huge binge, help please...

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khadeejah1
khadeejah1 Posts: 24
in Motivation and Support
So I had one of the worst binges I've had in a long time I ate somewhere above 4000 calories tonight and feel disgusted. I ate well earlier but it's always harder for me later in the day. Anyways, it's happened too many days in a row and I just can't stop myself, the idea of not having something sweet feels like deprivation, but when I try to eat just a little it never works I have to eat everything.

Does anyone have any tips or tricks that work with dealing with a bad binge or a binge streak? This has been a lifelong problem, my weight has fluctuated dramatically in both ways but the binge eating is consistent throughout. I've tried telling myself to stop, or try to read a book, I've tried taking a bath or having a cup of tea, talking to a friend, going for a walk but it's so powerful, the urge to binge that I'm feeling a bit stuck, honestly a bit hopeless like this is just how my life is going to be. It's frustrating because I enjoy exercising and I can get that in regularly and I start my day so well usually and then completely ruin all of my hard work. The urge to eat something sweet or some form of junk food is so strong and I feel like when I try to not have something sweet when I crave it that I'm punishing myself or something, it feels a bit like torture and sometimes I feel like I might throw a fit like a child which is ridiculous because that is no where near the person I am day in day out. I don't know how to deal with that binge monster side of me.

How do all of you prevent a binge or even stop it in it's tracks? How do you stay motivated? How do you keep your focus and stay on the right path? Any tips or personal stories/support would be greatly appreciated I'm just really not sure what else to do? I feel exhausted from battling myself constantly over this. Thank you for listening to me.
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Replies

  • khadeejah1
    khadeejah1 Posts: 24
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    Just checking if anyone has any tips?? :) Thank you :)
  • ullgetthere
    ullgetthere Posts: 96
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    Ok I totally know how you feel. I was raised with sweets all over the house and whenever I would ask, my parents would give me dessert without question. So needless to say when I got older I always needed my dessert. I would check with people when I would eat at their house to make sure they had dessert (otherwise I would bring something myself), I would race through supper to get to dessert, and even in my 30's I would totally throw a fit if we didn't have anything sweet in the house.
    I started MFP about 4 weeks ago and the way to solve this (for me) was to just cut desserts from my day. Why? Because I am not good with moderation and I realized that since I was never satisfied then I won't eat it. Tonight I had chocolate and stopped at 3 pieces cause I was no longer in a ''need'' to have more. I tell myself, the dessert will still be there tomorrow if you want it, no need to shove it down.
    Add me, we'll help each other through this :) We'll be each others sponsers for desserts.
  • doodles80
    doodles80 Posts: 59
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    Don't buy it! When you feel like buying it, put the money you would have spent in a jar and then go treat yourself to a massage or perfume or an expensive lipstick or something else which is nice!
  • DaniKenmir
    DaniKenmir Posts: 387 Member
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    We get given lollies a lot and I just send them all to work with my bf, then they're not in the house and his work mates eat them, when I really want something sweet now I have a chai latte (lipton 110 calories) and it hits the spot and fills me up a bit
  • jzammetti
    jzammetti Posts: 1,956 Member
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    Just checking if anyone has any tips?? :) Thank you :)

    I also have a sweet tooth - I kepp several packs of Extra Dessert gums around (three in my purse at all times) to help me get past those cravings.
  • Yosemite4vr
    Yosemite4vr Posts: 84 Member
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    Something that has helped me immensely with cravings is eating more protein and fats throughout the day. I've adopted a psudo paleo diet where i generally stay away from processed carbs (wheat/gluten) and dairy. Try eating meat, fruits, veggies, and nuts (natural fats).

    You have to give it a week. If you do it, let me know how it goes. I was amazed at the changes. It takes a little initial effort but the outcome was amazing for me.

    If you want more details, I'd be happy to give you more info.

    Good Luck!
  • 0somuchbetter0
    0somuchbetter0 Posts: 1,335 Member
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    I know exactly what you're going through and I don't know what to do about it. I'm scared because I've worked so damn hard to get to where I am, but these last couple of weeks have been very bad and I don't know how to stop it. I started seeing an ED therapist a few weeks ago and she had me read a book called "Eating by the Light of the Moon." I'm not usually a self-help type of person and I'm really turned off by the whole crunchy spirituality yin/yang thing....HOWEVER, this book is really good at pointing out that by bingeing we're trying to fill an emotional hole with food, and it will never work because the hole is still empty. The key is to figure out what that hole is, how it got there, and how to fill in an emotionally healthy way. Oh sure! Easy! I've had this compulsive overeating problem since I can remember...so yeah, feeling pretty sad and hopeless right now. I know I have to figure this out...somehow, sometime....I HAVE to! I don't know if this helps, and I'm sorry to go on and on about me, but your post spoke to me. Courage.
  • jzammetti
    jzammetti Posts: 1,956 Member
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    Something that has helped me immensely with cravings is eating more protein and fats throughout the day. I've adopted a psudo paleo diet where i generally stay away from processed carbs (wheat/gluten) and dairy. Try eating meat, fruits, veggies, and nuts (natural fats).

    You have to give it a week. If you do it, let me know how it goes. I was amazed at the changes. It takes a little initial effort but the outcome was amazing for me.

    If you want more details, I'd be happy to give you more info.

    Good Luck!

    I also agree with this approach!
  • Helloitsdan
    Helloitsdan Posts: 5,564 Member
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    Enjoy the leptin boost and chill for the rest of the week.
    Prelog your food if you have to.
  • FlaxMilk
    FlaxMilk Posts: 3,452 Member
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    You may consider visiting a specialist and looking into whether any antidepressants or similar meds have been helpful in stifling binging? Sometimes it really is an imbalance.
  • FarmFoodDiet
    FarmFoodDiet Posts: 10 Member
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    Your problem is probably one or a few of these things: not enough protein, not enough fat, not enough calories overall. Don't buy that junk food, because it's too easy to eat quickly and doesn't satisfy your appetite. Eat real food. When you feel like snacking, reach for nuts, fruit, or vegetables - no processed crap.
  • Aakani
    Aakani Posts: 17 Member
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    I would say, if you can, don't buy the food. If it is in front of you at a gathering, I do understand the temptation. Try to distance yourself physically from the food. If it is in your house, put it on the shelf out of reach. Before you eat anything, look at the serving size and make a conscious decision that you are only going to have the serving size. That way, it will be a guilt-free treat. Also, don't beat yourself up too much about it-that will make you feel overly guilty and could make you eat more that way. So just decide that from this point on you are going to be more careful and that you are willing to work it off.
  • jus_in_bello
    jus_in_bello Posts: 326 Member
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    I agree with the "don't have it in the house" suggestions. I also suggest a hobby. Knitting. crochet, painting, something that keeps you busy and your hands occupied at night will do amazing things for you, I have been noticing that I'm losing weight, nothing has changed except I'm knitting/crocheting at night while I watch TV and my hands are occupied and I'm not bored so I'm not snacking mindlessly. I come from a disordered eating history so I am hyper aware of my food issues and honestly, my relationship with food is much improved since I've gotten some control over it this way. Also, I'm being super productive during what was formerly my "lazy" time! I've made like 3 scarfs, 2/3 of a baby blanket, and a dog bed, *AND* I'm losing weight.
  • natuhlay
    natuhlay Posts: 38 Member
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    Don't buy it! When you feel like buying it, put the money you would have spent in a jar and then go treat yourself to a massage or perfume or an expensive lipstick or something else which is nice!

    This is actually a great idea. Might consider doing something like this for myself. :)
  • SlimSlow15
    SlimSlow15 Posts: 30 Member
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    For me, it's a lot easier to avoid overeating if I don't allow it to be readily available. If it's something that can be frozen, keep it frozen and only thaw out one portion at a time. You have no choice but to only eat one portion if the rest isn't available.

    I don't eat a lot of sweets, but if I did, I would only get single servings. Instead of buying a 48 oz tub of ice cream, I'd just buy one of the mini cups. Instead of buying a box of snack cakes, I'd buy one single snack cake from a convenience store. It's more expensive per serving, but if you're eating less of it, you'll probably be saving money in the long run.

    I don't agree with everyone who says just don't buy it and don't eat it. I think you should have it once in a while, but find ways to avoid having large amounts of it available at any one time. You should have a lifestyle change, not feel completely deprived. A healthy lifestyle can still incorporate these snacks.
  • walkdmc
    walkdmc Posts: 529 Member
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    I feel like I type this a few times a week here on MFP but it's so true, you have to figure out what you're getting from binging. You are getting some benefit so figuring that out is a first step.

    I go to a therapist for treatment of binge eating and it has been the best thing I've done for myself. Once I figured out why I binged, I stopped doing it, like a light was switched on. I had a big breakthrough in therapy, finished the appointment and never looked at food the same way. It was that fast and easy.

    I never thought I'd see a psychologist for anything and now I'll tell anyone I'm seeing one for weight loss help. If you can see a therapist, go for it, it may change your life.

    Something that may help you, that my therapist recommended, is keeping a journal. There are no rules with the journal, write in it when you want but try to write in it before you binge. When you get that "I have to have it I don't care about the consequences, give it to me NOW"-feeling, write in the journal first and see if it helps. When I kept my journal I'd just write what came to my mind, often bringing up stuff that still annoys me from the past. Eventually, that stream of thoughts helped me solve my problem, along with the therapy sessions.

    Again, you have to figure out why you binge in order to stop it.
  • Megooo19
    Megooo19 Posts: 199
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    I think it's hard for people that don't binge to understand what it feels like to binge but I know it really sucks. I tend to binge when I'm super deprived so a good rule of thumb is to not over deprive myself. If that means eating chocolate every day, fine. I just have to find the healthiest chocolate available. It's easier to not binge if you eat lots of healthy food and lots of protein. If you find yourself in the middle of a binge it's best to interrupt it somehow. Call a friend and go on a walk. I drive my butt to the gym and get in a good hard workout because obviously I can't eat there, and then I don't feel so guilty if I ate a lot of food. You have to find what works for you but If you do binge just remember that it's okay. Don't beat yourself up over it but try and pinpoint what brought it on. Is your body not receiving enough nutrients? Are you having a bad day?
  • nlwilliamson
    nlwilliamson Posts: 225 Member
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    I would remove ALL sweets from the house, it sounds like an addiction, so you will go through a lot of feelings at first. I used to get SOOO angry when their wasn't any Coke in the house in the mornings,so one day I drank coffee instead. Now I don't drink coke in the am just coffee, it was hard but I just thought about the calories I was saving :)

    I understand its hard, but remind yourself of all the reasons you DONT want sweets (cals saved, weight loss, feeling better about yourself ect.) think of it like a challenge, mind against matter :) You will win!
  • dalgal26
    dalgal26 Posts: 781 Member
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    I know what you mean! That is the reason I don't eat fruit (except watermelon). Fruit makes me have sugar cravings! And I also stay away from desserts! Bread is another trigger for me!
  • Jaxta10
    Jaxta10 Posts: 4
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    Have you tried hypnosis at all? It doesn't work for everyone, but it has worked for me in the past and it may be worth a try:))
    Here's one on youtube I just found.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kBWF3nj8jVI

    good luck! xo

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