Binge-eating disorder recoveries?

I don't know that i have binge eating disorder but i can say i binge and it is hard. I am actually really hungry and especially at night. I have been seeing a doctor for this and he said the truth is that the heavier you are or if you are not getting enough sleep (I have sleep apnea) your body prodduces a hormone which causes you to be hungry. This week was hard I actually gained weight. So there are a few things I plan to do this week. I am going to schedule in a 15 min break in the morning and afternoon to take a walk -- it will help me move more and gives you energy. My goal is to exercise at least 20 min 7 days a week. I start low so i don't feel overwhelmed--most days i take an hour class but most days is not good enough and I am giong to ensure 8 hours of sleep and track everything to keep myself aware. i hope that helps, good luck to you. The one thing i have also stopped doing is beating myself up. if i mess up i accept it and move on. I also celebrate every single step in the correct direction.

Working on recovering. Definitely a challenge! Feel free to add me as a friend if you want some support, I'm happy to help in any way I can. You can also keep me accountable in my journey to lose weight and stop bingeing!

Hey! Do you have any suggestions of what to eat or what a day of food might look like? I used to struggle with anorexia turned binge-eating turned bulimia and now just trying to eat "normally" . Any tips are appreciated

I'm recovered from an ED that started with binge eating, going into EDNOS (periods of extreme restriction then bouts of bulimia), then just straight up bulimia. We're talking multiple binge purge sessions daily (often more than 10-15 times). I also have OCD, and a few other issues that can make life a bit interesting.

You mentioned anxiety. Anxiety and anger were the roots of my issue. I actually went to a day treatment program for borderline personality disorder-got some great new coping skills and was able to recover from my ED. It was a happy bonus actually.

Medications are trail and error, and yeah it can really really suck. I've been on a few that made me apathetic. I've been on a few that made me manic and sent me into the hospital. I've been on one that made my mind feel great but the physical side effects hurt so badly I cried several times a day. Another I was doped out of my mind and slept 16 hours a day and gained 30lbs very quickly (common with that medication). Now I'm not on anything daily, but I do have Ativan to help when the anxiety gets too bad (I still get panic attacks). But I focus on things that help me reduce my anxiety and do those instead of the urge to binge (or my other urges to self destruct). I do encourage you to try something else from a different family of drugs because they are all so different, especially if you can't seem to get level on your own. And medications don't have to be forever, they can be until you are able to cope better through other strategies.

It started out with memorizing mantras to repeat to myself out loud/in my head when I wanted to self destruct. Because often we can't think of those things when we are in the midst of it.

Also figuring out a list of common triggers so you know when it happens or you feel the urge you can go down that list mentally (or physically if you write it down) can help you fight the urge.

Then I came up with a list of distractions-one that worked for me was watching my favorite childhood movie (Beauty and the Beast) or South Park. Or going out and getting a cup of tea and going to visit the ducks. Other people hold onto ice cubes. Sometimes I clean, but I hate cleaning so I must really be out of options before that looks good to me. I've had some success with the 5-4-3-2-1 method too (http://www.chuckholton.com/54321.html)

A great thing that got me over the hump was writing down what is making me anxious one day a week-say take 10 minutes on a Tuesday morning. Then seal it away and don't look at it till the next Tuesday. Go over your list and cross out what you aren't worried about anymore, and add in what you are. It helps you to see that things don't stay static and worries do go away.

I find exercise helps me stay positive. Mediation does not work for me in the slightest. Find something that helps you get lost from your own thoughts for awhile. Somethings that work for others: painting, playing music, writing, reading, knitting. Some activity that you can get lost in when the urge to just eat takes over.

I also learned how to set manageable tasks, as I tended to always go for the big picture. Like right now I would have said "I want to loose 40lbs." A good goal, but it doesn't give me a plan. So I break it down. This week my goals are:
1. Log everything I eat Monday-Friday (and if I do it Saturday and Sunday go me)
2. Try to move outside for at least 30 minutes every day (Nov was a bad month mental health wise, and I ended up hermiting, not even going to the store, so now my goal is trying to get outside/at least exercise inside for some period of time)

I have another goal that's not weight loss specific so I don't fell overwhelmed by trying to get back into shape. I don't do more than 3 goals a week because that is manageable and I don't want to disappoint myself. A good way to keep yourself accountable is to also write the goals down and check in a week later. I don't do that anymore but it really helped make it a habit for me.

Can I say I'm perfect everyday, no. Bad days happen. Sometimes bad weeks happen. But I've learned that a bad day or a bad week doesn't mean I'm bad. It means I need to figure out what triggered it and find a way to get back on track. I'm actually in the process of doing that now (anxiety/depression got me off kilter).

My case manager at treatment had a sign in her office that I like to think about when I get down on something I did in the past, or didn't do "Don't judge me by my past-I don't live there anymore." It really helps me to think of that when I start to dwell on mistakes/bad choices I've made. I keep thinking I should print off the saying and hang it on my fridge or the bathroom mirror.

If you (or anyone) wants to talk some more about this feel free to friend me. I'm not perfect, but my friends/family can tell you I'm like a new person from who I was before.

Thanks so much for sharing everyone. It has been so good to go through and read all the posts. I am just now realizing after years of constantly beating myself up that I have BED. I am too shy and embarrassed to even talk to a doctor or therapist about it right now. I have been visiting many threads on the site trying to meet more people and hear more stories of successful recoveries. I especially love seeing so many people that are winning and have lost weight despite having this disorder. It is so reassuring to read everyone's stories only to realize that I am not alone. I feel like I have been "talking the talk" for the last 8-9 years and then sneaking off to binge whenever I can. Being "real" is a truly scary, but, freeing experience.

Anyhow, I just wanted to say thanks. For someone new to this whole journey you all are inspirations.

Check out Overeaters Anonymous. They have binge eaters, bulimics, etc.

There are some great podcasts online. Especially the Las Angels group. Listen to them and check out a meeting nearby, or an online meeting.

No one will try to sell you anything, they just collect donations but if you are short on funds, you can still go.