I don't know how to stop binging
Replies
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Track it. All of it. It's easy to hide it from yourself if you don't log it. How about making a lunch that doesn't require refrigeration? Bring your own snacks? A huge water bottle? It's hard to avoid temptation, but if you can find substitutes or ways to avoid being confronted with it it might be easier.
^^
This!0 -
I'm a severe emotional binge eater and feel your pain. I'm treating my mental health in addition to putting off wanting to eat when I know I'm not hungry. (Ill eatin in 20 min, then ill eat in 30 min) When i know Im really hungry. I also make healthy swaps.
I still binge but its getting better as I work out my emotional issues.
Make time or eat to an early grave is what I told myself.0 -
Unfortunately I work 55 hours a week, so it's not possible to attend any sort of meeting.
make time
QFT
If you really want to find a way, you will. You can either make the decision to stop shoving food in your mouth when your not hungry or admit you might have a problem and need help and find a way to fix it.
Time may be scarce but you shot down that idea without even looking into the program and seeing if there is a time slot you can make. The majority of us have jobs, kids, or both...but making time for what is going to end up helping you is worth the effort.
Posting on an internet forum might help for about 3 seconds, but if you shoot down the sound advice with excuses, then you're not really ready to do what it takes to make it happen.
Ok, fine. I'll play. The ONE meeting in my area in a time and day that I can attend is 15 miles away. I'm aware of OA and I have read all about OA. I am not a religious person and I do not need to find god. I do not need to be preached to. I shot it down without going any further because I didn't want to offend people. Obviously I have not been afforded that same courtesy here.
Actually I attended an OA meeting with my dad once. It's not religious. They mention God, yes, but you can take and choose which bits work for you. It IS very spiritual, but not necessarily religious. OA also offers phone meetings, and meetings over the weekends.
Disclaimer: OA didn't work for me. I'm searching for a disordered eating support group.0 -
Planning.
You've built a habit and now you have to replace it with another habit!
I used to binge at least 3 nights a week. I'd have a reasonable day,and then after the family was tucked in I'd forage around the house and undo everything...the a.m. workout, the afternoon salad, the reasonable dinner.
Then, I'd go to bed just hating myself.
So what helped me:
I made planned snacks for myself and I put them in single portion sized containers. I could have the planned snack at the table, wash up, brush my teeth and then that was it. Nothing else afterwards.
It took about a month before I had to stop using willpower to get this done. But, now it is a habit.
Just figure out what you can do instead of eating the "bad" foods. Set yourself a goal of doing it daily for a week and then give yourself a nonfood treat when you succeed.
You can do this!0 -
Also, looking back on the other posts:
There is a spin off of OA called Food Addicts Anonymous which does on-line and phone conference meetings.
BTW, you sound like an intelligent, disciplined woman..have some faith in yourself and you can do this.0 -
I haven't read all the replies, but sounds like you definitely have a carb addiction. Going thru a carb detox cold turkey might be the best thing for you to break that cycle. South Beach Phase 1 is a very good 2-week phase that works for a lot of people. If you can't have snacks in moderation, which apparently you can't right now, then cutting all starchy carbs and sugar out of your diet for 2 weeks may work for you. It sounds drastic, but it is only 2 weeks, then you can slowly start adding some fruit and whole grains back in if you want to.
For me, I felt so much better without the grains, that I kept them out of my diet 95% of the time.0 -
Also, looking back on the other posts:
There is a spin off of OA called Food Addicts Anonymous which does on-line and phone conference meetings.
BTW, you sound like an intelligent, disciplined woman..have some faith in yourself and you can do this.0 -
wow. you come here looking for help. a few people suggest OA meetings, telling you to make time (because it's worth it and can actually help you) and you come off all snooty and on the defensive saying how you work 55 hours a week and don't need to be preached to and don't believe in god.
you know, don't ask me tips on how to play soccer, but neglect to tell me you only have one leg.
fine, you don't want to be preached to. i get that.... wait, no i don't. you need to be 'preached to' to overcome your problem. in AA they have a 90 meetings in 90 days rules for newbies, in the hopes that it sinks in. you obviously can't make it due to your job (which we were somehow supposed to just know???). but this is just like the people who bash crossfit without ever having tried a class.
make it to a meeting once. just go. do it. in fact, go to two meetings so you can really really get a good evaluation of the thing. the closest one is 15 miles?? HOLY EFFING SQUIRRL BALLS is that really far away for you?? or are you just making another excuse not to get yourself better? just like the free snacks in the kitchen, and the whole "i sit down for work 8 hour days."
How is saying that I work a lot of hours coming off as snooty? Someone made a suggestion and I shared how it wouldn't work for me and I said "unfortunately I work 55 hours a week." Are you offended that I have an amazing job and am a workaholic? Or are you mistaking my getting pissed at people basically telling me that I'm lazy and being flat out rude when I asked for help?
I will probably never post in the forums again because of this post, the first topic I've created, getting so many *****y responses. I came here because I was under the impression that this was going to be a helpful, safe place, but clearly I was very wrong and I won't make this mistake again.
Girl! IGNORE ALL THOSE NEGATIVE PEOPLE!! Everyone has their own opinions and you don't have to acknowledge or listen to any of the ones you don't agree with!! (This is a free forum on the internet, after all, so you never know what you are gonna get.) There are plenty of nice, supportive people on MFP so don't let one bad apple spoil the bunch. (Please message or friend me or both!)
That being said, I want to say to you: KEEP TRYING!! You will have setbacks now and then but if you stick with it, you can turn those setbacks into SUCCESS!! Just the simple fact that you know you need to change is a huge step in the right direction.
While I've never struggled with serious binge eating, I've certainly struggled with eating all my life because I love food and cooking. That makes losing weight really difficult! I can also identify with changing to a desk job from an active job in a restaurant and putting on weight as a result. I've only recently had some success by FINDING A BALANCE between the healthy food that I need to eat while still allowing myself to have the little treats that make dieting not suck.
I agree with some of the suggestions people have made: Track it before you eat it. Set small goals for yourself and reward yourself (not with food) for reaching them. Get a friend or coworker involved with similar goals. Write in a journal. Go to meetings. Talk to someone (anyone!) about your struggles and feelings. If those things don't work then try something else. TRY EVERYTHING until you find what it is that WORKS FOR YOU! Remember, even small steps can lead to big changes.
YOU CAN DO IT!! DON'T BELIEVE FOR ONE MINUTE THAT YOU CAN'T!!
I want to address the rude person who wrote the above comment @ Capt_Apollo: You should be ashamed of yourself for bringing your JUDGEMENT and HATEFULNESS into this place that is supposed to be a supportive environment. Didn't your mama teach you that if you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all?0 -
This will probably get lost... but...
I have a similar binging problem - eating until I have the stomach aches from hell. I've not only done this with junk, but with fruits and veggies. I've even done it with water.
What's happening is that your body is used to eating! It's been trained to be an eating machine.
That's why I don't buy junk food anymore! The most junk I have at home is stuff I've baked.
I gained back all of the weight I lost after I started babysitting for a family (junk food heaven), and while they were on vacation and I was in my OWN home was able to lose 10 pounds.
After rearranging their pantry (stuck junk food up high), I'm managing to continue eating healthy (with a few bumps). I bring soup, salad, oatmeal and fruit with me now. And I drink lots of tea. Lots.
I've also been "logging"/planning my food at the beginning of the day, as well as how much I plan to exercise, which is helping keep me on track because I can just pull up the app on my phone and SEE what I can have and what I've already had!
You sound like you have an obsessive personality... focus on planning!!
Feel free to add me as a friend too0 -
Unfortunately I work 55 hours a week, so it's not possible to attend any sort of meeting.
make time
QFT
If you really want to find a way, you will. You can either make the decision to stop shoving food in your mouth when your not hungry or admit you might have a problem and need help and find a way to fix it.
Time may be scarce but you shot down that idea without even looking into the program and seeing if there is a time slot you can make. The majority of us have jobs, kids, or both...but making time for what is going to end up helping you is worth the effort.
Posting on an internet forum might help for about 3 seconds, but if you shoot down the sound advice with excuses, then you're not really ready to do what it takes to make it happen.
Ok, fine. I'll play. The ONE meeting in my area in a time and day that I can attend is 15 miles away. I'm aware of OA and I have read all about OA. I am not a religious person and I do not need to find god. I do not need to be preached to. I shot it down without going any further because I didn't want to offend people. Obviously I have not been afforded that same courtesy here.
Hun, I have to tell you, if you post something on a forum you are going to get answers you don't agree with. I have not seen any comments here that are out of line. It seems that people are honestly trying to give you real suggestions. It also seems that you are not open to many of them which in and of itself is a major road block you are putting up for yourself. If you are not wiling to listen to advice, you are not ready.
If you really are ready to work on yourself and listen to people who have conquered this addiction (and it is an addiction - don't let people tell you that it is EASY to stop doing what you are doing, its not) than good for you girl. I have a problem with binge eating also. I work a desk job 9-5 and I have two kids who I have to pick up from day care and come home to make dinner and do homework and do bath time, etc. Do not let "I don't have time" be an excuse, if you really want it you will make time. If I can do this, YOU can do this. You should do as much research as you can on your own, that is what I did. See what works for YOU. Not for anyone else. For me, I had to find out what my triggers were. What was I feeling right before I wanted to pig out. This will be a great start for you. Most of the time binging has to do with some emotion that you are trying to cover up by getting a high from all the foods you are eating. However, you take it to the extreme, which is the problem. Once you identify the feelings you are getting that make you want to get up and stuff food in your mouth, you can work on addressing those feelings by other methods instead of stuffing your face. For me, it was stress and anger. I would be at work and get pissed off at something and go straight to the kitchen. Once I realized this, I was able to make a different choice and I didn't feel the need to go to the kitchen any more. I wrote a blog, "confessions of a binge eater". If you do a search on here you could probably find it. There are also many binge eating groups that may be of help to you. There are lots of resources, you just have to be open and willing to try. Best of luck to you!!0 -
I know exactly what you mean this exact thing happened to me when I got my new job last year!!! I gained all my weight back and then some!! ugh it was horrible.
What I do now is bring lots of healthy snacks to my desk (oranges, apples, grapes, celery - bring piles of fruit and veggies to snack on through the day! Low cal and SO good for you!) so that I dont get tempted by the free fattening food in the kitchen. And when there is something in the kitchen that I really feel like I want - I let myself have one small serving. If you try to cut off completely you'll end up binging when you give in. I allow myself treats because then they become less special - they're not as tempting because they're not forbidden!! Once you have that small serving, you may realize that the cup of blueberries or baby carrots at your desk are more satisfying anyways!
Another thing is going for walks on your break. Take the stairs or walk through the halls, walk around outside the building - whatever works. If you have an office and you can close the door, do squats and lunges. Keeps your blood flowing and your appetite at bay. Also keeps you from eating because you're bored!
Thats what worked for me0 -
I'm taking this from a thread that was posted a while back...
Enduring chemotherapy is hard.
Hitting a fast ball in the major leagues in hard.
Negotiating nuclear disarmament from a hostile nation is hard.
Saying goodbye to a loved one in the hospital or the veterinarian’s office for the last time is hard.
Putting down the fork and telling yourself to stop eating is not hard. Mind over matter. If you want to lose weight and make a change, then will it to happen and be accountable. Make the change
(Most of the time) Binge eating is an ED and has to do with mental/emotional struggles and imbalances. Just like it's ignorant to tell someone with anorexia to just stop and eat, it's not always easy for someone to control their overeating.
To the OP: I'm really sorry don't really have advice (partly because I've been dealing with a binge eating disorder coupled with obsessive-compulsive behaviors, depression, and anxiety for years), but if you want, feel free to add me or PM me anytime.0 -
I have a VERY addictive personality and I've had to train myself to recognize addictive impulses vs. actual hunger. I honestly cannot go near any sort of salty/crunchy foods without going into a binge right now, so I have to avoid it. If I worked at your office, I'd be binging too. I would talk to whoever orders that food and maybe initiate a changeover to a healthier office environment.0
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Do you have a tablet or something you can download the Kindle app on? I received a book from Amazon but I am sure you could find a hard copy somewhere, too. The book is called Skinny Thinking. It was free at the time so I thought I would humor it. This book has helped me more than anything I have tried with curbing my binging. I still do occasionally but not as often or as much. Some of the steps I already do such as eating healthy and exercise and I knew what my problem was but didn't know how to stop it.
I have been slowly losing and my clothes even felt loose after one week. I strongly suggest you give the book a try. I believe its fairly cheap if its no longer free. It gives you great steps and tools and works more on the mental part of over eating.0 -
OA is a spiritual program..........not a religious one.
No one is going to force you to find God.
Everyone at meeting is or has been exactly where you are.
The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop eating compulsively.
I looked on the OA website and from their 12 steps, it sounds like they expect you to call on the Christian god.
The Twelve Steps of Overeaters Anonymous
We admitted we were powerless over food — that our lives had become unmanageable.
Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.
Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
Admitted to God, to ourselves and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.
Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.
Made a list of all persons we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all.
Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong, promptly admitted it.
Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.
Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these Steps, we tried to carry this message to compulsive overeaters and to practice these principles in all our affairs.0 -
OA is a spiritual program..........not a religious one.
No one is going to force you to find God.
Everyone at meeting is or has been exactly where you are.
The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop eating compulsively.
I looked on the OA website and from their 12 steps, it sounds like they expect you to call on the Christian god.
The Twelve Steps of Overeaters Anonymous
We admitted we were powerless over food — that our lives had become unmanageable.
Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.
Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
Admitted to God, to ourselves and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.
Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.
Made a list of all persons we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all.
Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong, promptly admitted it.
Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.
Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these Steps, we tried to carry this message to compulsive overeaters and to practice these principles in all our affairs.0 -
Have you heard of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy? The original founder's daughter Dr. Beck has a diet called The Beck Diet which helps you change the way you think about food/your relationship to food.
There is a book and a workbook you can follow along in your own time (since you're busy) to fundamentally change the way you see yourself- as being helpless to food, needing to eat that food, etc.
I feel for you. The kitchen at my work last year had so many baked goods and leftover lunches. I beat myself up so much for eating unplanned meals and feeling out of control. Best of luck.
^ This is the best advice if you cannot afford/ have time for professional help.0 -
Its sounds to me like you're not ready for change and are very resistant to changing your lifestyle. Many people go through years of this resistance before they feel they are ready.
.....
Avoidance will not make this better, I apologise if this is confronting but its the truth.
Love yourself enough to create a better life.
*source* Im a qualified counsellor and finished two years of study on people who are resistant to change.
This is excellent advice. In the last few years I've stopped biting my nails, stopped smoking, and I'm in the process of losing weight right now.
I've only ever been successful when I felt I was truly ready to change.
This. When every ounce of your being is dedicated to making a change, change is easy.
This is why whenever I see a thread, somebody looking for attention ready to give up, I tell them to go ahead and do it, they are not yet ready to be successful if failure is an option.
Remember that the vast majority of advice is a case of the blind leading the blind. 9/10 people will never reach their goals and 19/20 will not keep it off. Unfortuantely that 1 in 20 doesn't have too welcoming of advice usually because they aren't he enablers that the rest are.0 -
I know my post is buried on page 6, but I did have to chime in either way.
You do seem to make a lot of excuses, and believe me, I know how to identify them. I did it too. "I'm just big boned", "I'll just eat this and work out later", etc. etc .
I was a compulsive eater. Unlike a lot of people, I suffer from OCD and that used to be a side effect. Once I got that into check, I was able to "put the fork down" so to speak and move on.
Trust me, I was 100 pounds overweight and now I'm only 30 pounds away from goal weight. It can happen. I stumbled in the beginning, but what helped was getting into the mindset of how much that food really helped/deterred me. Are those Cheez-its really worth the guilt you feel after eating them? Is that slushy really going to satisfy you like losing a pound will? Once you commit to losing weight, you can do it. It's just getting to that point that is difficult.
Feel free to add me, or anyone else who struggles with that issue. Isn't that the point of these forums? To help each other?0 -
Consider changing WHAT you eat. No kidding. Binge eating disorder (or any shade of uncontrolled eating) is a real PHYSICAL issue, not merely psychological. Loading up on highly processed, high carb foods deplete micronutrients in the body and even though you are eating "too much" you may still be malnourished. When the body is malnourished, it says EAT, EAT, EAT.
The only thing that resolved binge eating disorder, and cured a bunch of other health problems, is changing WHAT I eat. Not therapy, not willpower, not moderation, not "low fat" dieting, not the 12 steps of Overeaters Anonymous, and certainly not medications.
But if you are sure that it's all just calories in and calories out, as you will undoubtedly be told by most people on MFP, then use your "willpower" and keep enjoying all things in "moderation". Good luck.
^^^^This is totally true.^^^^ A well-nourished body does not constantly urge eating, eating, eating--and especially NOT eating until nauseated. Once I started nourishing my body properly, all the cravings and urges to eat more than I should were gone. Now, some days, I have trouble forcing myself to eat as many calories as MFP tells me I should.0 -
wow. you come here looking for help. a few people suggest OA meetings, telling you to make time (because it's worth it and can actually help you) and you come off all snooty and on the defensive saying how you work 55 hours a week and don't need to be preached to and don't believe in god.
you know, don't ask me tips on how to play soccer, but neglect to tell me you only have one leg.
fine, you don't want to be preached to. i get that.... wait, no i don't. you need to be 'preached to' to overcome your problem. in AA they have a 90 meetings in 90 days rules for newbies, in the hopes that it sinks in. you obviously can't make it due to your job (which we were somehow supposed to just know???). but this is just like the people who bash crossfit without ever having tried a class.
make it to a meeting once. just go. do it. in fact, go to two meetings so you can really really get a good evaluation of the thing. the closest one is 15 miles?? HOLY EFFING SQUIRRL BALLS is that really far away for you?? or are you just making another excuse not to get yourself better? just like the free snacks in the kitchen, and the whole "i sit down for work 8 hour days."
How is saying that I work a lot of hours coming off as snooty? Someone made a suggestion and I shared how it wouldn't work for me and I said "unfortunately I work 55 hours a week." Are you offended that I have an amazing job and am a workaholic? Or are you mistaking my getting pissed at people basically telling me that I'm lazy and being flat out rude when I asked for help?
I will probably never post in the forums again because of this post, the first topic I've created, getting so many *****y responses. I came here because I was under the impression that this was going to be a helpful, safe place, but clearly I was very wrong and I won't make this mistake again.
Girl! IGNORE ALL THOSE NEGATIVE PEOPLE!! Everyone has their own opinions and you don't have to acknowledge or listen to any of the ones you don't agree with!! (This is a free forum on the internet, after all, so you never know what you are gonna get.) There are plenty of nice, supportive people on MFP so don't let one bad apple spoil the bunch. (Please message or friend me or both!)
That being said, I want to say to you: KEEP TRYING!! You will have setbacks now and then but if you stick with it, you can turn those setbacks into SUCCESS!! Just the simple fact that you know you need to change is a huge step in the right direction.
While I've never struggled with serious binge eating, I've certainly struggled with eating all my life because I love food and cooking. That makes losing weight really difficult! I can also identify with changing to a desk job from an active job in a restaurant and putting on weight as a result. I've only recently had some success by FINDING A BALANCE between the healthy food that I need to eat while still allowing myself to have the little treats that make dieting not suck.
I agree with some of the suggestions people have made: Track it before you eat it. Set small goals for yourself and reward yourself (not with food) for reaching them. Get a friend or coworker involved with similar goals. Write in a journal. Go to meetings. Talk to someone (anyone!) about your struggles and feelings. If those things don't work then try something else. TRY EVERYTHING until you find what it is that WORKS FOR YOU! Remember, even small steps can lead to big changes.
YOU CAN DO IT!! DON'T BELIEVE FOR ONE MINUTE THAT YOU CAN'T!!
I want to address the rude person who wrote the above comment @ Capt_Apollo: You should be ashamed of yourself for bringing your JUDGEMENT and HATEFULNESS into this place that is supposed to be a supportive environment. Didn't your mama teach you that if you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all?
Capt. Apollo did not say anything that one could find fault with. He wasn't being hateful at all, he was being realistic. I't hard to "support" somebody who finds excuses to torpedo every suggestion.0 -
I disagree with the idea of eating replacement snacks - all it does is change what kind of items you are binging on, you need to do something to gain control of the behavior, not find a way around it.
It is very hard to change your ways if eating lots of carbs. The willpower is useless when you have addiction.
It is easier to overcome addiction for food gradually, by replacing snacks by healthier snacks, and then perhaps droping it alltogether.0 -
Fruit and water at your desk will help, gum too!
Seriously. You need to start drinking water instead of slushies. And just have the mentality that although it is "free", it is costing you your weight loss AND your happiness with yourself. Which would you rather have: that cup of cheez-its? Or another pound lost?
Also, maybe ask your boss since he's open to providing free snacks if he would consider having things like, string cheese, oat bars, etc...
Bring your own snacks so if you want a bit to eat, you have a healthier choice with you.0 -
HOLY EFFING SQUIRREL BALLS
Hahaha. Win.
Posting on a forum and getting offended by the responses indicates to me that you might not be ready to take the actions that are required to overcome addiction. The programs and support will there when you are ready. Good luck.0 -
I'm taking this from a thread that was posted a while back...
Enduring chemotherapy is hard.
Hitting a fast ball in the major leagues in hard.
Negotiating nuclear disarmament from a hostile nation is hard.
Saying goodbye to a loved one in the hospital or the veterinarian’s office for the last time is hard.
Putting down the fork and telling yourself to stop eating is not hard. Mind over matter. If you want to lose weight and make a change, then will it to happen and be accountable. Make the change
(Most of the time) Binge eating is an ED and has to do with mental/emotional struggles and imbalances. Just like it's ignorant to tell someone with anorexia to just stop and eat, it's not always easy for someone to control their overeating.
To the OP: I'm really sorry don't really have advice (partly because I've been dealing with a binge eating disorder coupled with depression and anxiety for years), but if you want, feel free to add me or PM me anytime.
I hope that the OP goes back and reads my post on page 5. My binge eating disorder, borderline personality, severe bipolar, anxiety, chronic pain/fatigue, sleep disorders, PTSD etc etc was always treated as "mental/emotional" disorders all of my life. Yes I had a tough childhood, blah, blah, blah. I was treated with various forms of therapy, drugs, went to OA etc etc. While I completely agree with the above that the above disorders have nothing to do with "control" and willpower, I disagree that these are ONLY mental/emotional. The brain is part of the body and it is very much affected by malnutrition.
These are REAL PHYSICAL illnesses and they can be treated by changing WHAT you eat. There really is hope! Please don't be afraid to look at my diary or send me an email. However, you do have to WANT to get better, and that can be the hardest part.
There's some really bad advice in this thread (fill up on water, fruit, chew gum, eat low calorie/low fat/high volume etc etc), please please please look beyond what you see here and really learn about your illness and the dietary treatments for it. Your doctor won't tell you the truth, the diet industry won't tell you the truth, but there are a few health professionals that ARE telling the truth and have published information that CAN cure you. I'm speaking 100% from experience with binge eating disorder, and many other diseases.0 -
I'm taking this from a thread that was posted a while back...
Enduring chemotherapy is hard.
Hitting a fast ball in the major leagues in hard.
Negotiating nuclear disarmament from a hostile nation is hard.
Saying goodbye to a loved one in the hospital or the veterinarian’s office for the last time is hard.
Putting down the fork and telling yourself to stop eating is not hard. Mind over matter. If you want to lose weight and make a change, then will it to happen and be accountable. Make the change
(Most of the time) Binge eating is an ED and has to do with mental/emotional struggles and imbalances. Just like it's ignorant to tell someone with anorexia to just stop and eat, it's not always easy for someone to control their overeating.
To the OP: I'm really sorry don't really have advice (partly because I've been dealing with a binge eating disorder coupled with depression and anxiety for years), but if you want, feel free to add me or PM me anytime.
I hope that the OP goes back and reads my post on page 5. My binge eating disorder, borderline personality, severe bipolar, anxiety, chronic pain/fatigue, sleep disorders, PTSD etc etc was always treated as "mental/emotional" disorders all of my life. Yes I had a tough childhood, blah, blah, blah. I was treated with various forms of therapy, drugs, went to OA etc etc. While I completely agree with the above that the above disorders have nothing to do with "control" and willpower, I disagree that these are ONLY mental/emotional. The brain is part of the body and it is very much affected by malnutrition.
These are REAL PHYSICAL illnesses and they can be treated by changing WHAT you eat. There really is hope! Please don't be afraid to look at my diary or send me an email. However, you do have to WANT to get better, and that can be the hardest part.
There's some really bad advice in this thread (fill up on water, fruit, chew gum, eat low calorie/low fat/high volume etc etc), please please please look beyond what you see here and really learn about your illness and the dietary treatments for it. Your doctor won't tell you the truth, the diet industry won't tell you the truth, but there are a few health professionals that ARE telling the truth and have published information that CAN cure you. I'm speaking 100% from experience with binge eating disorder, and many other diseases.Your doctor won't tell you the truth, the diet industry won't tell you the truth, but there are a few health professionals that ARE telling the truth and have published information that CAN cure you
^There's some really bad advice in this thread
Lol0 -
I'm taking this from a thread that was posted a while back...
Enduring chemotherapy is hard.
Hitting a fast ball in the major leagues in hard.
Negotiating nuclear disarmament from a hostile nation is hard.
Saying goodbye to a loved one in the hospital or the veterinarian’s office for the last time is hard.
Putting down the fork and telling yourself to stop eating is not hard. Mind over matter. If you want to lose weight and make a change, then will it to happen and be accountable. Make the change
(Most of the time) Binge eating is an ED and has to do with mental/emotional struggles and imbalances. Just like it's ignorant to tell someone with anorexia to just stop and eat, it's not always easy for someone to control their overeating.
To the OP: I'm really sorry don't really have advice (partly because I've been dealing with a binge eating disorder coupled with depression and anxiety for years), but if you want, feel free to add me or PM me anytime.
I hope that the OP goes back and reads my post on page 5. My binge eating disorder, borderline personality, severe bipolar, anxiety, chronic pain/fatigue, sleep disorders, PTSD etc etc was always treated as "mental/emotional" disorders all of my life. Yes I had a tough childhood, blah, blah, blah. I was treated with various forms of therapy, drugs, went to OA etc etc. While I completely agree with the above that the above disorders have nothing to do with "control" and willpower, I disagree that these are ONLY mental/emotional. The brain is part of the body and it is very much affected by malnutrition.
These are REAL PHYSICAL illnesses and they can be treated by changing WHAT you eat. There really is hope! Please don't be afraid to look at my diary or send me an email. However, you do have to WANT to get better, and that can be the hardest part.
There's some really bad advice in this thread (fill up on water, fruit, chew gum, eat low calorie/low fat/high volume etc etc), please please please look beyond what you see here and really learn about your illness and the dietary treatments for it. Your doctor won't tell you the truth, the diet industry won't tell you the truth, but there are a few health professionals that ARE telling the truth and have published information that CAN cure you. I'm speaking 100% from experience with binge eating disorder, and many other diseases.0 -
Honestly I have an emotional eating problem or when i get bored i EAT! And i tend to have those snacks in the house that i shouldnt because i have three small children. I have started going to the next day on my food diary and logging what i Think i should eat the next day. When i do this i have allready planned ahead. and it is easier not to sabotage myself when i have what i am supposed to do right in my face in black and white. (PRINT OUT YOUR FOOD DIARY FOR THAT DAY) and seriously try to eat 6 small meals not three large meals and 12 snacks through out the day. Find you an insolated cooler to bring to work and make small baggies of raw stuff to bring to work along with six water bottles. When you eat Raw foods your stomach fills up faster. Buy portion sizes of peanut butter and cut up an apple. If its about necessity and accesibility then make the food at work not a necessity or accessible. just simple do not enter the break area. even if that means that you eat lunch out on the sidewalk. If the break room has a door ask if it can be closed so that you are not constantly seeing into that door. At night when i am at home i turn off every light in my kitchen and even have a childs lock on my pantry so that when i am tempted and i have to look at that lock all i can think about is I DO NOT NEED THIS. Its about changing your LIFESTYLE not your Diet. Diets come and Go but being commited to a Lifestyle is what is all about. If you want to talk or chat just message me!0
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I had replied to this thread in the beginning because I was trying to be supportive and give healthy advice from my heart which understands the pain of being addicted to something and/or out of control but I did not receive a friend request from the OP after I offered to stand by and help and motivate so maybe it was taken as offensive?
The thing the a lot of people forget is that my universe is different from your universe is different from his and hers and the grand puba's. The worst emotional wreck of a day I've ever had is much worse than some people's and comes nowhere near to others'. I have attended all kinds of support groups from "centers" to forums like this (yes - MFP is a support group) and OP your problem is real, whether it's mental, emotional, physical it doesn't matter, it is real to you and although not everyone here will understand exactly what you're going through because we all have different color glasses, the majority of people are truly just trying to offer the best advice that they have from their experience. The quest for relief is a hard one but there are many different paths to solutions, be open-minded, add people who understand your pain, and stick it out. It is SO worth it honey. :flowerforyou:
I love motivational quotes and keep them all over my desk at work:
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i didn't read all of the comments, but i did read through a lot and i only saw one person mention talking to someone at your work about getting some better snacks to replace the bad snacks. i agree that foods like that are a horrible idea for an office full of people who just sit all day for work. why not try talking to someone in HR and see if they can arrange for some healthier snacks? maybe even do an office health challenge!!! if not, i wholeheartedly agree with everyone who has said to bring your own snacks and just avoid the break room area. did you say that the bathroom was in that same area? surely there is a different bathroom you can use - maybe it's farther away, but that'll give you a chance to get up, stretch your legs, and get your blood flowing a little bit. bonus: you avoid the snack area. i've gotten to the point where i might have a cup of snacks or something, i look at it, feel guilty/full/disgusted with myself, and chuck it into my trashcan. boom. a small victory.
i sit/work in an office too and i have to plan a lot of meals and snacks in advance to keep me satisfied. before i decided to lose weight, i had a lot of excuses/reasons why i couldn't make it happen. then i just said "enough, i'm doing this" and i made time for the things that were important. i now get up at 5 AM to lift weights. i meal plan and grocery shop on the weekends. i log foods before i eat them to see what it will do to my macros. you can always delete something you haven't eaten yet!
right now is a great time for you to get control of this stuff. it sounds like you don't have kids or a spouse (yet) to take care of. my life is much busier now that i have a home and a husband to take care of . if you're unmarried and have no kids, you have a lot more freedom with your time. working 55 hrs/week may seem like a lot, but there are a lot of other hours in the week to do productive things. get up earlier to exercise. it's a great way to give yourself energy in the morning.
i truly hope that you are able to find solutions that work for you. the majority of the comments in this are great, helpful advice. you just have to decide whether or not you're going to stop having a defeatist attitude and start making some effort to make these changes in your life, instead of excuses. i don't mean to be rude. i can't personally relate to your situation, but i have seen tons of people on MFP who have changed their lives just by saying "i'm not going to live like this anymore - starting RIGHT NOW." you can totally do this!0
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