I've struggled with BED all my life interspersed with periods of strict dieting to get the weight off, call it BED or bulimia or something between the two. I've maintained a normal-ish weight (size 12-14) by doing this but it's been difficult always going up and down the scales.
Earlier this year after losing a stone, I went on a four month long binge and put it all back on plus more (put on 1.5 stone but really given how much I was eating, it should have been more)
I completely lost control of my eating, and was just eating junk food and crap all day long every day. Just couldn't switch back into diet mode for whatever reason, it was always 'tomorrow' that the diet would start.
Eventually I thought, I'm not going to diet again as it's just part of the cycle. I made a commitment not to eat sugar or junk food for a year, except for very special occasions. And to eat only healthy, unprocessed food but not to restrict myself. I reasoned there are plenty of nice, healthy foods to eat.
I'm pleased to say that three months later, I've managed to keep this up. I've realised that sugar is my drug and without sugar in my life, my eating is far, far easier to control. I've lost a stone but it's not about the weight loss, that's not why I was doing it.
I think I will keep this up for the rest of my life now. If I want a treat I have a range of sugar free alternatives, but I don't sit there munching all evening now. I try to choose foods that are nutritious and focus on that, and it seems to have shifted me out of that diet/binge cycle I was stuck on for years.
I still want to lose a bit more weight but the penny has dropped that losing weight fast and putting it all back on again is the same as not losing weight at all, so taking it very slow and steady and focusing on health and fitness. If it comes off, great but if not I think i can accept myself at this size if I tone up a bit!
I was a desperate case, truly stuck in the diet-binge cycle so if I can break it anyone can.