To ask my GP for a referral to an eating disorders clinic?

[Some0ne]

I'm obese. I'm 5'8'' and weight 18.5 stone. I can't stop eating, I never feel full. If there's something sweet in the house, I have to keep myself constantly distracted or I'll eat it. If there isn't, I'll keep going back to the kitchen, looking in the presses to see if I've missed something. I have diabetes but I still eat crap. My portion sizes are insane.

I hate myself, I'm ashamed of my body, I hate how much power food has over me. I feel disgusting. I'm ashamed to eat in public. Sometimes I'm afraid to go out in public. I try to avoid going out alone because I feel too self conscious.

I don't want to be like this as my kids get older. I'd be a terrible example to them, and an embarrassment.

But I just can't seem to get a grip on the problem. I want to go to my GP and ask for help but part of me feels like that's a cop out, and I should just get over myself and eat properly, and stop navel gazing. I said it to my DH last night and he looked at me as if I had ten heads; he doesn't seem to think my problem is serious enough to warrant help or support.

WIBU?

I used to be exactly the same as the op. completely addicted to sweet things. I would eat countless cake, biscuits and chocolate throughout the day. I was never full. I felt compelled to eat and would search out sweet food.

My weight ballooned and I was really obese for 11 years. I tried every diet but couldn't stick to it. I put on 6pounds the first week I tried slimming world.

I was convinced that I had a sugar addiction and it was a cycle of sugar urges. I was really ill a few years ago and this was a turning point. I wanted to be thinner for the rest of my life.

I went on the Dukan diet. I cut out all sugar and carbs. I was never hungry and had no urges for sugar. I lost 4 stone and now control my weight this way.

I'm not one for recommending diets and it's about finding the right solution for each individual,l just sharing my story.

I would second what others are saying. A trip to the doctor would be a good first step.

I'd second that you don't try for a conventional diet group if you think your eating is disordered and related to your emotions (I have a ED dx). It's possible to slip between problems, by not tackling the underlying cause you can sometimes switch to a new one - you'd be suprised how easily addictive calorie restriction can be even if you have always over eaten, doesn't happen to everyone but it can.

Check out B-eat, they are a bit more knowledgable than your average Joe on a forum

www.b-eat.co.uk/

Hello OP

I struggle with binge eating disorder. YANBU at all, and good luck. xx

I would recommend what the previous poster said. You are addicted to carbs. If you follow the Dukan diet you will lose weight and it'll really help your diabetes. My sister is a type 2 diabetic who follows the paleo diet (similar to Dukan). She lost 4 stone and finally, after years of trying, got her blood sugars under control.

I too am fat and it is carbs/sugars which are my trigger food. I can eat so much of them before I feel sated. Don't have ANY in the house and get yourself onto the Dukan diet (you can buy the book off amazon). It'll do you the world of good. My other tip is to take loads of vitamins/minerals, drink a glass of sugar-free squash or water every time you have an urge to eat and keep LOADS of different flavours of sugarfree gum around you to calm that urge to chew.

I hope you have some success with your GP OP, can't do any harm to ask at least. In the meantime could you try some light exercise if GP says that would be ok? Even half an hour of walking per day might help a bit with your mood and self esteem while you're waiting for your referral?

I have been in a similar place and I managed to sort it out, very slowly, step by step. I did it myself though I realise that this might not be an option for you at the moment, I used the GI diet principles to try to give some structure to my eating and walked for an hour nd a half per day, Gradually my self esteem improved and I stopped binging.. 13 years later I would say it is all behind me and I would say I have a very healthy attitude to food these days.

I really hope you feel better soon. Good luck.

Also you might want to look in your local library for books on eating disorders/ food addiction. I found one which helped me understand what was going on - can't remember er the name sorry as it was a long time go.

many GP offer subsidised gym and 1:1 Heath advice training and weight management in community

you may not meet criteria for ED clinic but yes other support is available to you

good luck

Diets just dont work long term, over eaters haave something going on deeper inside, Handing us a diet sheet & saying "eat only this" will not work!

I can recommend a couple of things. Firstly, google Slimpods, they work with your unconcious are pretty good. Also, the thing that helped me most was a book called "Eat less without trying to eat less" - it was a HUGE eye opener for me!

{{http://www.amazon.com/Less-Without-Trying-Philosophy-ebook/dp/B007F9LSD2 book here]]

ask your GP about community weight management

Ill try the link again! Bokk here

That's the thing though isn't it - one persons solution is another persons downfall :(

It's not going to hurt to see your GP is it - so you might as well give that a go. If you don't get very far with that, then there are lots of other things people have suggested that are worth a go.

At least you know you are not alone in this!!

I don't know why your DH was giving you 'the look' but to be honest, most men generally don't 'get it'. I wouldn't base any decision on his reaction.

I had bulimia so can relate to the urge to overeat that you aren't able to control. I have felt full once in my life (after an operation when my abdomen had been pumped full of gas).

I was referred to my local eating disorders service and had CBT initially which was a bit helpful but not much (!) followed by two years of weekly counselling (psychodynamic I think) by the consultant psychiatrist which was AMAZING and has totally changed my life. I would have happily married him by the end of it. Finished the therapy a year ago and am now much more in control of my life in general (eating and everything else) and only have the occasional binge. My weight is also stable and in the healthy range (unusual for me!!).

You are not alone, there are many people with eating problems of various types. Well done for recognising it and I hope that you get the help that you need.

Its very significant that you have come to acknowledge you need help by yourself. Absolutely do reach out for it, and I wish you all the best.

No, ChippingIn, he really doesn't get it (despite having a serious weight problem himself). No matter how many times I beg him to stop buying sweet stuff while I get myself back on track, he still comes home with packets and packets of biscuits, tubs of icecream, you name it. I'm starting to think he's a compulsive shopper. We're a terrible combination!

SomeOne & other posters you have my sympathy, I am over an overeater too.

Have done it since I was a teenager to cope with lower self-esteem/stress. I have tried to address with various solutions; counselling, hypnosis, weight loss clubs & Overaters Anon. Still the problem is there.

In my last set of counselling sessions, I think I came to the conclusion that stopping is possible, which is a mindset change for me. Yet to put that into action though...

I'd also agree that blood sugar levels plays a part in my problem. I get in from work, genuinely hungry, as I haven't eaten for a few hours, so I start (generally reaching for sugary stuff) and then I cannot stop. Whilst eating I feel bad about eating, as in my mind I should be waiting until dinner and getting thinnner, so that leads me to eating more...

Other times I am stressed/feeling bad about myself and reach for food. For me eating gives me the 'permission' to suspend everything - all the bad thoughts in my head.

It is pure self-abuse, I hate myself for doing it, but it such ingrained behaviour.

Definately go to the Doctor.

Be kind to yourself.

Following this thread (thanks to the OP for sharing & hope it ok to hijack) I have started a support thread in mental health (guessed this was the most appropriate place) www.mumsnet.com/Talk/feeling_depressed/1476529-Compulsive-overeating-support-thread if anyone wants to join me?

TIA

neverhaveiever I can assure you that people with cirrhosis of the liver who have an alcohol addiction do not get referred for help with their addiction problem. Their symptoms are treated as they present, they get worse and then they die.

I was like you for most of the past two years, with everything compounded by pnd. Tried literally everything. Finally, in desperation, I had a gastric balloon put in. It has been a godsend, taking away the desire to binge as well as the ability to eat huge portions. I feel it is like my 'silent friend', giving me the extra support that I need to do this, and which I have not thus far been able to find within myself. It is the kick start I need. It's nigh on impossible to muster the willpower to start losing weight when you are depressed, have small children and all their food around and have four plus stone to lose. It seems like such a mountain to climb. I don't know if this is an option for you but if you can afford it, it's a consideration.

In my area CBT is well funded for those with binge eating problems that have a pre exsisting health condition.

You would qualify because of your diabetes.

Your GP may be able to offer this as a preventative measure to further health problems, which saves the NHS money, in the long run.

I think over eaters Anonymous would be a good place to start, it cuts food addiction at the root (emotional upset or trauma) and gives you tools to deal with the addiction. It's free and it should help you a lot.

So glad I am not the only one with this problem! I am 5ft2, and a size 22 :( I have NO idea how much I weigh, I am terrified of standing on the scales! I have put on so much weight recently that I have new stretch marks :( :(

I made an appointment with the GP, but was palmed off with our new practise nurse who is a complete useless cow , I was told by someone else that they could refer me to a free healthy eating thing, and that I would qualify for reduced/possibly free gym membership.

I decided to go to the healthy eating thing, even though I KNOW how to eat healthily, but figured as it was free it might be worth a try. I took 2 buses across town, and arranged a friend to pick the boys up as I wouldn't be back by the end of the school day, only to find that the 'class' cost £5 per week, and involved a 1hour exercise class. As no-one had told me that I wasn't dressed for exercise!

The nurse then told me she wasn't going to refer me to a gym as she doesn't agree with them! alright for her the skinny cow

There are two ways to lose weight: eat less and/or exercise more. However, motivating themselves to do either or both can be problematic for some people and they need help with that. So a lot of you have shared techniques that have worked for you re motivation.

But the excess weight and overeating are symptoms of a deeper problem. I can list off a dozen reasons that motivate me to want to lose weight. What I suspect I need to do is forget about my weight and think about why I sabotage myself by overeating. I don't need a dietician, I need a brain transplant \O/

YANBU - I think people really don't understand that people can be really addicted to food in the same way that they can to alcohol/drugs.

I asked my doctor for help and got referred to a dietitian who was just useless - telling me to eat my 5 a day etc, giving me really basic nutritional advice. I already ate healthily but ate a load of rubbish on top when I had my binges. I broke down in tears and confessed everything to the dietitian - eating until I felt sick, feeling that food was the only thing that made me happy, all of it. She said 'you don't actually make yourself sick do you?' When I said no she looked really relieved and changed the subject. I've had friends with anorexia who get referred to phychologists straight away. Binge eating disorder just isn't taken seriously.

Glad to know I'm not the only one with the problem. Good luck x

YANBU at all, see your GP. I think some very good advice has already been given about blood sugar control (you said in your post that you have diabetes do you need to inject insulin?0. Have you tried forgetting about counting calories and fat grams and just cutting out CRAP (caffiene, refined carbohydrates, alcohol and processed food) eat plenty when you are hungry. This worked for me when I was ready to give up. Also think about wether you need some talking therapy to help change your relationship with food and eating. Good luck