Desperately want to stop binge eating

Options
sazzles410
sazzles410 Posts: 3
in Motivation and Support
Hi everyone

I just wondered if anyone could help me. I'm so lost and don't know what to do. Before I came to university last September I had no problems with food at all. My weight was always at the lower end of a healthy bmi range and was always happy with my weight. When I came to university I thought it'd be nice to lose a few pounds. I followed a 1200 calorie plan which really worked and the weight started dropping off. However I started obsessing over food. It was all I could think about every second of every day weighing everything, panicking if it didn't fit into my calorie goal and skipping meals the next day if it did. I started swapping meals for breakfast cereals or soup. I was so stressed and anxious about food i decided to stop calorie counting to try and regain control of my life. And then I started doing something I'd never done before in my life-binge eating. I'd store massive amounts of food in my room and once I started eating I couldn't stop until I felt sick. Whole boxes of truffles, easter eggs, and vast amounts of pastries. I feel so horrible and guilty after I've eaten it that I want to make myself sick but I'm too scared too. I've binged everyday for the past week. After bingeing today I felt so disgusted at myself that I threw all the chocolates and bad foods into the trash.

How do I stop myself bingeing? Please help I feel so out of control and I'm terrified of gaining back all the weight I lost.

Replies

  • befitamy
    befitamy Posts: 13 Member
    Options
    I suffer with a very similar problem! I am still battling but I have a few things I do to help avoid binges! Firstly,I keep a diary of before and after every binge and when I am going to binge I read all the after entries. Secondly, don't buy it in the first place, if its not there it won't be on your mind to eat it. I would also say increase your calorie intake! I know its easier having it low for fast result but low calorie intake results in binge eating which not only gains weight but really makes you feel down! Including a small treat early just before you do something that will distract you (shopping, study), so you feel satisfied with having a treat but do not have the opportunity to have more. 1,500 could be a starting point. Also, if you really want something have it, other wise you will feel like it is restricted and when you are binging, it will be on all the foods your head has labelled as 'bad'. This will not only allow you to have your treats in moderation but will reduce the need to binge because of your comp youe restriction to them!Depending on the time of the day you normally binge, usually evening, pick a activty to take up your extra time like walking. Whenyou do binge, move on from it and start fresh the next day! you will get there! This is just advice from personal experience , feel free to add me or ask any other questions!
  • mary659497
    mary659497 Posts: 483 Member
    Options
    I think you should talk to a counselor at your school to help you.
  • denizfindigi
    denizfindigi Posts: 41
    Options
    Well I use to have the same problem and this is the solution I came up with (I am a university student too by the way : )

    Instead of trying to stop binge eating keep binging but change what you eat. I first stopped buying stuff bad for your health (if you do not have them in your room you cant eat them, right ;)) Buy carrots, cucumbers, fruits and stuff like that and once you feel like binging - binge on them.
  • sazzles410
    sazzles410 Posts: 3
    Options
    Thanks for your replies!

    Befitamy I'm definitely going to take your advice and start a food diary that's a really good idea. I think it would help me pinpoint why-it seems to be a mixture of boredom and knowing that a shouldn't have the food. Your idea about having something just before you go out is really good too. I've been working from a meal plan for years and just started a new job where I have to take my lunch with me and I've been panicking because I don't know what to have now it's not scheduled in.

    Mary65949 I went through counselling before but that I wasn't bingeing at this point just restricting. Been thinking of going back.

    Denizfindigi that is such a good idea!!! For my next grocery shop on Sunday I'm going to raid the fresh fruit and dried fruit/nuts aisle :).
  • brainzap
    brainzap Posts: 145 Member
    Options
    Yes this is exactly what I went through. Healthy low bmi, lost weight, then started to binge eat/obsess over food, which I had never done in my life.

    Unfortunately you can't go back to how you were before all of this, once you've learned the calories in everything one can't go back to not worrying/thinking about it. The way to stop binging is to....let go a bit which is very scary. Stop restricting and try to eat around maintenance for now...trying to lose weight when in this binging cycle will result in more binging. Make yourself eat 3 meals a day (IF etc is good if you have a balanced relationship with food but for right now it's not a good idea). It is scary to, say, eat a 500 calorie breakfast. When I started doing this I felt like I was eating constantly and it was scary...but then I realized, when one is eating the proper amounts/nutrients, food feels more like fuel than the enemy.

    I would also recommend getting some exercise, something that you can stick to. For me, since going to the gym is frightening (at least for now), I ordered a 25lb kettlebell to work out with at home, and it has helped to improve my appearance, which helps me to feel better about myself, which leads to less binges. The way to stop binging is to remove the urge to have one. The advice to binge on large amounts of low calorie food doesn't change the root of the problem which stems from restriction and shame. And if (when) you do slip up and have a binge...move on from it. Don't wallow, don't admonish yourself for it, think of what you can do to prevent it in the future.
  • qotsagirl314
    qotsagirl314 Posts: 20 Member
    Options
    I'm currently in the same boat. I had lost 25lbs on a 1200cal/day diet in the previous year, obsessively calorie counting, weighing foods, and cutting out junky foods for the most part. For the past couple of months though, I've been binge eating on carbs like crazy (cereal and candy especially). My triggers seem to be boredom, depression, or carbohydrates. I figure that part of it is because I reintroduced easy carbs (sweets, cake, etc) back into my body, my body went haywire and decided it liked easy, fast energy way more than energy from healthy sources that it would have to break down. Anyway, if you're binging on carbs, the best thing to do now is try to cut down processed sugary stuff and reintroduce fruits and veggies. The sugar high is great and all, but the after effects suck (mood imbalance, fatigue, weight gain).

    Finding hobbies or incorporating outdoor activities may help if boredom or depression is your issue.
  • sazzles410
    sazzles410 Posts: 3
    Options
    Brainzap-you sum up how I feel perfectly! I keep trying to think would I have eaten like this before or not? But it's been so long I barely remember. Knowing the calories in things makes it so much harder to stop counting. Even though I'm not writing it down I keep thinking it in my head. I try to eat breakfast on a morning or I know I'll end up skipping lunch too but normally just a bowl of cereal and some juice which comes in at under 300 normally. Hadn't thought about increasing it.... it does seem scary. I'm worried if I ate a bigger breakfast I'd still eat more calories later on and eat way more than maintenance. Yesterday I had some cereal for breakfast and a sandwich for lunch and felt under control but then I went out for a friend's birthday meal and ate two courses as well as finish his dessert! I eat so much that it worries me and I've ordered some appetite suppressents to help curb the hunger-hoping it will help to stop the bingeing! Exercise does help! When I was going to the gym I felt much more in control of it. Now that the gyms expired at least I have a job that keeps me on my feet.

    Qotsagirl314-I love cereal I could literally eat it all the time! Chocolate and cake have definitely been my biggest problem. I agree completely with you I want to get back to eating healthier foods I know my body will appreciate it so much more in the long run!
  • leantool
    leantool Posts: 365 Member
    Options
    Please talk to your school counselor and get reffered to an ED specialist,if possible.
    You could look for OA too,and get help there.sit down and focus on what is this happening in your life and that is triggering,please address the root issues first.
    Prayers for your well being
  • Fattackler2013
    Fattackler2013 Posts: 142 Member
    Options
    I've been there.

    Before I restarted my healthy eating I would eat more than some people would eat in a few days in one sitting which is one of the main reasons why my weight has increased quite substantially. I never used to really hide what I ate, it did provide me with temporary happiness/enjoyment, however then I'd feel like I shouldn't have done it.

    Once I started going to the gym regularly and started spending more more away from home I stopped feeling the need to binge. I used to be more of an emotional eater, however it doesn't control me as much as it used to, but I still have some bad days. (it is still early days though)

    I hope that you're able to work out how to solve the issue. Good luck. I'm sure that things will change in good time :D

    You need to just eat what you want to eat in moderation because I'm doing that and I'm still losing weight.
  • nomorebingesgirl2014
    nomorebingesgirl2014 Posts: 378 Member
    Options
    Bump

Categories