Hi, I just joined the forum and was happy to find that there was a section here specifically for binging, because that's my main issue. I picked up the habit over a decade ago after an eating disorder in high school, but even though I gained a lot of weight and recovered from that fast I still binge eat pretty frequently out of habit... I stopped for a while as an adult but after having kids I guess the stress drove me back to it. The book Brain Over Binge was a huge inspiration for me in the past, and I just found and read back through the recovery handbook book. I eat pretty moderately and healthily in general but I've gotten about 30 kg overweight now and I know I can't lose it if I don't stop binging. And even more importantly, I desperately want to stop so my two young kids don't grow up remembering seeing their mom eating like a crazy person, and I'd also like to get healthy enough when we hopefully have another kid in a few years.
So I just thought I'd introduce myself. It's nice to see there are others struggling with the same problem!
I am new to the forums and a recovering binger as well. I read BoB years ago and it helped me so much! That was a pivotal time for me.
One thing I want to say outright, you are not a crazy person for binging. I know you said you eat like one, but just in case you think that might make you one, it doesn't. I feel guilty about my habit sometimes but I don't feel ashamed about it anymore. Also if your kids see you struggle with an addiction but then watch you overcome it, then that's the best lesson you could possibly teach them.
Even though I'm recovering, I still have short periods of relapse. In fact I am on the forums right now because I'm sitting with my hunger instead of giving in to it. Starting a new diet plan has always been a major trigger for me, but if I stick with it long enough, it's also the cure. I try to think of the struggle as progress rather than suffering.
Hi, thank you for your response!
You're right, I know I'm not crazy... Especially after reading Brain Over Binge it makes sense why I binge like I do and why it's so hard to stop. I feel the same way. I feel guilty when I think of what binge eating makes me do, like be irritable, compromise my health, and waste money, but I at least don't beat myself up about it like I used to.
I'm pretty confident that if I can stop binging then I will lose weight without much conscious dieting, and I've gained weight from about 50 kg to 80 kg over the three years I've had my kids so I would be happy to just lose a kilogram a month and take it off at the same rate. I do have a big event coming up next Saturday and am particularly bloated from more bingeing than usual so I am going to try and follow a de-bloating diet for a few days as well, but if it seems to be making the urges with I'll just stop and focus on that first!
I went through a long period of total abstinence from binging after my weight loss. For the first time, I allowed myself junk food without the guilt. My body eventually learned how to regulate itself and I would eat less the next day. I still can't quite eat normally-sized portions of junk food while at home, so I tend to only eat it while I am out or buy smaller portions at the store.
It took years, but over time, not binging and not responding to the urges became an ingrained habit too. And eventually my hunger hormones seem to have leveled out as well. I never ever ever in a million years thought I would become a "normal" eater, I always believed the sugar addiction = drug addiction fallacy and that I'd have to abstain for life or acquire remarkable self-control. But I was wrong. Sometimes I think that this idea of being a "normal eater" is more important to me than losing weight. Kind of like the lower weight is evidence that I am normal, that I have control over this. The worst thing to me is feeling like I don't have control over my own body.
Big events are strong motivators! If anything, just drink lots and lots of water and try to reduce carbs as much as possible so you shed water weight. I find if I drink tons of water (with lemon or cucumber for a diuretic effect) I can keep my carbs under 100 for a few days it's enough for me to get rid of binge bloat.
Thanks for starting this thread! I've been struggling lately and writing this out is a reminder of how far I've come and how much work I've put into this. You've made me want to re-read the book too!
Hi formaya, I'm new too and it seems like we're in a similar spot! I had a ED in high school and lost a ton of weight. I started binging shortly after and have kept the habit up. I eat very well otherwise- lots of produce, usually locally grown. I exercise regularly.... But I just can't keep the weight off because of binging.
Besides the slowly increasing weight, I get acne flare ups and bloating from the salt.
I'm trying to break the cycle, but it's been a struggle... It's so uplifting to read your success story reesesinpieces! I'm only 22, so I really want to change my eating habits before I fully enter adulthood.
Recovering binger here as well. What worked for me was keeping myself occupied, and drinking lots of coffee. The coffee acts as a mild appetite suppressant, and can give you energy when you haven't eaten much. Other than that, look back at the times you binged. What was your trigger? If you can identify the trigger, you can either avoid it, or replace that habit loop of binging with something else.
Hi, I just joined the forum and was happy to find that there was a section here specifically for binging, because that's my main issue. I picked up the habit over a decade ago after an eating disorder in high school, but even though I gained a lot of weight and recovered from that fast I still binge eat pretty frequently out of habit... I stopped for a while as an adult but after having kids I guess the stress drove me back to it. The book Brain Over Binge was a huge inspiration for me in the past, and I just found and read back through the recovery handbook book. I eat pretty moderately and healthily in general but I've gotten about 30 kg overweight now and I know I can't lose it if I don't stop binging. And even more importantly, I desperately want to stop so my two young kids don't grow up remembering seeing their mom eating like a crazy person, and I'd also like to get healthy enough when we hopefully have another kid in a few years.
So I just thought I'd introduce myself. It's nice to see there are others struggling with the same problem!
HELLO, nice to meet you
I struggled with Anorexia and Bulimia for 12 years. I'm now 11 years free from Anorexia and Bulimia, but I had sunk into emotional eating. While I've gotten much better, it's still a daily struggle. I too became overweight (very overweight). I've lost almost 100 pounds, and I have 50 pounds to go until my goal weight. It's definitely a challenge.
Are you getting any outside support? Therapy? Overeaters Anonymous? Etc.?
For me, it was hard to do it on my own.
My therapist (who specializes in eating disorders) said it's very common for people who've struggled with Anorexia and or Bulimia to morph into binge or emotional eaters. It definitely complicates things. BUT... I'm proof that things do get better. Albeit, slowly. BUT they improve, and continue to improve
Welcome to this forum! I find 3FC to be very helpful in my journey.
I'm about to send you a friend request here on 3FC
Great to see people seeking support on such a widespread problem! This is my first post as well - I am new here. I struggled with Binge Eating for years as a result of extreme dieting. Dieting created terrible binge eating habits. I am happy to say that Intuitive Eating was the solution for me. If you haven't checked out any literature on Intuitive Eating - I highly recommend it for those that suffer from binge eating and especially food obsession. It transforms your relationship with food, and leads to sustainable weight loss. Unlike the short term weight loss I experienced through years of extreme dieting!
Last edited by YouCanWeighLess; 12-12-2016 at 02:18 PM.
Breaking the binge habit
