okay, i dont know what to do? I have a binge eating disorder and im trying to follow a diet but i cant, because every time i restrict myself and lose weight, i then end up binging when im upset..and i end up gaining weight..how are you supposed to lose weight when you have a binge eating disorder? Is there any hope for me?

Yes hon there is, I struggled with BED for a long time (and still continue to do it).

The key with BED is to focus on not binging, and not worry about the dieting as much. The weight will come off when you get on a proper eating schedule. The best book that I have ever read on the subject is "Overcoming Binge Eating". I am a researcher and when I need a solution I read every book, article, and magazine that I can and I think this book had the best solution that really worked for me.

The advice: setting solid meal times and sticking with them. Write the time you eat, and your feelings. So simple, right? You must set the time the night before and follow it the next day. It's best to try a few different times and see what works. The book recommends:

Breakfast: 8am
Lunch: 12:00pm
Snack: 4:00pm
Dinner: 7:00pm
Snack: 9:00pm

That doesn't work for me, so my schedule is:

Breakfast: 8:00am
Lunch: 12:00pm
2nd Lunch: 4:00pm
Snack: 6:30pm
Bed: 9:00pm (I'm an early riser and hate to be full before bed).

Setting the eating times regulates your eating and encourages a normal relationship with food. When I stick to it, it has truly helped my binging. Which, as you know, is a terrible feeling. Eating until you're sick and going to bed physically ill from the food and mentally distraught over what you are doing to yourself is so painful, and that's even worse than the fat that comes with it.

'Women, Food, and God' by Geneen Roth also has great insight into it and great advice.

Big hug and don't worry, you will get through this. It's gonna be alright.

i agree, I think eating every 2-3 hours is key.

so like for me, this helps:

10am breakfast
1pm lunch
3pm snack 1
6pm dinner
8pm snack 2

make each snack 100 cals (so must be large in volume like fruits or veg)
make each meal 300-400 cals

this will be like 1200-1400 cals. find magazines like self or shape and in the middle they have recipes for 300-400 cal meals. diet books will also have recipes and examples of what to eat.

also drink water before and after each meal.

eating this way will never make you hungry.

There is hope for you. Look at all the people here with BED. I have this problem and have managed to lose weight in the past, but overcoming BED completely takes practice, making steps towards the goal, having a close look at yourself and realizing the true problems. We don't binge because we're hungry, it's because of something else. We need to figure that out first before we go on this huge mission to lose weight and taking on a diet so completely different that what we're used to.

I'm also going to make "note cards" to remind myself about my feelings and keep them with me to prevent the binges, to motivate me to exercise, and to remind me to do healthy things (drinking water, stopping bad habits).

I hope this helps. Good luck girl

I just posted another thread about going to an ED clinic. I have tried all the tips and tricks and nothing has worked for me (not to say it can't work for someone else). For me, as long as I am dealing with BED I will not be able to maintain a healthy weight. I would like to try support groups, speciafically ones run by ED clinics / professionals and also see what other resources they have.

Like I said, in the long haul, this was something I have not been able to manage on my own. I hope professional help works. I'd recommend you look into it, but I can't say how effective it will be since I haven't tried it yet myself.