I am once again trying to get out of the binge cycle. My goal right now is to string as many binge-free days together as possible. I have a new job and my entire life has taken a big shift, so it is a good time to set some goals for health and fitness as well. It is time to start living and stop the binge behavior.

hi there
I've been binge free for a little more than a month now and I have been losing weight. But the last week has been very stressful and I started overeating a litte. I need to get myself together and remember that food is not comfort. I felt so good while eating normally.

Congrats on your success so far Amygdala. I know how stressful it can be to be at past that month mark and then you see that you're slowly but surely overeating. My problem is that once that realization comes, the urge to binge can get stronger sometimes. You're so right about food not being comfort, unfortunately it's my go too when I just want to zone out or destress. Day 2 for me binge free. Still so mad at myself for screwing up November, but trying to let it go!

Over a third of the month now!
I'm still at no unplanned binges myself.
Come on everyone, we can do this! (:

It's currently day five of no bingeing for me. That's the longest I've gone without bingeing in a while.

I was thinking about myself and my past binges and how I haven't had a binge since August. Then I began thinking about my eating for the past couple of weeks and I came to a conclusion. My eating has been pretty much spot on. I'm eating enough so I'm not hungry after I have my dinner and I don't feel the need to go to the store and spend a tonne of money on junk food. I finally feel like I'm moving forward from who I was. I'm at a good place right now.

I hope everyone is hanging in there! Almost half the month down.

Dreamer- that's so good to hear that you feel like you have been making progress! No binges since August is incredible. Congratulations.

Amyamy- keep up the good work and I know you can keep going strong!

Mottsinai- you are an inspiration and give me hope! The difference between your posts now and from just a few weeks ago is very obvious that you have made some giant steps forward in a short time!

Amygdala- it does feel so good to eat normally- great job.

I gave in last night- and the worst part was that DH fell asleep- I thought I was so clever and sneaky- going to the kitchen to binge while he slept. I didn't hear him wake up and he walked in right as I was scooping peanut butter out of the jar. I was so ashamed ave embarrassed. He kind of knows that I binge but I have usually been able to hide how bad it is.... We kind of talked about it and he just kept saying that he didnt understand- why do i work so hard and watch what i eat so carefully- and then go crazy on a jar of peanut butter just hours after refusing bread at dinnertime? i know he wants to understand- but how can he when I dont even get it?
Winter is so hard- I am trying to stay positive, getting out in the sun- but thr holidays, the cold, and the dark come and i feel like I'm smothered by anxiety and depression. I feel like I am doomed to feel miserable and gain weight for the next three months and I don't know how to stop it. It's been over a year of one binge every 7-10 days, I haven't gotten any better, and now winter is here... I'm feeling slightly hopeless and terrified. I can't live like this forever- constantly thinking about food and calories and weight loss until I give in and secretly eat until I'm sick- then feel ashamed and disgusting for a day or two- then start over... I know I have to change. I want to change. I just wish I knew how. I'm not giving up... But I feel like I'm fighting an uphill battle with one hand behind my back and a blindfold on! Ugh- what a yucky pity party I am throwing for myself over this-- there are people in the world legitimately suffering and I'm crying because its the holidays- cold outside and I eat too much... I guess I need a new perspective.

To those of you who have made so much progress- thank you for posting about your success. It gives me hope for the future that maybe I will find a way someday...

Danzingurl- I'm sorry to hear about last night. Sneaking off to binge and then even being "caught" is such an awful feeling, I know. It sounds like you're really struggling in this season. ): I just want to say, I know SO WELL the cycle you described...could have been me writing your post, for real!!...but I can tell you, you are not "doomed" at all-- "doomed" would be giving up completely and flatout refusing to deal with it. Even just coming here and writing about what's going on and wanting to change are all GREAT positive things (I know it doesn't seem like it though, lol). I wish I could just tell you exactly what to do, but I'm still totally figuring it out myself. I doubt my own progress sometimes, wonder if the way I'm dealing with binge eating now is a good sustainable habit or just pushing me deeper in! But I can definitely say that you are not alone in this, I feel your pain, and we are ALL behind you 100%!! Sorry for not much good advice, but I hope you at least can feel that someone hears and understands and cares for what you're going through. (:

This! I'm so happy for you and hope the great changes you've made over the last few weeks have really made you proud, as we are of you!

danzingurl - I'm sorry you've been struggling. I've never told anyone but 3FC that I binge eat (even my best friend, who struggles with her weight and would most likely understand) because it's one of those things that no one understands unless they go through it. And I think it's different for all of us that engage in it even, though many share similar triggers (emotions, for example).

Good luck and good work to everyone that has been posting. I read them all since I've wandered away for a couple days. I've been having a rough time, which is why I was avoiding 3FC to be able to eat/binge as I wanted, but I'm back and trying to turn that around. I realized one of my issues is that my whole life has been about moving forward, particularly in obtaining education and my ideal job. But I've been in the same job for 3 years, lived in the same house for 2, and had the same friends for 3 years. Might seem strange, but this is not typical for me. I'm used to having a change every couple years and haven't lived in the same place for more than 2 years since high school. But...it might change soon. I'm meeting with my supervisor this week to discuss the possibility of pursuing my PhD. I think I'm finally ready, and this is the step forward I need to get out of my rut.

Let's all continue moving forward this week and best of luck to all.

Mottainai- thank you so much- it does help to have friends (as I do feel that we can all call each other around here) know what you are going through- I often hear that eating disorders are the loneliest type- so having some "shoulders to cry on" makes the burden feel a little lighter.

Atoms- I'm sorry that you have been having a hard time, and u do hope that some positive changes come your way to help you escape your rut!

Today has been better than yesterday- and I wasn't hungry at all most of the day, so I don't thi j I'll have a problem staying within my calorie-range.

This is random- but does anyone feel like they have a "binge hangover" the day after a really ba binge? Last night I could hardly sleep because I was so hot and my heart was racing- I woke up sweating like crazy and feeling jittery- today my head hurts and I'm really tired and sluggish. This is pretty typical for me after a bad binge- and I'm just curious if anyone else experiences anything like that?

Hi All,

Here is to hoping I can stay on track this month and get my life back in line with what it was 8 months ago. I lost about 80 pounds and then slowly let it come back on after I got married last year.

I stopped cooking, stopped eating healthy (and started binging...often in private as though that made it not count), stopped going to the gym, etc. Of course, I lost the energy, confidence, and happiness I had built for myself. It's like my binging has taken on a new level as I approached knowing I would have to go back to the healthy lifestyle. So, the last several weeks have been really bad (does "I'm going to get it all out of my system" as an excuse ring a bell to anyone?) Anyway, I am back after about a year hiatus. I'm conflicted. I'm excited to feel good again...but I'm sad about how hard it is going to be. And angry that I let myself get to the point that, of course, I said I never would again.

But, I won't binge tonight or tomorrow.

Hi there, I hope everyone stayed OP today. I did, for some reason was not very hungry today. So tomorrow will be day 4. I'm feeling pretty good, even though I still feel like I have a post binge bloat from Thursday. Ugh. Abcunnin, welcome back! I just recently started posting to 3FC, but it's such a great environment and you're definitely on the right track. I wouldn't beat yourself up too badly. It's common to gain the weight back after an extreme weight loss. I think about how many times I had to quit smoking to make it stick. It's been a year, and smoke free! Think about it like that! Danzin, I can totally relate to the binge hangover. I feel sluggish, tired gassy and really bloated the next day. I hate when I do it on a weekday and have to go out in public the next day, I can't make eye contact with anyone!

Everyone have a great evening. I have tomorrow off for the holiday, yay!

I was trying to keep track of this, but I've kind of gotten confused on what a binge is for me. It's been a while since I've just eaten for no reason or when I wasn't hungry, but I've also been eating bad things pretty much every other day. A lot of going out to eat and such. So I'm not sure if that falls under the 'binge' category or not. Either way, I feel great and feel no food guilt lately!

Well, so much for my good intentions of taking up running again this morning. It's 12 deg (-11 C) outside!

No binging yesterday, but definitely not on plan. Trying to reset this morning after the weekend. I'll be out of town this upcoming weekend, so I really want to get my act together this week before I have that challenge.

danzingurl - I haven't had that experience before, just feeling really "blah" and a stomach ache the next morning. Hope you're feeling better today!

abcunnin - Welcome, and hope yesterday ended well for you. Be sure to let us know!

xRiotGirl - That's wonderful that you've been feeling great lately!

YES, definitely. I've experienced exactly what you describe, and I've even been calling them "binge hangovers" myself too, lol.
I always get a racing pulse and overheated, and at night I sweat terribly, wake up the next morning feeling pretty crap and tired from bad quality sleep. /: