Any Recovered Binge Eaters? Recovering Binge Eaters?

Hey girly! I've definitely had my bouts, my struggles, my own extremes (from starving to binge eating due to depression) so you're definitely not alone. It took me a total mental and emotional overhaul to cease my true binges and late night snacking. This was also the time I struggled with crazy allergy attacks and got back into running - a total overhaul of health. I actually attribute a lot of it to prayer, for some that's meditation. Working on my emotional hang ups, and roots of pain have revealed how and why I view food in an unhealthy way. It's become more of a source of fuel and not pleasure, where I practice more self-control and self-love in other ways.

Have you ever thought about OA? I've heard it works wonders because of the support group. Check it out: http://www.oa.org/

I am a recovering binge eater- just starting my journey. I started seeing a weight management doctor in December who put me on Wellbutrin and Topamax to help with my cravings and binges as well as monitoring calories and exercise. So far so good.

I fall prey to occasional multi-thousand calorie binges but since I started putting effort into a healthier diet its been getting better. Also I try to shift my binges towards healthier things. I still mess up once in a while but I feel like I'm gaining some self-control. The more weight I lose the more guilt I feel from bingeing and I think that is helping somewhat when I realize how hard I've worked to lose weight and be healthier.

Yes I am a binge eater. I usually do well for a week or 2 tops ..then I sit down and devour every single thing in my kitchen in about 30 minutes. So yes I know where you are coming from and it is not a fun place to be. I have worked hard to extend the time between binges and I also do a lot of praying as one of the other girls posted. About a year ago I was binging ever other day so I think I could consider myself recovering. Im not sure if I'll ever stop binging completely but I have faith and Im working hard. Good luck to you hun.

Working out regularly, not eating a huge variety of foods, lots of water and raw carrots, sleep, vitamins and 5 htp supplements brought it under control for me pretty much entirely. It can be brutal. I hated where I was.
The good news is it can and does get better.

i made an appt with counsellor and probably a psychologist to help me with binging at night. i just joined MFP for couple days so i hope it will also help. good luck everyone.. it's not fun to be out of control for sure.

Yes!!!! I have had a huge problem with binge eating. I thought I would never be able to get control of my binge eating. I felt hopeless about this. I went crazy trying to make sure that I did an hour of cardio plus strength training at least five days a week. I would come home from work, and eat for about three hours. If there was something in my kitchen that I wanted, I couldn't stop thinking about it until I went and got it. Even if I didn't like the food I would still eat it. I was exercising to the point of wearing out, and then eating a ton of food, and not losing any weight. I tried counting calories. This helped me realize what the correct portion size would look like, but I went crazy trying to keep track of all of my calories.
I realized that I had certain times of the day when I would binge....after work, and late at night. I was able to eat right while I was at work, but then I would come home and go crazy. If I missed a day of exercise I would get depressed, and eat and eat and eat. I have started trying to go to bed earlier. This way I'm not temped for that midnight snack. Also, this gives me more energy during the day. I have stopped killing myself with exercise. Instead of making sure that I get in an hour of cardio, and an hour of strength training, I just make sure that I'm staying active. I usually walk during my daughter's soccer practice. Usually I'm able to get about five miles twice a week doing this. Then one night a week I will go skating with a friend for one hour. and then on other days I try to get in at least one to two miles on my elliptical. I also will throw in some strength training during this time. Even if I only get in fifteen minutes of exercise it helps me not feel so hungry. If I have a day where I just don't feel like exercising then I take a day off. I make sure that I take no more than two days off though. I use to feel that if I didn't stick to my exercise schedule, then I had failed, and I might as well enjoy a binge. Also, I do not count calories anymore. I don't have a problem with people counting calories, but for me it has been easier for me to just eat smaller portions, and to stop the binge eating. If I do eat more than I should I do not beat myself up. I also don't give up, and go crazy with food, because I went over on calories. I have almost lost sixty pounds now. Once I got control of my binging the weight has just been coming off. I'm not going crazy with exercise, and I don't count my calories. I have gone from a size 20 to almost a 10 now. I do not have the food cravings that I use to have. The binging is what was killing me. Also I take One A Day Active Metabolism multivitamin around 1 or 2 in the afternoon. This vitamin has some caffeine in it ( about the amount of one cup of coffee) This helps me with energy levels and with my hunger cravings. I now try to find things to do during the times I use to binge. It took me a long time to get control of this, but once I figured out how to change things up, so that I would be busy during my binge times I have been doing pretty good. I would not say that I feel like I am cured of binge eating, but I have not had any problems with binges for about eight months now. I still eat the foods and candy that I love, but I don't go crazy with it anymore. Sorry this is so long, but your post really hit home with me. I truly know what you are feeling. This is not hopeless If you have any questions feel free to ask

Since you asked for book recommendations: I like the book "Overcoming Binge Eating" by Christopher Fairburn. I used to be a binge eater and exercise purger in high school. In college I ended up working as a research assistant for a study on eating disorder treatments. Everyone who got into the study got this book; I read it too and really loved it! Between that and a knee surgery and a lot of yoga I would say I am in a place where I love and appreciate my body for what it is, though I'm hoping to get healthier by losing a little weight Good luck to you!!

I'm overcoming my binge eating! It's been about 10 days since my last real binge. [: I'm doing GREAT, too!

Yup I am a binge eater there are days when I lose control and go over 3500+ I am trying to control it.

I honestly didn't even know this was a thing, but it's definitely something that would describe my eating patterns. Oh my god, this explains so much.... Can we be friends please?

I'm working on it.

Hi there,

Totally get the 'binge thing'...... I am one of those people. Its amazing how we can eat uncontrollably and then turn it around by being in complete control of what goes in our mouths and loose weight..... Why do we do that?

Does anyone have answers?

Two really good books that have helped me are by Geneen Roth: "When Food Is Love" and "Women, Food and God". I have read them twice now and keep them on hand for reference. She seems to know what's behind this craziness and is quite witty as well. She has helped me understand the reasons why we stuff our feelings down with food and explains compulsive eating. I highly recommend her books as they've done a world of good for me.