Help!!! Think I have (binging) eating disorder

[needhugs]

I'm currently on a strict diet and fitness plan to lose weight, it's going well but once a week i've started to binge. It was originally part of my plan to have a "diet free" day, a day when I ate whatever I wanted and enjoyed it. Today however I found myself feeling quite scared by my behaviour, every opportunity I was tucking into packets of biscuits( my children's too!), bowls of cereal, chocolate, cheese..whatever I can find. I only ever do it alone and often replace food the next day so my dh doesn't notice it's gone. I've hidden food in my bag and gone for a drive somewhere to eat it. I haven't put on any weight as for the rest of the week I'm doing lots of exercise and eating very few calories (but eating very healthily).

Has anyone else experience this? It sounds pathetic but I really don't know how to stop myself. Please help me xx

[justamum]

needhugs, every day is like that for me at the moment! was today your not dieting day? If so forget about it- get up in the morning and start again. How much do you have to lose? On the bigmofos thread we have a creed that says just this: we are all going to fall off the wagon now and again but its the getting back on that counts. If its not affecting your weight loss and you think it will help you to maintain your healthy eating for the rest of the week, why not buy yourself stuff specifically so you don't feel the guilty about eating the biscuits etc.
Cut yourself some slack-you are doing really well to eat sensibly 6 days a week. I wish i had your willpower.
If you want to discuss bingeing and have a fair bit to lose have a look at the mofos, we are foodaholics! some of us have been "dry" for ages and some of us just can't even begin to try, but everyone is very nice and very very supportive.

[TitianRed]

Been there, done that. Justamum is right - take each day at a time. Can you find something to do that gets you out of the house and away from temptation? Go for a long walk or something? Can you talk to your partner and get him to help you? Does this happen every 'non-diet' day? If so, could you perhaps go 80/20 every day so that you're getting a 'treat' each day - this might cut down the craving. I too recommend BigMoFo's-you can talk and no one judges you. Take care XX

[needhugs]

On the days when I do sport it doesn't happen, unfortunately with 2 boys under 2.5yrs and DH who works nights I can't do it every day. Will try the 80/20, alhtough not sure I'm capable of just having one small treat, usually once I start I keep going back to the kitchen for more! I'm going to do an exercise DVD once kids are in bed tonight to see if that stops the cravings!!
thanks for your support! I desparately want to keep my weight off this time!

[franyfroo]

do you feel like making yourself sick after? i used to do this on a regular basis, many years ago.

[ANAconda]

hi needhugs. it sounds like you may be setting yourself up for some difficult eating patterns. i know this isn't what you want to hear, but you need to find a way of eating that you can sustain and balance every day so that when you come off your diet you don't put the weight back on and you have learned when you are full and how to eat in moderation. Good luck with this and congrats on weight you have lost so far (Its hard and boring work!)

[Lolabelle]

franyfroo i was directed tothis part of MNET by someone as I am a long suffering bulimic (who also happens to be pregnant) and it does concern me as my behaviour used to be like yours and slowly something changed and i was eating in private so much that i ganined weight, panicked and vomited. Its scarily addictive and has ruined my health in so many ways (not to mention my apearance) and i'm not so sure your 'day off' is just that or a chance to comfort eat. A day off so to speak would be a case of treating yourself to something nice and not worrying too much about it but the eating in private and replacing of foods is a lot more worrying and i do that all the time and suffer from an eating disorder that is destroying me.

I agree about trying to get out of the house when you feel like overeating, find something you like doing also for the days when you its too cold/rainy/snowy to go outside even if its a long bath and a mag or paint your nails - it sounds gay but really try now to nip this in the bud before it becomes a 'habit'...

[Lolabelle]

Sorry only the first line was directed at Franyfroo - just read it back and it looks like i am talking directly to her!!