[pinkplatypus]

I posted this on the control forum, but also thought I'd post it here for some extra support from my fellow calorie counters.

I have been binge free for 10 days. This is the longest I've been binge free for about 4 months. I am sooo proud of myself and feel good. I finally came to terms with some things and realized that 1200 calories is just not enough for someone who runs 6 miles 5 times a week and is very active at work. I did it for about 7 months and then it backfired and I started binging VERY badly at least 3 times a week. In about the last year, I've lost 35 pounds putting me at about 145 pounds, but because of the binging, I've put on about 10 pounds. Thank goodness I have kept running, because the damage would have been much worse. I decided I HAD to start eating more. So I've started a plan to get an average of 1700 calories a day during the week. I vary my daily intake so I'm getting 1500-2000 a day. That way, I can have high days and average days. On the other hand, I still have the urge to totally stuff myself until I feel sick. I don't know if that will ever go away? Im sure it will with time, but it's a battle every day. Today, I'm having a particularly hard time. It's only 10am and I've already had 1300 calories. I've been on the verge of going off into a binge, but I've forced myself to keep everything journaled. I'm sitting at Starbucks now, just getting my mind off of food. It's working for now. I have a lot planned for the day, so I think I'll be ok today. I'm at the point where the binging just doesn't seem worth the instant gratification. I don't want to gain anymore weight. I don't want to feel gross, sick, sluggish. But the urge is still there. If you have any words of encouragement, please share. I keep telling myself that tomorrow is my high day of 2000 calories and I can make it just one more day. One day at a time. That's all I can do at this point. The food isn't worth it!! I have to keep telling myself that. Thanks for listening.

Julie

[unwanted37lbs]

oh i so understand! i find myself wanting to eat eat eat when i am bored. What helps me to keep my mind off food and be busy is...
1. call a friend who talks a lot Good time on a phone and 1 hour pass
2. Go look sometimg on line. Read about topic that is interest you. I normally make a list througt a day what i want to google later on
3. do at least 5K. That takes me about 45 mins and physical activity makes me less hungry.

I hope you feel better and get back on track

[Patchmaxnala]

Been there honey! For me, I would look at old photos of me and my family when we were all happy and I felt great. It reminds you to look at the big picture and that in the end, real happiness isn't found in food.

I hope this helps! Remember, everyday is a struggle, but can also be a victory

[frustrated mom]

I love to eat food also. I have to watch out when I'm mad, or stressed, because I find myself looking for something sweet, and full of calories. Try drinking a glass of water, chewing gum, staying out of the house away from the kitchen, pray every day for strength for the day. Don't keep the bad food in the house. Reward yourself with something other than food when you don't binge.

[prinny]

I have had binging issues in the past and I still feel the urge quite often. I just don't keep things in the pantry that are usually what I binge on, though I do admit I let myself binge the other day on some canned veggies. Yes, it's weird and it was a lot of sodium but I totally pigged out on canned mushrooms, water chestnuts, spinach and tomatoes. The cool thing was I didn't really have the nasty bloated feeling I usually get from binging but I did get that ultra FULL feeling from it. It also seemed to satisfy my urge so what the ****. There are certainly worse things I could have binged on.