I feel out of control

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ably65
ably65 Posts: 41
in Health and Weight Loss
This hasn't happened to me in years and I feel completely out of control. I've been eating compulsively for 4 days. Stuffing myself with carbs. Each morning I have started out saying. "Ok, it's over". I start out on track and then I just spin out of control. It is healthy stuff (mostly) but I'm just being compulsive. I came back from my hour and a half workout and drank 4 glasses of grapefruit juice. Then I heated up some TJ's pork dump.ings. Then I ate a protien bar. Then I made rice and two poached eggs. Then I felt as if I had to have cookies. I didn't have any in the house so I was trying to resist but I felt compelled to get cookies so I told myself I had to go to the store for dog food. I also got cookies and just ate 700 calories of them.

I feel gross and out of control. When I was a teenager I had an eating disorder. I would starve myself (150 calories a day) and then I would binge on the weekend. I was very very thin and around 108 pounds when I was 16 (I'm 5'7) I always had a weird relationship with food but I maintained a weight of about 135 from when I was about 20 until I was 40. Then I had a trauma and I gained 70 pounds. If lost 35 of those pounds but I've been stuck for a while. This all started when I decided to go gluten free. It was like the very thought of restricting myself further.

Can anybody tell me about successful tratments for psychological issues with food? I think I need to get to the bottom of this

Replies

  • herblackwings39
    herblackwings39 Posts: 3,930 Member
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    You should find a therapist in your area. Talking to someone trained to deal with ED and recovery might help.

    Aside from that my only suggestion is attached to a question: Are you allergic to gluten? Celiacs? If no to those, stop restricting it. If this started when you began restricting it might be a good idea to try getting back to normal.
  • ably65
    ably65 Posts: 41
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    Thank you for responding. I do have a mild allergy to gluten. The binging started when I made the decision to stop gluten. It is defiantly psychological.
  • bridgew24
    bridgew24 Posts: 143 Member
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    I have also had issues with food. It is true what they say 'eat less crap, and you want less crap!' But knowing that doesn't stop the urge when you randomly crave a giant bag of Cheetos (my binge food!). I also love to bake. Try figuring out some healthier alternatives? I was craving chocolate yesterday so I made a much healthier version of rumballs and added nuts, sultanas, etc. That killed my chocolate craving without having to feel super guilty! Also making sure I eat a pretty large and healthy breakfast has helped me a lot with not craving snacks throughout the day (generally I have a bowl of greek yoghurt with frozen blueberries, wheat germ and honey as well as fresh juice and cereal of some sort).
    I had a friend who made herself eat an apple and drink a glass of water everytime she thought she was hungry randomly, it had results for her! Sometimes your brain just gets the urge to chew / taste I guess. haha
    These suggestions are just in addition to professional help as suggested, I managed to sort out my own food issues (I would only binge on junk or nothing at all) but seeing a psychologist about it probably would've been quicker!
  • gigglesinthesun
    gigglesinthesun Posts: 860 Member
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    I apparently can't digest meat properly thus I needed to cut it out. I resisted for some time, because I love it, but eventually I was so ill that I just kept vomiting. I then went through a phase when I would not eat it for a few days and then I would just binge on chicken or whatever else the kids and husband were having. I just couldn't control myself at all. Looking over my food diary I realised that the binges actually happened when I didn't eat enough cals (apparently I can't just live on salad) or regularly for 2 or so days. However I also realised that I could head things off I just ate one or two 25 gr pieces of cheese. If it gets too bad I can also have some tinned tuna, because I have less trouble digesting that. Since implementing this I fell of the wagon only once and paid for it for 3 days and it confirmed that it is really not a good idea.

    My suggestion would be to see when, where and what you are craving. Perhaps you need to actually eat something before your workout. I don't know what sort of carbs you are stuffing yourself with, but maybe you could see whether some carbs work better at keeping the binges away then others.
  • JenBot
    JenBot Posts: 18 Member
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    I do the same thing and don't know why. I'll come home from work and binge! One unhealthy food right after the next until I feel sick and I keep going after that. It's frustrating!!
  • mwooderson
    mwooderson Posts: 254 Member
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    I do the same thing and don't know why. I'll come home from work and binge! One unhealthy food right after the next until I feel sick and I keep going after that. It's frustrating!!

    Ditto!!!!!
  • Ignaura
    Ignaura Posts: 203 Member
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    Find a good therapist. Having a good and healthy relationship with food can be hard, even more you have had ED in the past. Maybe you should try seeing a professional and find out the best way to get back in control.
  • mulecanter
    mulecanter Posts: 1,792 Member
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    I think I need to get to the bottom of this

    You KNOW you have some issues, time to get some help. Stop "dieting" and get to the root cause of your troubles. It's like having a sliver and not taking it out.
  • ajlandon
    ajlandon Posts: 115 Member
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    I know, I know, broken record and whatnot, but seriously, see if you can get into see an eating disorder specialist. I developed binge eating disorder after going through cycles of extreme caloric restriction and "eating disorder not otherwise specified." I basically did what you are describing nearly every day for months before getting help. :( Perhaps you can nip it in the bud?
  • FindingAmy77
    FindingAmy77 Posts: 1,266 Member
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    I don't know about the psychological part but it sounds to me like you need a kitchen makeover. Get the empty calories out of your kitchen. Instead of rice with eggs, have some already chopped up vegies and make a little stir fry/skillet to eat with the egg. Instead of cookies, why not try to make a cake that is so easy: one cake mix and one can of sodapop/ preferably diet. No oil or eggs needed. Then when its done, cut into 10 pieces and individually wrap them in seran or foil. Its so good and low cal. Get rid of the protein bars and have some greek yogurt. Drink lots of water throughout the day. IF you feel the need for cookies, why not get yourself some animal crackers or gram crackers? or just get some cookies you don't like as much or the small packs that is for individual use. Try not to let yourself get too hungry in the day. Eat every two to three hours/split up your caloric intake into lots of small meals and snacks. IT takes lots of little changes to get to our ultimate goals. Is it the pms time? That would explain your carb cravings. Try sugar free jello with sugar free whip topping on it. ITs yummy and has some carbs.

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