I'll take this chance to introduce myself. Name is Dana, from Ohio, and I've gained and lost the same 10 pounds for the past 3 years. I'm also hovering back around my heaviest weight. I'm a big binge and stress eater, which doesn't help.

One of my MFP friends told me about this group and how much it has helped her, so here I am. I really want to lose the weight, but I just can't seem to ever do it. When I binge/indulge/have bad days, I can't seem to make myself stop at one, it spirals into months of bad choices.

I joined the binge challenge, so we'll see how this goes. I'm up for any suggestions, lord knows I could use any help I can get.

Chibea
thanks for the pep talk! I will treat myself kinder. 2 binge free days so far too!

oualum26
Dana, Welcome!! I have been losing the same few pounds and gaining it back the last year or so. I can relate.



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I had 2 good days despite being sick. Usually when sick I would eat like crazy. I also had a stomach ache so that was part of it. I will focus on the good things. I made healthy choices when I was hungry and ate under my calories. I rested when I needed to so I can heal.

I hope everyone is having a great day.

Hi Onward, welcome to the group.
I am sorry your husband has behaved in this manner, and it is a shame you cannot leave him as to be blunt, he sounds like a total loser. And irresponsible to have said what he said to your young daughter also.
On the food front, you really need to stop cutting things out, as being too strict is what can often trigger a binge mentality. I find if I tell myself I cannot have this or that, I end up binging on everything I deny myself. I also find I binge if I pressure myself too much to do a certain amount of exercise each day. There are enough people out there ready to bully and abuse us without us abusing and bullying ourselves.
I suggest you allow yourself some limited treats, and do not cut out entire food groups. I think the more we try and control what we eat, the more we end up binging. Considering some of my binges have been over 6000 calories, I concluded it is better to be a bit over my daily goal and eat when I am hungry or really crave something, than to hold out and end up doing much worse damage. If you are ready to quit, then you aren't doing it right. It is a lifestyle change, not a diet, and it needs to be primarily for you, for your health, for your body, for your happiness. Never lose the weight for or because of someone else, or it simply will not work.


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Anyway, I successfully navigated my recent long weekend in London for my bday, complete with meals out and being in my mother's home with lots of cereal and cookies around. I indulged a lot(during the meals out and the odd bit of cake and waffle), but did not binge while there. I am struggling a bit right now, not due to emotional hunger, but genuine hunger, even though I am eating plenty. This has started since I got back into my cycling, basically. I am worried about going over my calorie goal as I do wish to lose some weight, but at the same time, if I ignore genuine hunger, I could end up binging eventually.

I also question other peoples' ideas of what a binge is. To me, getting up and down to pick at food after dinner, is not a binge. That is simply something many people do when bored or when they fancy something. For myself, that is not a binge. I think the term is used far too lightly in some cases on this site.

I also question other peoples' ideas of what a binge is. To me, getting up and down to pick at food after dinner, is not a binge. That is simply something many people do when bored or when they fancy something. For myself, that is not a binge. I think the term is used far too lightly in some cases on this site.

I haven't read any of the posts on this page so forgive me if I sound ignorant, (Ive been trying to skip over the depressing posts in here as they are really unsettling to me)

To me, a binge is accompanied by a feeling of being out of control, an intense animalistic need to consume in excess, its far deeper than something habitual. Binges don't stop even when I am physically full, and sometimes continue until I am physically in pain or throw up my stomach is so full. This is my version of a binge, its dark and scary and hasn't happened for a while now.

However, I also think its important to point out that whether a binge falls into our own personal definitions, the underlying problem is that we all have issues with food, and because of that everyone is relate able despite the severity of their condition.

The way you describe the binges you had, are basically the way I view a binge and are the sort of binges I experience.
I definitely agree that we all have underlying issues with food. In fact, I would be surprised if there are many people in the Western world who do not have some kind of hangup around food.

Hi all,

It's been a while since I've posted in this group. The last time I posted was in March about to go on a vacation and feeling that logging was not working for me as it was causing me to fixate too much on food. Unfortunately it seems that not logging hasn't helped either. I have been binging on/off ever since and felt too ashamed to come back to MFP these last few weeks...

Well, I have read all the posts since I left off. I'm glad to see that this is still such a supportive space.
@ Graelwyn: congrats on a successful trip to London and staying with your mother... traveling and not having a routine is so so hard and tends to be a trigger for me as well.
@ Karendee: good on you for taking care of yourself first! These group challenges can be motivating but in the end, you need to do what's best for your mental and physical health, so if that means skipping weighing, then definitely don't feel bad about it.
@ onward: I am so sorry to hear about those hurtful comments you have to deal with. The mental battle we have to wage when struggling with binging is difficult enough without all that additional external pressure... so sorry you are dealing with this, and I am angry on your behalf! DO NOT quit, do not let the maliciousness and negativity caused by others prevail over YOU!

The thing I am struggling with now is trying to turn around my compulsive negative thoughts. I just cannot stop the thoughts of disgust, shame, self-loathing, etc. whenever I put a piece of food in my mouth (even if it's healthy!), look in the mirror, etc. I feel so out of control even though I write little motivational paragraphs in my journal... Saying to myself I am strong/in control etc., the words just feel so empty. How do you guys deal with these types of thoughts, if you deal with them at all?

onwarddownward I give myself too many rules too! So sorry the way your hubby said that. It was not the best way to get her to stop eating and it hurt you in the process. I am glad you are trying to get healthy, good for you!

Graelwyn75 I too question what people think is a binge. JUst eating too much is not one. A binge means to me eating so much food you are uncomfortable. Sometimes in secret and usually I am not even hungry when doing it. It does feel out of control not just extra food I should not have.
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I have been struggling this week. I gained due to a binge and It has gotten me sad all week. Plus I got sick this week and sickness makes me want to overeat.
I am hoping today can be a better day. I am skipping the scale Monday. It just causes trouble. I will lose points in the challenge I am in but I don't care. My team will understand. I get lots of points for them by doing exercise.

Since a lot of your binges occur with the scale, I think you would be better with a monthly weigh in, to be honest.
Seeing the number wont make it go down any quicker, you know by now how to eat and remain active to lose weight, and if staying off the scale will help the process, then you should go for it.

I think you are right!! I should switch to a monthly one too. I am on a challenge and weigh weekly. Which is way better than I did before,

I was addicted to the scale. it was at last daily and sometimes several times a day. It was not good!

Hello. I am new to the group and am a binge eater and excise purger. I feel like I have absolute no control over my binging. Its like my brain quits working. I start the day out saying I will stay on track, and then next thing I know I ate everything in he house. Like my mind ignores what my body is doing forgets that I don't want to do it, and then beats myself up over it. I hope this group helps

Sorry this post has not been active this week. I know I have been busy.

I understand the "no control" feeling. It is a hard disorder to conquer.

Hello all! I'm new to the group, but have been using MFP for awhile - first religiously for over a year, reached my goal weight, but due to recent binges I'm back on because it makes me more accountable to myself and less likely to binge.

I've read through some (but not all!) of the thread and have to say thank you to everyone for sharing. I can relate to basically every posting here and I am so grateful that this community exists.

As I wrote in my profile, my husband is a great work-out buddy/motivator but he does not understand emotional eating or binge eating. My close friends don't seem to have this problem and I really need an outlet to talk through these daily issue.

I'm looking to add friends and offer support and encouragement, so please feel free to send requests!

Good vibes to everyone! Take it one day (or meal) at a time.

Hello all! I'm new to the group, but have been using MFP for awhile - first religiously for over a year, reached my goal weight, but due to recent binges I'm back on because it makes me more accountable to myself and less likely to binge.

I've read through some (but not all!) of the thread and have to say thank you to everyone for sharing. I can relate to basically every posting here and I am so grateful that this community exists.

As I wrote in my profile, my husband is a great work-out buddy/motivator but he does not understand emotional eating or binge eating. My close friends don't seem to have this problem and I really need an outlet to talk through these daily issue.

I'm looking to add friends and offer support and encouragement, so please feel free to send requests!

Good vibes to everyone! Take it one day (or meal) at a time.

Welcome!! It took my hubby a long time to realize how hard BE is for me to conquer. I also kept it a secret from him for a very long time. I too have to log to keep accountable or a binge would happen more often.

Me - 18
Binge - 5

Going to visit my parents for a short holiday trip. They are very elderly, so I don't expect to do much exercising. Good thing is they don't keep a lot of food in the house. I hope to keep the traveling munchies at bay, but have not had much success in the past. Good luck to everyone this weekend.

Oops - dumb me - posted this on wrong thread I'm tired.....