Mental Healing After a Binge

It's tough. I think people who haven't experienced a binge can't really understand what's happening mentally during one... or especially after. It's a cycle - either you beat yourself up about it, or you let it go so completely that it ends up happening again. Taking it one day at a time is the only thing that works for me. Give yourself a clean slate. Every single time.

I have some very close friends in AA, and they approach addiction in a similar way. Honestly, I've learned a lot from that program. Many of the lessons can be applied here. Whatever you do, don't give up

Has anyone ever told you it's OKAY to be successful?
Has anyone ever told you it's okay to love yourself?

It's your perspective that needs to change.

I used to be addicted to food and after 4 months, I've lulled it down significantly. You gave yourself the answer in your post without realising it:

"Lately I have been more accepting about the way my body looks and feels, because I know that soon, I will be able to change this."

Look at this closely. You've been more accepting of the way your body looks and feels, which means at some level you're telling yourself that you've met a goal you are satisfied with. This is fine if you use it as a benchmark to continue, but instead you're falling into a trap I used to fall into all the time - you're convincing yourself that you don't have to diet/exercise and your using that state of mind to justify it.
PLEASE don't misunderstand me - you DO NEED TO LOVE WHO YOU ARE. But, the reason you're on this site is because you're trying to change into a 'healthier you', and that's important to remember.
Also, you said 'because you know 'soon', you 'will' be able to change this'. Using words like 'soon' and 'will' is secretly convincing yourself you aren't able to do it now. You believe you will one day, but that day HAS TO BE TODAY! Instead, say you 'are' losing weight and you're 'continuing' to change this.

I feel strongly about this because my perspective was the reason I was overweight. I would say things like 'meh, I don't need to lose weight because I ran three weeks ago'. Does it make sense? No. Did I use it to justify my lifestyle? Yes.

You can do this, trust me. Just focus on your perspective and how you're looking at your journey ahead. Stay POSITIVE!

All we can do is try again, don't constantly beat yourself up over it, the past is the past, and we can't change it now. I have a problem with emotional eating, and many days it is hard not to eat a bunch of sweets. But each time you get the temptation just try to be strong a little bit longer, a little longer, a little longer. Pretty soon, it will be something you don't worry about so often. If it is at all possible, try taking a walk or run, or doing some push ups and sit ups for 15 mins. At least if you still decide to snack you have burned a few of the calories off and don't feel so bad about it!! I know you can do it, it will just take time. It's not a sprint, it's a life-long marathon. Little changes, a little bit at a time, and that's what it sounds like you are doing if the binges are getting less frequent!! Don't give up, you can get there!!!

i binge. YES I BINGE A LOT actually. i remember eating half a jar of peanut butter in one sitting, an entire family sized bag of trail mix (well over 5000 cals), several pecan pie crusts, etc. sometimes i hoard cups of food (usually full of sunflower seeds, craisins, red kidney beans and peanut butter) from the dining halls and then eat it in the bathroom because its too embarrassing to eat in front of everyone. binge eating is both terrifying and exhilarating, i know i binge because high fat food puts me on an emotional high.

then afterward is the bad part. as im binge eating, my insides are screaming at me telling me that i am not hungry but then another part of me says ~you dont deserve to be at your goals because you are worthless~. its actually quite terrifying. then after my binges i feel so blown up that i can hardly move and i HATE myself, i mean, i REALLY just LOATHE myself for it.

instead of hating myself, i decided to think, ~okay, look. i binged but now its over~. i started to exercise (its hard to binge when you know you cant run a mile straight), i took it easy on myself, and i told my inner critic to SHUT UP. writing things out helped too, ive done so many ~pseudo binges~ where i write explicitly what i eat, how it tastes, and how im feeling after and during it. that helped because i got to visualize it. and i just hated when my inner critic scolded me for eating too much, i decided that it was just NOT WORTH IT.

my advice? love yourself. you binge, but you love yourself enough to stop carrying on unhealthy behavior. you cant take care of something that you dont love, and it has to start with yourself. i still binge occasionally, but NEVER do i binge like i used to, to the point where ive lost all hope for myself. you can do it!!

I have had this same problem. I picked up a bunch of books from amazon.com Idk if they might help you, Basically you have to figure out whats really bothering you and why and try to heal from there. That's what I did. It took time and I still have bad days now and again. but it is much better. ok the titles are: "50 ways to soothe yourself without food"
"Emotional Eating: A Practical Guide to Taking Control "
"Overcoming Binge Eating"
"Nice Girls Finish Fat: Put Yourself First and Change Your Eating Forever "

I'm still reading the last 2. Every time I feel like binging I stop and ask myself why? And grab one of those books or other distracting things and read. The thing you have to remember is that it's not about the food it's about stress and a lot of times emotional pain. You can do this. Don't give up you're worth it