Hello all - I have been lurking for a while, but it's only now that I have registered.

To some, it may look like I don't have a lot to lose, but to me - these 10 pounds seem like a thousand. I can't seem to reach my goal weight and it's all because of evening binging.

I am doing my best to break the pattern, but obviously - I am not doing a good enough job.
My wedding is coming up on July 28th and when I went for my last fitting, I was 5 pounds away from my goal weight, so it fit, but now my dress doesn't fit anymore.

I really don't know how to motivate myself to stop binging.

welcome to the most fabulous support site for weightloss that the interweb has to offer.

Silky, I belong to our local symphony chorus. The week before I auditioned, I was so nervous, I ate constantly and gained about 10 pounds. The same thing happened right before our main Christmas concert. In each case, I was able to lose the weight after the stressful event had passed, but I've learned that when I'm anxious, I have to be very mindful of how much I'm eating.

Could it be that you're so stressed about the wedding that you're eating as a distraction, or as a way to soothe yourself? Maybe find a way (besides eating) to take the pressure off.. could you plan to take a bubble bath, or some other relaxing activity, around the time you normally binge? If I plan to be in the middle of some other activity during my normal "danger zones", I'm usually ok when that time has passed.

Best of luck -- I know how hard this can be!

Yes, yes, stress is a big BIG issue with binging/purging for me. When I can isolate the stress, get away from it or deal with it in a different manner than I am alright.
But, also, easier said than done and that is why having this site and these girlies is so great!

My mother passed away 3 years ago - subsequently I lost my job a month later because of poor performance (of course, I was told to sue them, but I just didn't have the energy to go through that).

Two years ago, I got pregnant - what a wonderful thing, we both love children and eventhough it wasn't planned, we were so happy.

I miscarried it 16 weeks later, running into serious complications.

Wedding planning is wonderful actually, it's probably the only thing that's not stressing me out, as weird as that sounds - well, except the not fitting in my dress that is.
I have seen a therapist and worked through my traumas, but I think that I developed this emotional eating without even realizing.

Everyone here is an inspiration - each and every one of you, and I thank you for that.

Yes, that happens a lot! We start using food as a way to cope and eventually the coping method becomes a problem in and of itself.

It sounds like you've had a really hard few years -- it's no wonder you have some residual eating issues to deal with. try to be patient with yourself. Habits take time to form, and they take time to break. I'm glad you find the board inspirational; maybe you can come here and read when you're feeling tempted to binge. Keep reading/posting, we're listening. Hang in there!

Speaking of inspiration -- I was just looking at your starting/current/goal weight, and wow! you've accomplished so much! I hope I can eventually do the same.

Silkyjo, I'm a bit in the same boat - not a huge amount of weight to lose, but a history of bingeing problems (though not purging). I'm focussing on beating the bingeing now, not on following a diet to lose x pounds. Of course, I do want to lose 22 pounds, BUT I have finally realized that I will NEVER get to and stay at the weight I want until I get the bingeing under control. I have been at a good weight at several times in my adult life, and those were during times when I was not bingeing, plain and simple. I ate normal meals (no foods were off limits), limited snacks, moved my butt, and the weight came off and stayed off. (It returned post-pregnancy, and stayed as I slipped back into bingeing.) I'm a firm believer that (for me, anyway) dieting is a direct cause of bingeing.

Welcome SilkyJo and Janey and everyone else that I haven't welcomed yet!!

I really think you will find the support that you need here... There are just so many people that REALLY understand what you are going through here... And I understand totally about being close to where you want to be but feeling like you will never get there because of the binging... I had dropped down to 152.5 at one point last year and right now I am struggling at 159 (as of this morning) and have slipped into the 160s several times recently... I have been reading here alot lately but not really offering much advice...I feel slightly hypocritical when I haven't been doing well at all until recently...but there has just so many posts from people who have so many more challenges than I have that I am just humbled... No more whining for me! I am going to get off my butt and do this thing! I have a new Ipod... I am adding an evening workout...I am doing all the things that I know to do already. I will succeed and you will too! Believe it!