Binge Eating Disorder (B.E.D.)

I have struggled with it my whole life. I just come out and say that I did have wls in January. But I still have urges, I just physically can't do anything about it now or I'll get violently ill. But before I had the surgery I was working on getting it under control. I started by making myself write down everything I ate during a binge just so I could see how much I was actually eating. 5000calories is what I was putting away in one of my binges! Next I kept reach of when I was binging. I noticed it was usually around 2-4pm. So I would try to go take a walk or get out of the house during that time. Next I quit buying stuff that I would binge on. No chips, candy, cookies, cheese, ect. It's not allowed in the house. Pretty soon if I had a binge attack I'd either have to do it with a head of broccoli and hummus or I'd just not eat cause there was nothing I wanted to pig out on.
My wake up call was one night when we got pizza and I was working really hard on my eating and only had one slice. When everyone was done eating one of my girls made a comment about there being an entire pizza left, we usually don't have any left. Then it occurred to me that I would eat an entire pizza by myself!
It's something that I struggle with every single day. It's help to know that I'm are not alone in this. Feel free to add me

Waiting to hear back, I'll let you know if I find the group.

Hearts_2015 wrote: »

Waiting to hear back, I'll let you know if I find the group.

Currently MFP is without a Group search feature so it's been difficult to find the group. I'm almost positive their is one as I've seen it in the past.

MindySaysWhaaat wrote: »

I have struggled with binge eating for about 9 years now. I'm currently doing well, but it took me a while to get into the right mindset. I had to reinvent my relationship with food. I have had to learn to forgive myself when I slip up, and to try not to feel guilty for eating. I take it one day at a time, and I am focusing more on portion control/moderation, and not worrying so much what I'm eating as long as it's within my calorie goals.

http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/group/726-binge-eating-support-group

I cannot believe I have finally found this! Feeling grateful

mary1217mfp wrote: »

I cannot believe I have finally found this! Feeling grateful

I haven't really truly binged since I started MFP (76 days and counting!). There were some days I ate very unhealthily due to stress/anger/what-have-you, but I made it fit into my calorie goal. If you need someone to talk to, feel free to add me!

Some things that I found helpful for myself were to get all the foods I would binge on out of my dorm room. If they weren't around, I'd have to go buy them, and I'd have time to cool off and evaluate if bingeing was worth it (never is). Also, I bought some measuring cups and use those to eat some foods I'd binge on if I didn't have my 'preferred' bingeing foods around. So for, say, peanut butter--if I ate from the jar with a 1/3 tablespoon measuring cup, I knew I could have 6 scoops for a serving. That way, I wasn't eating spoonful after spoonful and could at least monitor myself.

I am still struggling. Sadly, where i come from, it's not considered to be an eating disorder. Eating disorders in developing countries are rare (as most of the people simply didn't have enough junk food growing up, as it was more expensive than home cooked meals, candy is still way more expensive than fruit etc.), and anorexia and bulimia are the only EDs they have heard of.
I started struggling with BED when i was 19, when i tried to shed a few pounds for the first time, going on a crash diet. I've learned a lot since then, i don't do crash diets, i don't starve, i work out. I still binge, every week for one or two days, and i get angry at myself and feel ashamed, embarrassed. I really want to overcome this and start living like a normal person, and especially since i feel like i'm undoing week's work by bingeing during weekends. I found that i HAVE to plan an activity during the weekend and not stay at home because i'm most definitely going to binge.

Oh btw i saw a psychologist about my problem and he said "why don't you try eating when you're hungry and stop when you're full"
Yeah, thanks a lot.

It sounds kinda lame but I have been using a calendar and I mark a smiley face on each day I stay on track (binge-free). It gives me something to strive for and look forward to at the end of the day knowing that I did well and get to put my smiley face on. I had 1 day last week where I binged and I marked a big X on the day, I hate seeing that X now, makes me wish I had not binged (obviously) and it also makes me want the next smiley face more.

I concur with the big ugly X idea being mean to yourself! Everyone slips up and the fact that you're trying (and still doing really well) is awesome. Yay for smily faces though (you get one from me!)

I've struggled with this for about 10 years. It started with emotional eating annf has progressed. Ive read books about mindful eating and they guve great advice. I struggle with the follow through

Lots of good stuff. I have been seriously working on this for a few years now. The calendar idea is good one I do agree that the big red X may not be a great approach to some people. A friend from a BED support group always said to be kind to yourself after a binge and hard on yourself before.
Some approaches that my group found helpful
-some people binge more when calorie counting, and some find it comforting.
-For the non calorie counters a good tactic was to put your food on a plate, enjoy your meal and break the habit of seconds, and picking at food.
-I used to binge terribly at night, I had success by not eating anything after dinner, if I had dessert it was at the table within an hour after dinner. It was almost painful not to eat after dinner then one day I noticed I didn't even think about food after dinner. I went off the rails on that and am working toward it again. Liquids are okay.
-A little list of reminders like, this feeling will go away, the urge is uncomfortable, but wont hurt me, The more I resist the stronger my resistance becomes, the more I give in the weaker my resistance becomes. I had an alarm on my phone to read this list periodically throughout the day.
-Most people agreed that labeling any food as bad, or eliminating foods completely was a set up for a binge. That is not to say reducing sugars and carbs were not helpful, but saying I can never.......


That's all I can think of, these were things that either I or another member found helpful.

snapdragon1231 wrote: »

-some people binge more when calorie counting, and some find it comforting.
-For the non calorie counters a good tactic was to put your food on a plate, enjoy your meal and break the habit of seconds, and picking at food.

Calore counting and Weight Watchers have done both help and hinder me. When I refuse the guilt I feel when I calorie count, it can lead to my worst binges. I was once 150 lbs, and now I am so embarassed by the 30 pounds I've gained in the last 2 years. I'm hoping to start acknowledging my binging habits, and realize when to stop my meals. Dinner is my worst time, as I pack a lunch daily and stay away from the work cafeteria.

My fiance is so strong with his eating habits, and I'm hoping by our wedding in a year, I can really get a grip on my binge eating and live a healthier life for myself.

Anyone else feel like home is where the problems come up for binge eating?

I love sugar too. Sometimes it's all I think about. To stop the sugar cravings, buy a ton of fruit at first. Every time you want some thing sweet, eat a piece of fruit. You get natural sugar, but also fiber. Stop eating sugary cereals, drinking juice, soda, and limit your bread intake to two slices a day. Bread is just sugar in disguise. After a couple of weeks, limit yourself to three pieces of fruit a day. Once you get use to that, then you're good to go. In my experience, eliminating all desserts and candy and substituting with fruit is the way to go. As much has I like to think one cookie won't hurt, I feel like it does- I always want more then one. Sugar is an addiction, like heroin. I too am addicted to sugar.