Binge eating disorder... HELP !

r8ph · September 2014

Hi everyone,

I am writing because I definitely need help to overcome my problem. I think I suffer from binge eating disorder.

It started last winter, when I was able to lose 20 pounds between summer and january, then I fell into a 3-4 months where I ate anything at nights.

Recently, I restarted on the right path. I eat very healthy (it’s a pleasure in my life to eat healthy, nourish my body with good nutriments and clean food…). Just fyi, I enjoy many passions in life that brings me happiness, but I don't have many friends with whom I can share with. It's one of my new goal to make new friends. I cook my own food, drink about 3 liters of water a day, workout 3 to 5 times a week, sleeping 7-9 hours per night, craving for fruits during the day. Sometimes, I allow myself some less healthy small rewards for having a balanced lifestyle...

BUT I happen to have 1 or 2 less good day per week. Sometimes it’s not that bad, but sometimes it’s just uncontrollable: I eat large amounts of food in a short period of time, and often when I'm full... I just continue to eat because it tastes good and I feel like I already messed up my day; so whatever!

Yesterday was a disaster, I felt bored all day (I know it is part responsible for my cravings), so in the evening I ate lots of food. I would say at least 1500 to 2000 extra calories... I try to improve each new crisis by reducing the portions of what I binge for, but also by choosing healthy food. But still, I’ll overeat like an addict and sometimes end up eating junk food. Unfortunately for yesterday, that’s what happened and I stopped login in my MFP journal when I started eating sugary cereals, corndogs and oreo ice cream ... My boyfriend's food - and I don't want him to throw it since we are not on the same journey and I'm not asking this to him.

I feel like I ruined all my week of good healthy lifestyle (good eats, good workouts) with sabotage because I overate so much that I didn’t lose the weight I was supposed to. I’m so mad at myself.

I really need suggestions to try to overcome this problem.

Please do not tell me to just control myself, because it does not work. I enter in a state of total control loss. Although I’m 100% mindful of what I do, I can’t stop, and understanding the cause of each crisis is not helping me to surpass them (most of the time it’s just because it taste good and I want it. But some other times it’s because I had a boring day, I’m moody or I want a reward for my hard day working).

I told myself that I could try the followings:

- I have the habit of eating a planned 100 calories of frozen grapes while watching my tv series in bed before sleeping. I might want to stop this habit and stop eating after brushing teeth. What do you think?

- When I can’t handle it: continue to try binging on better food (smaller portions of healthy food)

- Accept the discomfort I feel when I try to outdo a binge.

- Try to give positive reinforcement for my small success and my improvements trough this problem. Accept that a day can be imperfect for a long term success.

- Try replacing the binge for a positive activity that would help change my mind and stop focusing on food at this moment. Problem is that I always binge at night when it's almost time to sleep and I must get up very early to do my workouts. Do you have any ideas of things to do that would not unbalance my sleep schedule?

I really need help to overcome my problem, I do not feel I'll ever be able to stop it. I want a long-term solution to get out of it.

When that happens, I tell myself that I should enjoy a bit because if I deprive myself too much, it will make the situation worse (as I said: last winter I deprived myself too much and I ate like an obese every night for 3 months).

I do not know what to say to my mind, should I accept the binge and "reward" myself sometimes or should I force myself to overcome this addictive impulsion? When I'm in this phase, it's only some times that I can do an in-between ...

Thank you for giving me your tips, advice, experiences ... I really need it!
Sorry for the mistakes in the text, english is not my main language. Thanks!

Biggirllittledreams · September 2014

Hi everyone,

I am writing because I definitely need help to overcome my problem. I think I suffer from binge eating disorder.

It started last winter, when I was able to lose 20 pounds between summer and january, then I fell into a 3-4 months where I ate anything at nights.

Recently, I restarted on the right path. I eat very healthy (it’s a pleasure in my life to eat healthy, nourish my body with good nutriments and clean food…). Just fyi, I enjoy many passions in life that brings me happiness, but I don't have many friends with whom I can share with. It's one of my new goal to make new friends. I cook my own food, drink about 3 liters of water a day, workout 3 to 5 times a week, sleeping 7-9 hours per night, craving for fruits during the day. Sometimes, I allow myself some less healthy small rewards for having a balanced lifestyle...

BUT I happen to have 1 or 2 less good day per week. Sometimes it’s not that bad, but sometimes it’s just uncontrollable: I eat large amounts of food in a short period of time, and often when I'm full... I just continue to eat because it tastes good and I feel like I already messed up my day; so whatever!

Yesterday was a disaster, I felt bored all day (I know it is part responsible for my cravings), so in the evening I ate lots of food. I would say at least 1500 to 2000 extra calories... I try to improve each new crisis by reducing the portions of what I binge for, but also by choosing healthy food. But still, I’ll overeat like an addict and sometimes end up eating junk food. Unfortunately for yesterday, that’s what happened and I stopped login in my MFP journal when I started eating sugary cereals, corndogs and oreo ice cream ... My boyfriend's food - and I don't want him to throw it since we are not on the same journey and I'm not asking this to him.

I feel like I ruined all my week of good healthy lifestyle (good eats, good workouts) with sabotage because I overate so much that I didn’t lose the weight I was supposed to. I’m so mad at myself.

I really need suggestions to try to overcome this problem.

Please do not tell me to just control myself, because it does not work. I enter in a state of total control loss. Although I’m 100% mindful of what I do, I can’t stop, and understanding the cause of each crisis is not helping me to surpass them (most of the time it’s just because it taste good and I want it. But some other times it’s because I had a boring day, I’m moody or I want a reward for my hard day working).

I told myself that I could try the followings:

- I have the habit of eating a planned 100 calories of frozen grapes while watching my tv series in bed before sleeping. I might want to stop this habit and stop eating after brushing teeth. What do you think?

- When I can’t handle it: continue to try binging on better food (smaller portions of healthy food)

- Accept the discomfort I feel when I try to outdo a binge.

- Try to give positive reinforcement for my small success and my improvements trough this problem. Accept that a day can be imperfect for a long term success.

- Try replacing the binge for a positive activity that would help change my mind and stop focusing on food at this moment. Problem is that I always binge at night when it's almost time to sleep and I must get up very early to do my workouts. Do you have any ideas of things to do that would not unbalance my sleep schedule?

I really need help to overcome my problem, I do not feel I'll ever be able to stop it. I want a long-term solution to get out of it.

When that happens, I tell myself that I should enjoy a bit because if I deprive myself too much, it will make the situation worse (as I said: last winter I deprived myself too much and I ate like an obese every night for 3 months).

I do not know what to say to my mind, should I accept the binge and "reward" myself sometimes or should I force myself to overcome this addictive impulsion? When I'm in this phase, it's only some times that I can do an in-between ...

Thank you for giving me your tips, advice, experiences ... I really need it!
Sorry for the mistakes in the text, english is not my main language. Thanks!

I'm sorry you're in such a huge amount of stress; i can tell you that as long as you continue to pursue health and self-awareness, it does eventually get easier, in terms of managing it and the behaviors.

Have you sought out the help of a therapist? Ed specialists/CBT therapists are wonderful when it comes to helping situations like this.

r8ph · September 2014

I will call the clinical for eating disorders not far from where I live. I just hope this kind of services aren't too expensives... otherwise I'll just try to fix the problem by myself...

Anyone overcame this problem alone? Any experiences to share?

Thanks!

lessismoreohio · September 2014

A free organization called "Overeaters Anonymous," modeled after Alcoholics Anonymous, helped me control my binge eating. I attended weekly for 15 months and then felt comfortable enough to break away. Many people stay in it for years.

Biggirllittledreams · September 2014

I will call the clinical for eating disorders not far from where I live. I just hope this kind of services aren't too expensives... otherwise I'll just try to fix the problem by myself...

Anyone overcame this problem alone? Any experiences to share?

Thanks!

If you are in fact struggling with BED, doing it alone won't do anything but perpetuate the problem. I mean, if you suspected that you had a neurological problem - like a learning disability or started to show symptoms of Parkinsons - would you try to overcome it alone? Of course not, because it's a disease that needs medical professionals trained to help you manage it.

There are free clinics available if resources are an area - some areas have them a lot more accessible than others though. If you call your insurance company and cross-reference it with a list of psychologists treating eating disorders (which you can find rather by calling the NEDA hotline [they will ask your general location and literally email you a list of certified professionals in your area], or Psychologytoday's provider search), if you have health insurance/any behavioral health benefits.

Also, don't just call that center! Look for individual therapists trained in CBT to help, as that's a therapy proven to help a good deal with BED/binging, and if you're concerned about costs, perhaps look into studies being done if you live near a hospital/college campus. There is a website - i'll try to find it for you - that has a list of eating disorder/mental health studies being completed, that would provide you with 100% free treatment if you took part in them/met their requirements.

Are you looking for experiences of overcoming BED, or experiences of overcoming BED alone?

r8ph · September 2014

Thank you, I'll check for that...

r8ph · September 2014

I will try a new solution: increase my daily calorie intake. Instead of 1310 calories per day (for a weight loss of 1 pound per week), i will switch my goals for a loss of 0.5 pound per week. I think that will allow me to eat more and feel more full, while having realistic eating habits for long term.

girlviernes · September 2014

I think that it is a good idea to eat more. That will go a long ways. I would also advise that you log the binges. Finally, yes I really highly recommend you seek out therapy. There is group here for binge eaters. Search groups for Binge-Eating Support Group.

dlbaron · September 2014

I agree that upping your calorie goal is a good idea. I find that when I eat enough, especially watching my protein, fat, and fiber intake (getting plenty of all of them), I feel satisfied and less inclined to binge. Another thing that helps me is eating more earlier in the day and not saving my calories for night time. I am a huge fan of eating right before bed, but it is a terrible habit of mine. Once I start, I can't stop. I do a lot better at meals that have a time limit on them. I have to finish breakfast and lunch at a certain time to make it to work, whereas dinner can just lead into endless eating. Maybe have an activity after dinner that winds you down from the day, and after that you don't eat anything else? If you're truly hungry that might not work, but maybe a walk, some yoga, meditation, reading a book, writing in a journal, drinking tea, or doing something else that relaxes you could become your pre-bed ritual instead of relaxing with the bedtime snack. Although grapes are healthy, it kind of enforces food as a calming ritual. Once that association is really strong physiologically, you probably will crave food for comfort when you're stressed, sad, or tired. At least that is how it can be for me.

Also make a commitment to log everything you eat during your binges. Even if you are eating your boyfriend's food, write it and be accountable. It might help to look back next time you have the urge to binge, and remember how awful you felt after the last one.

Finally, you mentioned the "all or nothing" attitude that a lot of us struggle with. Once you go over, you just chuck your whole day and keep eating. I know this feeling all too well. It's hard to fix, but just remember that a few hundred calories over isn't a big deal, and it's never too late to just stop in the middle of your binge. Sure, some damage is done, but why keep going? Even if you're two bites into a sandwich and you feel like you shouldn't throw it away, just do it. One of the best quotes I read for this was: "If you got a flat tire, would you then go slash the other 3?" As soon as you realize you can stop, STOP. Get rid of whatever you're eating and go to bed. You'll be proud of yourself the next day for the progress.

r8ph · September 2014

Wow, thank you very much.

Your text is full of good tips that I will apply. I really feel motivated by what you said.

Thank you.

Binge eating disorder... HELP !

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