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 have always had a pretty rubbish relationship with food. I had tried to diet so many times with no success (usually lasted a day or gained weight). I did Lighter Life and although it certainly did not fix everything it was wonderful- counselling, group work etc all looking at why we do what we do. I have used some of the CBT stuff in other parts of my life too. Taking a complete break from food was such a relief and so much easier for me than trying to cut down. You don't have to think about food at all and I was not even a little bit hungry unlike when I normally go on diets. Going back to food was the hard bit but if you are feeling you are ready to do something fairly drastic and want quick results and LOTS of support from people in similar situations then I would definitely consider it. I cannot quite believe looking back that I did not eat ANY food for 3 months. It is only now a few years later that I think the messages have finally sunk in and my emotional eating seems to have disappeared. Better late than never!

Melbie - how much weight did you lose in 3 months? I was reading somewhere the other day that PQ was on the liquid diet for 7 months.... 7 months, I just don't think I could do that?! How long did it take you to go back to 'real' food when you started coming off the liquid?