I seem to always have this problem! I think for me (being very general here) it normally comes down to getting that feeling like I won't make that goal so I've already failed and now I may as well just fail big. The "goal" could be anything really-long term, short term, just looking nice to go on a date with my boyfriend that night even.

Eating is also definately a relaxing thing for me. I usually try to exercise right after work so I don't fall into that eating for hours trap and also because that can be relaxing, but that often fails because I'm starving by the time I finish working out and basically just start binging and of course can't stop even once I'm full. I nearly fell into it last night, but a last minute change of plans saved me. I was going to actually cook something but instead I just made a quick veggie burger and ate one of those microwave veggie sides while that was cooking. Its pretty rediculous since it only takes like 10 minutes to cook a veggie burger but I couldn't even wait for that! I really wanted to keep eating, though, and I basically just had to tell myself no. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. Sometimes making myself a fancy tea or some kind of non-alcohol drink works because I feel like I'm getting a treat. Sometimes I cut deals with myself, like I can pick one really tasty thing to eat that will take me over calories but then can't have anything else (seems to help with not feeling deprived). I'd love to hear what others use to get more ideas of things to try, though.

I had never thought of it that way, but that does make sense. Something to think about....

i think i self sabotage (and let me apologize now, i'm going to get personal) because of my past. i've grown up believing being overweight meant there was something wrong with me and I was alone a lot as a child so my source of comfort became food. If someone (ie. family usually) was to make a remark about my weight I'd joke about it and shrug it off. But make a mental note of it unconsciously. I binge when i am alone. It makes me feel better (for a moment). I've struggled with it my whole life and now I'm seeing it in my daughter. that makes me sad. i'm learning there is nothing wrong with me and that i am a good person despite being overweight. one day at a time.

I WISH I HAD THE ANSWER. MY ONLY TRUE DETERENT HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL WEIGHT LOSS. NO WEIGHT LOSS AND I FEEL LIKE WHAT'S THE USE. IF I'M MOT LOOSING WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES IT MAKE IF I BINGE? WHILE PRAYING I CAN ONE DAY REALLY STOP BINGING, I DO EVERY THING I CAN TO CURTAIL IT.

I HAVE FOUND A WAY TO REDUCE MY BINGING BY NOT KEEPING CERTAIN FOODS IN THE HOUSE. SADLY, I CAN BINGE ON ANYTHING MAKING ME QUEEN OF THE LOW CAL/ NO WEIGHT GAIN BINGE FOR ME THIS INCLUDES ANGEL HAIR CABBAGE AND SHREDDED LETTUCE. THIS DOES NOT STOP EVERY BINGE IT BUT IT FORCES ME TO WORK FOR IT. I AM NOT BEYOND A MIDNIGHT JUNK FOOD RUN. EVERY TIME I DON'T TAKE THE DRIVE IS A SMALL VICTORY.

ANOTHER THING I DO IS EAT SOMETHING SO FILLING I CANNOT OVEREAT. FOR ME THAT IS DENSE PROTEIN LIKE LEAN MEAT OR KONJAC YAM (SHIRATAKI). I CONTINUE TO EAT EVEN WHEN I AM FULL. THESE THINGS FILL ME SO QUICKLY AND COMPLETELY THAT IT IS PHYSICALLY PAINFULL TO EAT ANYTHING MORE.

NOT EATING SHOULD BE MY FIRST WAY TO AVOID SELF SABATAGE BUT I'M NOT SO EVOLVED YET. STEP THREE IS OVEREATERS ANANYMOUS ONLINE, (http://www.therecoverygroup.org/meetings/index.html). MEETINGS EVERY THREE HOURS 24/7. AFTER I'VE SEARCHED FOR BINGE FOODS AND SETTLED FOR SOMETHING FILLING I CAN HANDLE A MEETING. IF I DO THE MEETING WITHOUT EATING FIRST I AM WORSE AT THE END OF THE HOUR. CRAZY YES BUT COMPULSIVE OVER EATING IS A CRAZY DISEASE .


NONE OF THE ABOVE STOPS MY BINGE EATING. BUT, ALL OF IT HAS HELPED ME HANDLE IT BETTER. ITS ALMOST A CREATIVE PROCESS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WILL WORK FOR THE MOMENT EACH DAY.

WE WILL BEAT THIS. WE HAVE TO.

I haven't found a way to stop it. I have learned to have that dialogue you mentioned, but I haven't learned to listen to it. I used to 'automatically' go to the fridge/cupboard. I now go, stop and think 'do I really want this?' then my brain says 'yes' and onwards I go. The 'answer' I know is distraction and not having the stuff in the house. One I'm better at than the other, but neither I'm good at just now.

However, I'm half way through day three of being 'good' (bad CBT language, I know). I had a terrible few months of binge/purge, I've stopped purging due to the damage I've done to my teeth, but kept overeating. I haven't binged in this last month per se, i.e. I haven't secretly eaten, eaten really quickly and with intensity, but I have overeaten, basically from getting up in the morning til going to bed at night. I have started taking anti-depressants which are supposed to be good for bulimia (they don't know why) so I'm attributing the 'difference' to that, and my regained control? Prozac? My inevitable regaining of control, which I have on/off? Don't know. Time will tell.

All I know is when I'm in that moment, nothing will stop me going for the food. And for some reason, I'm 'ok' at the moment. Why do we do it? There's the question. Comfort? Taste? Filling a psychological hole? Boredom? Anxiety? I think it's likely all of the above for me, and what the CBT has helped me realise is that I find it really hard to identify my feelings. So the whole 'what feeling am I masking by bingeing?' is basically like asking me how big the universe is or something. I just don't know - and that in itself is frustrating. Bah.

Anyway, go me, day 3. Can't be complacent but fingers crossed eh? These boards are great though - I no longer feel so much of a freak. Well, I do, but you're all with me!

Hello Everyone,

I was invited to the group today by my dear friend Mollie :flowerforyou: and would like to introduce myself. I'm Diane and I am addicted to sugar, specifically candy & ice cream. Please feel free to read about my situation in my profile. It is open to all. Please do not feel obligated to send me a friend request simply because I am a part of this group. I keep my friend list very small, otherwise it is too overwhelming for me and thus counterproductive. And until Christmas, I will not be around very much anyhow.

To answer the topic question:

I remind myself it is not my fault that I am the way I am with food. It has been somewhat of a relief to me to have been able to establish exactly how my behavior started and why it has continued for so many years. BED is a very real disease and it has nothing to do with willpower.

I remind myself that changing my behavior is going to take lots of time and lots of practice. It can be done, but it will take a lot of patience.

I remind myself that perfection isn't a realistic goal.

I am only at fault if I give up.