Binge Eating Newbie

daflaminga
daflaminga Posts: 8
in Introduce Yourself
Hello MTP World!

I decided to join an online community to help me with my weight loss goal and get my life back on track. 2 years ago I lost a significant amount of weight and kept it off for just over a year. Then, I started to gain the weight back slowly. Today, I weigh even more then I did before I initially lost the weight. Suffice it to say, I feel awful and incredibly down on myself. The one thing I never stopped doing was exercising. However, I started gaining the weight back because I began eating more and more. Binge eating has become a part of my life. Some days I do great, but most I do not, especially at night. I can't seem to watch tv without eating a bowl of popcorn the size of the moon and many other snacks, like multiple low-cal ice cream pops/sandwiches, crackers, carrots and hummus, protein bars, etc...I'll eat so much I'll feel bloated and horrible. I'll wake up the next day vowing to get it right and have a great day, but the pattern repeats itself by the time evening comes around. The worst part is how I am sabotaging all the hard work I do at the gym each day. It's like I might as well not even be exercising at all. :(

I do want to add that my mind plays tricks on me. Once I have something that is 'unhealthy,' even if it's small like a piece of chocolate, I will tell myself that I've already ruined today and that I might as well eat this, that, and the other thing and begin new tomorrow. So you see, for me I have this all or nothing mentality which is the completely wrong way to go about nutrition. 'Everything in moderation' just never worked for me.

So, I'm hoping to get the support I need here on MFP from people who share my condition or who can understand what I am going through. Yesterday was a great day for me. I have feeling today will be as well. But it's only a matter of time before the cycle begins again. My hope is that if I feel the urge to binge, I can come on here and post about it instead of giving into temptation and letting two hours of mindless munching go by.

Thank you for reading, and I look forward to a new beginning.

Replies

  • skinnyb05
    skinnyb05 Posts: 87 Member
    Good luck on your journey! Keep a positive outlook. I'm have found that limiting carbs and sugar really helps with the cravings that can lead you into a binge. Hang in there and stay strong.
  • socalkay
    socalkay Posts: 746 Member
    I find the food diary helps - I know what I have left in calories going into the evening, which makes it easier to tell myself 'no'. I also don't keep many temptations in the cupboard or freezer.

    Best of luck!
  • CindyMarcuzAdams
    CindyMarcuzAdams Posts: 4,007 Member
    Hi there, I feel I could have written every word of your post. It hit so close to home. But since finding this app mfp things have changed for me and they can for you too.
    Click the following link. There is a ton of info to get you started.

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1080242-a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants

    I know it will help. Feel free to friend me.

    Cindy
  • ruthcyn
    ruthcyn Posts: 10 Member
    Wow! As I read your post I was shocked to see how we share a very similar journey. Three years ago, I began a weight loss journey of losing 100 pounds in a little over a year. I maintained the weight loss for 1 year and then slowly began to put the weight back on. Currently I have gained back 60 of those 100 pounds. I also know the exact time when my mind did this unhealthy shift, Thanksgiving Day. I had been so careful to stay away from processed foods and more importantly sugar, until it came to dessert on Thanksgiving. I told myself 1 slice of pie would be fine, I deserved it, just enjoy it. As soon as I ate the pie it was like this totally different attitude took over, telling me I blew it and I might as well eat anything else the rest of the day. As many know the story well, that binge moved into the next day, and then the next. Oh, there are those days that I seem to do okay until I have a minor slip or treat and then this same attitude presents itself that I failed, might as well eat.
    I would love to discover the why behind this attitude and behavior. I have the ability to lose the weight, now I need to learn and change the mental process behind the compulsion to continue to eat. I have begun my journey again, this time, I will work on both the mental and the physical changes. My motivation symbol: TIP (Transformation In Progress)
    I would be very happy to encourage you and travel this journey with you and others with the same challenges..
  • Asheltots
    Asheltots Posts: 3
    I understand where you're coming from! Though, I've never really lost a significant amount of weight I have the same issue when it comes to binging and 'ruining' my day.

    So far I've found that logging that once piece of chocolate (or whatever) in my food diary helps. I'll look at how good I've been the rest of the day and see how that one little piece of chocolate really skewed my otherwise healthy day and decide that instead of continuing that way I should try to get back on track. My diary keeps me honest!

    I used to be OBSESSED with food. I'd only think about it all day and even hide or sneak food when I could so my husband didn't know I was cheating on our diet. Its not something I'm proud of. Its taking me a lot to learn that what I eat in private- I wear in public.

    Good luck, be strong!

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