Firstly, talking about it. No, I'm not a talker. My mother and my boyfriend know (a little) about my eating problems. My whole family knows that I lost a lot of weight a few years ago, but I guess they think the problems disappeared when I started gaining weight, rather than escalating into constant binge eating and severe bulimia. I don't like the idea of telling anyone what I'm going through. They won't understand - I hardly understand it myself - but worse, they'll be constantly watching and judging me. Out of concern, I understand, but still I can't do it. It would be admitting the problem I have.
So, maybe if I start actually writing about it, voicing my thoughts outwards rather than just keeping them to myself, that'll be change number one that will help me to recover.
I am addicted to food. It controls me all the time, I never stop thinking about it. I love eating. It distracts me from everything else, even my relationship is suffering as a result. My boyfriend is very supportive, loving, everything you'd want. But I can't be confident and happy in a relationship when I'm not happy with myself.
I hate the way I look. I'm not overweight, but I hate my shape. I hate my little bit of flab that sticks out of my lower belly. I can't walk around or be with people without holding my stomach in. I even suck my stomach in when I'm in the shower, or sitting alone at my desk. I hate that all I can think about is wanting to be thinner. I know that looks aren't everything. I know that my boyfriend loves me for who I am regardless of what I look like. But somehow, I still can't just accept that that's what I look like, and move on.
I have bulimia. Sometimes I purge 3 or 4 times a day; sometimes I go a few days without purging at all. But I have to stop it. It has to end. Now, or it never will. This blog will hopefully help me to focus on my task, and by writing about my actions and feelings, maybe I'll become more aware of habits that I need to break.
So I woke up this morning thinking I WILL NOT binge today, and I will NOT make myself sick. It's 2 o'clock, and here's what I've eaten
an apple
glass of orange juice
coffee
cup of tea
chocolate bar
handful of chocolate fingers
2 chocolate chip oatmeal cookies
fillet of salmon and 2 boiled potatoes with tomato chutney ('lunch')
handful of salad
3 huge spoons of peanut butter
scrapings of the jam jar
half a jar of nutella
handful of sunflower seeds
handful of walnuts
2 more chocolate oatmeal cookies
I haven't got sick, but I want to so badly. Just looking at that list makes me feel like a monster. And most days are much, much worse...
But maybe, with the knowledge that I'll be writing it out every day, I won't let myself eat so much junk. And maybe, just maybe, I'll be able to stop this ridiculous behaviour (eventually!!)
If anyone wants to PM me, please do. I'd love to have a buddy to talk to once in a while...

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