Hi chickies!! Welcome to the binge free challenge!! You can come in here and post your weekly successes and struggles and keep track of your binge free days. You can also vent about anything and everything you feel like getting out. This is a positive thread, so I have to enforce the "be careful about being too negative" rule. We are here to share our feelings and to encourage and inspire each other. We are strong chicks and I KNOW we all can do this!! And we don't have to do it alone, we have each other to get us through the rough times.

ALL chicks are welcome -- no one is excluded! If you are trying to lose weight, not trying, maintaining, recovering from an eating disorder, in the midst of one, or have ANY kind of problem with food, we would love to have you join us!!

If anyone has any questions or concerns, or you just need to talk privately, don't hestitate to PM me.

Let's have an awesome week!!

Count me in! I will stop eating when I'm full, I will drink at least 8 glasses of water and I will eat healthy. Lets go, girlies!

Good morning ladies! Well the weekend went okay for me. I had a few minor blips, but way better then my normal weekend eating behavior. I started to really get into my OA reading that I recieved, and have found it really helpful. I'm having a problem defining what I want my abstinence to be. I want to make it something I think I have a shot at being able to do. For me saying I'm never going to eat a chip again will certainly set me up for failure. I'm taking my time though and really thinking about how I want to define it for myself. I uderstand that I don't need to decide this in one day. I know the feeling I feel when I eat right for the day, would that be what you would describe as abstinence? I mean when I eat clean and in control I feel good, when I don't I always feel bad. So maybe for right now I'll aim for just feel good days....meaning I go to bed knowing I did my body right. I'll talk this over at my meeting this week. I'm really finding exercise wonderful right now. I've been doing something everyday, and it makes me feel strong and in control. In reading through OA material I've come to realize that this disease has so many different degrees. The thing is though even with all the different degrees we all share one common bond....we overeat! I'm looking forward to gaining some clarity in my life where food is concerned. I'm ready for a good week, but for today I'm just ready for a good day! One day at a time for me. So today is going to be my day 1 of abstinence as I define it.

I am going to be successful this week. So far so good with breakfast. 1 meal at a time.
Tina - It sounds like you are really defining how you can be successful. Keep it up!

Good morning, Everyone - and we're off to another good week. Count me in for this week's challenge - although it will be difficult for me. Tomorrow am I'll be on my way to Boston for a work-related workshop for the rest of the week. That means a lot of sitting in hotel meeting rooms, not getting any execise, needing to sit and pay attention and trying to learn something. Ugh! Being out of my routine, out of my environment, blah, blah, blah. It won't be easy. Plus, I have a lot of friends and family in Boston who will want to see me, take me out to dinner, etc etc. It's gonna be tough.

Tina, to answer your question: everyone defines her abstinence differently. For me, essentially, it means no bingeing. And you're right, when I feel crappy and "guilty" about how I've eaten, that means I've broken my abstinence. So what you're describing is basically what I've been doing, and it seems to work for me. Doesn't necessarily mean I consistently loose weight. This week, in fact, I really don't expect to. But if I don't GAIN weight, then I think I'm doing well, given the circumstances. So that's my goal for this week - not to gain.

Have a great week, Everyone. Tootleloot...

Hello everyone,
I made it through day 5 yesterday on to trying to make it 6 days. I know I can do it this time. I'm in a different frame of mind this time. Last time I put so much pressure on myself this time I have been a bit more laid back and that has made the difference. I'm on Chapter 6 of my IE book. I'm sure it is making a huge difference.

Tina--Sounds like you are really working the program and that is important.

Golean--In last weeks thread you mentioned you ate more because your mom thinks you should. I am the only child (brother in Fl and the other brother in Hawaii normally but currently in Iraq) here in the same area as my mom and she tends to be a bit overbearing at times. I know it is because she loves me and is trying to be helpful but....sometimes she adds stress to my life that I need to manage. You gotta get comfortable saying mom I love you but....
I'm 35 years old so I am definitely comfortable with that one. I can't let her derail me.

Shay- I read over the weekend something that really hit home with me it went like this...."We are not failures because we have a failure, Failure is being unwilling to start over" that just hit me like a ton of bricks! I was just like you in that I put so much pressure on myself that when I would slip it always led to days of negative self talk and feeling worthless. I know that I'm going to slip, I'm human but I have to be willing to get back up and keep going. So from now on a slip is not going to define me it is going to make me stronger. Congrats on making it 5 days that is fantastic. I hope by the end of the week I can say the same. I feel different this time also, like for once in my life I feel like I can do this.

Birgit- Thank you for sharing your abstinence with me. It makes me feel much better knowing that this works for someone else. Have a fun time on your trip and if you slip up just read what I wrote above to Shay. I think this is going to be key!

Golean- 1 meal at a time...I hear that! Keep it up~

Hi everyone! Don't have much time but wanted to drop in and let you know I'm thinking of you all.

Shay, wow, you're doing so great! Almost a week, you keep up the great work! I guess this program is really working for you. I know you were so hopeful about it and I'm so happy it's turning out to be such a positive influence!

Birgit, I love Boston and unfortunately live on the *other* side of the state. It will be tough, yes, but not unachievable. You can keep with it, I just know it. Concentrate on enjoying quality time with your family and friends and just try your best to let the food and all that comes with it be in the background as much as you can. I hope you have a great trip!

Golean, good luck this week!

Tina, it sounds like OA is really doing wonders for you! I'm so glad to hear how positive you sound. I hope you have a great week.

Not much to report here. Somehow, by some crazy miracle (okay, I've put a lot of effort into it, not gonna lie!) I'm on day 25. I'm so close to a month, I can't believe it. The most amazing part is that I've gone out to dinner with friends, I've had things I "shouldn't" that I thought might trigger me, and I didn't budge. I think I'm getting it, and I couldnt' be happier about that. I really hope I can keep up this momentum. It hasn't been easy- at LEAST twice a week I've come pretty close to an all out binge, but I've abstained ,and for once I"m proud of myself.

I'd like to join!
One day down, 6 more to go..
I think I can do it...today wasn't hard.

I've been ok so far! Yesterday was actually pretty easy, but only because I kept super busy. By the end of the night, I was too tired to stuff my face in front of the TV. lol

Good morning! Well I made it through day 1 of abstinence I'm starting to log my calories in dailyplate again, and I think that will help keep me accountable. We got some crazy snow here last night. I'm ready for winter to be over with already. I still have my youngest one home with some sort of bug. He's had a fever for about 5 days now, but nothing else. So today him and I will be just hanging around home. I'm ready to start day 2 though and have another good day. Hope your all doing well!

Dana- Day 25....I can't wait till I can say that!!! Your doing so well You should be very proud of yourself!

Kristi- Glad to hear ya had a good day...one day at a time is my motto

Daizylin- When I'm busy it's always so much easier for me to eat in control. I think half of my problem is boredom.

Have a fantastic day everyone

Tina, I definitely agree about your statement about boredom. When there is nothing left to do, I just eat! But in reality, I know that there is not really "nothing" left to do.

Kristi!

Tina--I get frustrated but I will never give up. It would be like giving up on myself and I won't ever do that.

djs06--Who knew Intuitive Eating could actually work with binge eating? I think I said it before-- it seems like an oxymoron but not really.....!

Well I made it through Day 6. On to Day 7! I will weigh myself on Saturday. Then I won't weigh for a month. I want to try to go to quarterly weigh ins. I will be interested to see where I'm at with my 2-3 week continuous binge in combination with starting the intuitive eating recently.

Hi all - I am back from a fabulous weekend away skiing... but it did most certainly turn into a free-for-all EATFEST. Hubby and I are both up ten pounds in as many days. At first I said to him "There's no WAY we each ate 35000 extra calories!!" and then I realized, wait - that's only 3500 a day - I DEFINITELY ate that... what a wake up call. You know, it might be the kick in the pants I needed to Just. Stop. and Breathe.

It sounds like you're all doing marvelously well - congrats to each of you!!

Here's to a great, healthy night and day tomorrow!

Heather

I'm going to be binge free this week, I'm heading out on a business trip, the former me would eat fast food, chicken fried steak, etc on the road. I'm packing a cooler and I'm stickin' with it.