chewing and spitting food? (possible TW)

[manicinsomniac]

Has anybody ever done this? I'm curious about how bad you think it is (health wise and gross factor wise).

I usually avoid sweets like the plague but both tonight and last Sunday I have sucked the sugar off a whole bag of fruit pastilles and spat them out again. I did used to do this a lot more when much younger but not for years and years. I now feel completely satisfied that I've had a sugar fix for probably only around 20% or fewer of the calories.

AIBU to think that, as an infrequent thing done completely alone and after children are asleep, this isn't such a terrible thing to do? And maybe that it isn't even that unusual a thing to do??

Disclaimer: Yes, I do have an eating disorder but my life is generally under control. And no, I suppose I don't need to 'eat' sweets - but they did taste good and I haven't been able to have them for so long!

It's not a mentally healthy thing to do. I've been there. Are you sure this isn't the start of a very slippery slope? Because it's not about the food is it? The secrecy, the control, the justifying...

No, it's not normal or healthy, especially the way you're trying to justify it. I have suffered with disordered eating (bingeing and starving) for ten years now, I now how easy it is to lose control with these things.

No, it's not normal or healthy, especially the way you're trying to justify it. I have suffered with disordered eating (bingeing and starving) for ten years now, I now how easy it is to lose control with these things.

Sorry for the double post, iPad acting up...

I know it isn't normal or healthy.

But I'm thinking it might be not uncommon and not so very terrible for you.

I know it sounds like I'm trying to justify it. I also know there is the potential to lose control. But, in general, I'm incredibly rigid and controlled about what I eat. Part of me feels like I've found a way to let go a little bit. I have anorexia (to avoid drip feeding) but it's under control and I've been almost fully functional for more than 8 years.

I suppose I was looking to hear that there were people who sometimes do this and lead otherwise normal and mentally healthy lives. Maybe that's stupid.

I did it, like I say, but I wasn't mentally healthy at that point. That's the nub of it, by the very definition of it, it's not a healthy thing to do. I've binged, I've restricted, I've eaten in secret, I've hidden the evidence, I've done all of that, and it's never once been because I was happy and comfortable and 'funtioning normally'. I'm sorry but I think you might need to speak to a supporter about this. Can you speak to a GP, friend, counsellor?

I get what you're saying Time . I've done all those things too and not been happy but I am not doing anything at the moment bar moderate restriction to maintain an underweight but not critically low BMI. On occasions when I am not happy with something I've eaten I will purge it but that's unusual. On that basis I feel relatively happy and in control. I guess that could be delusion but I do okay!

I could talk to the GP. It's probably easier to just not do this again though. I don't feel a compulsive need to do it, I just rather enjoyed it! Maybe stopping before it becomes a routine is wise, even if it isn't going to be regular.

It's a shame sugary crap tastes good!

It's bad because your stomach prepares to receive food which never arrives. So you get acid.