Binge eaters out there needing support
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All binge struggles feel free to add me.0
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Wow just catching up on this thread there's lots of great advice. I can't believe how many of us have the same struggle, I really felt alone as I didn't know anyone that binged. When I've tried to talk about it with family, friends and doctors it's just looked upon as been greedy which really isn't the case.
After another week of binging I'm going to try to stay away from my trigger foods because once I take a bite I can't stop. These are bread, crisps, chocolate & cake. I have tried before and it led to binges as I felt deprived but I've got to try something so here goes........
Feel free to add me (open diary) as I can't figure out how to add you guys on the app
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So I guess the answer to your question would technically be no...since I NEVER stop after the fruit or vegetable binge.
So as I understand it, the binge doesn't end until the carby/sugary/high fat stuff gets delved into? Would that be what triggers the ultimate post-binge satiety, these types of foods?
I think that's what you meant. I did know one girl in high school who would start a binge with sliced tomatoes, pickles, that sort of thing, but it wouldn't end until all the pasta and all the sweets got eaten.
I'm curious because the long time forum users who scoff at the notion of "addiction" as it pertains to food and eating always say a calorie is a calorie. As they see it, a raw carrot is as fattening as a slice of pizza if someone overeats raw carrots. When that's challenged, they say YES! I'm SURE there's SOMEONE out there that got overweight from eating TOO MANY carrots. Sigh. Chocolate cake calories don't have magical properties as opposed to raw orange slice calories. And the sugar in each is exactly the same, and the body responds to it identically. (and I'm thinking, WHAT?)
Thing is, I never see folks saying they have a problem moderating green salad or raw apples or plain boiled eggs. Even in a binge thread, the binge isn't over until the cakes and pies and loaves of bread get eaten. 3 pounds of asparagus would never do.
I agree with that. And ultimately, if a craving is something that triggers the binge (i.e. brownies) then the binge won't end until that thing has been consumed in excessive quantities and in my case a lot more other items in the process.
Actually guys, I might be the odd one out here. I'm not saying it's the only thing I Bing on, but I will sometimes eat cups and cups and cups of food until I am so beyond full. Food being Steamed vegetables or grilled or baked chicken. And white rice, but that seems kind of reasonable. My guess is similar to yours- I am actually eating to reach some satiety level that fat or savory foods bring, except I'm not finding it so I just keep eating more. And more.
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Actually guys, I might be the odd one out here. I'm not saying it's the only thing I Bing on, but I will sometimes eat cups and cups and cups of food until I am so beyond full. Food being Steamed vegetables or grilled or baked chicken. And white rice, but that seems kind of reasonable. My guess is similar to yours- I am actually eating to reach some satiety level that fat or savory foods bring, except I'm not finding it so I just keep eating more. And more.
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I do that too, actually. But usually I don't consider it binging and see it more as the lead in to the binge. When I overeat chicken or vegetables (and I do!) I don't usually feel too bad about it, so I don't get the same feeling of loss of control or guilt that accompanies a binge and so I therefore classify it more as overeating than binging. But for some reason, I can't stop with white rice and I do feel I binge on that and it usually leads to me eating a lot of other things I regret.0 -
I don't have BED but I feel very sorry for you all... I have had some strange food behaviors that could become a problem if something very sad/stressful/bad were to happen in my life. The only food I have really felt this uncontrolled over is nutella. With a spoon. The entire jar in 3 days/3 sittings. I could not stop! This happens every time I buy Nutella. I see all these yummy baked goods on pinterest with Nutella and I think well there wouldn't ever be enough in the jar to make a recipe! I don't buy it anymore... or if I find those tiny one serving containers, I'll buy one occasionally! The other day I went to a frozen yogurt shop and got to the end where the drizzle toppings are and they had a squeeze jar of Nutella. I wanted to dump my container of yogurt out and fill it with Nutella so bad! I took a little and left sad:'(0
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Some people call it an addiction to food - but as we have seen from the discussion, its really not about the food, its about the emotion toward the food, or the endorphins we create when we eat the food. That feeling of pleasure is a self reinforcing behaviour, much like Pavlovs dogs would salivate at the sound of the dinner bell, our surging feeligs can anticipate a free for all feeding frenzy - and a release of tension or anxiety. I liken it to an obsessive compulsive disorder - when I briefly interned at a psychiatric hospital back when dinosaurs ruled the earth, we had a patient diagnosed with OCD who would go back and forth from his room to the laundry room, just touching the windows. It was his way of coping with the stress of doing ANYTHING - going for meals, going for therapy, meeting new people etc. It could go on for HOURS. The trigger was always some sort of anxiety. I equate binging (and I have done it myself) to being unable to deal with some emotional stressor that I am feeling. A lot of time its anger, and I have to admit that I eat my anger to deal with it. And if you could see me, you would think wow - she's pretty angry!!! In a binge state, I have found that I am completely on auto pilot - I cannot seem to control what I am doing - its like I am in a fugue state. Fortunately, this has only happened a few times and I recognize now that it was in situations of extreme stress and anxiety. Feeling out of control, or feeling that I am BEING controlled makes me very angry!!
The sad fact though is that the bingeing doesnt, in fact relieve the tension and anxiety (perhaps briefly, while we are actually eating) but after that, we then feeling guilt, self loathing, sadness, and additional anxiety.
So......to deal with this I have to have a Plan B - I have been able to identify most of my triggers over the years, and know that when my spidey senses tingle, I have to follow through with certain behaviours. I have to have other outlets to deal with the stress or the anger. I know I can never have certain trigger foods in the house - I can have them when out for dinner, or at someone elses place, but if I have unrestricted access to them, I cant deal. I leave the house and go for a walk. I take a shower or a bath. I clean something, or rearrange my drawers or closets (my house is so neat!!) But really its all behaviours designed to help me understand and reinforce that I am in fact, in control of my choices.
I had a friend who was morbidly obese, and we talked about food addiction as related to alcoholism, drugs etc, and he too said that you can live without ever touching booze or heroin, but everyday, with a food issue, you have to let the tiger out of the cage at least once. The challenge is to control the tiger.0 -
^ Great post!0
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How can people consistently binge and not gain weight? It surprises me to see binge eaters at a healthy weight. In order for that to happen it seems one would have to restrict food on other days or exercise a lot to make up for it. Is it possible the restricting of food is leading to the binge? I binge from time to time but gain every ounce of it. The weight gain is what helps to control the binges but if there is no weight gain I can understand how difficult it would be to stop.0
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I've been anorexic and now I'm have BED. Food is on my mind constantly. I get fixated and can't let go until I actually eat what I crave. Can't sleep, can't focus on anything but.. Right now I am almost climbing the wall, because I have nothing in my house. Previously I starved myself (lost 88 lbs in under 3 months), and I can easily get that way again. It seems like I get in to starvation mode over a period, and then go over to binge eating again. I started as early as 9 years old, after an injury and a wicked step mom. The used to call me Cinderella at school. She with-held food every day, only giving me a dry piece of bread when my dad wasn't there. Weighed me every day. Told me how fat and ugly and how much she hated me. I was then at 5'9 and 132 lbs. My treatment team says that my body is scared it won't get food, that I am going to starve again. I also have complex PTSD, and dissosiate, so often I find items of food in my house that I don't like or even remember buying or eating. I also sleep eat. Nights and evenings are hard. Then the nightmares come, and I evidently cope by eating. Since the beginning of December I gained 44 lbs, and have been completely out of controll.
Please feel free to add me. I don't have a support system in my daily life, so it would be great being accountable to you guys.0 -
I would like to add you I am also battling binge eating, and would love support. I havent figured out how to add people yet new to MFP.0
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Hi,my name is Bob, and I know where your coming from I've had a problem with binge eating all my life and because of it I've experience many health problems Like Lymphodema,(swelling of the lower llim0
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Im new to MFP and I definitely am a binge eater. Last night was my first time being successful in not indulging. I've definitely experienced those regretful days. Is it weird that they usually happen on weekends?0
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fastfoodietofitcutie wrote: »How can people consistently binge and not gain weight? It surprises me to see binge eaters at a healthy weight.
My own experience....when I'm in my binge mode (weeks, months, years) I am 30-40 lbs heavier, and will maintain that weight give or take 5-10 lbs. My body gets used to those calories (3,000 -7,000) and my activity level stays the same.
When I am NOT bingeing, (eating 1200 - 1600 cals a day) I am 30-40 lbs lighter, which usually means I am restricting..not so much calories, but certain foods. The idea of a 'new habit is formed in 3 weeks or 30 days', does not ring true for me. I have done very well....say 4 mos, 8 mos at a time, over many, many years. Then I slip back into horrible habits, same previous habits that have plagued me for over 20 yrs. It's a vicious cycle. And even when I am 30-40 lbs lighter, I am still NOT at a healthy weight. Maybe mid-high end of over weight.
cross2bear above has a very good point. It's an emotion to the food. If you can stop yourself, in the very moment of that awful 'urge' to binge, know exactly **what** it is that you are feeling, thinking, whatever is happening, you will be closer to getting answers to the WHY. It's not easy, but you have to be fully aware. It will shed some light on your behavior. If you truly want to end it, you will keep trying til you figure it out. And....there is absolutely nothing wrong with getting help either. It's actually brave.0 -
fastfoodietofitcutie wrote: »How can people consistently binge and not gain weight? It surprises me to see binge eaters at a healthy weight.
Yeah seems a little...odd. Something else may be at play here and I don't relate. Binge or not, I chew and swallow what I eat. Then I allow it to completely digest and be excreted from my body. The natural way.
Yeah but binging is a behavior, and not a weight. Everyone has to start somewhere. As someone in a previous post mentioned, they had anorexia and started binging during that time. Someone can have horrendous binges and be underweight. Obviously binging consistently is usually going to result in weight gain, but depending where you're at in terms of weight in the beginning it may or may not lead to being overweight. And you're right, there are plenty of people who engage in compensatory behaviors to try to balance their binges such as restricting.0 -
fastfoodietofitcutie wrote: »How can people consistently binge and not gain weight? It surprises me to see binge eaters at a healthy weight.
Yeah seems a little...odd. Something else may be at play here and I don't relate. Binge or not, I chew and swallow what I eat. Then I allow it to completely digest and be excreted from my body. The natural way.
Yeah but binging is a behavior, and not a weight. Everyone has to start somewhere. As someone in a previous post mentioned, they had anorexia and started binging during that time. Someone can have horrendous binges and be underweight. Obviously binging consistently is usually going to result in weight gain, but depending where you're at in terms of weight in the beginning it may or may not lead to being overweight. And you're right, there are plenty of people who engage in compensatory behaviors to try to balance their binges such as restricting.
True, but if the behavior has yet to show the consequences - like huge weight gain in proportion to huge binges (which are not purged in one way or another) - I'd say it has yet to have become a significant problem. My posts, and the support and feelz I've offered thus far, are directed at the bingers who have suffered the natural consequences of prolonged and serious binging - which is serious weight gain. As for those who manage to binge regularly and not get fat? I don't know what the problem is and I don't think there is one. There are people who enjoy going on a wild feast now and then but remain at a healthy weight. Boo hoo.
There are more consequences then just weight gain. The feeling of loss of control, guilt, self hatred just to name few. Plus there are other physical consequences like headaches, severe digestive issues, etc.
binge eating is awful even at a healthy weight.
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I'm just now seeing this thread. I wouldn't call myself a "binge eater" because that means a specific event of over-eating, right? I just have an insatiable appetite. I always have and probably always will. So for the first couple years of weight loss, I would starve myself and allow a "cheat day" when I reached certain mileposts. The "cheat days" would still get logged, but I would not restrict myself. I would just eat what I wanted and as much as I wanted (like the good old days before trying to lose weight). These days would range from 18K-30K calories and would set me back a bit. Then for several months, I would go hungry to lose the weight gain from my cheat day plus to get to the next milestone.
For the last few months, I've fallen off the wagon and have been restricting too little. I might eat 5K calories, or maybe 8K-10K, but all of those mean weight gain. Some days I would fight the hunger and eat at a deficit, but it takes a lot of those days to erase a single day of only mild restriction. I've been trying to get back into the swing of things this week since I gained 6 lbs. last week with 3 days of only partially restricting intake.
I've tried some of the normal tricks - high protein intake, lots of veggies (early on, there was once that I ate 11 lbs. of salad and was still hungry for foods that actually taste good), lots of water... I haven't yet found anything that works. I'm open to new ideas, though, if anyone has them. I do have type 1 diabetes, and one of the often untreated issues with that is that I make no amylin. I might talk to my endocrinologist about trying that. When a prescription version of amylin first came out (Symlin), it caused extreme nausea and vomiting, so I stopped after a couple months.0 -
fastfoodietofitcutie wrote: »How can people consistently binge and not gain weight? It surprises me to see binge eaters at a healthy weight. In order for that to happen it seems one would have to restrict food on other days or exercise a lot to make up for it. Is it possible the restricting of food is leading to the binge? I binge from time to time but gain every ounce of it. The weight gain is what helps to control the binges but if there is no weight gain I can understand how difficult it would be to stop.
How can people consistently binge and not gain weight?
1. They are not consistently binging - they have restrict and binge cycles
2. They binge and purge and/or overexercise
3. Their idea of binging includes much less calories than yours does0 -
bologna111 wrote: »fastfoodietofitcutie wrote: »How can people consistently binge and not gain weight? It surprises me to see binge eaters at a healthy weight.
Yeah seems a little...odd. Something else may be at play here and I don't relate. Binge or not, I chew and swallow what I eat. Then I allow it to completely digest and be excreted from my body. The natural way.
Yeah but binging is a behavior, and not a weight. Everyone has to start somewhere. As someone in a previous post mentioned, they had anorexia and started binging during that time. Someone can have horrendous binges and be underweight. Obviously binging consistently is usually going to result in weight gain, but depending where you're at in terms of weight in the beginning it may or may not lead to being overweight. And you're right, there are plenty of people who engage in compensatory behaviors to try to balance their binges such as restricting.
True, but if the behavior has yet to show the consequences - like huge weight gain in proportion to huge binges (which are not purged in one way or another) - I'd say it has yet to have become a significant problem. My posts, and the support and feelz I've offered thus far, are directed at the bingers who have suffered the natural consequences of prolonged and serious binging - which is serious weight gain. As for those who manage to binge regularly and not get fat? I don't know what the problem is and I don't think there is one. There are people who enjoy going on a wild feast now and then but remain at a healthy weight. Boo hoo.
There are more consequences then just weight gain. The feeling of loss of control, guilt, self hatred just to name few. Plus there are other physical consequences like headaches, severe digestive issues, etc.
binge eating is awful even at a healthy weight.
Seriously? That list is for beginners. Morbid obesity, and the physical and mental symptoms associated with that condition is the end result of long term classic bingeing. Major depressive disorder, crippling anxiety, congestive heart failure, respiratory distress, fatty liver disease, kidney disease, physical immobility, knee and hip replacement surgeries, diabetes, neuropathy, blindness, amputation - and the list goes on and on.
Once again, regular "bingeing" results in regular weight gain. And it doesn't take long, in a bingeing lifestyle, to get really fat.
People who are dedicated to controlling their weight while regularly "bingeing" typically use oral diuretics, laxatives, forced vomiting, or spend 8 hours a day running on a treadmill. Bingers who use these methods to control their weight have serious problems. Like permanent heart and kidney damage that there's no coming back from. And I want nothing to do with that territory, nor will I discuss it here or anywhere else. I'm not saying anyone here is doing that, but if they're bingeing and not gaining weight, they're either not really bingeing or they're not bingeing often enough for them to wear the results of their binges. Or there's another problem. One that is too severe for discussion on a board like MFP, in my opinion.
Sigh. I've been sucked into a thread full of people of healthy weight who claim to be "bingers" it seems. My bad and I should have known better. The discussion boards are littered with this.
I'm out.
My purpose in starting this thread was for any and all individuals who engage in binge eating to be able to get support. Even if they aren't doing it on a daily basis, and even if they aren't obese. It's pretty clear that reading through this thread, what people consider to be a binge varies wildly. I am sorry that you are upset, and I will leave this subject alone but I do want to say just a couple more things:
-First, you seem to be assuming that everyone on here is of a healthy weight. My guess is peoples' weights probably vary quite a bit.
-Again, everyone has to start somewhere. I agree that if someone binges regularly they will gain weight very quickly. But also, someone can start binge eating at 100 pounds and not technically be overweight for a while, even if they are gaining extremely rapidly. Bad habits develop at all weights.
I really don't like confrontation and I was hoping this thread wouldn't turn into something negative, since it seems there are many people out there who feel they need support. I'm sorry that this thread was not what you were looking for. All the best.0 -
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I am trying to allow "bad" foods in daily if they fit my calories like today I had 10 mini peanut butter cups. A binge for me is probably 2000+ calories in a sitting usually so it's horrible, I would eat a whole pot of white rice with oil and two tubs of ice cream and a favorite was two bags of bagels with butter. I try to not eat in my room by myself anymore because I have been a secret eater/binger. Definitely not passed it but hoping to get a good streak of non bingeing days.0
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Bump again!0
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I am definitely a binge eater. It takes a toll on me; physically AND mentally. Started as a child, now Im almost 24 and trying to get it under control.0
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Two things have helped immensely in controlling this:
MFP and running.
MFP forces me to be accountable for what I'm eating - and there's been MANY times where I don't eat a "trigger" food because it's either not worth the calories, or because the hassle of weighing and logging it is more effort than I'm willing to put forth. It also forces me to be realistic. Seeing that it's okay to have a "bad" day once in a while - because overall, I'm still losing - helps with the guilt and sense of failure that can often send one into a tailspin of future binges.
Running also helps. It gives me a goal to work towards and feel good about. I've found a pattern between running and generally good habits about exercise and binging. When I'm unable to exercise or run - perhaps I have an injury, I'm busy, I'm sick - I tend to be MUCH more prone to buying and gorging on those trigger foods. Exercise makes me feel more in-control of myself and my life. I tend to find myself thinking about running, and looking forward to that, rather than obsessing over food. It doesn't hurt that running tends to curb my appetite a bit!
In both cases - it's all about giving yourself control. Binging makes us feel powerless. Find something that makes you feel powerFUL, and in control of yourself. Don't feel horrible if you have a day where you eat over your calories - just acknowledge that it happens and move on. 0 -
I also binge eat sometimes. It seems mental for me. I had never had this problem my whole life until i figured out how to count calories and get to super lean levels. It seams that once i set my mind to it, i dont care anymore, im eating everything in sight and no matter how hard i try i cant break it for the entire day. Sometimes i wake up the next morning and continue. Even though i know im going to put on a layer of body fat as a result, i still cant stop and i tell myself "oh well, i'll fix it in the next week or two". Again its mental, for some reason i mentally tell myself i dont care and will eat all the things i usually dont. For me its also like i'll have to eat everything i deprive myself of on as regular basis. But even if i bring these things into the house that i would binge on and tell myself i will have a portion of this so i dont deprive myself of this and therefore binge on it i still end up eating the entire thing of whatever it is when the binge hits. Example is peanut butter or nuts. I buy a jar or bag of nuts and eat a little portioned out to say im not depriving myself of this but when the binge hits i will then finish the whole jar or bag of nuts so now i just dont keep them in the house. It sucks but i have to do it this way...1
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I'm so happy I found this thread. I'm currently coming off of a really bad binge from yesterday and I'm not feeling too great about myself... I've been struggling with this for almost 10 years, and I am sick and tired of feeling this way. All of you feel free to add me!0
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Posting here for support. Falling back into my binge-eating habits slowly for the last 6 months, and I know it's wrong but right now I'm too weak to stop myself. Full on admitting it. Haven't exercised in a while due to surgery, but I also feel like poo because of the binging. My fiance supports my eating but he's at a loss for when I get mad when he tells me not to eat more... needing support please.0
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I have been a binge eater for as long as I can remember. my parents recount stories of when I was little & something would hurt my feelings at the dinner table, I would instantly snap & start shoveling my food into my mouth to a point where I wasn't even tasting it. Unfortunately, it wasn't something my parents thought of as a real issue, just a lack of willpower. I carried the issue into adulthood. My most recent binge was last Saturday, after an evening that included a few drinks I came home & ate half a packet of Razzles & a pint of M&m ice cream. I felt so shameful the next morning, which is why I generally try to avoid alcohol because the smallest amount will set off that old habit. That was my first time binging in a month & I'm hoping my next run will be much longer. I portion everything out, take pictures of everything I eat... I'm also on generic Prozac, my doctor said that if we addressed my depression, I would probably find myself binging less which has obviously worked thus far. Good luck to you all0
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Wicked_Seraph wrote: »Two things have helped immensely in controlling this:
MFP and running.
MFP forces me to be accountable for what I'm eating - and there's been MANY times where I don't eat a "trigger" food because it's either not worth the calories, or because the hassle of weighing and logging it is more effort than I'm willing to put forth. It also forces me to be realistic. Seeing that it's okay to have a "bad" day once in a while - because overall, I'm still losing - helps with the guilt and sense of failure that can often send one into a tailspin of future binges.
Running also helps. It gives me a goal to work towards and feel good about. I've found a pattern between running and generally good habits about exercise and binging. When I'm unable to exercise or run - perhaps I have an injury, I'm busy, I'm sick - I tend to be MUCH more prone to buying and gorging on those trigger foods. Exercise makes me feel more in-control of myself and my life. I tend to find myself thinking about running, and looking forward to that, rather than obsessing over food. It doesn't hurt that running tends to curb my appetite a bit!
In both cases - it's all about giving yourself control. Binging makes us feel powerless. Find something that makes you feel powerFUL, and in control of yourself. Don't feel horrible if you have a day where you eat over your calories - just acknowledge that it happens and move on.
This. So much this.
MFP has been a huge help in getting my binges under control, because it makes me accountable for everything I put in my mouth. Seeing it all out there in front of me makes me much less likely to give in to something that doesn't fit my calorie goal. And, regular exercise, especially running, helps regulate my mood and keep it much more stable than before, so I'm less likely to be in a state of mind where I want to binge.0
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