Well, I was doing really well, I went a whole week without bingeing. This week included finals, a challenging work week, moving back to the home-town for a month, and an x-mas party at one of my favorite restaurants with free drinks and food. I even lost three pounds this week! Then today… Yet another x-mas party, but I did pretty good considering I ate light all day, went on a hike, and then really watched what I ate at the dinner. Then I get home, I’m tired, and we’re all watching movies and I blow it. It wasn’t what I would call a big binge, but considering I haven’t binged in 8 days it was still considerable (900 calories, after a large dinner). So anyway, I guess I’m writing this post because I need some support, some of your words of wisdom and encouragement. My hope for myself is that tomorrow I get back on my feet instead of beat myself up over this which would inevitably lead to a spiraling binge cycle. PLEASE HELP!!! What do you do to help yourself get back on track after that first slip up, I know we’ve all been there, and this is where we have the choice: we either continue to binge and it gets worse, or we overcome the first set back. How do you overcome?

summersunshine this is hard not to just continue on the downward spiral, isn't it and say I'll start tomorrow.

Best news for me is there's 24 hours in a day and I can start my day anytime I want too. So that's where I start. I'm also a member of OA so I read literature, call my sponsor, go to a meeting, call another member or post post post. It all works.

My problem is not food it is life. I deal with life with food so I have to find another way and the above works when I'm willing to do it.

Right now I'm fighting some kind of bug and ya know what I still need a food plan and send it to my sponsor, and post, and write in the journal, attend an on line meeting if I can't out to a real life person meeting and most of all pray. My God is with me no matter where I'm at in life and He will help me all I have to do is ask.

So there you go with what works for me when I'm willing to tune into it.

Have a great day.
patd

I have someone that I talk to sometimes but I am thinking about joining OA as well. I'm not sure though.
One thing I have to do after a binge is forgive myself. You have enough going on that you dont need to feel guilty for a binge. Sometimes I think that people who are very concious of what they eat are more suceptible to a guilt induced binge. Becuase you want to eat properly and when you have a little extra one time you feel horrible. At those times, I remind myself that not everyone watches what they eat as much as I do and they dont feel bad. Forgive yourself. The next time you decide not to binge after having considered it, congratulate yourself. Every decision counts. thats what I say. Not just the not so great ones.

Have a good day!

Thanks to both of you for your great advice, I think that posting helps me to stay accountable and knwoing that I'm not alone. Also, I agree that because I am so aware of what I eat I think that I have over eaten at times when I haven't. Being kind to myself is something I need to work on, and I love the suggestion of giving myself credit for those many times each day that I make a good choice, and decide not to binge. Thank so much!

i struggle with the same thing. today, for instance, i did really well. then my friend called me up and asked if i ate lunch already. i said i did, but i told her i'd go with her anyway. (we just had a big ice storm and wanted to get out of the house for a while and check out all the damage around town). so when we finally did stop to get food, i was legitimately hungry. and what i got really wasn't even that much, it just wasn't part of the diet i'm on. so when we get back i ate cookies, and started thinking about getting even MORE food. i was so ready just to give up on the day and start again tomorrow. which brings me to another problem. with holiday parties and such going on like crazy, i feel like i should just wait until after christmas to start my diet, because i KNOW i will eat at these things. if i don't, i'll go crazy and eat eat eat at home alone. but that shouldn't stop me from eating right in between, right?

i have heard lots of different answers when i have reached out to people after a binge -- some of the best things i heard were: two steps forward, one step back and give yourself a break!!

it sucks b/c you feel like a failure b/c you have been doing well, why bother i can't stick to it, will never get better, will be struggling forever, blah blah blah...

and that's just it. so you ate a lot. so what. it is OK!! one day you won't wanna eat as much. one day it will get easier....learn from your mistakes and move on. don't wait til tmrw, move on now!!!

There are some food plans that have a "free day" once a week (like Body for Life). What I do is tell myself that the off-plan day was my free day - BUT - just that day. I am o.k. I maybe even gave my metabolism a prompt. The key for me is keeping it to that one day- or if possible end it sooner. The more I eat off plan the more I want to keep eating. Hunger is not even a real factor. 900 calories, by the way, is just a blip. Look at the days binge free you have, feel good about that and yourself.