Another Monday...Another Binge...I Need Help

lovesdaisies · July 2008

I need help. Serious help. I can't stop eating. Does anyone have any recommendations for any professionals who could get me to eat like a normal person? Not a particular person, but in general. A nutritionist? A food addiction specialist? A hypnotist? I've been working out with a trainer for the past 6 months or so, but he's not quite the person I'm looking for. I really need to sit down with someone and sort out the reasons why I'm eating so much and sabotaging all of my hard work.

Short backstory - I lost 35 pounds on Weight Watchers three years ago. I went from approximately 144 to 109. I've since gained about 10 back. To be honest, I was only at 109 for a blink of an eye. My average low was about 112. I played with the same 5 pounds for about 3 years. Going from about 112 to 117 then back down again. Only recently did I tack on an extra five and I just can't stop myself from binging. Every morning I have the best of intentions. I eat great throughout the day until evening and then...I BLOW IT. I work from 3 to 10pm each day so not eating after work is a challenge. If I eat even a single thing when I come home from work, it's a major rampage through the house - eating everything in sight - until I'm so down I go to bed hating myself. Then I wake up remembering what I ate the night before.

I have no gray area. Only black and white. I can't simply eat a piece of cake and leave it at that. If I eat ONE piece of cake my mind says, "Oh well...I've blown it already...I may as well have some chips...and candy...and dip...and ice cream..." And suddenly I'm binging my brains out.

Seriously, I've never said this out loud to anyone - I have a problem. I know that I'm not obese by any means, but if I keep eating the way I am, I'll be back up to my starting weight in no time. And there is no way I want to get back up there. I was so proud of my weight loss, and have felt so good about myself the past three years, I don't want to gain it back.

I also can't start a diet on a day that isn't Monday. And today I did great all day, but screwed up tonight. So in my screwed up mind, I can't simply get back on the horse tomorrow and start all over. I have to do it NEXT Monday. OCD anyone???

Does anyone have any advice? I'm at my wit's end.

Thanks for listening.

L

lovesdaisies · July 2008

I need help. Serious help. I can't stop eating. Does anyone have any recommendations for any professionals who could get me to eat like a normal person? Not a particular person, but in general. A nutritionist? A food addiction specialist? A hypnotist? I've been working out with a trainer for the past 6 months or so, but he's not quite the person I'm looking for. I really need to sit down with someone and sort out the reasons why I'm eating so much and sabotaging all of my hard work.

Short backstory - I lost 35 pounds on Weight Watchers three years ago. I went from approximately 144 to 109. I've since gained about 10 back. To be honest, I was only at 109 for a blink of an eye. My average low was about 112. I played with the same 5 pounds for about 3 years. Going from about 112 to 117 then back down again. Only recently did I tack on an extra five and I just can't stop myself from binging. Every morning I have the best of intentions. I eat great throughout the day until evening and then...I BLOW IT. I work from 3 to 10pm each day so not eating after work is a challenge. If I eat even a single thing when I come home from work, it's a major rampage through the house - eating everything in sight - until I'm so down I go to bed hating myself. Then I wake up remembering what I ate the night before.

I have no gray area. Only black and white. I can't simply eat a piece of cake and leave it at that. If I eat ONE piece of cake my mind says, "Oh well...I've blown it already...I may as well have some chips...and candy...and dip...and ice cream..." And suddenly I'm binging my brains out.

Seriously, I've never said this out loud to anyone - I have a problem. I know that I'm not obese by any means, but if I keep eating the way I am, I'll be back up to my starting weight in no time. And there is no way I want to get back up there. I was so proud of my weight loss, and have felt so good about myself the past three years, I don't want to gain it back.

I also can't start a diet on a day that isn't Monday. And today I did great all day, but screwed up tonight. So in my screwed up mind, I can't simply get back on the horse tomorrow and start all over. I have to do it NEXT Monday. OCD anyone???

Does anyone have any advice? I'm at my wit's end.

Thanks for listening.

L

liltwynkl1 · July 2008

i am by no means a professional or anything but a few tips that have helped me get out of my...eating everything fase has been.....

*not letting myself keep treats in the house.....if you want sweets go out and share 1 dessert with a friend
*keep lots and lots of fruits and veggies around so you can munch on those with out feeling so guilty
*maybe try eating a big breakfast.....this usually helps me eat less calories throughout the day

You could also try doing late workouts......thats what i do, then when i get home i go right to bed so that i don't have time to eat much.

And as for starting diets on mondays, think of everyday as a new start and a new begining......and if that doesn't work take it just one hour at a time. I hope this might help you out a bit! good luck and don't loose hope

lovesdaisies · July 2008

Thanks! I never keep treats in the house (when I binge, I end up binging on Weight Watchers ice cream bars, topped with Kashi and Fat Free Cool Whip and Light Lays...that sort of thing...but its binging nonetheless!). But when I'm at work I raid the vending machines. ORRRRRRRR I stop at Jack in the Box and get some curly fries on the way home.

Anyway, good idea about working out late. I have a gym at work that I belong to - I could work out when I get out. Breakfast is also a good idea. I NEVER eat breakfast. That might help.

Thanks. I'm so down. I need to get out of this funk. Your post is much appreciated.

L

tanzmamma · July 2008

I agree with all the tips from above.

I make sure I eat a little bit, often! I eat breakfast, snack, lunch, dinner, snack. That way I'm never "starving".

Also - I portion things out so that I cant sit with a whole bag of whatever. Ex: i buy cheddar chex mix...... the big bag... then I put 2/3 cup into those little snack ziplocs so that when I am in a"snacky" mood... I grab that ONE bag and a bottle fo water and I leave the kitchen lol.

I always work out at night too... sometimes i get it done at 7.. sometimes life is busy and i'm not done till like 9 or 10.

If you really feel like you should seek a professional's help to get to the root of the problem - I think that's a great idea. Some people eat because fo stress, because of emotions, because of missing something ELSE in their life. Some people just eat like that cuz they just flat out LOVE FOOD haha.

HUGS

bellmom627 · July 2008

The key is to eat when you're hungry, but eat the right things. Make portions of stuff and have them in the fridge - keep veggies and fruit everywhere - get snackable sizes of dried fruits and stash them in your purse and around the office. Make sure you are eating your meals. If you are really hungry at 3 PM, eat a little pick me up and start planning dinner. I always get hungry at 3 and have a cup of hot chocolate to make it through - it also eases up the grouchies I get around that time as well. Then I start planning dinner and looking forward to it and not wanting to spoil it.

skiski · July 2008

Hi Lovedasies,

big hugs to begin...I found that usinga journal alongside the food diary has really helped me identify triggers for binging, it also highlighted the times when i was most likely to do so i.e. after work, late evening...often we eat in this way as apossible response to stress, emotions, boredom or deprivation.

Are you eating regualry throughout the day? Sometimes being at work then eating when you get in can lead to a habitual pattern of eating to fill up, because when you are busy at work hunger is ignored as such! I use to skip breakfast as I do shift work andit lead to me raiding the cupboards as soon as Igot home. I have found that taking something woth me i.e. oat cakes, bran flakes and having them on my break has helped to regulate my appeite, reducing binging.

If you feel you need support with this then talk to your gp/doctor and ask for a referral to someone who can help you feel more in control.

Love skiski

Lowrider · July 2008

Been there, done that. Working later in the day and not eating during the day is deadly on your blood sugar. Add that to being tired that makes a person crave carbs and salt could be why those fast food signs on the way home are sooo tempting. I did shift work that had me home at any time during the day and night and for some reason I craved anything crunchy...chips, crackers, JUNK!. Finally broke the cycle by having a "picking" plate in the fridge when I got home. Before leaving I cut up veggies (50 cal)added a dill pickle for salt (5 cal), put fat free dip in cup (25 cal) on plate, 1 Tbls herb and garlic low fat cream cheese (30cal). Wrap it up and waiting in the fridge for you. Count out 12 rice crackers (90
cal) and put them in a baggy on the counter. This is 200 cal total and you can pick at it which will help get over the binge zone, feel full, guilt free and the the variety is very satisfying. Having this waiting for you at home may give you the strength to drive by those neon signs. Cheers.

ohthatbambi · July 2008

I need help. Serious help. I can't stop eating. Does anyone have any recommendations for any professionals who could get me to eat like a normal person? Not a particular person, but in general. A nutritionist? A food addiction specialist? A hypnotist? I've been working out with a trainer for the past 6 months or so, but he's not quite the person I'm looking for. I really need to sit down with someone and sort out the reasons why I'm eating so much and sabotaging all of my hard work.

Short backstory - I lost 35 pounds on Weight Watchers three years ago. I went from approximately 144 to 109. I've since gained about 10 back. To be honest, I was only at 109 for a blink of an eye. My average low was about 112. I played with the same 5 pounds for about 3 years. Going from about 112 to 117 then back down again. Only recently did I tack on an extra five and I just can't stop myself from binging. Every morning I have the best of intentions. I eat great throughout the day until evening and then...I BLOW IT. I work from 3 to 10pm each day so not eating after work is a challenge. If I eat even a single thing when I come home from work, it's a major rampage through the house - eating everything in sight - until I'm so down I go to bed hating myself. Then I wake up remembering what I ate the night before.

I have no gray area. Only black and white. I can't simply eat a piece of cake and leave it at that. If I eat ONE piece of cake my mind says, "Oh well...I've blown it already...I may as well have some chips...and candy...and dip...and ice cream..." And suddenly I'm binging my brains out.

Seriously, I've never said this out loud to anyone - I have a problem. I know that I'm not obese by any means, but if I keep eating the way I am, I'll be back up to my starting weight in no time. And there is no way I want to get back up there. I was so proud of my weight loss, and have felt so good about myself the past three years, I don't want to gain it back.

I also can't start a diet on a day that isn't Monday. And today I did great all day, but screwed up tonight. So in my screwed up mind, I can't simply get back on the horse tomorrow and start all over. I have to do it NEXT Monday. OCD anyone???

Does anyone have any advice? I'm at my wit's end.

Thanks for listening.

L

Wait, are you me? this is me to a T! I wish I had some insight for you. I fight the same battle. I exercise my tail off and reap no rewards b/c I sabatoge myself with food. It really is a disease.

I do great all day and then it is such an uphill battle for me in the evenings.

If you find a solution, please share!

maw03hinney · July 2008

I go straight to bed. I would ask my self "Am I hungrey or just want to eat??" I cannot snack because once I start I can not stop. Sweets do not feel you up, they are empty calories. If you want log everything you want to eat first and see what it would look like before you ate it, would turn you off. I love the smell of food, but it does not taste the same. Do not bring money would help, take a different way home

4Serendipity · July 2008

I have the same issue you have....being up late and getting hungry...and I'm probably OCD who knows...but I found the one thing that made me stop binging at night....I brush my teeth...lmao. I can't stand to eat food right after I've brushed my teeth....so instead I distract myself with an interesting book and go to bed...teeth brushed and all...maybe try having a that pick plate and then instantly go brush your teeth....hopefully you'll be like me and not want to nibble after that?

overthehillsandfaraway · July 2008

Honestly, this sounds like an intense internal conflict I've had with myself many times, even to this day.

Make a decision. Not tomorrow, not after that last serving of cake, NOW! Plan out your meals in advance so you can binge on those and not feel guilty. Get snacks like almonds, oatmeal or something that is fulfilling your hunger, not your desire for the spur of the moment. I work 12 hour days standing up and I had to freeze whey protein shakes the night before, prepare Ziploc's full of sandwiches and trail mix to keep me full.

You've done phenomenal. I applaud your success and only imagine nothing but more success. But just as there is no grey area in your eating, there most certainly isn't a borderline area in your quest for a healthier you. You've called your own bluff and now is the time to really step up and take no prisoners.

You're gonna do great! Enough is enough, start pacing yourself and let your vision take place within your movement. Good luck!

BrandNewLaura · July 2008

It sounds like you may need to get an actual person to help you, but I read a book by Dr. Phil McGraw called "The Ultimate Weight Solution" that really helps you work through what makes you eat and overeat. It's like a workbook, with seven steps and then questions that you have to answer honestly for yourself to help you figure out what is behind your eating. Emotional eating is a huge problem for me, and this book helped me to figure out where some of that was coming from and helped me to substitute other activities when I wanted to eat. I highly recommend it. Check it out; it might help.

time2wrk · July 2008

I need help. Serious help. I can't stop eating. Does anyone have any recommendations for any professionals who could get me to eat like a normal person? Not a particular person, but in general. A nutritionist? A food addiction specialist? A hypnotist? I've been working out with a trainer for the past 6 months or so, but he's not quite the person I'm looking for. I really need to sit down with someone and sort out the reasons why I'm eating so much and sabotaging all of my hard work.

Short backstory - I lost 35 pounds on Weight Watchers three years ago. I went from approximately 144 to 109. I've since gained about 10 back. To be honest, I was only at 109 for a blink of an eye. My average low was about 112. I played with the same 5 pounds for about 3 years. Going from about 112 to 117 then back down again. Only recently did I tack on an extra five and I just can't stop myself from binging. Every morning I have the best of intentions. I eat great throughout the day until evening and then...I BLOW IT. I work from 3 to 10pm each day so not eating after work is a challenge. If I eat even a single thing when I come home from work, it's a major rampage through the house - eating everything in sight - until I'm so down I go to bed hating myself. Then I wake up remembering what I ate the night before.

I have no gray area. Only black and white. I can't simply eat a piece of cake and leave it at that. If I eat ONE piece of cake my mind says, "Oh well...I've blown it already...I may as well have some chips...and candy...and dip...and ice cream..." And suddenly I'm binging my brains out.

Seriously, I've never said this out loud to anyone - I have a problem. I know that I'm not obese by any means, but if I keep eating the way I am, I'll be back up to my starting weight in no time. And there is no way I want to get back up there. I was so proud of my weight loss, and have felt so good about myself the past three years, I don't want to gain it back.

I also can't start a diet on a day that isn't Monday. And today I did great all day, but screwed up tonight. So in my screwed up mind, I can't simply get back on the horse tomorrow and start all over. I have to do it NEXT Monday. OCD anyone???

Does anyone have any advice? I'm at my wit's end.

Thanks for listening.

L

Wait, are you me? this is me to a T! I wish I had some insight for you. I fight the same battle. I exercise my tail off and reap no rewards b/c I sabatoge myself with food. It really is a disease.

I do great all day and then it is such an uphill battle for me in the evenings.

If you find a solution, please share!

Oh, my goodness, we are TRIPLETS! Exercise is not my problem. I have no "off" switch for my appetite. Lately I have been doing 2-a-day workouts. (I do notice that the week before my period is EXTRA difficult to control my eating.) I have found that if I stay away from sugar, that helps some. I have 2 teenage boys so keeping junk entirely out of the house doesn't work. I like to be the house they can all hang out at.

I have tried diet pills, but as I get older, I really don't like to add stuff like that into my body. So far, the thing that calms it the most for me is staying relatively low carb. Evenings are tough for me as well. The ipod helps some, too. It is not a complete solution, though.

alf1163 · July 2008

I need help. Serious help. I can't stop eating. Does anyone have any recommendations for any professionals who could get me to eat like a normal person? Not a particular person, but in general. A nutritionist? A food addiction specialist? A hypnotist? I've been working out with a trainer for the past 6 months or so, but he's not quite the person I'm looking for. I really need to sit down with someone and sort out the reasons why I'm eating so much and sabotaging all of my hard work.

Short backstory - I lost 35 pounds on Weight Watchers three years ago. I went from approximately 144 to 109. I've since gained about 10 back. To be honest, I was only at 109 for a blink of an eye. My average low was about 112. I played with the same 5 pounds for about 3 years. Going from about 112 to 117 then back down again. Only recently did I tack on an extra five and I just can't stop myself from binging. Every morning I have the best of intentions. I eat great throughout the day until evening and then...I BLOW IT. I work from 3 to 10pm each day so not eating after work is a challenge. If I eat even a single thing when I come home from work, it's a major rampage through the house - eating everything in sight - until I'm so down I go to bed hating myself. Then I wake up remembering what I ate the night before.

I have no gray area. Only black and white. I can't simply eat a piece of cake and leave it at that. If I eat ONE piece of cake my mind says, "Oh well...I've blown it already...I may as well have some chips...and candy...and dip...and ice cream..." And suddenly I'm binging my brains out.

Seriously, I've never said this out loud to anyone - I have a problem. I know that I'm not obese by any means, but if I keep eating the way I am, I'll be back up to my starting weight in no time. And there is no way I want to get back up there. I was so proud of my weight loss, and have felt so good about myself the past three years, I don't want to gain it back.

I also can't start a diet on a day that isn't Monday. And today I did great all day, but screwed up tonight. So in my screwed up mind, I can't simply get back on the horse tomorrow and start all over. I have to do it NEXT Monday. OCD anyone???

Does anyone have any advice? I'm at my wit's end.

Thanks for listening.

L

Wait, are you me? this is me to a T! I wish I had some insight for you. I fight the same battle. I exercise my tail off and reap no rewards b/c I sabatoge myself with food. It really is a disease.

I do great all day and then it is such an uphill battle for me in the evenings.

If you find a solution, please share!

Oh, my goodness, we are TRIPLETS! Exercise is not my problem. I have no "off" switch for my appetite. Lately I have been doing 2-a-day workouts. (I do notice that the week before my period is EXTRA difficult to control my eating.) I have found that if I stay away from sugar, that helps some. I have 2 teenage boys so keeping junk entirely out of the house doesn't work. I like to be the house they can all hang out at.

I have tried diet pills, but as I get older, I really don't like to add stuff like that into my body. So far, the thing that calms it the most for me is staying relatively low carb. Evenings are tough for me as well. The ipod helps some, too. It is not a complete solution, though.

Oh no, we are quads!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Today started perfect as usual. I do really well until about mid afternoon if I am home which has been the case this summer...At about 2pm it all goes downhill...I posted a nutrition challenge I want to start in August and after I did that I binged on cocoa puffs and honey bunches of oats...to the point I finished the entire box of cocoa puffs (there wasnt that much left) and ate tons of honey bunches. For dinner I ate a lot of leftover lasagna my husband cooked yesterday and ate some leftover cake!!!! I am seriously having a problem with food!!! Do you guys want to join me on my August challenge??? I can use some company and motivation!!!

lovesdaisies · February 2009

Somehow I lost track of this board that I started and never got a chance to say THANK YOU to all of you who wrote in with support. And crazy to know that there are more of "me" out there who have the same binging problem. The thing is, when you eat, you do it alone. So it makes you FEEL very alone when you go on a binge.

What can I say, sometimes a giant bag of fries or a big tasty glazed donut works better for me than something like Prozac ever could. It's like a warm blanket around me. FOR THE MOMENT. The next morning I wake up and hate myself for what I did and I'm back on the gerbil wheel again spinning endlessly hoping to lose the weight I gained back.

Since my initial post on this topic I have gained about 5 more pounds. I'm on the way back down. It's always a challenge, I guess. Every. Single. Day.

Anyway, thanks for your replies. Sorry I didn't keep up with the board.

Cindysunshine · February 2009

I feel your pain! I have lost and gained the same 125 pounds 2 times because of this mentallity. This is my 3rd try to lose the weight . I am happy to report I'm over a month in and I do not have the all or nothing attitude this time. Something just clicked in my mind this time. I have no advice other than to just stick with it. Cindy

lovesdaisies · February 2009

Thanks, Cindy! And congrats!! You're doing great. Cute baby, too!!

Another Monday...Another Binge...I Need Help

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