Please help--can't stop bingeing

marianimal

marianimal

Cathlete
I'm so embarrassed to write this but I need help. At the middle of February I was about 5 pounds and a few inches from my goal. But then work got so stressful, busy and crazy for about 2 months. I was eating at my desk and getting home way to late to work out. Now the stress period is over but I can't seem to get back on track.

I am almost back on my 6 days a week Cathe rotation but I am eating everything in sight still. And I will be traveling for the next 2 weeks!

Can anyone help me get back on track? Now I'm about 10 pounds from my goal and I don't even want to think about the inches.

I welcome any advice! Thanks
 
Hi.

First off, PLEASE don't be embarrassed. Nobody here will judge or think less of you. There are lots of us here who struggle with ED issues every single day:) Believe me, I know, because I've been where you are, worked up the courage to ask for help here and was flooded with great advice and lots of support.

It's so easy to fall into poor eating habits at times of stress. Do you keep a food journal? Sometimes it helps just to write everything that you're eating down. I know with me, if I write it down, it's there on the paper and it helps me realize what I'm doing and holds me accountable. It's also a good idea to write down how you're feeling when you're eating it. Stressed, hungry, bored. You can get a good handle on WHY you're eating, not just what you're eating.

Is there something else you can pick up instead of food. Or maybe go for a walk, call someone on the phone, write, do jumping jacks.:p I know Cathe suggested dropping and doing 10 push-ups when you're craving that cake or cookie or whatever and believe it or not, it works!

Sorry this is so long, but I just wanted you to know that you're not alone. PM me if you like:)
 
Shelley gave you some great advice and support.

Another thought: crunchy and chewey foods are sometimes very satisfying when under stress: all that chewing and the sound of cracking and breaking can help alleviate stress. But instead of going for the junk, pack some carrot and celery sticks, and take out your frustration on them.

It's ironic that when we are under stress, we eat in ways that usually cause more stress, but we've all done it at one time or another. Seems like our mind says "things are going bad, let's make them worse" instead of "things are going bad, let's take really good care of ourselves."

But there is a biochemical reason for it, since certains foods ('bad'carbs, for example) release seratonin and endorphins that make us feel good. The good news is that exercise can do the same thing. A long walk sounds like a wonderful idea. And while you walk, concentrate on your breathing, inhaling for two steps, and exhaling for two steps, then increasaing to 3 steps, then to four (or inhale 2, exhale 4).
 
Mari-

I don't know if this will help you now, because you sound like you're past this stage. I've had problems with overeating in times of stress or depression all of my life and over the years I've developed a kind of damage control plan. That is, when times are very stressful and I'm eating too much, I stick to foods that won't do as much damage. For example, I may snack on a bag of Guiltless Gourmet baked tortilla chips and salsa or eat an entire bag of deep sea salted soy chips or a pint (okay, half gallon) of low-fat frozen yogurt. These food satisfy my need to indulge, but when I emerge from my stress and get on the scale, I usually find I haven't added to my stress or depression too much with a new weight problem to deal with.

I realize this is not ideal advice. The ideal thing is to take a walk or do something positive or eat celery sticks. But when you're too far gone, and you know when those times are, consider my damage control plan.

-Nancy
 
Mari, you have gotten great advice from everyone, and I just want you to know that you are not alone!!! big hugs to you, and remember that you are string enough to make it through. Remember everyday is a new day to learn about yourself and take care of yourself. You are worth it! don't let the stress get you down. and if it does, remember tomorrow is a new day :)

-Tina:)
 
marianimal,

You never have to be embarassed here. Lots of us have been through and struggle with tthe same thing. Unfortunately, it can be an ongoing battle, and it requires tons of conscious effort to get it under control. When I feel like overeating or eating junk, I asked myself why I want it, and the answer is that there is usually somehting else going on in my life that is upsetting me. Make a goal to get the episodes as few and far between as possible, and don't beat yourself up. In time, you will find it easier to stop yourself from doing it. ((Hugs))
 
Thanks everyone for your support and hugs!:)

Sometimes the hardest thing to do is just to say "help!" Y'all gave me alot of good ideas. I do need to start my journal again (without conveniently forgetting this handful of M&Ms or that handful of cookies).

I've always been a stress eater and I need to get a plan in place for when I see those stressful times coming so I can be ready. And for when they sneak up on me too. Like having healthy snacks stashed for when people at work a passing out snickers minis.

Y'all are a great support group. I feel like we are all friends here. A long time ago, someone told me that "when you make a jackass of yourself, your friends are the people who don't think you've done a permanent job of it."

Thanks for making me see I haven't done a permanent job of it!
;)

Hugs back at all of you!!!
 
From one binge-eater to another;) , here's some things that help me:

Come up with a food plan for your day. That way, everything healthy is already planned out and you're not searching through the pantry when HELLO! I forgot I had those ding-dongs!

I tend to binge on high-fat, high-carb stuff which ends up making me feel bad physically. On my first "good" day after a binge, I'll eat only healthy things, staying away from all triggers. But the key to this day is not restricting myself in quantity. This way I feel good that I'm eating well, but not beating myself up over how much I ate.

Usually the next day, it's much easier to go back to normal eating patterns and servings.

If I try to really restrict/punish myself, it tends to backfire because I don't stick to it, then the cycle begins again. Be gentle with yourself.

And my main reason for binge-eating is emotional. If I dig deep enough, I can find out what's bugging me and I have to address that. If you can release some emotion, it's amazing the effects that has on bingeing.

Good luck! We're here for you! :)
 
Great advice and support above -- I'll add my piece!

It helps me to remind myself not to "stir" in my feelings too long. While no. 1 rule is to definitely feel (do not suppress thru any method - denial, over/under-eating, over/under-exercising, over/under-working, etc.), don't sit in your feelings too long. Don't let them spiral. Feel the SH**, then move on, don't let it spiral and torment you. Know what I mean? Like, there are some probs we can't solve overnight...sometimes you gotta let the pot simmer, so ride out the crap, then move on.

For example, today I was oh-so-down about working tonight (overnight, I hate it), it's my choice to either be miserable and bellyache and hate my life today, or just move on. I took a lovely walk, listened to light rock while walking (Let's Give Them Something to Talk About -- love that song, heard it 2x!), and it motivated me to keep moving forward -- literally to go walk, then come home and bathe -- and figuratively, to move on with my plans to create a more exciting path for myself, so I'm not down every weekend.

I'm not a pro, but I do think that the mind is powerful -- think positive. I tell myself I can say "no" to depression, and choose to be excited. So, to sum it up, when I want to eat an Oatmeal Creme Pie the size of the one in Honey I Shrunk the Kids, I need to apply some TLC to myself, get my body moving and not take everything so dang seriously!

Good for you for speaking up -- we all need support. Great group of strong people here, too.

Best to all of you,
:)
 
first off i have to tell you i've never had an eating disorder so i can't pretend to know that struggle. i have, however, been struggling to take off 10 pounds. i actually weigh more now that last year after i had my 2nd kid, so it's not baby weight. it's wine weight!!

i tried the eating journal but found it to be a lot of work and not necessarily "positive." i got on my computer and made a chart to keep track of positive things. the chart is on my fridge and i keep track each day of the time i got up, any time i got in in the morning praying, glasses of water i drank, fruit/veggie consumption, and what kind of exercise. it's been easy because each time i have a serving of fruit/veggie i just put a mark in that column. when i focus on getting the right number of good things the bad things seem to naturally work themselves out. and i know at the end of the week i want my total number of fruits/veggies to be 49 so i focus on the positive rather than beating myself up. hope this gives you a new idea. good luck with your struggle. life can be soo hard.
 
hey,jcm, I love this idea. I may have to give it a try. I have a harder time trying NOT to do something than I do trying to DO something. This may be just the positive reinforcement I need to clean up my eating act. I like that you include other good behaviors on the chart besides eating your veggies too. Kinda like getting gold stars in kindergarden.
 
jcm,

Great idea. I do positive reinforcement, including charts, with my DSs and they receive rewards at certain milestones. Why haven't I ever considered myself worthy of this? Thanks:)
 
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