awww initfor. I think you might have to still give yourself a break but on those days limit your "free foods". Like the sweets. There are certain sweets that always trigger a binge for me. It's usually those snack cakes, cookies (striped shortbread) and certain types of ice cream.

I don't know if anyone else agrees with this, but I don't say NO to treats, I just take my food journal with me. If I want some I have to have really small portions. I take a sliver of pies, and 1 inch cube of other deserts.

If it is something, I can share, I share it. I'd rather eat treats in family settings than by myself. Plus family dinners to me are a ONE time special a month or something. I wouldn't deprive myself during one.

Day 1 for me. I've been kinda-sorta watching my eating over the past week, but there was a day over the Thanksgiving holiday I derailed and I haven't counted calories since then, though I think I've been eating pretty reasonably. So I'm just going to call this day 1... see if I can make it to Christmas!! (A lofty goal, I have yet to get past 7 days!)

I've been keeping track of my binges carefully and noticing that by day 4 I'm usually tired of healthy eating and feel ravenous all day, no matter what I eat. Day 4 is when most of my binges happen. As long as I can make it past day 4, I'm pretty golden.

Have you noticed there's one specific day that's really hard for you? I'd be interested to hear if this happens to anyone else!

Purplefirefly, I am so glad that I have helped you even a little bit in keeping the binge monster at bay. Good for you for doing what you knew you should do even though you didn't want to. One of those pesky adult behaviors, hmmm? ;)

Paris, great job on your 24 days. Keep going! :carrot:

Initfor, great job on your 3 days. You'll have to take a close look at the circumstances surrounding your bingeing to determine what the triggers are (whether food and/or emotions, etc.) and then work to eliminate and/or be mindful of them. Good luck w/ that!

Jendiet, I don't say no to treats either. I had pie on Thanksgiving and in the days after for dessert, but I made sure to plan 1 small slice into my calories and they were pies that I only eat once a year. Just a taste is usually good enough for me now. BTW, your profile pic is tres belle!

Skyra, I have faith in you to get over the 4th day binge-free hump. :) To answer your question, though, in my experience the first day is the hardest and after that days 18-19 and 31-35 are pretty challenging (also depends on when TOM is set to arrive) but being mindful of my weakness to binge on a particular day usually helps me to overcome it. My binge triggers are stress, feeling bad/sorry for myself, eating too much sugar, being Pre-TOM and not exercising.

Day 26 for me today. Shared a Green & Black's 60% mint chocolate bar last night but it was planned and dark chocolate doesn't make me want to binge. I really enjoyed it too. Milk chocolate, however, is definitely a binge trigger for me b/c of the high fructose corn syrup and sugar they add to it. For me, it's all about managing my binge behavior rather than curing it. Much like a sober alcoholic, even if I never binge again I will still consider myself to be a binge eater and will always have to be aware and mindful to keep myself from bingeing.

Hope everybody else is doing well! If not, come on here and talk about it. :)

I did it! I went and made a healthy meal (not breakfast food, but on plan). It was really good and instantly killed the desire to run across town for the bad stuff. I didn't even go get Subway because I was good the rest of the day. I still have nighttime to get through, that is the hardest time for me. I usually binge as soon as the kids are in bed, so now I have a rule for no eating after 7PM...not because Oprah says so :lol: but because any eating at night leads to a binge for me.

:cheer: YOU CAN DO IT :cheer: don't say your going to try, say you ARE doing it!

I think it depends on the person so you have to experiment. Some people can handle a day off and it works for them, but I cannot. One piece of sugary candy, pie, cookie, etc. and I am uncontrollable and have all kinds of cravings, etc. so it is best for me to just eliminate those trigger foods. Pizza and some fast food joints are huge triggers for me as well so I just cut them out completely. After a week or so I do not even crave them any longer and it's easier, but on slip and that's it! You have to experiment and see what works for you, it's different for everyone.

Hi chickies: Have been here before, but not for quite a while. Haven't had major binge problems lately, but on occasion I can really pack it in.
Looks like i have gone over the edge recently into diabetes, so it really is time to get a handle on my life and food issues/weight again.
With the holidays on hand, I will really be tempted to binge, so will be hanging out again, for the support that has been so great in the past.
TIA

Tia-it's wonderful that you've not given up!

I'm on Day 25 now, so close to a month!

I didn't make it through the night without a small binge, but I did have a major Aha! moment this morning! I was thinking how my biggest binges come after special occasions that make me really happy. My daughter has observation day at her gym and then her Christmas program for school and I was realizing that the happiness in her would send me on a binge when I asked myself...

"When I am SO happy, why would I do something that makes me miserable?"

It hit me that I am killing my own happiness. I have known for a long time that I am dealing with a horribly low self-esteem and believe I do not deserve any happiness in life...but I have never connected it directly to binging after happy events. I feel like I have opened this window where I can leap out and escape this behavior now that I understand the root of it.

We'll see how I make it through tonight

Happy Thursday all!

Working on Day 27 today.

Welcome back Fatmad. Good for you for taking back control of your life. The diabetes diagnosis must have been rough but I'm sure you are doing everything you can to manage your diabetes successfully. Good luck staying binge-free and I'm glad you came back here for support.

Paris, we are both close to a month binge-free. You can do it!

Purplefirefly, good luck w/ Day 1 and congrats on your binge trigger epiphany. I think I have the same problem as you w/ killing my own happiness and thinking I don't deserve to be happy. The good news is now that you realize this you can work on resolving/managing it.

I have to take one of my dogs to the vet in a little over an hour so I better hop in the shower. Hope everyone has a great binge-free day!

Hi everyone!

I am back from vacation (well I've been back since late 11/24 but have been super busy playing catch up).

Only gained 3 lbs while away, really not bad for a 10 day cruise!

Unfortunately I can't report that I've been B free since being home, I had a moment of weakness 2 nights ago. Did well yesterday, plan on being good today.

Purplefly--your post makes me want to cry! It's just so touching. And you do deserve happiness, of course, we all do! I'm glad you were able to have this breakthough, I imagine it will help you a lot.

Esperanza--yes! So close to a month! We absolutly can do it!

Dogmom--You can always start over, which you did. congrats!

I had the urge yesterday, luckily I was not at home, but on campus, and there wasn't even an option to binge. I thought about how I could binge this weekend if I wanted, but then thought of how I really want to get to a month binge-free, and to Christmas binge-free.

Day 26!

Esperanza, merci beaucoup! for the comment about my profile pic. You and purple deserve happiness. That is a gift!

Fatmad have they done the A1c and everything or was it just your blood sugar that was high? I am sorry for the DX. That would really motivate me though.

Dogmom, what a beautiful golden lab? just beautiful! I am glad you had a good vacation and only +3.

paris, you had the urge in the middle of campus? was there food around? what were you doing?

Well, my last binge was the day after thanksgiving. Go figure. I had a really really trying time though. Lots of emotional garbage to go through. Plus stress about school. Plus it was TOM for me too, with bad cramps, grr. yeah TOM is a major trigger!

well, yesterday...I was irritated with this computer, and my mouse, and tired of studying (i just started) and a binge would have been my usual route of coping...however, I pulled out my rebounder and jogged the island lap for 10 min instead. it was midnight. I didn't get to sleep until 2 am, but at least I coped in a healthy way.

DogMomNP, I would love to go on a cruise. Where did you go? 3 lbs is not bad for a 10 day cruise. Nothing that you can't take off in a week or two of clean eating and exercise I'm sure. Glad you're back!

Paris, the next time I feel like bingeing I will definitely think of you and our 1 month challenge. Of course, after 1 month we'll have to do a 2 month challenge. I have a weight loss goal for New Year's and I really have to buckle down w/ my diet and exercise to reach it, or at least get within 1 or 2 lbs of it.

Jendiet, you're quite welcome for the compliment. I'm a Jennifer too, BTW. Great job exercising instead of bingeing. In my experience, exercise makes me feel really good. The weird thing is that when I feel like bingeing exercise is the last thing I want to do. Initially, bingeing makes me feel better. However, the aftereffects of bingeing are remorse, regret, stomach ache, weight gain, etc. whereas the aftereffects of exercising are me feeling great! Just one question--what is a rebounder?

Took the dogs hiking today and they LOVED it. Working on Day 28 today. I've only made it this long because of you guys. :hug:

I'm on 7 days binge free. I never make it past 7 days! Yesterday I had a mini binge, but not too bad. Not as bad as usual . Gained weight from it though, so it was enough, maybe i should be counting today as day 1. I don't know yet.

I don't have time for a personalized post, but wanted to say I am proud of all the positive decisions so many of you are making. I know it is so hard to do those things, so it makes me proud and I want to come keep reading here. You ladies inspire me

Hi Everyone,
New here. I've binged the past 3 days..and I somehow managed to go out and eat nacho's and sangria and not come home and binge..which for me is amazing. Hopefully I can make it through the rest of the week..my binges have gone from one a month..to once a week..to a few times a week. I really need to turn it around before it gets out of control! Here is to day 1..again :)