Have you tried counselling or coaching for weight loss or binge eating?

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Joninjas
Joninjas Posts: 3 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Has anyone in this group paid for counselling or coaching for weight loss and binge eating in the past? Was it worth it? What was good/bad about it? Did it help you? And how much did it cost?

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  • natashapage07
    natashapage07 Posts: 1 Member
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    Hi there!
    I decided to seek the help of a counseller 6 weeks ago as I’ve been yo-yo dieting for the past 15 years. I have decided to take this step to address the unhealthy relationship I have with food and to help me work toward a more positive mindset.
    I’m sick to death of being on a constant “diet”, I so desperately want to have that healthy relationship and understand why I have the relationship I do.
    I am at the very start of my journey really but it is starting to help me understand unhealthy triggers and I’m slowly beginning to spot when those negative thoughts enter my head and how to positively change those thoughts.
    It’s a working progress and for the most part, I’m in a positive headspace but there are times (like today for example) where I still have negative thoughts. Generally no self love or appreciation or ability to applaud myself and the hard work and effort I have put in so far!
    My counsellor is nearly qualified, so is cheaper than a fully qualified counsellor but I connect with her as she has been through the same journey as me. I pay £25 per hour (I’m in the UK) but fully qualified, they usually charge between £50 & £75 per hour.
    For me, whilst expensive, this is an investment in myself and I’m proud for taking this route.
  • teranga79
    teranga79 Posts: 202 Member
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    Am watching this thread with interest as I'm thinking about counselling. My binge eating has gone from an occasional thing (maybe once every six weeks) to every day. Am really struggling to make any headway on my own so am thinking outside help is needed - but I don't really know where to start with it. Thanks for posting this OP - hopefully there'll be some great advice we can both use.
  • Oppaloopa
    Oppaloopa Posts: 49 Member
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    You could try O.A. which has helped many and it's free. Also 2 different book from People who had a compulsive eating problem. Bright Line Eating by Susan Thompson. Another one that is terrific. The Carbohydrate addicts diet
  • amgreenwell
    amgreenwell Posts: 1,268 Member
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    Yes, when I first started my journey I paid for some counseling and nutrition coaching. It was totally worth it as we came up with a plan for eating that was realistic and a work out plan that I could live with. There were plenty of slip ups but overall it was worth every penny. It got me over the hump of having to figure everything out on my own and I had someone else who was watching out for me and keeping me accountable.
  • fitoverfortymom
    fitoverfortymom Posts: 3,452 Member
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    I wholeheartedly support counseling. If you can see an eating disorder specialist, that would be best, but obviously the more of a specialist you see, the more expensive it gets.

    I have also had this book suggested to me: https://www.amazon.com/Food-Feelings-Workbook-Course-Emotional/dp/0936077204 if you want to try self-guided treatment first or alongside work with a counselor.
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 27,902 Member
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    Years ago when I was a heavy drinker I found the Cognitive Behavioral Therapy principles of Smart Recovery and Rational Recover helpful, and they apply to food issues as well. I believe RR no longer has in person meetings but SR still does. They are free.

    I went to a few OA meetings (and numerous AA and NA meetings, mostly with friends and family) but never liked the 12 step model. I am not powerless.

    This book on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for overeating was available in my library system, so perhaps yours as well.

    The Beck Diet Solution: Train Your Brain to Think Like a Thin Person

    Can thinking and eating like a thin person be learned, similar to learning to drive or use a computer? Beck (Cognitive Therapy for Challenging Problems) contends so, based on decades of work with patients who have lost pounds and maintained weight through Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). Beck's six-week program adapts CBT, a therapeutic system developed by Beck's father, Aaron, in the 1960s, to specific challenges faced by yo-yo dieters, including negative thinking, bargaining, emotional eating, bingeing, and eating out. Beck counsels readers day-by-day, introducing new elements (creating advantage response cards, choosing a diet, enlisting a diet coach, making a weight-loss graph) progressively and offering tools to help readers stay focused (writing exercises, to-do lists, ways to counter negative thoughts). There are no eating plans, calorie counts, recipes or exercises; according to Beck, any healthy diet will work if readers learn to think differently about eating and food. Beck's book is like an extended therapy session with a diet coach. (Apr.)
  • RelCanonical
    RelCanonical Posts: 3,882 Member
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    I sought counseling for numerous reasons, but eating was an aspect of it. It has been very effective for me. I still go in order to continually improve even though I've gotten a lot better and the worst (i.e. the binge eating) is over. I just go less frequently now, 1-2 times a month instead of once a week. I know it's not feasible for everyone to be able to spend that amount on counseling, especially in the US, but for me it has been worth every penny.
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 27,902 Member
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    Oppaloopa wrote: »
    You could try O.A. which has helped many and it's free. Also 2 different book from People who had a compulsive eating problem. Bright Line Eating by Susan Thompson. Another one that is terrific. The Carbohydrate addicts diet

    I got "Bright Line Eating" from my library after people mentioned it here. The science was interesting, but I disagree wholeheartedly with her conclusions.

    For most of us, never eating flour or sugar again is simply not necessary and overly restrictive.
  • mariececilia10
    mariececilia10 Posts: 77 Member
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    I’ve seen several counselors over the last five years, several who specialize in disordered eating. I think probably the most effective tool I took away from the experience was to stop and ask myself, “What do I need?” Usually, it isn’t food.
  • Loves2snack
    Loves2snack Posts: 112 Member
    edited October 2018
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    I have tried counceling and no I didn't find it to help. I go to OA meetings now and boy did it click right away!
  • Loves2snack
    Loves2snack Posts: 112 Member
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    Oppaloopa wrote: »
    You could try O.A. which has helped many and it's free. Also 2 different book from People who had a compulsive eating problem. Bright Line Eating by Susan Thompson. Another one that is terrific. The Carbohydrate addicts diet

    I found OA through reading bright line eating! I really enjoyed that book and it just clicked. I'm not giving up flour tho...lol

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