support for Binge Eating Disorder

Hello all. I'm glad to see that I'm not the only one with this problem. I just wish there was a solution.... I had a really bad day so far and it's not even close to being over. I like the idea that someone suggested about having check-ins. I would gladly participate in that. Maybe we could even have a BED type of hotline where if you feel the urge to go crazy with food, you could check in with someone to hopefully have that person or persons try to talk you out of it. It's just a thought. Good luck to you all and I hope you're having a better day than I am. Oh well, there's always tomorrow...

Welcome 10Lucks and hopeitworks (I mean Itwillwork lol)!

I'm Diane and I think we can really make this thread work to our advantage. It is so helpful to talk and share experiences with people who are going through the same things as us. I've read quite a bit about binge eating and we are a different creature. We have connections with food that is not understood very well by the general population. People don't get what binge eating really is. They don't understand the loss of control.

My sister and I were talking the other day and she mentioned something that confirms just how long I've been dealing with this. My sister is 3 yrs older than me and she said when I was little I'd always be "on a diet". She said she remembered one day I said all I ate today was an orange. She told me she remembered thinking BS, I know you have junk food stashed away in your room. There's no way all you're eating today is an orange. We lived down the road from a beer depot that sold candy and it was a place I visited as often as possible. I remember stealing $ to go buy my precious 10 cent candies, and stock them up and hide them.

My father (who I had to go see every other weekend) started weighing me at age 8. Every Friday that we saw him, he'd pick us up and take us to his condo. March my sister and I up the stairs (she was always at a healthy weight), and the 3 of us would weigh in. I weighed 120lbs at that time. My dad kept telling me that if I just don't gain any weight and keep growing taller, it will even itself out. And then he'd limit my food intake all weekend while he and my sister ate whatever. My dad weighed in at a little over 300 lbs back then so he was no skinny mini (he has serious food issues too, many habits I picked up from him), but since HE didn't gain weight that 2 weeks he could eat normally.

And why did I wonder for so many years why I'm the way I am? The more I read, the more I realized what I was. I am a binge eater and I don't want to be. I want to be healthy. I want to know what it is like to be at a healthy weight. I want a healthy relationship with food.

Ok, that's all for now. That felt kind of good typing that all up. I don't talk about it too much because most people don't understand.

Well done for writing it down and sharing it. You can see where you think your problems started and I guess having a starting point and addressing it may help. Keep going - we can do this!!!

So I drove past the Dunkin Donuts that I usually pass on my way to work and did not stop for the ten-pak of munchkins that I sometimes stop for and eat in my car before I get to work!!! Maybe today will be a good day....

Great job! Dunkin Donuts aren't real food anyways. You need fuel in the morning to start your day. Donuts will spike your blood sugar and leave you wanting more more MORE....

I've been struggling with this for the past couple of months. This last week I've gone over almost every night. I can do fine throughout the day but once night hits I can't stop or seem to get enough. I've already put on 4 pounds in the past week or two and I need to get it under control soon. I'm at loss and have no one to talk about it too because I feel so ashamed and most would just say to put down the food but its not that easy...

Rule #2: Eat 5-6 times throughout the day and each "eating experience" should be well balanced and about the same amount of calories. This can be very difficult, but it is the best way to maximize your metabolism. If your body is expecting food, it will not store as much.

Rule #3: Do not eat at LEAST 2 hrs before you go to bed.

10Lucks--That's a great question and one you should seek the answer for. What is in your head that says "go find food"... I've been working on this a great deal myself. Really paying attention to what I'm feeling when I reach for things when I'm not technically feeling actual hunger. Why do I want that chocolate? What is that chocolate going to do for me? How will I feel afterwards? Will I feel better or will I be looking for the next item of food to make me feel better? What's going on in your life right now 10Lucks?

Wow, it is so hard. Aproc, Jr, try not to feel ashamed, I know that is hard. I too feel that way, but in reality there is nothing to be ashamed of. You have not hurt another person or harmed an animal or stolen anything of value. You are dealing with your emotions in a way that you have learned works for you. Unfortunately, the way that we are dealing with them is hurting us. We will need to learn a new way and it can be done.

I've had a bad day today...this whole week has been bad. Over the past 10 weeks or so I've gained 10 lbs, and this reality is not getting thru to my brain!! I just eat more!!!
Today was going to be the turn around day...but alas it was not so. Tomorrow will be the turn around day. I will eat normally tomorrow and stay within my calorie goal. I will check in to this post in the morning to re-commit. Then I will check in to this post at night to report that I did it. Let's see if this approach will work for me

Friday morning: I gained 3 lbs since yesterday!! But that's ok. I think I was dehydrated yesterday so now I know my true weight. I am having a good morning and will have a great day.

Hang in there everyone - think positive thoughts and how wonderful your body is and all that it can do for you!!

Hang in there ladies! Everyone have a great Friday and a fabulous weekend. Last night after I had a controlled portion of no sugar added ice cream I CRAVED chocolate. It's like once my brain even has a little sweet, it turns on the switch for wanting more and more. Some days I feel like I'd have been better off not even eating a little something sweet. I had 1/4 of my hershey bar and ate it slowly and forced myself to just go to bed so I wouldn't be thinking about it anymore. Also, sometimes I'll brush my teeth too at those times so I don't want to taste minty toothpaste food. I also wear a mouth appliance at night (I know, it's ssssssuper ssssexy lol) for grinding so sometimes I'll just pop that thing in early and that helps too. Damned chocolate! It wasn't even that great cuz I had it in the fridge and I think it distorted the flavor. But all in all, it was a good night and I dealt w/ the sitauation well. I did better than I would before because there is still a piece of the Hershey bar left in the fridge for another day. I didn't eat the whole thing. I resisted the urges to get up out of bed and continue to eat. I resisted the sugar free chocolates I have in the cupboard (I should really get rid of those, but can't throw away precious chocolate). I resisted the umpteen other things I wanted to eat to try to fill some sort of void I had that I thought would allow me to sleep better or fall asleep better. Nope, I fell asleep just fine after I got my mind off the food and had a nice peaceful sleep. And did NOT binge! Yay!