that I restrict calorie intake, and I am actually in the midst of this right now, and in a more strict manner than I ever have. I struggle maintaining a balance between knowing good things to eat that will satisfy and nourish me and not trigger a binge and knowing what foods are going to send me into a tailspin of binge eating, followed by feeling awful about myself, following by good eating, and continuing in that vicious cycle.

Anyway, that's me in a nutshell! Actually, I guess I can't call that a nutshell...that was more of novel. I am planning to join in the discussion thread as well. I know people in real life who struggle with eating in similar ways to me, but they either are not people who recognize this, or they are not people who are at the point that I am in their dealing with it, so I have not really had anyone to talk to who REALLY knew what I was experiencing, but from reading through this thread, I can tell that some of you DO, which gives me such hope. Thank you.

IsMollyReallyHungry

Please see new link for the rest of the year for anyone needing support:
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/653800-binge-eating-support-group-daily-conversation-2012

Make today a good one!:flowerforyou:

msrmoore

hi - This is me smiling through the ebarrassment and pain My name is Ro and I have come to realize I am a binge eater. I am 35 year divorced old single parent. I've had it tough: dealt with childhood atrocities such as sexual abuse, a fire that completely burned everything away incuding good childhood friends, I always work to manage depression.

I've done drugs, I've abused alcohol, and cigarettes. Those things I have banished in an effort to get right! I'm currently hanging onto an unhealthy relationship with myself. There's one thing left to get rid of - that's abusing food. I eat. I eat when all the lights turn off. I eat when no one is looking. I can't wait until everyone goes to bed so I can eat, eat, eat. I take tums nearly every night beca for me.use I know I will be sick. At work, before lunch, my hands are shaking because I can't get to my food fast enough. After the fist few bites. I am better. Like a drug addiction, I try to stay away and choose healthy foods, but I am sickly drawn to what I know is not good.

My hope is to overcome this lifetime stronghold in my mind, and be healthy, happy and whole.
Blessings to you all.

IsMollyReallyHungry

Welcome and you can do it!!

5babs

Hi, I'm Babs or Barb. I answer to both. I started binge eating in 3rd grade and have continued my whole life. Sometimes are worse than other times. I also have depression that can cause problems as well. I'm finding MFP very helpful and feel like I'm learning a lot about food and how I see food. I'm still pretty motivated and excited about MFP so I haven't been binging. I worry that the bingeing will come back as soon as the new wears off. I'm hoping that by joining this group and making some connections, I can develop some skills to help myself handle future binge time.

ThriftyChica12

Hi, my name is Adrienne

i am a compulsive overeater. at various times in my life, i have binged on large volumes of food, grazed on food all day long, eat past the point of fullness to the point of physical pain, dieted restrictively, and generally been beaten by my food obsession.

there have also been periods of recovery, weight loss, and healing in my life--particularly when i was deeply involved in the 12 step fellowship overeaters anonymous.

my highest adult weight was about 220 or 225. my lowest adult weight, reached during 12 step recovery, was 150-155 lbs. right now, i am about in the middle point of that range.

like many other binge eaters, i have had certain traumas in my life: sexual stuff, bullying during school years, money issues, family issues---i have my baggage like anyone else.

i am vegan for ethical reasons, and generally eat very "clean" and healthy---until i start binging on vegan "treats" (won't mention specific foods here).

thanks for welcoming me to the group!