Mental Healing After a Binge

clairibou1

I have been struggling with frequent bingeing for about 6 months now. Finally, about a month ago, I completely stopped logging, exercising, and thinking about what I ate. I think that this break was actually good for me I don't know what happened, but something changed, and I was no longer having crazy binges like I did before. I have gone about a month since I have had a serious binge, and although I have had a few slip-ups here and there and gained a few pounds, its nothing like it was before, and I haven't felt sick after I have eaten in a while. I had been doing especially well this week, but all of a sudden, something snapped in me today and I started eating pretty much everything I could find. I felt so sick after dinner, I could barely move. I am so disappointed in myself, because I had been doing so well and I really though that I would see a loss this week. Lately I have been more accepting about the way my body looks and feels, because I know that soon, I will be able to change this. After today's binge though, now every time I look in the mirror or move, I see and feel my excess fat and become discouraged. I know how you are supposed to eat after a binge, but my question is, how do you recover mentally?

transfixedtoast

I would try and do something to distract myself like doing some kind of creative project that was completely unrelated. Get your feelings out in a non food way. That's the only advice I can offer, because when you think about these things too much you can go insane and destroy your whole life.

stephabef

It's tough. I think people who haven't experienced a binge can't really understand what's happening mentally during one... or especially after. It's a cycle - either you beat yourself up about it, or you let it go so completely that it ends up happening again. Taking it one day at a time is the only thing that works for me. Give yourself a clean slate. Every single time.

I have some very close friends in AA, and they approach addiction in a similar way. Honestly, I've learned a lot from that program. Many of the lessons can be applied here. Whatever you do, don't give up

KareninCanada

I don't know you, and I don't want to post anything here that would risk turning your post into a debate (this place can be a minefield).... so I'll send you a big virtual hug, let you know you'll be in my prayers tonight, and encourage you to trust that you were created to be loved and beautiful and deserving of forgiveness, even from yourself. Believe that. (((hugs)))

supertracylynn

Has anyone ever told you it's OKAY to be successful?
Has anyone ever told you it's okay to love yourself?

rachhmariee

I've been there...it happens to me when I've been denying myself for too long, and suddenly I get my hands on something sweet and all my hard efforts goes out the window because I have no willpower. The trick for me seems to be just like you said, if I give up a little bit of control and just eat according to how I feel (still eating healthy) but allowing the occasional treat when I want one. I buy individual, pre-portioned snacks because that seems to be the only way I can keep myself in check.

But it is hard after you binge, but I use it for motivation. I cut myself some slack, realize that it happens, and it's my responsibility to face. Sometimes I zone in on that feeling, that gross-I've eaten way too much feeling... and remember exactly how all that food made me feel. The best solution for me? Get off the couch and get moving. Even if I feel gross still, I run it off because I want to remember how all that food weighs me down...

Not to mention how much better I feel when I don't eat like that. Chin up!! You'll get through it, cut yourself some slack and don't give up.

cjpg

It's your perspective that needs to change.

I used to be addicted to food and after 4 months, I've lulled it down significantly. You gave yourself the answer in your post without realising it:

"Lately I have been more accepting about the way my body looks and feels, because I know that soon, I will be able to change this."

Look at this closely. You've been more accepting of the way your body looks and feels, which means at some level you're telling yourself that you've met a goal you are satisfied with. This is fine if you use it as a benchmark to continue, but instead you're falling into a trap I used to fall into all the time - you're convincing yourself that you don't have to diet/exercise and your using that state of mind to justify it.
PLEASE don't misunderstand me - you DO NEED TO LOVE WHO YOU ARE. But, the reason you're on this site is because you're trying to change into a 'healthier you', and that's important to remember.
Also, you said 'because you know 'soon', you 'will' be able to change this'. Using words like 'soon' and 'will' is secretly convincing yourself you aren't able to do it now. You believe you will one day, but that day HAS TO BE TODAY! Instead, say you 'are' losing weight and you're 'continuing' to change this.

I feel strongly about this because my perspective was the reason I was overweight. I would say things like 'meh, I don't need to lose weight because I ran three weeks ago'. Does it make sense? No. Did I use it to justify my lifestyle? Yes.

You can do this, trust me. Just focus on your perspective and how you're looking at your journey ahead. Stay POSITIVE!

Articeluvsmemphis

good question. just forgive yourself, and recognize the triggers that make you binge, and try to eliminate them. and if you can't eliminate them, face them and say, okay hunger isn't the problem, food isn't the solution. have plenty good foods that you actually enjoy, please to treat yourself OFTEN, because some people are still human and like their junk foods, so eat a serving and back away. if you can't back away, maybe take a break from certain foods. so many things to learn through trial and error, but it gets better

tmoyer1209

All we can do is try again, don't constantly beat yourself up over it, the past is the past, and we can't change it now. I have a problem with emotional eating, and many days it is hard not to eat a bunch of sweets. But each time you get the temptation just try to be strong a little bit longer, a little longer, a little longer. Pretty soon, it will be something you don't worry about so often. If it is at all possible, try taking a walk or run, or doing some push ups and sit ups for 15 mins. At least if you still decide to snack you have burned a few of the calories off and don't feel so bad about it!! I know you can do it, it will just take time. It's not a sprint, it's a life-long marathon. Little changes, a little bit at a time, and that's what it sounds like you are doing if the binges are getting less frequent!! Don't give up, you can get there!!!

momof3and3

Sometimes the more I focus on food and what I can and cannot can set me off on a binge. Maybe you were binge free because you took your focus off of the food. Try and not worry about your food so much, but log you exercise....focus on exercise, making your body stronger and healthier thru it. Plus the more calories you burn, the better you will feel. Make your food logging secondary for the time being.

Right now the binging has power over you, you need to give up that power...Try and walk away from the food if you feel the need to start eating, try a mental game with yourself to not do it. Focus on how well you feel when you don't do it.

Give yourself one day a week to binge...that way the binge looses its daily power over you...Soon you will find that the binging will decrease...

Binging is a horrible cycle, maybe seek help from a professional who deals with eating disorders...

After a binge, don't beat yourself up....just take a deep breathe and forget about it...drink plenty of water the next day and exercise, you will feel better....

Binging is a struggle that I have overcome (mostly)...I understand how you feel

skinnylove00

i binge. YES I BINGE A LOT actually. i remember eating half a jar of peanut butter in one sitting, an entire family sized bag of trail mix (well over 5000 cals), several pecan pie crusts, etc. sometimes i hoard cups of food (usually full of sunflower seeds, craisins, red kidney beans and peanut butter) from the dining halls and then eat it in the bathroom because its too embarrassing to eat in front of everyone. binge eating is both terrifying and exhilarating, i know i binge because high fat food puts me on an emotional high.

then afterward is the bad part. as im binge eating, my insides are screaming at me telling me that i am not hungry but then another part of me says ~you dont deserve to be at your goals because you are worthless~. its actually quite terrifying. then after my binges i feel so blown up that i can hardly move and i HATE myself, i mean, i REALLY just LOATHE myself for it.

instead of hating myself, i decided to think, ~okay, look. i binged but now its over~. i started to exercise (its hard to binge when you know you cant run a mile straight), i took it easy on myself, and i told my inner critic to SHUT UP. writing things out helped too, ive done so many ~pseudo binges~ where i write explicitly what i eat, how it tastes, and how im feeling after and during it. that helped because i got to visualize it. and i just hated when my inner critic scolded me for eating too much, i decided that it was just NOT WORTH IT.

my advice? love yourself. you binge, but you love yourself enough to stop carrying on unhealthy behavior. you cant take care of something that you dont love, and it has to start with yourself. i still binge occasionally, but NEVER do i binge like i used to, to the point where ive lost all hope for myself. you can do it!!

clairibou1

thank you SO MUCH everyone!!! Every time after a binge, I would look for ways to make myself feel physically better, whether it be exercising the next day, drinking more water, eating less for a few days, etc. Something clicked for me today though- although these are important, the real issues for me are the MENTAL repercussions from a binge! You have all given me great advice, and I will continue to use it to motivate me. THANK YOU!!!

Alma_Sana

I have had this same problem. I picked up a bunch of books from amazon.com Idk if they might help you, Basically you have to figure out whats really bothering you and why and try to heal from there. That's what I did. It took time and I still have bad days now and again. but it is much better. ok the titles are: "50 ways to soothe yourself without food"
"Emotional Eating: A Practical Guide to Taking Control "
"Overcoming Binge Eating"
"Nice Girls Finish Fat: Put Yourself First and Change Your Eating Forever "

I'm still reading the last 2. Every time I feel like binging I stop and ask myself why? And grab one of those books or other distracting things and read. The thing you have to remember is that it's not about the food it's about stress and a lot of times emotional pain. You can do this. Don't give up you're worth it

kaitimae

writing things out helped too, ive done so many ~pseudo binges~ where i write explicitly what i eat, how it tastes, and how im feeling after and during it. that helped because i got to visualize it. and i just hated when my inner critic scolded me for eating too much, i decided that it was just NOT WORTH IT.

This is a brilliant idea. Writing is something I do to avoid it too, but I have never approached it in that way - I just write whatever, to try and get my mind off it. But I love the idea of writing out what I would eat and how it tastes and how it makes me feel during and after... definitely going to be trying this next time I get the urge to binge.