Beating Sugar addiction and lifelong eating disorder.

[Dina82]

After 23 years of bulimia and binge eating I have concluded that I cannot stop emotional eating.

It's too ingrained in me and I say this having had many sessions with a psychologist but it has not helped. Yes, I recognise any negative emotion, regardless of how minute causes me to feel hungry and eat sweet foods which results in binging and occasionally purging.

I have for the last 20+ years tried, self help books ( I've lost count how many) , psychologists ( approx 2 times in this duration, ( several eating programmes that I can never stick too.

Last year I gargled with bleach just to physically make myself unable to eat or binge. It didn't do anything.

I only ever binge on sweet foods so is it unreasonable of me to make a decision never to eat cake/ sweets: desserts again as this is what is exasperating the emotional eating.

I have tried it in the past but only lasted 12 days. What other option do I have? I often think of how I will take this with my to the grave.

I come across as confident, articulate, and strong but I'm a complete train wreck. Sometimes I just wish to die as I literally have exhausted all options.

I tried Prozac last year and it helped briefly with the intensity of the binges but after 3 months I was binging again.

I am struggling terribly with what I think is a sugar/junk addiction. So totally fed up.

What an interesting thread.

I also have a problem with sugar addiction, binges, and even bulimia. And horrendous teeth. In the last year I have been and got lots of dental work. I'm only 37 and have lots of extracted teeth, fillings and even a crown. So shameful.

I feel like a total mental case. I lost 4st this year, put 1.5st of it back on and now I'm yoyoing like normal... normal for me. I must have lost over 20st really... not in one go but yoyoing. At the moment I'm doing the Exante Diet, a VLCD which tends to work for me if I can get past the first couple of days.

And to the person that suggested it's willpower... hmm I'd say it's willpower to gorge on KGs of cakes, biscuits and other crap. I can't even keep packed lunch items for my children in the house because I eat it all let alone nutella or a pack of biscuits. I steal my children's sweets and I spend a ridiculous amount of money on binges. I've even wondered if it's possible to kill yourself from eating too much sugar in a sitting (not intentionally, I worry about this).

I agree with the poster recommending the Harcombe Diet. I've tried Atkins, Dukan, Sirt food diet and many more and they all work but the Harcombe Diet is actually the most sustainable. Unless it has changed since I did you're allowed wholemeal rice or porridge so it really is achievable in the long term. And red wine. I like the Sirt food diet but I spent £200 on a juicer, went off the plan and gave the juicer away so I can't justfy that again.

Good luck OP and others.

Thinkful- do you really feel diet is the way to go though?
For me bingeing eating is not just about weight gain or being overweight it's about being unable to control cravings and urges.

In my iron experience following a diet is restrictive and has so many rules. A person can't live on a diet for the rest of their lives hence the weight gain after stopping.

Would it not be better to consider eating 3 meals a day and trying to reduce snacks.

Also I can relate to disliking kids snacks around me in the house. I now limit them as a direct result of a poster on this thread saying it's not necessarily normal to always give kids junk/ sweets.

For the poster who gave me the link to 2 nine books, well I ordered Binge Code and I can't wait to read it. I've read a summary on amazon for the first few pages and it really, really resonated with me. More than any other book has. And I've been reading them for years. I'm so excited to read it

What is it with the bloody Harcombe diet. It's just another restrictive plan completely unattainable to stick with for a lifetime.

To the poster who said she lost several stone in, what happens when u eat more carbs than normal one week? How would this affect u psychologically and physically.

Increased lbs and feeling shit that u haven't followed the plan resulting in anxiety, restriction then binging...... in my humble and experienced opinion

Positives I've noticed from reducing sugar intake include my skin being clearer, being able to understand the negative emotion behind a sudden overwhelming urge to eat sweet and craving veg like beetroot/ butternut squash/ salad.

Just noting this as it may help someone

I had another tooth extracted today - emergency appointment for an abscess on my gum. I've expected a lance and some antibiotics so was a bit shocked when he said it would have to come out. It was loose and I've got some bone loss.

I asked about my options and he suggested a denture. I could have cried. A denture at my bloody age? 😢 I'm only 49.

Anyway, the problem is sugar. I eat far too much of it and it's wrecking my teeth not to mention my waist line, energy levels etc etc. This is my 4th extraction and I'm so upset so I've decided no more sugar. I've cut right back on sweeties anyway but I'm eating biscuits and cakes like they're going out of fashion!

Why can't we crave fruit or vegetables the way we crave the sweet stuff? And it is poison. I'm going to buy a couple of books posters have mentioned on here and start my journey.

Only read the first page but I'm the same OP. I have given up sugar for long periods and felt much better but it always creeps back. Good luck xx

@Dina82 - nope diet is absolutely not the way to go, especially the VLCD which is 600 calories and eventually leads to cravings and binges and the weight going back on, and probably a damaged metabolism if such a thing exists. I feel it's as big a part of the self harm cycle but I can't stop. I'm starting a new job in a week, I want to lose 7lb... I already think I'll be the biggest in the office.

Sadly I believe we, or I definitely, need some restrictive plan. Otherwise I will skip meals all day and binge on rubbish in the evening. I know what a healthy diet looks like, I'm not stupid (not saying anyone here is, on the contrary, we know what carbs, proteins, calories and goodness knows what else are) and I feed my children a healthy diet but I just can't do that. If I could, I would have.

I'm pleased for you though op, sounds like something good has been triggered.

@GimmeBread I'm sorry about your absence and extraction. I hope you're not in pain. I've been there too. I'm only 37 and I need partial dentures really. If only I could afford implants.

It's devastating, really.

Thinkful. In the king term just think is it really worth dieting for the sake of 7 pounds. Why are u so concerned about being the biggest in the office? Show yourself some love and compassion. Try beat this disorders eating. Have u sought help from a psychologist?

I was on the waiting list for over a year and eventually got seen. I'm nearing the end of my sessions and it has helped to some extent.

Plz think of reading the book the binge code. I read a few pages on amazon as a sample and it was like a lightning moment.

Are there times of the month where your eating is worse that others? Can u keep a monthly track?
I'm more prone to binging on sugar and generally having a bigger appetite the week before my period begins. I have decided to track this behaviour.

Gimme. How awful for u? How are I feeling today? Sending virtual hugs

Thanks Thinkful and Dina. I felt bloody sorry for myself so went home instead of work and I'm glad I did as once the freeze wore off I was in agony. Sore again today and I've got a comedy sized lump on my jaw from the abscess but the dentist assured me this would go away itself. I wish it would hurry the fuck up but it does serve as a reminder of how I'm in this state in the first place!

Weekends are always tough as there's so much lazy time in the house that I reach for the sweet stuff. I've ordered some of the books mentioned here and hopefully they'll arrive today or tomorrow so I can read them and get properly motivated.

I don't think cold turkey is the answer for me but I'll start by cutting out cakes and biscuits and continue avoiding sweeties. Xmas is going to be hell on earth! I love me some Quality Street!

What's everyone's plans for the weekend to keep our minds off food?

I've just found this thread today and read it all through - you are all very inspirational and impressive with how honest you are being with yourselves!

I recognise a lot of your stories in myself - watching myself open the freezer, take out ice-cream, unwrap it and eat it while thinking the whole time "why am I doing this, I know I shouldn't and I'm not even that bothered about having it" is not unusual for me, it's so much more complicated than someone who has never had it say "oh, just try more".

Have you tried kefir? Someone bought me a kit (gut health etc) but to my surprise I found as a side effect that it helped me control my sugar cravings. It's the only thing that has ever helped - for 40 years, Ive had to have chocolate every day, w sometimes every meal. It's not easy, but the kefir has helped me not give in to the cravings. Ive lost loads of weight.

@Dina82

I don't want to argue because I feel really weak in this area of my life for one thing and I'm not sure at all but the thing with the harcombe diet is that it kills candida in the gut. Or something like that. And apparently if you crave sugar then this is why. So I understand the psychology and mental (I mean I don't but I know this is why the problem exists). It's a hunger from childhood. I know. And a healthy, balanced diet is the answer...

Anyway to answer your question I binge every night. Except when I have nothing in and that's rare because I make sure I do, like when I smoked I used to make sure I had enough cigarettes for the night.

I'll read the binge code. Let's do it together!

Op. Have a look at the science (not the hysteria and uninformed nonsense) begins Gastric Bypass.
Websites like imperial college obesity research centre and UCL .
Bypass is the cure for sugar addiction. Unlike a band the Bypass shortens the distance sugar travels to the pancreas and ANY unrefined sugar causes dumping syndrome. (Akin to a diabetic hypo - very very unpleasant but not dangerous) one 'cheat' and you never do it again.
It is the only thing that has successfully released many of us from the horror of food addiction - with the added bonus of returning to a healthy weight.

Have a look on some of the Bariatric forums . You would be hard pushed to find a soul who regrets it..

Unlike the normal messages on here where someone has always 'known someone who knew someone who died/nearly died as a result ... the reality is that it is still the ONLY long term scientifically recognised effective method of sustainable weight loss over a 5 yr period.

I used to binge eat too (mostly when upset but as I am not in a happy relationship, this happened fairly often). Am 44 and have finally got a more normal relationship with food. Basically I suddenly became very allergic to dairy and eggs. It isn’t an intolerance, it is an allergy that makes me very ill. So I had to go cold turkey and cut out so many things - cakes, biscuits, ice cream, cheese, yoghurts, milk shakes, chocolate... basically everything I had to used to binge on. It has been about six months now and I have broken the habit. I have also lost weight and I have started doing lots of regular exercise. I used to have all these scenarios where I would treat myself too - going to the airport, the shopping centre, my child’s last day of term, payday etc etc. It was a compulsion, I had to buy milkshakes and cakes. But all the associations have been put to bed now as I have no choice. I know I have been forced to change, but I think cutting everything out for good is the answer because you eventually get used to it and the compulsions go away. I do sympathise massively though as I did really struggle my whole life with this problem.

Thinkful let's agree to disagree. Wishing u all the best in your recovery. Have u ordered the Binge Code? I am so excited to read it.

Also one thing I've noticed with the Pmt This month is it's about 75% less intense as it normally is. Binge urges are significantly less, I feel calmer and less angry/ emotional at trivial things. The only difference this month is I reduced sugar from the diet and included more fruit and vegetables.

Perhaps a little less coffee too.
Do any other posters have PCOS?

Finally to the poster suggesting a gastric band I weight 12 stone 10 currently and am 5ft 6 so not exactly in the obese category.

Also for a person with emotional reading issue I don't think a band/ surgery is the answer.

@ mumm how odd. I too am very sensitive to dairy and eggs. This had just developed over the last 5 years. I can't tolerate too much.

Tagging on end of thread not yet RTFT but you sound like me and yes PCOS

Watching with interest (well back to RTFT anyway)

Well, bugger. I've just downed a bottle of red and a wedge of creamy white Stilton with mango and ginger. How very greedy yet grown up of me.

I did have a decent tea though - homemade meatloaf, cheesy mash, sweetcorn and gravy so that's something. I would normally have skipped straight to the vino so, you know, progress.....

Books are here and no plans for tomorrow so I'll start reading.

I have had phases of eating a lot of chocolate etc. Good luck ot everyone dealing with this. People will always have different views on these topics. We tend not to have sugar etc in the house althugh as any addict of any kind will no that doesn't stop you going out by hook ro by crook to get the relevant product.

Dina82 my apologies. For some reason I thought you were in the 22 stone range.

You are absolutely correct You are no where neer the Weight loss surgery levels.

@xenia. That's so true. During one of the intense urges I had, I actually considered leaving the house without my children, 10 pm at night to go get my fix( chocolate). It was such an overwhelming and uncontrollable craving.

Of course I resisted but I felt I could burst as I desperately needed some sugar and there was none in the house.

Moments like this make me realise how completely abnormal the binge urges are.

Thankfully I'm in such a a better place than I was a year ago when I gargled with bleach to damage my throat just so I wouldn't be able to swallow.

I defiantly believes there's a link with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, PMT and sugar cravings. It's to do with insulin levels etc. My therapist also believes this too.

If anyone is familiar with a menstrual cycle app which includes symptoms of PMT/ sugar cravings/ feeling anxious etc. Would be great to track it in an app rather than logging it in a book