I Can't Stop Eating!

gabriellegetsfit
gabriellegetsfit Posts: 6 Member
in Motivation and Support
Hello all!

I'm 21 years old and currently in University, which has been a terrible time for me weight-wise. I have had myfitnesspal for a long time now, but I always seem to be starting over again. I have tried to lose weight many times, but my longest healthy eating and exercise streak has only reached 7 days until I end up binging. It feels like I can't stop eating! Whenever I'm emotionally upset or bored it feels like my mind turns off and I stuff my face, only thinking about how bad of an idea it was afterward. I have been diagnosed with an eating disorder, as well as other mental disorders and I have been on medication for years. I am currently on Celexa, Wellbutrin and Abilify. It seems like I started gaining weight ever since I started on Celexa 5-6 years ago and has just become worse after adding the other medications. I would stop them, but my mental health has not been great, so that isn't an option. I never used to be consumed by food, but now it is all I think about. I am obsessed with food and losing weight. I have tried using unhealthy methods to lose weight in the past, which obviously didn't work. I am on a waiting list to get into a binge eating clinic at the hospital, but that could take months and I am just starting therapy again in a couple days. I just don't know how to keep myself motivated and on track. I've tried so many different eating methods, different types of exercise and I've even been to a nutritionist. I'm at a point where eating and exercising has become a nightmare and I don't know if I can handle it much longer. Does anyone have any tips or advice? I just don't know what to do anymore. I'm going to be living in a student house in September, so I'm worried about eating and exercising. Sorry for the novel, but has anyone else had similar issues?

knight0793

Replies

  • ChronicOptimist
    ChronicOptimist Posts: 558 Member
    So sorry to hear your struggle. I've battled both anorexia and binge eating disorder at different stages in my life and I know how hard it is when it seems we can't control what we eat.

    Of course, the most important thing is that you get to work with a counselor right away. I'm glad to see you'll be starting again in a few days and I know that will help immensely.

    What seems to help my ED tendencies is eating in a way that is NOT restrictive at all and being open with both my MFP friends and my friends in real life about my struggles. I've learned from experience that when I'm overly restrictive with my food (ie I move a little too far toward the anorexia spectrum) it's just a matter of time before the needle swings wildly towards binge eating. The best thing for me is to stay nice and even with regular treats and good, nourishing food that doesn't cut any food groups out.

    I've also developed some tools that work for me for when the urge to binge comes that make it a little more manageable. I had counselors tell me for years that I should just "distract myself" which seemed like the most insane advice since it was like telling me to go play some soft jazz to distract myself from the fire that was actively burning down my house. But I've gotten better at identifying what's causing me to want to binge, eliminating that stimulus, and then giving into the binge just a little - not a full binge but maybe a going for sushi with a friend or something like that - that sort of takes the urge from a lion to an angry house cat.

    Anyway, tools like that are what working with a counselor can help with. I wish you the best of luck in your journey. Please feel free to add me as a friend if you like, I'm happy to offer any support you need!
  • YF92
    YF92 Posts: 2,893 Member
    Establish self control, thats the only way you can manage to avoid bad eating all the time
  • oarngesi
    oarngesi Posts: 73 Member
    Focus on.eating healthy foods rather than the calories. Keep various vegtebles to snack on like baby carrots and celery, concentrate on healthy alternitives.
  • KettyLoyd
    KettyLoyd Posts: 51
    Ten reasons for you can't stop eating-
    1. You’re not hungry, you’re thirsty
    2. Are you getting enough sleep?
    3. Has food become a habit?
    4. Is alcohol causing you to eat more?
    5. Are you skipping meals?
    6. Is Stress making you Eat More?
    7. You’re Training Harder
    8. Boredom and/or Procrastination
    9. You’re Eating the Wrong Thing
    10. Are you Eating because it’s Convenient
  • FluffyFontaine
    FluffyFontaine Posts: 27 Member
    Binge eating disorder is a beast! I've had it since I was about 12, never sought help, and now it's a full blown issue that's affecting my health, emotional well-being, social life, finances, and job. I too am on a waiting list for a program. I was accepted into one last fall, but chickened out and didn't go. My doctor insists that I go this time. I don't think there is a quick fix to this and willpower is extremely difficult to exercise when there are major underlying issues at the root of the problem. Kudos to you for seeking help!!! Feel free to send me a friend request if you like. Also, I'm joining a 14 day binge-free challenge that I'm starting tomorrow. Do it with us!

    Link for the challenge: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1411743-14-day-binge-free-challenge
  • GettingBack2Fabulous
    GettingBack2Fabulous Posts: 42
    Thats great that your getting help and joining a group i hope it helps :smile:

    Do u have a really close friend or family member that you can call anytime no matter what? It might help to have someone to talk to when you feel like bingeing. I use to help a girl on here we would call each other or text when ever we had a problem or sent pictures of what we ate to see who ate what and trying to make sure are were both eating healthy and it really helped both of us not to cheat or binge so if there is someone on here you can do that with it might help a little or a lot. Its going to take time so just take it one day at a time and you will be there before you know it ♥
  • ana3067
    ana3067 Posts: 5,623 Member
    In my experience, binging was a direct result of the unhealthy eating habits I had created for myself: demonizing food and labeling things as "good/safe" or "bad," and restricting the foods I loved because they did not fit into "healthy/clean" dieting.

    Once I just approached food as something to eat because I enjoy it, I learned how to enjoy a cookie and a donut in the day instead of winding up eating 2 boxes of them in a sitting on top of the rest of my normal day's consumption.

    Another thing is that low caloric goals will also result in problems like binging or simply giving up on weight loss. Don't opt for the 2lbs a week option, 1lb loss a week is just fine. Eat back exercise cals if you use MFP's method (I personally use TDEE-20%, but I am pretty consistent with my exercise) - or at least 50% of them, as most say they estimate high.

    ETA, I was on Cymbalta for 10 months. Went off it because I decided it was the cause of my weight gain, but being off of it for a few months didn't change my weight in any way (you'd expect at least a few lbs of water weight lost if medication were the cause of weight gain). Chances are your weight gain simply coincided with you going on medication. Maybe you finally started feeling better enough to go out more and eat out, or you started cooking more for yourself and eating more in general.. this is basically what happened with me. I was going out more with friends, eating way more calorie-dense meals, wasn't exercising as much while still eating the same amount or more because school was stressful and I was just tired of exercise, and I gained. So if you do think medication has been causing your issues, talk to your doctor about the possibility of switching to another brand, possibly a different type of anti-depressant (different ones affect different hormones).
  • Rob_Roberts
    Rob_Roberts Posts: 5
    Some good advice I have heard in the past on this topic is that "If you only have healthy food in the house, you will only eat healthy food." If I have ice cream in the freezer, I will turn to ice cream when I am bored or upset. But if I don't allow any junk into the house, when I am seeking comfort food I will only have healthy options to turn to such as peanut butter on celery.

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