Each day i start out thinking to myself...Ok this it is...This is the day where i begin my diet...and eveything starts out well, I have a healthy light lunch but then when i come home i just pig out!! I am OK until i eat my first piece of bread or first rice cracker - but then i just go crazy grabbing anything that looks eatable. I even eat when i am not hungry. This depresses me and makes me want to eat away my sorrows so at the moment i am sort of stuck in a circle. I am also living away from home with another family so i cannot control what food is bought into the house and i have to eat what they give me to eat.
I would appreciate any information on how to begin exercising and eating right and beating the annoying voices in my head wanting me to eat 'bad' food. Also any general support in losing weight.

Thankyou
Danishpastry

I'm so sorry you feel so alone in this because by no means are you alone. I had the same problem as you. I was a binge eater and food addict. I made time to eat over anything else in my life.
You can't get other people who don't know what being that out of control is like to understand where you are coming from. They just think you need to push yourself back from the table and just plain stop eating. As if you have a choice. Well you do have a choice but it comes with a lot of pain, so you are going to need a lot of support to get through it.

I tried all the low fat diets on the market and could never saty on them because you can only starve yourself for so long before you crack and your old eating habits return. I'm on Atkins now and I have never had so much control in my life. I never feel hungry and that is so important to me. I choose what I put into my mouth now instead of eating everything in sight. This food plan has 2 really grooling first weeks attached to it. But once that's over you'll be home free. I've been doing it since June and have lost 42 pounds and have never felt better.

Give it a try. You sound like you have tried everything else to gain control, you got nothing to loss and only comtol in your life to gain

GOOD LUCK!!!

You are certainly not alone out there. I lost 25 pounds on Weight Watchers before my compulsive eating launched itself again. I am now working through books and materials from Over eaters anonymous and have found them to be a life saver for me. I realize that as a binge and compulsive eater I will never truly be recovered, but as I work through the process I realize that I can choose not to eat something. I work on a calorie plan that I don't call a diet. It is my food plan. Diet to me implies something that I will be going off of, and I know that with my eating problems I will always have to watch the things that make me binge.

As to the family you are living with....Have you thought of mentioning to them that you need other healthier foods? If that doesn't seem possible then eat what you can and choose not to eat others. I am not a good one to ask about exercise as I have a kidney disease and can only do limited walking and the like.

Best of all, hang in there and know that when you are lonely and binge, you will still be lonely. That has been something I have been working through, except mine was job stress and some financial problems. Even after I binged and binged I still had the job stress. Nothing went away because I filled myself up with food.

Good luck to you.

Elaine

Danish,

I, too, have been in your position and I never thought I would be there again. While I lost most of the weight that I gained from overeating, I still have a slight problem with it. I try to eat low sugars and carbs, and balance my foods; however, sometimes it just doesn't happen.

I'm currently trying to get back on track with my health, as I'm moving across country in the beginning of this year. I have ten pounds to lose and a body to tone, so I know how you feel (that is after a substantial weight loss).

The advice that was given above is the best you can be told. You do have to realize that you do have an eating problem and that it will likely be with you throughout your life. However, once you tackle it, you must have the willpower to stick with whatever program you choose.

Good Luck,

April Marie

Have been charting weight & inches for more years than I want to acknowledge.

Lost 3-4 lbs last summer (while on a cruise ship, of all places! LOL).

They've come back, with company.

I have lots of excuses - can't get to the Y as often as I'd like. It's too hot (too cold) to walk outside.

I find myself eating when not hungry.

I've been to several 12 step programs, and I was an alcohol/drug counselor for 10 years, so I know the drill. (I even went to a couple of OA mtgs 15 yrs ago, but couldn't relate, 'cause I "wasn't THAT bad." Yet.

I lost 20 lbs thru Weight Watchers, but they have come back, too.

I even developed a cute system of beads on a string to help me count points during the day. But am not using it anymore.

Re-reading the above, I sound like a loser, huh? I'm not really; just sort of stuck on dead center.

There! Got that off my chest. Thanks for listening, y'all.

Hey Danish!

I too know what you mean. I didn't actually *discover* my over-eating compulsion until I had lost 40Ib! As soon as I got slim, I began to want everything in sight... everything I'd BANNED myself from having whilst I was losing! I found I started eating when I was stressed... when I was happy... when I was sad... totally emotional responses. Towards the end of this all, I went from 137Ib to 147Ib in 4 weeks! Eventually I went to the doctor, who referred me to a psychiatrist who helped a LOT. I'm not saying you should see one too, but I learnt a few things from seeing him, which I'd like to pass on to you.

The one thing that has helped me most over the past little while getting back on track is keeping a food diary... you MUST be honest, so you are held accountable for everything that goes into your mouth... write down everything you eat in a day, and you'll soon see how awful your binges look on paper. Also, it'll stop you nibbling throughout the day, as once you've written down "handful of raisins" five times in a day, you realise you've probably added 350 calories to your daily intake without even noticing! All of these things add up in the end.

But most of all, try to strike a balance that works for you... I know I can't just have a little bit of chocolate, because once I've had some, I get the taste for it and go out to woof down 25 more bars! So I try not to have it at all. BUT I know if I fancy a treat, one portion of my favorite rice pudding is enough, so I'll have that, and my cravings will be satisfied.

I don't know if this will help you at all. At least you'll know that other people do the same thing as you , and you're not alone!

Good luck

I am new to this whole site. I discovered it in an effort to find help, as I am an overeater myself. A couple of years ago, I was on the right track - feeling fit, walking almost every day, eating the right foods, while enjoying the yummy fattening foods in moderation. Then I went through a very stressful time in my life. At first, I continued to exercise because I knew it made me feel better. That stopped and the eating began. I've gained over 60 lbs. in less than a year. I eat when I am hungry, but I also eat the rest of the time - even when I am uncomfortably full. I find myself cramming the food in as if I'm in a race. I find myself thinking about my evening plans of consuming and of what I will consume. I've packed up boxes and boxes of size 10 and 12 clothes, and have just a handful of clothes that somewhat fit and are comfortable. I know I need to get back on the path, but I haven't had the energy to - isn't THAT silly?. I'm hoping to find a support buddy out there somewhere. This madness has to stop. I originally intended to write to tell you that you are not alone - and then it turned into "all about me."
Please know that you are not alone....
There are obviously many of us and I do believe we can all be successful together.

Hi ,
I just registered this morning.. so I am new here.

I too am an overeater, and I think this BB is going to be a big help to me.
Here it is almost summer again , and here I am , still overweight and frustrated because I always promise myself that " next summer will be different". It would be nice if I could get some control here. I am hopeful though.
It is so good to be able to talk to those who experience the same thing.
Well have a great day, and take care
TeeJay

Rona:

Rona:
You sound like an exact replica of me I do the same exact thing and I cannot put my finger on why I do it.I know I hate to spend time by myself and I have been doing that for about a year now My husband works a lot of evenings , and almost every Saturday and Sunday and thats when I really eat the most but I am always eating constantly. I went to WW last year and lost 28 lbs. then had to quit because if this eating habit that has raised its ugly head so I have gained all that weight back and even though I tell myself I'm stupid while I am running for more food I still do it .I know the choice is mine but I just can't seem to quit eating I tried WW again this year went for 2 months only lost 3 lbs and gained them back while going to WW so I quit again so no you are not alone there are lots of us out there and people just don't understand because they have the control to kick it where as I don't so heres hopeing you have more luck than I do

Hi Danish! As everyone here keeps telling you, you are not alone. Most of us replying to you, including me, are having (or had) binge/bulimia disorders.
Realize that it is not only your mind wanting to eat (because you are under stress, because you feel lonely, because you just NEED to eat something NOW!), but also that your body is used to it and wants to eat the food that it is used to. Also realize that you will probably keep this problem for the rest of your life, but learn to live with the fact that, no, you just can't eat all that stuff that may be tastes nice, because it's BAD for you, bad for your health, and bad for your selfesteem.
When you succeed in what you want to do for yourself (not for others, that won't work), be careful of situations that might trigger your old eating behaviour and try to avoid them. If you feel that you are out of control, don't be afraid or ashamed to find professional help, either. You're doing it for yourself.
You might try eating 6 small meals (a glass of milk, a yoghurt, or a fruit count, too), and go to a dietician. Also try to surf the net and the articles on this site. They might help you to get a better grip on food and a better insight in yourself.
Remember, you are not alone!

Hope this helps,