Do I have an eating disorder or am I just out of control?

[BubblesInMyBath]

I'm currently obese and a very emotional eater - when happy I can be a super health freak

But then the slightest knock and I can eat so badly I put on over half a stone in a week

I mainly binge on take aways and feel almost addicted when it happens, every binge is ''my last" so gets bigger and I'm terrified I won't be around for my DS if I carry on

I generally only crack it for a while if things improve and I'm happier

Is there help?

[Albadross]

The fact you recognise this is a step towards help - and you don't need to have a diagnosis to ask for it

[BubblesInMyBath]

Who do you ask for help?

The GP has just shoved weight loss pills at me - which hasnt solved anything

[ragged]

There are a lot of self-help groups online, and real life local support meetings.
I imagine Binge Eating is the most common ED there is.
I have a high opinion of Overeaters Anonymous, but they do have a programme that can be narrow due to religious origins, some people hate it. Nice thing about OA is the whole ethos of anonymity, privacy & confidentiality is a huge big deal.

BEAT is good, too.

[crazycatlady82]

Ragged is right, you should look for support.

People think that being overweight or obese is just a case of eating less/exercise more but it is often more complex than that.

It's difficult whilst in a binge because you may become focused and almost in a trance like state. If interrupted you may well become very argumentative with the person who interrupts the binge.

The most difficult thing is stopping the binge from happening to start with. Asking yourself questions like:

Am I actually hungry?
How will I feel immediately after I eat this?
How will this make me feel if I continue this behaviour?

Also using a food diary app like myfitnesspal can be helpful to keep you on track. By self-monitoring it makes you think about your behaviours more and reduce your risk of binging. You can also put your feelings in there which may help you identify your triggers to binge - good days, bad days, being alone, under pressure etc.

Also if you are keen to lose weight don't use the kcals they suggest. Start with 1800kcal per day and if you aren't losing on that drop it by 100kcals per week until you are losing weight. Don't add in exercise kcals until you have reached your weight loss goal.

Hope that helps