posting again to try to get feedback, please give me advice

Hi, it's great that you've taken the first step to solving this issue. Facing up to the issue. You're right, there are so many helpful, encouraging individuals here on MFP. They really help keep me going through tough times!

I've never been bulimic, but I can relate to the binge eating. Emotional eating, that's been the struggle I've been working to overcome. I've been working to uncover the underlying issues that drive me to binge or eat my emotions away. I've found that by facing up to the issues (not always easy!!) I can let go of some of the need to binge. Sometimes distraction works -- finding something else to do to let my feelings out rather than stuffing them down with food.

Congratulations on your admissions, that really takes a lot of courage and strength. Build on that courage and strength. And, please feel free to send a friend request my way and inbox me anytime for support, encouragement, motivation. We can always use that mutual support throughout our journeys! Very best wishes.

Well I've never had this problem but I really dont think binging 2-3 times a year is that bad. Everyone goes through the "I cant get enough to eat"....if your binging 2-3 times a year lasting 2-3 days each, thats what maybe a little over a week of bad habits compared to 51 good weeks?

Dont beat yourself up about this. You are human. Everyone goes through this, and 2-3 times a year is WAY less than 2-3 times a week like some people here do.

I have this problem. I used to purge afterwards but with a lot of soul searching and praying I am slowly winning that battle. I think psychological counseling would be a great help, although I have never seeked such help myself. I have found that telling my fiance of my issue keeps me from doing it when he is there because we keep busy and free from boredom. I noticed that I would only binge if I was home alone and very bored. It was like I was the bottomless pit and I needed to eat everything in the kitchen to fill that pit. Realizing hobbies and things I am interested in has helped keep my mind busy and free of the obsessive thought of food. I still battle the obsession but am a lot better since ensuring I keep busy.

I binge - I haven't done it in the 3 months since I've started working on my health. My last binge was January 21st when we went to a pizza buffet for my husband's birthday. I never purged - I can't stand to throw up. But I have sat down & eaten an entire box of Little Debbie Swiss Roll Cakes in one sitting, followed by anything salty I could get my hands on. 4000 calories = I've done that. Usually it's brought on by stress or strong emotions. I have started to treat my obesity as an addiction - like Alcoholics do. I have a sponsor that I call/text/email anytime day or night & she talks me through the cravings. In fact, I had a box of ho-ho's in my cart at Kroger w/ the intention to go home & binge. I called her & she told me to get my butt out of the store, leaving our groceries and everything... just walk away. I did and it was a blessing. I also have someone I call once a week to discuss my weekly goals & how I'm doing (my equivalent to AA meetings). I also have a belief in God & I know that my prayer time with Him is precious. I do not have binging issues nearly as often when I'm doing my devotions and prayer time on a daily basis.

Hope this helps... praying for you - it's a tough issue.

You are so much braver and stronger than you know and you will continue to grow each day through this trial.
Thank you for sharing, as well as all who posted in response. All of your stories touched my heart and soul very much. I have been known to binge when overly stressed of feeling slighted or when sad and depressed and feeling hopeless. I never purged either as other have said, I hate to throw up. Just the feeling of nausea makes me want to die (morning sickness was such a joy x3 lol). I never understood where I learned that behavior though or why I would do it. Maybe it came from growing up in a home where money was tight and food money was rationed so while we had some snacks, mom never really let us have free reign over the food. I never thought much of sneaking a spoonful or two of ice cream in the middle of the afternoon until I was grown up and found myself eating an entire container (yeah, half gallon) for no real reason. My last binge was this past March after returning home from NJ for my Grandmother's funeral. I had bought a pkg of tastee cakes for the kids but since the house was trashed (as they had not done anything useful for 5 days except eat and sleep) and they did not help me when I came back, I never told them I had them. I unpacked everything after losing my temper, went into my room and cried and ate like 4 packages in under an hour! I was already doing MFP and I knew I was neither hungry nor did I really want the cupcakes but I ate them. As someone else said, food was my punishment and my reward. I had done something nice for them but since they couldn't do one simple nice thing for me by simply cleaning up after themselves while I was gone and under greater stress than normal, (interpreted to mean that they don't love me and don't care about me and that's ok because I'm a terrible mother and I don't deserve their love anyway so really I'm getting what I deserve, right?) I punished them by punishing myself. I don't know why I did it or why I felt that way. I would like to say that will be my last time, but I can't. I can only say I won't do it today and even then, some days I might give in and have to start over.

I think on some level we all have done this to ourselves. Maybe not on as grand a scale of an entire cake or box but maybe having a 2nd or 3rd serving of something when we're really not hungry or we're feeling down or stressed. Unlike some others who posted though, I never did the "I'll just exercise more/harder" etc to burn it off part. You can burn the calories (or at least most of them) but you can't undo the response your body has to eating that way and it's not just a temporary thing once it's out of your mouth. It affects you for days until it's all out of your system and sometimes this can have lasting effects on blood sugar, blood pressure, thyroid, liver etc. depending on what kind of foods we're consuming.

We're not in this (or really much of anything) alone. Even if everyone doesn't admit it, doesn't mean they can't relate. Everyone isn't ready to face life head on. It's really nice to know there are people who understand and support us through our triumphs and failures and don't judge us for being less than perfect.

Wishing everyone much love, support and self control this Easter weekend.
As the 12-steps say "It works if you work it!" so find a 'sponsor' to help you through those rough times and celebrate your good times and to hold your hand and dry your tears if you need to face something new.