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Original poster

Binge eating, can't stop

133 replies

Ineedastyleicon · 04/03/2022 21:26

Please help. I just can't stop binge eating, it's absolutely ridiculous and I don't know why I do it. It's like an addiction, I've had therapy and BWRT and for months I was doing really well but this past week I've just stiffed chocolate, chips, crackers, cheese and I cannot stop.
What can I do?

OP posts:
Igmum · 07/03/2022 15:42

Hi OP this was absolutely me in the past - mainly on sugar but I swear I could have binged on table mats if there was nothing else around. I would promise myself that I absolutely would not, not, not binge then, two minutes later head out of the Co-Op with bags and bags of sweets, ice cream, cakes, bread that I would eat and eat and eat. It was insane. I put on 8.75 stone and just could not shift it. Went from a pretty slim size 10 to heaving out of the seams of generously cut 24s. Cannot describe how awful it was. The only thing that helped me - like @PeggyGa - was Overeaters Anonymous - UK website is here www.oagb.org.uk/.

It is based on Alcoholics Anonymous so we realise that this is a disease and an addiction - it is not lack of will power or some moral failing. It is not a diet and it is entirely funded by voluntary contributions - most meetings say they would rather have you at the meeting than your money so very much not like the diet clubs. It recognises that overeating is an emotional and spiritual illness as well as a physical one and meetings focus on all aspects. I can't tell you why it works - just that it absolutely does. I'm over 4 stone down but the most positive thing is that, most of the time, I genuinely forget about food between meals - very different to those many diets when I utterly obsessed about what I wasn't getting. I found meetings such a relief, like putting a burden down - but I know they can seem strange at first. There are plenty of face to face ones around (see the website) but also loads online. Here's the UK ones docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/17TtXWy920tdacg8QnvpfD6xLHaqLkt75OcCttbRWGSY/edit#gid=1562401438 but you can also Zoom in to meetings around the world at any time of the day or night.

Good luck - all I can say is that this was absolutely the only thing that worked for me and it did work! Happy for you to DM me if that helps (gosh that was long Blush)

BusterGonad · 07/03/2022 16:01

I understand but it's still a diet, a book telling you what to eat. You are still not eating in a normal intuitive way. Not dieting for me is the hardest mindset to change but I'm determined to do it.

BusterGonad · 07/03/2022 16:02

Why the f**k don't my quotes attach!!!! That was for Millicent2022!

Millicent2022 · 07/03/2022 19:03

@BusterGonad

I understand but it's still a diet, a book telling you what to eat. You are still not eating in a normal intuitive way. Not dieting for me is the hardest mindset to change but I'm determined to do it.
Totally get what you’re saying but because you kind of can eat intuitively it’s working really well (for me !) so far ... I heel safe eating as much as I like (of certain foods yes )
Original poster
Ineedastyleicon · 07/03/2022 19:09

Thank you again for so much helpful information.
I took dog for walk at lunchtime and listened to first two brain over binge podcasts. It was great and actually almost made me cry.

OP posts:
BookWorm45 · 07/03/2022 19:20

The app I have on my phone is "Am I Hungry" - no doubt lots of others are around too. This one starts off with the question - Am I hungry ? (Yes / No / I don't know) and so on, it gives some prompts through a few screens. Quite simple which is why I like it.

BusterGonad · 07/03/2022 19:40

@Ineedastyleicon

Thank you again for so much helpful information. I took dog for walk at lunchtime and listened to first two brain over binge podcasts. It was great and actually almost made me cry.
The podcasts are really good. I'm on number 4, I'm really hoping the one about stop dieting is helpful because I'm stuck in a on off again diet round about. I just want to be normal!
Original poster
Ineedastyleicon · 07/03/2022 20:23

I made an incredibly delicious lamb hotpot for tea and ate the potatoes which I wouldn't normally. Also had buttery leeks and peas I love leeks. Normally avoid peas too cos high sugar. Realised I have all these rules around food and don't have carbs or sugar then binge on those things anyway!!

OP posts:
hihellohihello · 08/03/2022 08:37

I think it's a frame of mind really. I don't really deny myself foods I like even when I am eating purposely in a way which means I lose excess weight. I just adjust portion sizes to my needs. So I have everything I like and don't feel hard done by. It's my choice, tailored to my own specific needs (Lost 4 stone this way when I was overweight and my weight is now ideal). I think of what I have and look forward to it rather than what I don't. Even if you have massive portions not many people will be constantly eating so there is always a cut off point to eating, I eat my meals in relatively the same time as the rest of my family and the only time I bemoan that I eat less (they are taller and more muscly than me) is if they polish off all the most delicious chocolates in one go and don't save me any! (Because I'll just have one with a coffee).

I aportion time for eating and time for doing other things. I have found this routine is really habit forming.

ShakeYourSpear · 08/03/2022 20:03

@Ineedastyleicon

I made an incredibly delicious lamb hotpot for tea and ate the potatoes which I wouldn't normally. Also had buttery leeks and peas I love leeks. Normally avoid peas too cos high sugar. Realised I have all these rules around food and don't have carbs or sugar then binge on those things anyway!!

Well done! You're nourishing yourself with delicious food. Caring for your body rather than punishing it.

Original poster
Ineedastyleicon · 08/03/2022 20:36

And then today I've eaten 6 chocolate bars. I could cry, I've made myself feel sick. I binge because I'm sad and also because I'm bored.
I drive to garages to get chocolate or whatever it is I'm bingeing on, I'm going to end up with diabetes if I don't stop.

OP posts:
hihellohihello · 08/03/2022 21:00

Oh, OP don't lose heart. Tomorrow is a new day. Now you said you did this because you were bored. What will stop you being bored?

New book?
Plan a walk?
New series to watch? If there is none on TV what about YouTube?
Trying on session of clothes and sort out your wardrobe?
Some painting?
Nosying about on RightMove houses sold for everywhere you've ever lived and relative's and friend's house?

Original poster
Ineedastyleicon · 08/03/2022 21:10

Ooh I like the last one! Grin

OP posts:
hihellohihello · 08/03/2022 21:28
Grin
FinallyHere · 08/03/2022 21:29

I'd encourage you to have a look at Gillian Riley's website www.eatingless.com

Quite simple, but really very powerful.

Original poster
Ineedastyleicon · 09/03/2022 10:51

Thank you, I will have a look.

OP posts:
PeggyGa · 14/03/2022 07:46

How you getting on op?

Original poster
Ineedastyleicon · 14/03/2022 20:39

I've not been bingeing but I'm still eating rubbish. Sad

OP posts:
hihellohihello · 14/03/2022 20:58

That's a really good start op! Now all you've got to do is eat less rubbish versions of the rubbish. Smile

DSGR · 14/03/2022 21:14

Well done OP. Now try allowing yourself smaller portions of the rubbish without the guilt. One packet of crisps a day is not many calories or example.. or one small chocolate bar. Or buy supermarket chocolate mousse to take the Ed’s of chocolate cravings (less than 100 cals each)

DSGR · 14/03/2022 21:15

Take the edge.. sorry for mistakes above!

hihellohihello · 15/03/2022 07:58

I, personally, like expensive chocolates. Good to get a taste for as the cost is prohibitive so you can't eat much (unless you've money to burn). Then once you've a taste for it the cheaper stuff is not viewed as worth eating.

I let myself have 1 nice chocolate/ square of chocolate after my lunch and dinner with a coffee. Coffee is a whole other thing to get into and savour. Smile

theyhavenothingbuttheaudacity · 15/03/2022 09:48

@hihellohihello binge eaters would never be able to allow themselves one square a day more than an anorexic would treat themselves to a McDonald's meal

oreo2020 · 15/03/2022 09:53

Move on binging low carb foods, eventually that should suppress your binges
Have water with electrolytes - I found that prevents from binging
Get out of the house for a walk or cycle, a healthier mind so to speak...

hihellohihello · 15/03/2022 13:15

@theyhavenothingbuttheaudacity, I did used to binge eat when I was younger. Going low carb for a while seemed to sort a lot of the issues out. I no longer felt hunger in the same way. Also it is more difficult to binge on high percentage cocoa chocolate / chocolate truffles as they are so rich. Less is more and satisfies more. I also found a lot of my own eating patterns were affected by routines. Changing a routine can be a short term hardship but once the new routine is embedded there are less expectations. Just as someone wouldn't be likely to want to eat if they were on the toilet or in the bath, I have lost the expectation of eating outside my dedicated meal times.

I no longer low carb now. I eat a wide and varied diet. Although I wouldn't particularly choose to eat a meal which is mainly low glycemic index carbs. I've come to expect a lot of greenery alongside all my meals and miss it if this isn't available. Again the habit aspect at work. I used to be overweight at one point, not at all overweight now but don't assume I've no experience of any of these issues - I'm just out the other end of them now.