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Original poster

Binge eating support thread

80 replies

cheeseisthebest · 30/12/2021 10:53

This is for those of us with binge eating disorder whether formally diagnosed or not.
Please comment if you would like to join and I hope its helpful.
Any reading or useful strategies would be great too.

OP posts:
Billybagpuss · 30/12/2021 16:29

Just checking in for later

Original poster
cheeseisthebest · 30/12/2021 17:03

Thank you. Bump!

OP posts:
Original poster
cheeseisthebest · 30/12/2021 18:06

I should probably kick this off.
So I'm 43, slim as a child, started gaining weight as I hit my thirties. Now 10 1/2 stone and 5ft 1. Got down to 10st 1 before Christmas put it all back on again.
I just can't stop once I start and I do it secretly. I hide in the kitchen, shut the down and shovel food into my face, cheese, chocolate, biscuits, etc. I stop enjoying it after the first couple of mouthfuls but keep going. Clearly I'm trying to meet an emotional need.
I am working with a health coach using BWRT which before Christmas was really helping but its still very hard.
I would love to have a healthy relationship with food.

OP posts:
Original poster
cheeseisthebest · 30/12/2021 18:06

Door not down!

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Skinnymimi · 30/12/2021 18:25

Hi @cheeseisthebest What triggered the weight gain? When did it start/ you realized it?

Original poster
cheeseisthebest · 30/12/2021 18:33

The weight gain happened very gradually after having kids. I've always had a very sweet tooth and been a bit of a secret binger. Was about 8 stone until I had kids!

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Onemorefortheroad · 30/12/2021 18:50

Really unhealthy relationship with food here. Previously have binged and felt the need to make myself sick afterwards. Much better at not doing that now, although it's a constant fight with myself. This time of year is especially hard as well as working from home :-(

Anyone found any coping methods?

Original poster
cheeseisthebest · 30/12/2021 19:01

Coping methods include using HALT which is stopping and saying am I hungry, angry, lonely, tired? I also use bored as well. Helps to identify the emotion behind the urge to binge

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Onemorefortheroad · 30/12/2021 19:17

Even stopping and thinking would be a good step here. Don't even think about it mostly, just become a habit!
Never done any reading etc - only really recognising that it's an issue more recently.

Original poster
cheeseisthebest · 30/12/2021 19:24

Try and think about the reason when you do it. Mine used to be anger or irritation with husband, kids, work! BWRT has stopped that one.
But I still have a "I deserve a treat" mentality which I'm finding hard to overcome, especially this past week.

It's never helpful for people to say just don't have it in the house, my kids and husband don't have my problem so they shouldn't miss out.

OP posts:
Nevilleneville · 30/12/2021 19:36

I’ve been binge eating for most of my adult life. Bar a short period of anorexia in my early 20s. I also had very bad bulimia for a few years but have managed to overcome that and the really bad binges.

The only thing that worked for me was finding an exercise I really loved and it helped me see my body as something to respect rather than hate. I know that sounds cringe! I was in a really good place then I got Covid, which was a bitch to recover from and injured myself (anorexia = osteoporosis) now I’m back sleepwalking towards the same horrible place I was a few years back and thinking I’ll never be fully recovered 😢 and I can’t even exercise.

Sorry for the indulgent post. Binge eating is the worst.

Original poster
cheeseisthebest · 30/12/2021 19:44

Oh that's rubbish.
What was the exercise you did?

Forgot to say I'm also pre diabetic and so have sugar spikes and am not meant to have sugar or carbs at all.

OP posts:
Dozer · 30/12/2021 19:45

Don’t think it’s helpful on an eating disorders board to state specific weights.

Nevilleneville · 30/12/2021 19:47

CrossFit. I was competing and loving it. I’d always strived to be super skinny but I’m naturally quite muscular so that being a good thing just kinda worked.

Diabetes scares me. My binges are soley sugar and carbs. Hue dye you find out you were prediabetic? Did you have symptoms?

Dozer · 30/12/2021 19:48

What’s BWRT? Is that / the ‘health coach’ paid for?

I’ve a longstanding binge eating problem, since adolescence, have only tried self and v low cost help so far. The most useful to date has been the ‘Brain Over Binge’ book.

A big worry now is passing food issues onto my DC.

Original poster
cheeseisthebest · 30/12/2021 19:54

@Dozer

Don’t think it’s helpful on an eating disorders board to state specific weights.
Oh sorry maybe I should get this topic moved?
OP posts:
Original poster
cheeseisthebest · 30/12/2021 19:55

I'm not very good at explaining what BWRT is but it's sort of like hypnosis. It has worked for me. I've also read brain over binge.

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Original poster
cheeseisthebest · 30/12/2021 20:10

No sorry its not hypnosis, this explains it better
www.wellness-centre.co.uk/bwrt/

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Dozer · 30/12/2021 21:05

It looks like an alternative therapy.

Am personally not a big fan of those: often costly and not evidence based.

PeggyGa · 30/12/2021 21:07

Marking place. I do Overeaters anonymous which helps a bit, overeating for me has been horrendous. 11 years sober but alcoholically drinking was easier than the hell of binge eating g and the self hatred I feel after

Original poster
cheeseisthebest · 30/12/2021 21:33

@Dozer

It looks like an alternative therapy.

Am personally not a big fan of those: often costly and not evidence based.

No worries! It has worked for me and I'm not normally a fan of alternative stuff either. But each to their own!
OP posts:
crazycrochetlady · 31/12/2021 10:10

Checking in. DD binges. It's breaking my heart and ruining her life. I'd take it from her in an instant.

Original poster
cheeseisthebest · 31/12/2021 12:11

Must be so hard and hard to support.

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Original poster
cheeseisthebest · 31/12/2021 14:34

Bump if anyone else is interested

OP posts:
BellaTheDarkOverlord · 31/12/2021 14:42

Me please, I'll join.

Been slim until mid twenties when gained about 3 stone. When dh is away for the evening I treat it like a me night. I buy lots of treat food in like pringles, chocolate, donuts, diet coke. I can eat thousands of calories in an hour. I feel I have a mindset of if I don't finish this pack of 5 donuts tonight they'll be off tomorrow and it'll be a waste. I hide the packaging from dh so he doesn't know how much I ate. I'm 11 stone 3 now at my heaviest. I don't drink.

When I was younger when mum used to go to shops she'd come back with treat food. My brother and sister would immediately start eating it all. Got to the point where I would hide some for me for later. Then when I had a job at 16 I started buying my own and hiding it in a drawer under the bed. Donuts, chocolate, crisps, anything I liked. I never gained weight as I was heavily into a sport multiple times a week. I feel like this was the start of it.