if you have beaten binge eating...please tell me how!!!!!!!!

no2x wrote:I looked up more things online and found out that bulimia/binge eating are vicious circles that never end for example binge eating goes from strict dieting to binge eating and then it goes back to strict dieting, and again goes back to binge eating

I'd cal that bulimia. Bulimia isn't all about binging and then vomiting the food. Instead, bulimia is just about binging and then doing something 'extraordinary' to counteract the binge. It could be starcing one-self, vomiting, exercising rigorously, etc. At the moment, my way to counteract a binge is to vomit and then exercise; and I have been doing this for a few years now. I enjoy my binges and feel in control throughout the entire process during and after it.

As a side note, I think that eating disorders have similarities to OCD. I have a diagnosis of OCD, for example, and can view my bulimia as a mere consequence of my OCD. Maybe thinking about it like that will give you some insight.

Kevin

Hi no2x

I really think that talking will help you. Try to tell the people that you trust about your behaviour around food. Don't expect them to be able to completely understand what you are going through, as they are not going through it themselves. Just ask for their non judgemental support and love at this stage. Then find a counsellor who you feel you could grow to trust and start to work with them to unravel what is going on with you and why you are medicating yourself with food or drugs. It isn't the food which is making you binge (although it may feel like that), its something else that is making you need to do this. It isn't your fault. With time, perseverance and the right kind of support you can overcome this. Believe me, if I can do it, then anyone can. I feel like my life is my own at last, it isn't in the hands of some horrible addictive behaviour anymore.

hey robynh,

Thanks for the advice you are absolutely right I did talk to my mom dad and sister about my problem at first they said it shouldn't be a problem because no one controls me and that if I really want to stop eating I can, but this was before my mom even believed binge eating existed. It really did help to talk to them about it,i actually feel a little more relieved than when I'm all pissed off trying to hide it. They listened, gave me advice, and they are doing everythig they can to help me through it. I never wanted to tell anyone and swore to myself that I would beat it on my own before I told anyone or before they noticed I had an eating disorder but monday I was just so desperate after a major binge and taking ex lax for the first time to prevent the binge from getting me fat. So far I have made it through four days of a reasonable diet and surprisingly I didn't binge last night and didn't have an urge to do it even though I had 6 long hours at home by myself,and even though dinner is my choice with no restrictions I haven't gotten fat and my stomach isn't getting bloated, I might have just been scared to eat certain types of food. I work all day today so I should be able to make it through day 5 pretty easily I just hope it doesn't surprise attack me like it has before.

Hi No2x. sounds like you're doing well and taking a reasonable approach. The only thing that raised a flag to me in your previous post was the word 'perfect' which you used to describe your eating plan. Of course nothing is perfect on this planet but it was just a word. From my experience, when one thinks everything is 'perfect' that's the time to look out.

I think the best approach/eating strategy is the one that we design ourselves based on our own needs and tendencies, i.e. as opposed to following something published in a book by someone. I know that in my case, I need a lot of bulk in my diet in order to feel satisfied (and to counteract damage that I might have done by previously abusing enemas and laxatives) and so the idea of drinking one's calories (the meal replacement drinks you describe) would not work for me. Getting lots of exercise also helps with mood and general sense of well being.

I don't prohibit binges but I makes rules regarding them, i.e. no junk, sweets, cakes, ice-cream etc. I haven't had a planned binge in a while though I really want one, and being without sometimes increases the chance that I will fall into one haphazardly which I don't like. Still, sticking to rules regarding such binges cuts down on the bad feelings afterward. I think that when I was younger and binging on junk (cookies icecream etc), I had the sense that I was contaminating my system and hence had to 'clean' myself out, hence the enemas. With a focus on more natural foods (higher in bulk), I don't have those thoughts even though I might be disappointed in myself for falling into a binge (on say.. lots of bread and margarine, rice, other grains etc..). I do realize, however, that over eating on any carbs is bad and that It's just my psychological self.

No2x, you said that you had enjoyed a calm binge for the first time, as you recalled, but then afterwards you felt so desperate wanted to 'kill" someone (something like that). Can you analyze those feelings? where did they come from?

Here's a question for anyone. Where is the line between a binge and overeating? a binge vs. major splurge? Is a binge characterized by certain foods? The literature defines binging as an eating episode in which one feels out of control. They tend to emphasize the 'out of control' part. But when I plan a binge/ overeating episode, I know exactly what I am doing and feel in control. NO2x you too mentioned that your previous binge (that you allowed to overtake you) was calm and controlled. What seemed out of control was your feelings afterwards.

Like you, sciencefreak, I also plan my 'binges' and remain in control throughout. I never refer to such episodes as binge eating disorder, however, and instead know that they are related to bulima. Why? - Because after each episode I have a few things to do which counteract the eating. If you have such counteracting processes for yourself too, then it's bulimia that you have similar to me.

no2x wrote:I work all day today so I should be able to make it through day 5 pretty easily I just hope it doesn't surprise attack me like it has before.

That's related partly to how I overcame this stuff a few years ago - i.e. I kept busy and avoided putting myself in a 'binging' situation. My thoughts about eating gradually became less and - as weird/alien as it seems to me now - eating wasn't on my mind at all. i just ate when I was hungry and got on with my life.

Kevin

hey, I just want to thank everyone for their help and advice and to let you know that I'm doing well and not binging,im on day 11 &nd I've been eating normal again the past 4 days without restrictions and I'm also ready to start focusing on lifting weights again and taking my supplements, hopefully I can stay on track. In the past 4 months I haven't bee able to lift right and make any muscle gains because my binges kept getting on the way, I'd either leave the gym halfway through my workout to go eat or I would be dieting too much to make any muscle gains. Hopefully I don't binge again and I can lift weights as hard as I did about 8 months ago

Hello,

I’m wondering if there might be a more physical element to your binges. When you’re that physically active, you need to consume more calories than the average person. You might think you’re eating normally, but what if you’re not?

What do you consider a normal day of eating and how much exercise do you perform on those days? It might be worth sitting down with a nutritionist just to see what kind of diet is appropriate for someone of your age and activity level.

Do you think the stress of wrestling and competition might be an emotional factor? I found it interesting that your parent’s response to your binge eating was “no one can control you” and that you can do anything you set your mind to. It sounds like you come from a high performance kind of family. Maybe they expect a lot of you or they don’t believe in weakness. (This is a total hunch, so I don’t mean to label you or your family.)

On that note, agirlbyanyothername, the signs of my eating dsorder first began when I was both exercising more and cutting down on my food at the same time. It was obviously a recipe for disaster. At the worst of it, I was jogging everyday but only eating fruit for breakfast and sometimes not even a lunch or dinner. I was bound to crash and burn on such an eating pattern.

This dude explained it perfectly. Take a look at his video it really helped me.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j1OyUDBUT68

Hi i'm new to this forum and its nice to be able to discuss issues that normally people will judge me over. I am 32, tall and not overly fat (i am told) but i dont see what anyone else sees. My mirrors are all circus mirrors it seems and i feel hideous.
I go to the gym all the time...to avoid boredom / binge eating / even to escape myself but once i am alone with my thoughts i begin to hate myself....i see a fat tall hideous person and feel like a monster.Deep down i guess thats not the case as i do get male attention but i cant be expected to be loved if i cant even like myself...then i tell myself they are taking the mick and theres an agenda...anyway, the fatter i tell myself i am, the harsher the binge (boxes of cereal / family packs of crisps etc) (foods i would never normally desire...i even advise friends on body building diets to a degee!!!)
I have competed in a body fitness comp and when i managed to diet down i loved it, lean and vascular...but that cant be sustained so now my body fat is going up its even worse...i have even dabbled with some bad anti obesity drugs which suppressed my appetite excellent) but made me so ill in other ways. Apart from the body building, i guess i have always had an issue (my ex took my mind off food but since the split again i feel i am losing control)
Anyway...without boring everyone to death..but having read that its something i have to deal with, is that really the case...any advise would by nice. (i am thinking of seeking a doctors advice but expect he'll laugh me out the door)
xx