Day 1 of no binging forever

Hey everyone,

 Today is my first day of no binging forever!!! I am at a decent weight and athletic but I need to stop binging because it makes me sick and leaves me feeling horribly guilty afterwards. I am going to post on here everyday and especially when i feel like I am ging to binge. I hope that anyone can offer me words of advice, encoragement and personal success. I am so ready to stop this sickness that I have had for almost 4 years.

You know what? Me too. I'm sick of this binging. You've had it for much longer then I have(me only 6 months), but I'm so ready to stop. If I make it through today, it will be day 3. We can help each other if you want. I just try and keep myself busy during the day and especially at night. I find that exercising helps during the day too. Good luck!

dont you think saying "forever" will set you up for future failure? i think its motivating to say you will "never" do it again, but it can also backfire on you. Any kind of extreme commitments like that may only make food relationships worse in the long run, if you relapse, which you probably will at some point,because we are human. what do you think? i like the idea of support between people who have the same problem.

You sound exactly like me! Maybe we can work together. I know exactly how you feel and what you're going through... sometimes I even binge in my dreams! It's awful. Anyway, PM me if you want to correspond over this.

And what sinhache said is true. There will be days we slip up, and setting such a strict rule about not binging means that if we screw up, it seems like a total failure. It's all part of that black-and-white thinking that comes with disordered eating. It's probably better to just say "day one of a good week" and next week do it over and over until you feel like you can do "day one of a good month" and so on. It won't seem to monumental that way, too.

Hey thanks for replying. Yeah I know that i will definitely need motivation on some days. I really don't have anyone to talk to about my problem and I really want to stop. It's not always about being perfect but also about the guilt i feel afterwards is horrible. Today is day 1! I am going to try and tally the days and like every 20th day, do something for myself that does not involve eating and that is with friends or family.

Hey guys,
Im joining on here too! In the past I had an eating disorder which Ive learned to control. But now since I've started college... I've gone the opposite way, and have gained five pounds. It doesn't sound like much considering I run for my school team so Im pretty active. But Im so sick of feeling like a fat and disgusting failure after I binge. It is pointless and stupid and has gotten me absolutely no where!  Okay well I kinda binged today so I can't really start the day off right. Im already at 1607 cals which leaves me about 350 left for dinner (and b/c of lent we're having pizza : (). This probably won't go over too well : ( So I guess my goal will be to make my pizza healthy w/ lots of veggies... and no dessert afterwards. Then tomorrow Ill start.
Good luck to everyone!

Im in! tomorrow will be my first day of no binging (altho this is like the 100th time i say that). i just had a terrible 8000 calorie day, and mostly sugar too (an entire can of chocolate spread? that is NOT healthy - 3000 cal total with just that). i have gained 13 pounds in 2 months, and right now i dont care how i look but i feel sooo bad and soooo  unhealthy. i would so much rather weigh twice of wat i do now and be eating healthy. i want to be healthy, but my binging has been happening every single day for over a week now. its so unhealthy, and im so afraid of all the health problems it might cause. i dont want to end up with diabetes or heart problems or blood clogging or watever this unhealthy habit may cause. tomorow im going PURE HEALTHY! im actually gonna restrict myself from eating ANYTHING unhealthy AT ALLL for atleast a full 2 weeks. and then im gonna start allowing myself small portions of those things that i like.

count me in.  i binged today again for like the 5th time this month.  am so sick of myself.  i want to die now.  my biggest fear is weight gain, fat gain, pure fat on my body. 

tomorrow i'm hoping it'll be day 1.

Many people have found it helpful to work on the "one day at a time" basis.

How this works is that you might say to yourself, "I won't binge just for today."

 

As a recovered (maybe, as with alcoholics, I should say recover-ING) binge eater, I would tell you that this mind set of "never again" is part of the binging cycle.  It's that black and white, all or nothing thinking that will get us every time.  For me it worked like this:  If I ate too much in the morning (easily 1500 calories by noon) I would say, "That's it, I've ruined the day, I might as well keep eating the rest of the day away."  So, in typical all or nothing fashion, I believed the whole day was shot instead of just letting it go and moving on.  Now if I overeat (I haven't actually binged in several months) I say, "Oh well."  I let it go and I move on - I don't let it dictate the rest of my day and how I feel about myself (i.e. that guilt you talked about.)

Also, it's a misconception for us bingers that binging is inevitable.  The urge to binge, like the urge to do anything else, can and will pass if we give it time.  But time is also an issue for us.  We tend to be impulsive by nature and once we feel we've hit that point of no return, we believe there's no sense in trying to stop it.  Having said that, there is also wisdom in knowing your triggers and staying clear of them for a time, learning how to deal with your emotions/stresses in a more effective way, and getting support - like you are now! 

I support you in your quest for no binging, but please, if you "mess up" don't throw in the towel.  Forgive yourself, let it go, and MOVE ON!  Hope this helps.

well im all for not binging because i sometimes can stuff like 5k calories after i ate all my daily intake for the day.. but just make sure you know the difference between binging just indulging.. its okay once in awhile to eat a little  more or just to enjoy food..

so just keep that in mind and yeah i started my no binging 1 week from today : )

Original Post by bjben:

As a recovered (maybe, as with alcoholics, I should say recover-ING) binge eater, I would tell you that this mind set of "never again" is part of the binging cycle. It's that black and white, all or nothing thinking that will get us every time. For me it worked like this: If I ate too much in the morning (easily 1500 calories by noon) I would say, "That's it, I've ruined the day, I might as well keep eating the rest of the day away." So, in typical all or nothing fashion, I believed the whole day was shot instead of just letting it go and moving on. Now if I overeat (I haven't actually binged in several months) I say, "Oh well." I let it go and I move on - I don't let it dictate the rest of my day and how I feel about myself (i.e. that guilt you talked about.)

Also, it's a misconception for us bingers that binging is inevitable. The urge to binge, like the urge to do anything else, can and will pass if we give it time. But time is also an issue for us. We tend to be impulsive by nature and once we feel we've hit that point of no return, we believe there's no sense in trying to stop it. Having said that, there is also wisdom in knowing your triggers and staying clear of them for a time, learning how to deal with your emotions/stresses in a more effective way, and getting support - like you are now!

I support you in your quest for no binging, but please, if you "mess up" don't throw in the towel. Forgive yourself, let it go, and MOVE ON! Hope this helps.

I agree 150% with your post, bjben. Saying 'never again' will only make you feel guilty when (and this will happen) you overeat one day, or even have a binge (mini binge, big binge, doesn't matter). It's like saying I will never eat French fries or ice cream again... You're setting yourself up for failure.

I think your approach is fantastic, bjben, I find it very helpful indeed. We have to remember not to write off a whole day just because, let's say, by 5pm you have already gone over your daily allowance. If you stop it there then it'll be a normal maintenance day. If you decide the whole day is wasted diet wise, then you WILL make it a waste diet wise. I am a very extremist person, and I'm working on that, because many times it's either fruit and lettuce, or pizza and sweets. If we find the balance, guys, there will be no need to binge. I also find that if one day I didn't have time for a proper lunch, or worked out too much and didn't eat enough during the day I will have a binge in the evening, even if I'm not feeling particularly hungry. There's also the psychological part of course... but not eating properly can be a trigger.

Good luck too all, and bjben, thank you for your post. I think I might print it out and stick it on my fridge!!!

bjben thanks for that. its always good to hear from someone whos been through it all and has recorvered (or is recovering). ill take ur advice:)

I also agree 100% with bjben. Falling off the wagon does not mean that the whole day is ruined and that its time to throw in the towel. Even though it seems logical to me, its just hard to internalize that. But I was wondering, bjben, how long did it take you to get to where you are today without binging? Right now its just so hard for me to break the impulsive mindset.

It's taken me five months of weekly therapy with an expert in the field of eating disorders, lots of logging my eating, bingeing, emotions, etc., twice a month sessions with a nutritionist and lots of prayer to finally feel some semblance of normalcy around food.  I'm 44 and have dealt with bulimia since the age of 20, so 24 years of  disordered eating and a lifetime of body shape/weight concerns are being turned around (I still have my moments and my issues!!) and I'm on a much healthier path. I want to be careful to add that  even if you don't have access to an expert in ED or any therapist, you can still break free from binge eating.  I read/used the book, "Overcoming Binge Eating" along with my therapy.  I would recommend it to anyone struggling with this.  Please don't let the fear of gaining weight control your life. 

bep16, I can totally relate to your comment about breaking the impulsive mindset, but once you experience a few successes you will see that it IS possible and you will gain confidence.  If when you feel an impending binge you can say, if in 15 minutes I still want that, then I can have it and leave the area you're in, often you can divert the binge.  If you're already to the point of, "Oh what the h..., I'm just going to go for it" it's much harder to avoid it - but NOT impossible. 

The other REALLY important piece is ALLOWING YOURSELF TO EAT FORBIDDEN FOODS from time to time in moderation.  If you're allowing yourself this pleasure, there's not as much need to binge later.  Believe me - this is central to recovering from binge eating.

I hope I haven't said too much.  Please take what makes sense to you.

 

Original Post by baandito:

Original Post by bjben:

Good luck too all, and bjben, thank you for your post. I think I might print it out and stick it on my fridge!!!

I'm so glad what I said was helpful.  If it helps you, baandito, then GREAT! 

Merged from other thread about same topic ...

 

2nd day of no binging forever

silver26
Mar 15 2008 08:45

Yesterday was my first day of no binging and it went really great. I exercised and ate when i was hungry, stopped when full and best of all Did not binge!! So now I am on my second day and I am going to make it a good one. Thanks to everyone for replying to my Day 1 forum! I want to get over this because I love the way my body feels when I have exercised and eaten healthy for a week or so. I hate the sick to my stomach and guilty feeling i get after i binge. I need to try to remember that i feel like that everytime i want to binge so that i don't.

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sharonclaire
Mar 15 2008 09:19

well, have at it, silver! I am sure you will do well. I am on the same challenge...today is Day 8! good luck to you!!!

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kae1106
Mar 15 2008 20:41

I'm on day 4! Good job!

Merged from thread about same topic ..........

Day 3 of no binging

silver26
Mar 16 2008 12:03

Hey guys, today is my 3rd day of no binging. Yesterday went well, although I did have a couple fun size candy bars in the evening, but no binge! What I need help and advice on is, when I have not binged in say a week, and I think i look good and i definitely feel good, I still get insecurities and i still point out negative stuff about my body. this is not good because it makes me binge and that is the end of my week free of binging. Also I am a very bad worrier. Im always worrying about when i will work out, when and what will i eat, and i will also worry about not getting enough fruits and vegis during the day which leads me to binge on unheathy food. Well I will get through this day and I want to go run soon, so i will probably write after i run.

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gi-jane
Mar 16 2008 13:33

Try this.... Make a plan. At the start of the week write down a plan of all your meals for the week... breakfast, lunch, supper, snacks. You can work in all your fruit and vegetables in advance. You can use the plan as a shopping list so that you've got all the food you need handy.

Add in the exercise... Write that on the plan too. So now you have a food and exercise schedule all mapped out.

Finally... add in a couple of goals for the week. They don't have to be diet or exercise related. But by achieving goals you'll feel a constant sense of progress

Bjben, the book you mention, is it the one by Christopher G Fairburn? I just read the first pages online, and it looks so interesting, accurate, and definitely useful Just want to make sure it's the same one, although I'll probably get this one as well if it's not.

Thanks!!!

Quoted from the movie 40 days and 40 nights: "When you can't have sex, what do you think about? Sex." Well, if you repeatedly tell yourself, "I cannot binge," I agree that this may trigger you. Instead, tell yourself, "I keep myself fuelled with plenty of small snacks throughout the day to prevent binge-triggering hunger," or "If I do binge, I will not beat myself up about it."

If you ever have problems with binging again, try eating heavier during breakfast and lunch rather than "saving up" calories for a larger dinner or bed time snack. Also, for your large breakfast in the morning, have something you really enjoy - that way, at night when you want to binge, remind yourself that you have an awesome meal to look forward to in the morning!

I'm joining too!! I'm sick and tired of it.