question....
how does everyone manage through the holidays? i mean it's not like life gives you a break...And on top of that to deal with life's challenges plus there is food everywhere....I just feel like a wreck....

desires- I am having alot of trouble w/ this holiday too. I keep gum in my mouth at all times & make healthy desserts I know I can eat( even if you eat alot), it feels like your indulging, but your not. Your less tempted to go after the bad stuff.

Day 7- made it thanks to a fat free crustless yogurt pie I made. It has protein, it kept me full all day. That's amazing! I ate half the pie for 160 cal. & no fat. Felt like a binge, but it wasn't.

ok I have had enough...I'm really sick and tired of this helpless feeling of no self-control. I can't believe how can't I resist to my cravings anymore while when I was dieting I could easily eat a cookie and be happy. I gave in today-again, I binged like a lunatic. I was doing fine all day but in the evening I couldn't resist anymore so I ate everything that was in the reach of my hand, all my hidden stash, then i waited for everyone to go to sleep and attacked kitchen, and I'm so mad at myself. And all because I was nervous about my paper homework which i had to finish today and I didn't made even half of it and I didn't know what to do and was scared what the teacher will say. I am starting over again tommorow but there is so much junk food in the house and I'm affraid that I will repeat the thing again tommorow. I also decided that i will try to find some professional help. I don't want to gain weight back right away but sometimes i try to convince myself to let loose and gain everything back, so maybe then I'll be happier. But I know it doesn't work that way. I can't wait for the winter to pass so I can start running, cycling, excersing,...

Day 16 ... I think. Maybe. I'm definitely in "I don't care," territory at the moment. Not really bingeing because I haven't entered the desperate craving must eat everything emotional state. But I find I've reached the end of the day and really don't know or care how many calories I ate today. On the positive side, it was a really great day.

desires - I find the holidays really tough. I like Christmas a lot, in a very low-key way, relaxed way. Good food, good wine, and just letting the cares of the world slip away for a couple of weeks. Trying to stay focused on losing weight, watching calories, and generally feeling like I am depriving myself is tough. I've relaxed my calorie counting because I know that if I start to feel too deprived, I will trigger a binge. My theory is that it's probably better to eat an extra 500-600 calories a day then to trigger a 5000 calorie binge.

desiresdestiny-- That's a really good question. Last year's holiday season triggered a cycle of binging like I'd never had before. Suddenly, for months afterward, I was totally fine with eating a whole pint of ice cream in one sitting. I mean, I definitely had an overeating problem with the occasional binge before last year, but since last Christmas-time it's gotten so much worse. I think it's because I use food to relax...and I use it in social situations when I'm having a hard time connecting with people. I use it to fill the gap when the reality of a good thing doesn't meet my expectations.

As for how to get through the holidays without binging...? I have no idea.

Thanks everyone for the responses.......Yeah I just wish I could have a healthy relationship with food...I mean I have lost some weight but that took 2 years because of the bingeing and other stuff in my life...
I just try to take one day at a time but I wish it wasn't so hard...