Overeaters anonymous vs counselling/CBT

ReallyFatCat · 2014-08-17T21:30:05+00:00

Just wondered I could get some advice please. I have recently accepted that I have a really bad problem with food and after lots of googling believe I have a 'binge eating disorder.' [confused] I posted the other day for advice and someone kindly advised I see my GP. I just feel so embarrassed and unsure of what exactly I should say. Hence why I thought about perhaps giving Overeaters Anonymous a shot. Does anyone know which is best? I really don't want to waste tonnes of time...as I know my binging is just getting worse. TIA

Original poster

ReallyFatCat · 18/08/2014 08:30

Anyone?

OP posts:

Sinfandel · 18/08/2014 10:49

I've still not fully dealt with my BED, although I've vastly improved, so maybe not the best to advise but didn't want to read and run.

OA has apparently been helpful for many but never for me. I first went to a meeting in the mid 1980's and have tried again several times since but the 12 Steps made no sense to me, Higher Power made no sense to me, the fact that I was sitting in a group looking around at a lot of people who had YEARS in programme and were still obese made no sense to me.

The most sensible plan that I've seen is a CBT plan that you can try on a self help basis. It's a book written by an Oxfor Professor of Psychiatry who has been specialising in the field of eating disorders for over 20 years. The book is called 'Overcoming Binge Eating' and it's written by Professor Christopher Fairburn. (Not to be confused with a book called 'Overcoming Overeating' that I read in the early 90's and that led me to a 2st weight gain by following its advice.)
The Fairburn book is recommended reading by the GP's in my local area and so it's readily available in our local libraries.
To follow his plan you must be prepared to give up dieting, at least for the first few months. This is the part that I've consistently struggled with when I've tried to follow the plan.

If you can let go of dieting and need structure - not restriction but structure - in your eating, try Fairburn. He has you eating 3 meals and 2/3 snacks every day. It works well if you've lost touch with your hunger signals.

If structure is going to make you rebel and you are still in touch with your natural hunger signals, take a look at intuitive eating. Beyond Chocolate, Paul McKenna, Josie Spinardi are all worth a look.

I also highly recommend Brain Over Binge by Kathryn Hansen.

NewbieChewbie · 18/08/2014 18:12

I can thoroughly recommend this book by Judith Beck (daughter of brains behind CBT).

www.amazon.co.uk/Beck-Diet-Solution-Train-Person-ebook/dp/B007PRZN4Y/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1408381779&sr=8-1&keywords=beck+diet+solution

It's NOT a diet. Any reasonable, healthy diet will work with it. It's a 6 week program to retrain your brain. You read a chapter a day. You do exercises. It is well worth a read.

Sinfandel · 18/08/2014 18:41

I've got that one and it's probably good for people who are dealing with one problem, ie being overweight and wanting to lose that weight. But I'm not sure how useful it is for BED. I do remember it had one day that focuses on cravings but not much more.
Can you tell us more about how it helped you with BED?

NewbieChewbie · 18/08/2014 18:55

There's a lot in it about mindfulness around eating and exercises like one day you will miss lunch and record how hungry you get, how bad your cravings are etc. It teaches you that actually you can be hungry, it's nothing to be afraid of, you will survive it. Not that she advocates skipping meals. But for me for example I got into a mindset of fearing being hungry, not knowing when I could next eat etc. Another day you will serve up one of your usual meals and not finish your favourite part of it and you practise that over and over and that teaches you not to overeat. You can enjoy it, but you don't HAVE to eat it all.

I found the book and the exercise really helpful, but you have to do them. Buy the prompting cards, the notebook etc. Do the program.

Sinfandel · 18/08/2014 19:29

Thanks. I'll get it out and give it another read.
I did make one of the response cards, the first one that you do before you start the actual diet.

I just have to very careful because anything that resembles a diet triggers my binge eating. I think I followed the programme for the first 14 days but then on day 15 when I was due to start a diet, I lost it.

Original poster

ReallyFatCat · 18/08/2014 19:56

Thank you both for your book recommendations, I have ordered them both.

I also have an appointment at the GP tomorrow (if I'm brave enough to go!). I just feel really embarrassed. I'm sure she's going to think I'm depressed, which I don't think I am. I'm miserable about my situation and I despise what I have become. I'm hoping she can wave a magic wand...and fix me.

OP posts:

NewbieChewbie · 18/08/2014 20:05

Sinfandel perhaps don't think of day 15 as a diet? Just carry on as you were, being really mindful. Perhaps that is the way forward for you?

You have to do all the exercises on all the days. I first bought the book many years ago and thought I could only read it, not do it. Then I bought it on Kindle which was great as I had it with me everywhere I went, even on my phone with the Kindle app.

Sinfandel · 19/08/2014 08:15

Really good luck at the GP. They do now have a diagnosis for BED, whereas they didn't up until about a year ago. She will check off your symptoms alongside DSM 5 more info here :
www.allianceforeatingdisorders.com/portal/dsm-bed

I think she may offer you CBT although it is quite limited on the NHS, or she may suggest the Fairburn book first.
Let us know how you get on and if you want to keep the thread going as you progress with CBT I'll be interested to take part.

Newbie I've got the Beck book out and will definitely make out the first prompt card today. Need to lose at least 4st and am going round in circles trying not to diet and make the bingeing worse, but still trying to shift some weight. And am perimenopausal too which just makes it harder - cravings are definitely hormonal.

ancientbuchanan · 19/08/2014 08:24

Bump

NewbieChewbie · 19/08/2014 08:33

I did use some actual prompt cards but I also used Google Keep which I found invaluable. I have it on my laptop, tablet and mobile so it is always with me making reading the "cards" several times a day really easy.

Re menopause Google Jade Tata and menopause and watch his videos about how the hormonal changes mean your body needs feeding in a different way. Its not all in our minds. It's not just cravings/not having enough willpower. There are biological reasons why staying in shape losing weight gets much harder. Just knowing this has helped my mindset hugely. I have stopped beating myself up quite so much, which is half the battle.

NewbieChewbie · 19/08/2014 08:34

I did use some actual prompt cards but I also used Google Keep which I found invaluable. I have it on my laptop, tablet and mobile so it is always with me making reading the "cards" several times a day really easy.

Re menopause Google Jade Tata and menopause and watch his videos about how the hormonal changes mean your body needs feeding in a different way. Its not all in our minds. It's not just cravings/not having enough willpower. There are biological reasons why staying in shape losing weight gets much harder. Just knowing this has helped my mindset hugely. I have stopped beating myself up quite so much, which is half the battle.

Sinfandel · 19/08/2014 09:19

newbie I'm not getting any relevant results for Jade Tata ?

StripyBanana · 19/08/2014 09:23

The fairburn is really good. As is somethingcaled "getting better bite by bite" or similar.

I think you want a book that addresses bed and not a diet book. In fact you really realy need to come off the diet bandwagon as hard as thatbsounds.

Original poster

ReallyFatCat · 19/08/2014 09:25

Thank you for your replies. I cancelled the GP appointment. I just don't know what to say.

On a more positive note, I am feeling really positive about reading the books that have been recommended and yesterday was the first day in weeks I haven't had an evening binge. I'm really hoping that acknowledging that I have a problem is the first step to getting better.

OP posts:

Original poster

ReallyFatCat · 19/08/2014 09:30

I completely agree about stopping the 'diets'. I honestly believe that all my problems to do with my weight/body image stem back to joining weight watchers at the age of 17 at a size 10. I'm now mid 30's, weigh the same as what I did when I have birth to my son 6 years ago and I have a horrendous attitude to food. If only I could turn back the clock...

OP posts:

NewbieChewbie · 19/08/2014 09:43

Sorry. It's Jade Teta. Here is a link to a written article:-

www.metaboliceffect.com/menopause-weight-gain/

NewbieChewbie · 19/08/2014 09:44

Another tool in my mindset arsenal is an app called Pocket. Anyone heard of it? You can save articles to it from any website/link etc. So for example I've just saved that one by Jade Teta to read when I feel I need it. Yep. Definitely the mental fight for me...

Sinfandel · 19/08/2014 11:26

Really, I'm not going to berate you for cancelling the GP. I've never found the courage to go to my GP about this either, although I did have a few sessions of therapy privately.
I'm glad you're feeling positive about the books. If Fairburn was one of the two that you ordered, just keep in mind it really does take time, you need to work through the steps in the book in order and it may take about 6 months.
Actually I may start it again along with some other tools (Beck etc) and see if it helps me.

Sinfandel · 19/08/2014 11:27

Thanks for the link Newbie, got it now.

zombiesheep · 19/08/2014 18:00

Hi! I have a BED, today I went to the doctor about it and he has referred me for counselling/CBT so definitely go!

Will report back when things start to happen