Binge eating?

Generally I found in myself, and have seen with others that the more restrictive a persons diet (whether that is excluding food groups, setting calories too low, of labeling some foods as "bad") the more likely they are to binge.

There is a group specifically for people who suffer from this. Hopefully someone will post up a link so thatyou can get an invite.

StealthHealth wrote: »

Generally I found in myself, and have seen with others that the more restrictive a persons diet (whether that is excluding food groups, setting calories too low, of labeling some foods as "bad") the more likely they are to binge.

There is a group specifically for people who suffer from this. Hopefully someone will post up a link so thatyou can get an invite.

Exactly, the stress and guilt does far more damage than the extra calories.

Think about your diet plan this way, Can I do what I am doing right now for the rest of my life? Be honest with yourself. If the answer is NO, then you need to stop right now and create a new plan.
Believe me, you can eat any type of food and still lose weight.

As far as binge-eating, that happens to me sometimes, too. I think it's part of the depression/addiction thing for me. It sometimes seems that the only thing that gives me ANY pleasure, however fleeting, is eating. That leads to more self-loathing, leads to more eating, rinse, repeat. My key to breaking the cycle, other than treating the depression with the herbal supplement I mentioned above, is EXERCISE. It will immediately boost your serotonin levels and suppress your appetite, and instead of self-loathing, will induce positive feelings about yourself. It's a positive cycle. You just have to train yourself to take that right turn out the front door instead of heading to the fridge. Keep your walking shoes on all the time at first so you have no excuse. As soon as you find yourself bored and headed to the kitchen, TURN RIGHT! out the front door and go for a good brisk 10-minute walk. You'll return feeling better and without the urge to binge. If you keep it up, it will become a habit and will be your automatic go-to when negative thoughts and anxiety creep in. I lost 50 pounds a couple of years ago and this was a big part of it. I injured my hip overtraining and used that as an excuse to put it all back on. So here I am back at the start of my journey again! I'm training myself to TURN RIGHT! again, too. Good luck to you.

Hey there! I also have struggled with a mixture of depression and the cycle of dieting for 3-4 days and then binging, then hating myself. You CAN and you WILL overcome it! I still do it every now and then but not nearly as often as I used to. Just coming here for advice is showing you're taking steps in the right direction.

Also--did the lexapro help? I used to get on prozac, feel great, then think "Oh I don't need this anymore YAY"....and then of course within weeks I was miserable. Now after years of doing that, I've learned to accept that my brain just has an imbalance and needs the help. If you feel that the pill helps, get back on it! If you would rather not depend on a pill, you should try therapy. It works wonders. And speak kindly to yourself!

Feel free to add me and message me anytime if you want to talk to someone who's been in the same sort of situation.

I am an emotional binge eater- this I know about myself. It can be self-destructive. Th only person who can fix it it Me (or in your case for your bing eating..YOU).

We are here to support each other. you are NOT alone, know that...

I used to do the exact same thing. What I realized was that on the days I thought I was eating healthy, I actually wasn't eating enough. I was restricting my food intake too much so my brain began to urge me to eat a bunch of food. Survival instincts. So I'm wondering if you're doing the same, not eating enough on the days you consider healthy.

I really recommend going to your doctor and talking about the depression and how it's affecting your eating. I've been overweight by 20-30lbs pretty much since I was a teenager. But as I've gotten older I've also developed depression and anxiety problems that have become steadily worse. I have tried and failed to lose weight countless times, like you say, being healthy for a while and then binging and ruining it all.

Once I'd binged a little I'd fall completely back into old habits, punishing myself for not being able to stick to a diet and just accepting the fact that I'd always be a failure. But, recently, after I'd changed a number of other things in my life (cutting people out, moving to a new home, starting a new job) I finally decided it was time to face my demons and tackle my depression.
I went to see the doctor and have been prescribed anti-depressants (sertraline) that I have been taking for about six weeks now. The difference it has made has been amazing. I no longer worry the way I did and I don't get upset about the tiniest of things. The urge to binge is still there but I am so much better at fighting it. Since starting the antidepressants, I have so much more motivation to lead a healthier life, and am much more confident to just do what I want, rather than what I think other people want me to do.

I'm doing really well and eating healthily and this time it just feels different, this time I know I'm ready and I can succeed. I'm also starting CBT therapy in the new year, which I am really looking forward to.

Maybe it would be a good idea for you to write all of your feelings down, before and after you binge. Speak to your doctor, the likelihood is that he/she will tell you that your binging is a result of your depression, which then makes you feel even worse about yourself, creating a vicious cycle. Medication and/or therapy can help break this cycle and give you the confidence to make the changes in your life that you want to make. I hope this helps you and others, and it was really great to get this all out even if nobody reads it!

Good luck to you!