Binge eating support thread

[emptycup]

Is there an ongoing thread for binge eating support? I'm on the app so the only one I can find is from a few years ago.

Nice to meet you @ValancyRedfern

I've just put my incense burner on to try and relax a bit...

How are you feeling today?

Do you mind me asking about why you didn't get on with 12 steps? No judgement at all just caught my interest x

Hello @PurpleFrames. Sorry for the delay. I was in OA for several years and found the peer support fantastic. I struggled with the 12 steps because they are very much based on a Christian model of repentance and forgiveness. I found the 'higher power' element OK as I thought of my higher power as my body or nature. But I found the whole inventory of my resentments and going to seek forgiveness from everyone I resented a bit much. I felt it placed me as the bad guy and my 'higher power' as the good guy, which to me exacerbated low self Esteem. I also fundamentally disagree with some of the statement in meetings e. G. 'nothing, absolutely nothing happens in God's world by mistake'. That is stated at most meetings and gives me the absolute rage. I just want to scream 'tell that to the children in Yemen!' or similar. I also think it's a bit cult like. They talk a lot about how if you leave OA your illness will get worse and worse, which I haven't found to be the case. Having said that, my first solid period of sensible eating was when I went to OA. So I recommend it, but I recommend taking it with a pinch of salt.

Hi @ValancyRedfern!

A little update, I finally told my husband and it's like a weight has been lifted. He doesn't fully understand it, he's a very black and white in his thinking. But I told him 2 days ago and I haven't binged in that time. It's helping having someone to talk to about what's happening when I feel those urges start.

Well done @emptycup x how has it been going? Are you still finding he is a source of accountability for you?

@ValancyRedfern thank you for sharing that x

I'm struggling very much with my "addiction" right now, this weekend was very bad. I don't feel guilty, but feel guilty for not feeling guilty! If that makes sense?

Hiya😊

It's been much easier and I've been trying to be mindful of my eating. Waiting until I'm actually hungry and scoring hunger out of 10 before I eat. I've also been spending less time in the kitchen as I just eat while I'm in there. My husband is trying to understand it, he had some chocolates last night and he offered me some and he said he wasn't sure whether he should. I explained that a few chocolates is fine, eating the entire box in one go is not fine.

I've started having thoughts about losing weight and getting to a certain weight by a certain time but I'm pushing it to the back of my mind. I don't want to focus on dieting, I just want a healthy relationship with food.

Sorry to hear you had a bad weekend. I understand what you mean. How did you feel while eating?

I've just realised I have a problem with binge eating. As a teenager I used to not eat then eventually I replaced it with binge eating and making myself sick and then it just turned into binge eating. Managed to stop for a few years but I've started doing it again. Just eaten a ridiculous amount and could keep eating! I don't know how to stop.

I'm here too. I've reached rock bottom today after gaining roughly 2 stone in six months. I'm seeking therapy. I simply cannot continue to live my life with this addiction, it's breaking me.

Hi @gcec and @boredboredboredboredbored

You're not alone. That's great you have sought therapy @boredboredboredboredbored I really hope it's helpful for you. I'm over a stone heavier than this time last year too.
@gcec have you been to your gp to see if they have any services that can help you? I know how you feel, I could easily eat all day!

I've been running everyday for the past 8 days so it's giving me something else to focus on and I've found it naturally makes me want to eat better. I think what's the point in pushing myself on a run if I'm just going to eat everything in sight after.
I'm doing a mile a day challenge for 30 days and I've told my DH if I keep it up I want to treat myself to a proper running top and some wireless headphones, normally I would treat myself with food but I want my life to stop revolving around food

Thanks @emptycup congratulations on the running. I've been a regular runner for about 13 years now, gosh how I wish I could get on top of my eating to go with it!

I had a day off today so downloaded the Brain over binge podcast and so much resonated with me. I'm going to keep reading and trying the techniques. Something has to work I'm so sick of this life!

I've listened to part of that podcast and I started reading the book "overcoming binge eating" which seems good so far. I haven't got to the workbook bit yet though.
Is the podcast giving you any tools you could use day to day?

My eating hasn't been perfect but I've definitely not been eating as much as I normally do. I'm still having thoughts about dieting because we have a holiday in November where we will hopefully be swimming but I'm trying not to give in to them because dieting is not the way to go. I have to remind myself that my DC will remember the fun times we will have and not the size of my thighs

The podcast goes through the 5 methods of stopping binging. They could be describing me to a T. I have spent years trying to work out why I do this rather than realising it's off the back of bad dieting habits. There's no deep dark rooted problem just my animal brain has been allowed to dictate me.

No more I'm done with it. The biggest problem I'm going to have though is getting out of diet mentality - especially as I'm about 1-2 stone over my ideal weight. I need to give myself time to heel and REALLY take on board I want to get over this. Hope you're doing ok @emptycup

Hi everyone, I've just b&p'd and I'm feeling really low and guilty. I've suffered with ED on off since I was around 14 and I'm in my early 30s now. I've managed to get the episodes down to once a month ish, which isn't too bad but I'd managed to eradicate it for a good few years and I'm feeling a bit annoyed at my lack of discipline. Guess I'm just looking for support/solidarity :(

Welcome @Poppins88 I hope you are feeling better since you posted. Please don't feel guilty 😔 go easy on yourself

I agree @boredboredboredboredbored the diet mentality is really hard to get out of but when you have lost sight of everything like normal portion sizes and only eating when hungry it's very hard not to use some sort of "plan"

@Poppins88 welcome. Sorry to hear you're in the same horrible boat too. When you managed to give up for those years what do you think changed to make it start again? I've been binging for 20 plus years now. I know exactly what triggered it for me. I moved out of home and went on a diet which I couldn't sustain then binged. It's been like that ever since.

It's been a week tomorrow since my last binge which is bloody good going for me but I'm not getting complacent. I'm taking it an hour at a time. I'm a person with an urge that's all, I don't have to give in to that urge. I hope and pray the more I ignore the weaker the urges will be. The problem is that I don't know how to be 'normal' with food. I'm starting with asking myself am I really hungry? If so yes eat if not then don't. I'm trying, really trying!

@bored you're doing great! A week is a long time. An hour at a time is a good way of going about it
I've been ok so far today, had a normal sized bowl of cereal, banana for mid morning snack and pasta bolognese for dinner. I'm trying to drink more water to fill me up, I've had a litre so far. And I've been trying to keep busy.

I think there's always been something inside me that makes me this way. I remember at the age of 11 sneaking penguin bars up to my room and eating them all but at the time my mum was married to a very horrible and controlling man. It seems to be at times in my life where I'm struggling? Before I had my DC I didn't really binge, I over ate but that was all. Since having DC I had PND with both of them and parenting definitely isn't how I expected so that could be what has triggered it at this point in my life

@boredboredboredboredbored Hi there, I think it was starting a new relationship strangely. I found dating someone and getting to know eachother quite stressful, even when it was going well! I also wanted to look my best for them and put a lot of pressure on myself to sustain or lose weight :( how are you feeling today? X

How is everyone?

I'm doing really well (fingers crossed). So it's been two full weeks now since my last binge. Bearing in mind I've binged most days for 20 odd years. I feel that something in my brain has clicked and I've barely had the urge to do it. One of the biggest revelations as obvious as it seems is that I've stopped buying food that tempts me. Before I thought I should be able to but chocolate and have one bar a day (except I'd eat the whole pack in a day). If it's not there I'm not fighting the urge to eat it.

I reached rock bottom a couple of weeks ago and can't recall ever feeling lower, I just don't want to go back there. Still taking one day at a time and listening to my body, but feel hopeful. How are you doing?

Hello all. Sorry I haven't been around much. In a terrible binge faze right now. So sick of it. I honestly think if I'd known at 20 I'd still be eating like this at 40 I would have ended it then. I know it can get better. I just hate having to endlessly go through the process.

Bump. Is anyone around? I am really struggling. Making myself so ill right before the start of probably the most stressful term of my teaching life.

@ValancyRedfern hello, I hope you’re okay. I’m also in teaching (and also 40), starting back tomorrow but lying here wide awake as feeling really anxious about what’s ahead.
That said, I’m hoping that going back will help get me back into a routine and help with my eating patterns, do you think that might be the case with you? All the best for your return to work.

Hi everyone- sorry for going AWOL. I am in a fasting phase atm and have managed to loose 1/2 in two weeks.

I feel sorry for you all that are teachers it must be so hard right now...

Sending a big hug and lots of love x

hello all can I ask you something? My DD17 thinks she has BED - she also has anxiety and depression, but it al centres around body image, saying she's too ugly to live so in order to cope with those feelings she binges. Thing is, she only "binges" on nice stuff.

I've struggled with this sort of thing on and off all my life and found if I was having a terrible day I'd have 10 slices of bread or something like that (she's never seen me do this and its been a while too) but a binge for her will be lots of crisps and cakes. Typical behaviour is to get ice creams out of the freezer instead of breakfast.

I think the issue is the body image and that I should ask for assessment for BDD, with BED as a symptom. Does that sound like I am talking rubbish or is there some sense in there? CAMHS have washed their hands so I am thinking of going private but worried who to see.

Can I join this thread please I had anorexia then fell pregnant and it went from that to binge eating didn't purge as I was too scared with the baby inside me I gained 6 yes 6 stone in pregnancy had the baby and started restricting to 400/600 Cal's lost 3 stone past 2 months I've been binging again and I've gained a stone back I'm so down about my weight I know it bothers my partner I'm definitely unattractive now I have all these lumps and bump cellulite and a horrible over hang from the c section I don't know how to stop