The all or nothing mentality
 

Argh! I'm so frustrated guys! :stress:

I'm writing after a really bad unplanned binge and my stomach hurts so bad (I ate too fast and ate too much). I had made it through 4 days without bingeing (which was amazing for me!). I had even been eating a proper amount of food and not trying to survive on some ridiculous crash diet plan. I have a long history of over-eating (or not eating) depending on my emotional state and I just gave in to the craving to overdo it as i had an emotionally exhausting day.

Of course, I'm now thinking 'Ah well, you've totally screwed it up now as per usual, you might as well just eat what you want seeing as you have started'. I know I need to wakeup tomorrow and continue as I was but my eating disorder history means I have a tendency to try cut back food to make up for by bingeing.

How do I make myself do this?? my usual routine would be to wake up bingeing as I started it tonight or else wake with the goal of eating as little as possible (which as we all know inevitably leads to bingeing). I hate my all or nothing view.

Also If I continue with the healthy eating how quick will I return to my normal weight before the binge (I ate well over 5000 calories). Is it a matter of days?

I think I just need a great kick up the bum and for you guys to assure me it is ok to continue with my healthy eating plan without feeling guilty for a binge. :drill:

Well, this is a new hour! A new day will start soon! It's an addiction :(

We can't survive by eating as little as possible. We need to have flexible plans, like counting calories or weight watchers, that doesn't restrict us, that still lets us have cheese and chocolate so we don't deprive ourselves and go overboard.

Harder still is we must eliminate triggers from our lives. For me, this has had to be morning shifts instead of evening shifts, an active job - and lesser paid - instead of an idle office job. I've had to leave University and go to vocational school - less stress, less depression. :(

Sometimes, I have to leave the house. I have to fill my time. I have to get off the computer.

I can empathise :hug:
I think it's really helpful to realise, even if you have binged, to finish the rest of the day without binging anymore is progress. It moves you closer to a day with no binges.

Well done for the 4 days binge free, a really positive way of looking at it is not that you now need to 'start again', just continue along with trying to stay binge free. The durations will get longer, if we always start over at day 1 again, it's like ignoring those X days of progress.

Sorry I would write more atm, but I'm so tired, I am not sure this post even makes sense :dizzy:

Thanks
 

Thanks so much for your replies. It's amazing how your brain can run away with itself and silly ideas.

If I can do 4 days without bingeing then I can definitely do it again. I suppose I need to start thinking of it as continuing my diet rather than restarting it again.

Ok I'm off to bed and when I get up I will be right back into my normal healthy eating again. It did make me feel so good about myself. I really don't know why I insist on bingeing when it makes me feel like crap. I suppose that's one for the therapist's session! ;)

Thanks again!

ohh I can so relate to that!! I am also like that, once I start binging I too think- 'now that I have ruined my day why not binge more and start afresh from tomorrow'.
I have been binge free since last 2 days, I noticed that we both plan to loose about equal amount of weight. How about challenging each other, may be we can support each other better :)

The urge is strong and when I'm in a relaxed state of mind I always think "this isn't so hard." Then something comes up. I fill with anxiety and don't know what to do. Automatically food is the outlet that comes to mind. Ugh!! Why is this an option for us. I applaud you for going four days. At this point that would be amazing for me. Anyhow, I think your doing great. I'm going to use you as inspiration to make it at least two days. Thanks for your post. It helps to know others out there are in the same boat and overcoming their urges.

What has helped for me in the past is to think in terms of hours, not days. Being binge free for a whole DAY seemed like a huge obstacle. And I find that I did less damage when binging when I couldn't start again tomorrow... I had to start again NOW.

24hrs later....
 

Thankyou so much... I made it through one good day of eating. Hopefully I'm back on track. Go me! :angel:

Great job! You can do this :)