Help for a college binge eater

thinlillies · May 2013

Hi! I am currently 18 years old in college and suffering greatly from horrible binge eating.
It is incredibly difficult for me to stop and I never seem to feel full no matter what I consume.
For example, one day I ate two giant bags of chips, two smuckers PB&Js, a giant cinnamon roll and carrot cake from panera, a bagel from Dunkin Donuts, two big slices of Sbarro pizza and fro-yo in the course of an hour.
I also have eaten entire bags of bread with peanut butter and cream cheese, gone for cake directly after, grabbed the ice cream, and tried desperately to find more. Even afterwards, I could have easily gone through the cycle all over again. No fullness at all.

I am not overweight yet (shockingly), but I know on the path I am on that it will be inevitable. I am definitely gaining weight.
I am begging for help. I cannot function like a normal human being like this.
If any of you have experience with binge eating- do you have any tips that work for you?
I have tried the "wait for 30 minutes", "drink plenty of water", etc. The fullness never comes. I exercise (Zumba, running/brisk walking) but I know nothing I do will save me from the sheer amount of calories that I can consume in one horrible rampage.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this!
It's so humiliating.

Lily

crlyxx · May 2013

I have this problem too. I'm NEVER full. Much of the time, I'm hungry. Like after a decent sized meal, 30 minutes later or so, I feel like I can eat that meal again. So pretty much what I've been doing is -trying- to eat normally, but in the process I feel like I'm starving myself, even though I'm not...

shadowlydarkness · May 2013

I know the feeling, though I was in a diferent situation, I have been there.

What I tried to do was to simply have no money on me, dont take your creditcard with you to college, dont have cash in your wallet, nothing. Except maybe your busfare ofcourse. Also when you are at home make sure there is nothing but healthy snacks and fruits. So you can still binge but you know that what you binge on is healty

thinlillies · May 2013

That is so helpful. Thank you!

I think it really has gotten to the point where I can't trust myself with money anymore. I have no self-control.

thinlillies · May 2013

Ugh I know. I feel like I'm starving all of the time and nothing seems to satisfy it. :I
On days where I eat normally I truly feel like I'm in starvation mode, and on binges I still cannot get enough, though the hunger pangs are lessened.

I know it isn't normal to feel this way, but no matter what I do I can't seem to shake it.
Maybe I need to see a doctor or something.

sallievp · May 2013

I know how you are feeling.

My binges were legendary. I once spent 250 pounds (UK) on binge food, pizza, donuts, hamburgers etc in one week. Felt so ashamed and disgusted. I was also a healthy weight.

I have more or less stopped bingeing, because I am a housewife now and cannot spend so much money on fast food as I used to when I was single and working!

It got to the point after 12 years where I was sick and tired of feeling guilty and ashamed all the time.
I took it one day at a time and gave myself non food treats, cosmetics, clothes etc to reward myself for a good week.
I don't have any helpful advice I'm afraid.
I'm sure someone will be along with some helpful advice.
Just know you are not alone :flowerforyou:

JeanDescole · May 2013

Hi! I am currently 18 years old in college and suffering greatly from horrible binge eating.
It is incredibly difficult for me to stop and I never seem to feel full no matter what I consume.
For example, one day I ate two giant bags of chips, two smuckers PB&Js, a giant cinnamon roll and carrot cake from panera, a bagel from Dunkin Donuts, two big slices of Sbarro pizza and fro-yo in the course of an hour.
I also have eaten entire bags of bread with peanut butter and cream cheese, gone for cake directly after, grabbed the ice cream, and tried desperately to find more. Even afterwards, I could have easily gone through the cycle all over again. No fullness at all.

I am not overweight yet (shockingly), but I know on the path I am on that it will be inevitable. I am definitely gaining weight.
I am begging for help. I cannot function like a normal human being like this.
If any of you have experience with binge eating- do you have any tips that work for you?
I have tried the "wait for 30 minutes", "drink plenty of water", etc. The fullness never comes. I exercise (Zumba, running/brisk walking) but I know nothing I do will save me from the sheer amount of calories that I can consume in one horrible rampage.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this!
It's so humiliating.

Lily

Well, its clear you enjoy eating these to an extent or you wouldnt have them around you. College is naturally stressfull and although emotional eating isnt great neither is going cold turkey on the food your used to eating either, as it may make you slip up when you make the change to try to eat healthily. I recommend starting off only having one treat item a day, a relishing it whilst you eat it instead of wolfing it down without tasting it (I did this alot). After a week or two start limiting the junk food to once every two days, gradually eating it less and less. Whilst you do this find healthy alternatives like switching to a healthier brand of crisps/chips and finding individual bags with smaller portions and buying them one at a time, rather than keeping jumbo bags around your dorm/house. Also replacing empty calories of soda with protein rich milk since water hasnt helped as much as you hoped.

thinlillies · May 2013

Thank you all so much! You do not know how helpful you are being to me.
Today is the first day in a long time that I can proudly say I did not binge. I feel amazing. I hope I can keep this up. Starting tomorrow, I will allow myself one treat that I'm used to. Maybe a mocha light frappucino, so I don't feel too deprived.
Thank you thank you.

Much love,
Lily

volume77 · May 2013

binge on cooked veggies or salad.

Zara11 · May 2013

Thank you all so much! You do not know how helpful you are being to me.
Today is the first day in a long time that I can proudly say I did not binge. I feel amazing. I hope I can keep this up. Starting tomorrow, I will allow myself one treat that I'm used to. Maybe a mocha light frappucino, so I don't feel too deprived.
Thank you thank you.

Much love,
Lily

Hi Lily, can you make a short video talking about how amazing you feel and what you want to accomplish and why RIGHT NOW? Whenever you have the desire to binge, WATCH THAT VIDEO. Make more videos as you accomplish new things. Best thing to emphasize is that no matter how difficult it is, you can decide before (or even during) a binge that you can throw it away/put it away/give the food away and take another step forward.

You won't be perfect, but balance not hating the mistakes with not being too lenient with mistakes and you'll feel more empowered. Do you have a certain food/emotion that triggers it? Do salty or sweet foods make you want MORE of the same? If you can figure out the triggers, do it. For me, triggers = stress, feeling super sad, feeling bored, lots of carbs (if I start the day off with a bagel I usually mess up the rest of the day) and desserts other than dark chocolate. Best thing to curb for me is running, bowl of greek yogurt with nuts & a bit of dried fruit, carrots + hummus, or even a cup or two of hot chocolate.

Help for a college binge eater

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