binge-free challenge, anyone?

So I've got into a pattern of binging once a week.  In order to avoid falling back to be emotinoal eater, I'm gonna kick binges for good.  I know some of you out there are binging even more often, say by keep track of each other's eating habit, we can really help each other out.

Tankgirl,

Thanks so much for your response.  It sounds very helpful.  I think what I mainly need is a focus, and strategy - what to do when I'm tempted to over-eat.  Right now, I'm just trying to use sheer will power.  But I need a plan.

By the way, how successful have you been since the counseling?

Struggling started period.  Am thinking of going back to my therapist to discuss some of my food issues also.  Thanks for the tip.

Struggling started period.  Am thinking of going back to my therapist to discuss some of my food issues also.  Thanks for the tip.

since the counselling started I had 1 smaller binge after the first session but that was it I have now been 'binge free' for 5 weeks.  I found some of the coping mechanisms and diversion tactics that the counsellour mentioned definitely help

Tankgirl,

Wow! 5 Weeks!  Congratulations.  I hope I can get to that point.  I am doing pretty well right now.  I've been upping my exercise again, and am on my 3rd day without any binging.

Hey everyone!  I am almost done with my job that is keeping me away!  I see its been pretty dead around here though!   But that is a GOOD thing, right? lol, well I hope so.   Anyway,  just a few more days and I will be back! Bye for now.

i binged yesterday.. so i guess i lost the challege????:(

Ugh, I'm so mad at myself right now.  I want to cry.

I've been doing so well.  I even wore my "skinny" jeans today.  But I guess that made me cocky, because I just binged.  I hate myself right now for this!  Why do I sabotage myself this way?

Anyone else in pain and feeling self-loathing-esque???

i can't stop binging. 4 days within the last week i've binged completely. i didn't even leave the house because i felt so horrible. i finished i've eaten pints of ice cream, bags of cookies, boxes of cereal, and pans of brownies. my stomach is in pain, but i still managed to fit in another sleeve of oreos and half a bag of cereal.

i hope that everyone here is doing better than i am right now. i want to try and stop this on my own, without "seeking professional help." i feel like i'll never get out of this cycle of binging. on "normal" days i eat between 1300-1400 calories and sometimes even manage to fit in cookies and sweets.

babycologne, It's really hard when you ahve a day like this.  But one binge in the day doesnt have to ruin the whole day.  I used to be this way (and probably could go that way again,) but what I realized is that if I ate something I shouldnt, right away I put it in my calorie count expenditure and notice that there's still a way to save the day....as long as I don't go over that maximum....

and if you find that after one binge you throw the day away and continue to binge, remember that tomorrow is a new day.  Use that day and the binge to try to recognize your trigger and help yourself stay away from the trigger.

I have an entire week without a binge now.  It's a new record for me!  I haven't eaten anywhere near my maximun calorie intake this week (Though I had my treat of nachos friday for supper, I had allowed for that and still ate below my maximum, and I had too beer last night!!)

The trick for me, put everything in your counter.  EVERY LICK...even if I taste spaghetti sauce while cooking it, I put that in as a tablespoon of sauce....:)  It helps me be accountable.  And prevents me from sabotaging my own weight loss efforts.

Hopeully I can stick to it this time and lose the 100 I want to lose!

thanks andrea_green. i probably should log things in after i mess up, because i kept going and now it's too far late. so far today hasn't been very good either. and it's not even 11AM. a sleeve of oreos and 4 bowls of cinnamon toast crunch. i went down about 8 pounds in the last 2 months, and i'm scared i'll just gain it all back. the thing is, i log everything the ngiht before, planning my meals. but i never stick to it. i have a lot of stuff to keep me busy, but eating is easier than cleaning. 

It's almost a new month, and I think it's time for me to turn over a new leaf! I'm joining the binge-free challenge, beginning right now! I just discovered this thread, so I'm not exactly sure what the terms are. Do you check in every day, or once a week, or just when you need support?

Well, for now, here's how today has gone so far: I just finished eating brunch at my school's dining hall, at which I somehow managed to binge on 2 Krispy Kreme donuts on top of my regular breakfast. I was thinking about just throwing away the day as "ruined" and eating anything I want (which is what I did last night... and the night before...), but no more of that! I logged the donuts along with my brunch, and there is still hope for today. I'm going to hold it together and not turn my binge-meal into an entire binge-day.

This is my 5th day now without binging.  I also went for a 5K run this afternoon, so I feel great.  I ate a fair bit when I got back from my run, but I made sure to log everything.  This really helped.

Hi Awigen... and welcome!  There are no rules.  Just check in whenever you can to give support, get support, and share you successes/ setbacks, etc. 

I wish you the best of luck!

Babycologne, I actually binged yesterday.  Some of my past binges have been so bad that I couldn't even begin to recount EVERYTHING that I ate.  I'm just trying to be better today.  I just worked out like crazy, as part of my penence.  I hope you have a better day today.

Babycologne,   I find the best thing is to put your dinner on your plate, then go log the food in.  That way I find I'm not Digging in right away and eating EVERYTHING on the plate.  I'm really trying to leave a little something on there.  You have to be completely honest with your self and your food log! OR just before you pick up your food, enter the food...that keeps me honest with myself..and helps keep me on track

I almost binged with dinner tonight, I made chicken lasagna with whole grain noodles...and I ate one piece...almost ate the second.  I said "Oh, I gotta add this in" and did that..then I realized I was at the 1257 calorie mark and knew I couldnt eat the second piece.

I must say, I binge WAY MORE when I'm not consistant with entering my food into the food log.

what really is binging? during weekdays i strictly stick to my "diet" (no junk food, cereal for breakfast, occasional fast food for lunch and a fruit for dinner and maybe a snack before i go to sleep) but i always look forward weekends coz it gives me reason to eat WHATEVER i want, in moderation (like 1 serving). is it wrong to think of it as a "prize" for being so good and sticking with a diet for 5 days?? i don't think i can give up my weekend fiesta...

I think the term "binging" means something different to everyone.

For me, binging usually occurs over a short amount of time.  I eat an excessively large amount of food in only a few hours.  Binges for me can be like 2000 calories, not including what I normally ate during the day.  For me, binging means eating until I am uncomfortably full.   Some people consume over 4000 calories in one short sitting.  A true binge is NOT simply eating some junk food, or going a little over your daily food allowance.  It's more severe than that, and it often leads to a feeling of lack of control and frustration or disgust.  This is what a binge is to me.

thanks for the welcome! I know it is easier said than done to "just stop" binge eating, but I'm going to take it one day at a time. I feel like this thread will make me somewhat more accountable, so I hope no one minds if I just post here every day with what I have eaten and how my day has been, binge or no-binge (hopefully the latter)...

Today, even though I started off horribly... with a 600 calorie breakfast/lunch and then 600 calories worth of Krispy Kremes, I fought off a mid-afternoon snacking urge by taking a walk and drinking a tall black coffee, I ate a sensible dinner of salad with grilled chicken, rid my dorm room of any snacks and replaced them with 2 apples, and have been drinking a lot of water to try and reduce the bloating from last night's binge. It's now 7:15 and post-dinner I am at 1550 calories. Now even if I reach for a night-time snack, the only thing I have in my room are the 2 apples, so at most I will be logging in 1700 calories tonight!! That falls just within my goal range of 1300-1800 calories! All this week I have been logging in at 2200 calories or more (some days, A LOT more, post-binges), so it feels like today was a successful day after all!! :) Heck, if I finish my work early enough, I may even hit up the gym!

Hey everyone,  I am back!  Wow I have been doing horribly. Didnt want to admit it, but yikes.   After more than 6 weeks of being nearly perfectly good!   Well, you know I went and did that high activity job for 2 weeks so I upped my daily intake to 2000+ calories?...first few days I was so tired I only ate 1000 calories, but then I started eating more and more....and I was ok but now the job is over and I am still eating that much a day plus Friday Night and yesterday were complete and total binge days for me.  (I cant believe I have to start back over at day 1!!!! Grrrrr that makes me so mad!) 

I am trying to get over the feeling that I have somehow completely ruined all the good progress I made in the last 6 weeks.   I need to get back on the wagon RIGHT NOW!!!!!!   

I'm joining I binged yesterday after a week of being binge free.  I'm trying not to be too disgusted with myself today but it's hard. 

I heard somewhere that it takes 21 days to break a habit...well that's what I'm going to strive for.  Anyone want to join me?  Binge free forever sounds delightful but just 21 days would be a big victory for me.

21 days...that's til may 20th. I really hope I succeed and don't give in.