I just came out to my husband that I am a recovering secret binger. I feel amazingly FREE now. Like a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders (Now if only I could get that feeling in my rear. ).

He never could understand how I could be so big and eat barely enough to keep a bird alive. This was about the 100th time he said that so I just spilled the beans. I told him "I not only eat enough to keep a bird alive...that bird is Big Bird...Pregnant...with twins."

Today truly feels like a rebirth!!!! My support network is stronger than I could have possibly imagined!

Much love and strength to you all today!

J.

I'm glad it worked out well for you! Maybe freeing yourself of the secret will help to free you from bingeing too. Best of luck.

Wow, big step Congrats

Great job -- as a binger, I know how difficult and embarassing it makes you feel. Just curious -- what was his reaction? Unfortunately I have a very difficult husband who would not understand, he finds being overweight a sign of weakness and laziness.... Luckily I have a great sister who knows all about me and understands which helps a great deal.

WTG! Glad to hear it helped you.

Shelby: So sorry to hear your hubby is like that.

shelby~ I'm sorry to hear that.

My husband was extremely supportive. At first he didn't understand. He said it was weird. He was quiet and shocked. He could not understand what makes a person binge at the grocery store and sitting in parking lots and after a 45 minute work out and hide food and...and...and... I told him it was like alcoholism or drug addiction. Ahhhhhhh. You could hear the lightbulb go off in his head. I think he's still trying to wrap his noodle around it but he will.

I was a secret binger as well. But I never felt the need to fess up to anyone - except here of course. It was a huge source of embarassment and shame for me. I think people that don't do it can't possibly fathom what it's like or that such a thing even EXISTS.

People, hubby included, would say to me "I just don't understand why you're so heavy, you just don't eat that much." Well yeah - in FRONT of people.

I'm so very glad that you wanted to tell your husband and that he is so very supportive of you. I hope this helps you with your journey. Good luck.

Congrats to you! That is wonderful!

Shelby-sending hugs!!!!

My binge food is chocolate (I"m so imagintative, aren't I!?) specifically chocolate chip cookie dough..okay, I"ve confessed! I'm trying really hard not to do that anymore-fairly recently it not only of course upset my stomach, but I got really headachy and lightheaded also. This lasted for hours afterward. I think my body is telling me it cannot handle all that sugar anymore, which is a good thing. The last time I was in the store I remembered that and did not buy any.

Sherry

J ~ you are not alone. The people at work would say to me ~ you work so hard and are always on the go ~ you should be small. While I didn't tell the details, I just said that it is what I do when I am alone ~ eating wise ~ that gets me in this shape.

Shelby ~ more hugs for you

How many times have I heard the phrase "I never see you eat -- how can you be the size you are??" Well, duh -- you'd think people would eventually catch on, wouldn't you? But we are so good at hiding our food and binging (at least I have been), that no one ever knows.
Unfortunately, my husband is like Shelby's -- NOT understanding or cooperative. He's always wanted me to lose weight -- but is not willing to stop bringing in sweets and chips to the kitchen. I've tried to explain my addiction -- but no success. Then, when he goes to "his" cupboard two weeks after purchasing some cookies, he's surprised and angry that they are gone.
By the way -- years ago, when DH and I were separated for several months, I lost weight easily. Hmm, wonder what this means??!!

Shelby and Lizzy - believe me what I say I have been where you are, I know it's so hard, and I'm so sorry you do not get the support from your husbands. I hope that things get better for you. They did for me but it took a divorce and I wouldn't wish that on ANYONE! I wish for you happiness, peace, support, love in your home. You deserve it!

As for Jen - BRAVO! I have not done that, yet, and maybe I never will. What a brave lady you are. You inspire me!

Hugs to all who had courage to reveal "the best kept secret"!

I consider myself secret binger, but have never told anybody about it.....long ago I really wanted to tell my dad as he was always the understanding one, but eventually didnt manage to do that as I moved out from our family house.
So.....this is actually 1st time I'm telling the world that I do have my secret binges....am "smuggling" food home in my handbag out of sight of my flatmates.....while I'm at my fiances place, I'm eating out and not eating much at home, so that he won't know.....perfect conspiracy.....

Wooww, what a feeling......J. was right that telling someone about it brings so much relief
Thank you all for being here, muah muah muah

wiosna~ I like that..."the best kept secret" and "perfect conspiracy". It does feel really good to get it off of your chest.

To my fellow secret bingers~ I may not be the husband/family/significant other, etc that you'd like to spill your guts to but I am ALWAYS here for anyone that just wants to talk. If anyone wants to unload and just needs an ear I am here.

This week I had my End of the Binge celebration. I figure that I need to approach this like an alcoholic approaches booze. My desire to binge is like a sleeping tiger and one bite of cake, ice cream, candy will wake that sleeping tiger and he will party like it's 1999! I don't need that. Besides, he pees on the carpet and there's always tire marks on my lawn. So...I went to the store and bought my trigger foods...ice cream, chocolate fudge cake and glazed croissants. Yeah, the croissants are like sex in a bakery case. Sweet merciful heavens are they delightful!!!!!

Point being...I came out of the closet, threw the tiger a fine going away party and let him rest.

Happy Friday to all of you lovely ladies! Hope everyone's weekend is healthy, happy and tiger free!

XO-
Jenn

I hear ya. I used to stop on the way home from work and get a HUGE hamburger, fries and coke. I would eat it all on the way home KNOWING that my husband had dinner ready when I got home. I'd eat there, too.

I'm glad you finally told someone. Secrets can get so heavy they just break your soul.

I've done the exact same thing too many times to count. And after finishing the hamburger then gone to taco Bell. And eaten all 3 of the 3/.99 candybars as soon as I got out of the grocery store. More recently I have a 2 and 3 year old along with me in the car most of the time ... and since I only binge by myself ... the extreme car binging hasn't happened in awhile. I can get pretty creative with the binging though. I long for the day when I can just as easily "take it" (just 1!) or "leave it" - without a huge battle being waged inside. It's a learning process and I'm in it for the duration!

Anyways, kudos to you for coming out. My DH also knows about my compulsive eating and is very supportive.