Bulimia recovery and tracking..

I think you should add them anyways.

I've been sitting here thinking about this for awhile, and you are in a really tough spot. As dorky as this sounds.. you should make a pros and cons list of tracking vs not tracking.
My initial thought was for you to also stop tracking calories, until you can get yourself under control.
I agree with peachyxoxoxo on a lot of things, but since we don't know your situation very well, it wont really help with what we say.
My only advice, and like I said, take it for what it's worth, is to go a doctor who can help out.
Also, don't hate yourself.

i am bulimic and struggle with that same question almost every day. almost every day for the last 10 years i also tell myself i won't b/p. i honestly believe that you should stop counting calories if you are binging - it's impossible to factor in what you are stuck with calorie wise. don't kill yourself by putting in the full amount, because that is way more than you are keeping down. if you must continue, perhaps putting in just half of the calories is a happy medium?

Actually, now that i'm really thinking about this - i believe a gentleman up above said that you should just continue tracking, i sort of feel like that is the best way to shock yourself back into reality, and i think that is what i will start doing. know in your brain that it is an inflated calorie count, but keep the gritty details on paper to keep you motivated to do better tomorrow.

hmmm

<3christine

I'm not in recovery from bulimia but I'm in recovery from purging type anorexia, I know they're completely opposite or so they say but I don't actually believe anorexia and bulimia is that different. I mean you have whether you're suffering from anorexia or bulimia, you have an extreme food obsession, weight obsession, and you need to be in control, it's just slightly different with the two, anorexics gain their control by not eating whereas from what I know, most bulimics binge then try and gain the control back by vomiting, overexercising and fasting.

I used to purge everyday, usually over ten times in a day, and the only thing that helped me see what I was doing was keeping a journal. It sounds lame but it really helped me, now on a bad week I purge three times max. Write down how you were feeling before, during and after and what was consumed. Do this every time it happens, I know it's hard seeing yourself 'fail' but if you're ever going to beat this, you need to find out what triggers it. For example, I know I'm more likely to purge if I'm feeling upset, tired or stressed. I know my anorexia started after my dad left and I know that I feel I need the control because I couldn't control my dad leaving. I know I started purging because I couldn't cope with the loss of my baby. Whenever anything bad happens, I have always resorted to this because it's what I know but I'm slowly learning more about myself and I'm working through my issues.

Do you talk to anyone about this? I think you would massively benefit from it xxx

If I binge and purge, I tend to input 1/2 to 2/3 of the calories, although I have not binged and purged in a week now. I was doing it sometimes once a day, sometimes a few times a week. It really takes mammoth self control to quit the binge eating and I doubt it will never happen to me again, but working on cutting it down is a good starting place and keeping mindful enough to identify any triggers, such as certain emotions, situations or dietary deficits. Eating a lot of protein can be a good starting point, as it fills you up, depending on the type, and eating regularly so you do not get hungry enough to feel a need to binge. Routine is also good for some. Be aware that what you are doing is very damaging and can result in death, even if you feel safe doing it. It puts a tremendous strain on the heart, and causes damage to the stomach and throat, not to mention the teeth.

I would agree with someone else who said to stop purging so you have to sit and experience the result of a binge, rather than run from it. It will be scary, and yes, cause a temporary weight gain, but once you know how bad it feels, you will be less inclined to do it. You need to, in your mind, decide that purging, the really damaging part, is not an option anymore. Also the more you purge, the more you tend to want to binge again the next day as your body has had the message it got a load of sugar, then finds it gone again.

Practise making yourself aware as you are binge eating, of what you are doing, and start trying to stop yourself before it gets too far. I personally just allow myself a treat item most days now rather than restricting, and that is working for now. Most important of all, is tackling the underlying issues of why you are caught in this pattern and learning healthier ways of dealing with them, whether that be talking to someone, writing it down or finding a hobby to take your mind off things.

I would strongly suggest seeing a doctor and getting yourself some therapy, if you have not done so already, and focussing not on the scale or the numbers, but on your health as you only get this life once, and once it is gone, it is gone.