So Discouraged

Hi, I'm so depressed because I can't keep my calorie intake less than 3,000 now. Everyday it's always between 3,300 - 5,000. And I don't work out at all. I keep on binging and binging. I've gained 3 pounds from this week. I need alot of help.

My Christmas goal is ruined too. Instead of becoming healthier and losing 5 pounds, I've been so unhealthy by eating boxes of cake mixes in a day and gained 10 pounds since November.

:'(

Honey, I can relate. And my mom is a baker.

I think we just need to perhaps write out our goals, and why we should stick to them. And then get on here when it gets so bad.

I do write out my goals. I even tell myself to not binge when I feel a binge coming. And I do go on calorie-count when I feel like binging and I always end up binging while visiting the forums.

Strawberry dolly - There is a lot of advice on this website about binge eating, I have recently been documenting my progress on the “ bingers anonymous” thread

Have a look through the forums and you will see more advice in threads about binge eating

Make sure you are eating enough and that your body feels satisfied with what it gets from the food you eat - if you can eliminate a genuine physical need to binge then you can deal with the emotional and NON physical issues.

If you do not work on your diet and learn how to give your body what it needs and feels best, then it is silly to wonder why you still binge - many people cannot be bothered analyzing their diet, so they their bodies may WANT tot food or fat or more protein or more carbohydrates etc,

Basically, some people WANT to get better but are not prepared to do the hard work - stopping binge eating is very hard!

Good luck on, remember it is a process and most people do not just STOP binging immediately, most people just learn to resist the urge less and less, until they can STOP themselves from binging more often then they give in and cannot stop. The times you can stop yourself from binging will eventually out number the times you cannot stop yourself from binging.

If you allow yourself to have a nice happy Christmas, then that would be telling your binge disorder to get stuffed, and it would be a real show of strength if you can say to yourself and your disorder “ I CAN have a nice day, and I CAN learn to start enjoying foods I love in moderation”

The day will not be perfect, there is no such thing a s perfect BUT you can challenge yourself by enjoying at least SOME of the food in a normal and healthy way. Just have what you truly crave and focus more on people’s company and etc , even if you think about food constantly just pretend you cannot hear the thoughts, and before you know it it will be meal time!

I don't know much else to do right now but *bigbighugs*

I remember when I lost a lot of weight, over the summer I'd eat and eat a lot.  There was a point where I'd bake an entire loaf of bread and then eat it! I felt really horrible, and I didn't exercise either. I've been working off the weight, but what helps is to just get away from the food for me.  Or change your mindset, I changed mine from monitoring calories to being healthy.  So I said if I was going to take in a large amount of calories it will have to be on whole foods.  That stopped it..also don't be so harsh on yourself.  Do baby steps, like super baby steps. 

I'm sorry I don't have much advice, but all I know is that it didn't stop in one day.  It took me a couple weeks to get back under control.  I also found for me, plans don't work.  I know that's weird, but if I say what I'm going to have for breakfast, lunch, and dinner beforehand I will automatically want to deviate.  So, if I said I was going to have oatmeal and an apple for breakfast, I'd want kashi cereal and a pear instead.  So, I tell myself that I'll have a breakfast, lunch, dinner, and two snacks.  I can have them whenever I want however I want.  I like to be in control of my control? It's weird, but it helps. 

What are your plans like? Maybe they're too intense?

jennlett, I usually plan to have two slices of whole wheat bread with 2 tbsp pb but then I end up eating 6 slices of bread with more than 6 tbsp of peanut butter (out of the jar). For lunch I make pasta to bring to school. And I'm okay during lunch but when I get home, the first thing I do is binge on everything. Everything including the pasta I was intentionally going to use for tomorrow's lunch, or the crackers in the cupboards, or peanut butter, bread, noodles, cake mix, cereal etc. I'm always binging to the point of having my belly looking like I'm pregnant. And my thighs feel fat and swollen. And I waste alot of precious homework time binging. And during dinner, I eat whatever my mom makes so that always totals up to around 3,000 calories.

Do you like to draw, paint, sew? Something creative and calming? When you have your stressful moments and want to binge you need a distraction. If all else fails treat yourself to non-food related treats and presents: a home pedicure, or a scented bath, or a face pack. That sort of thing.

Look to sorting out your emotional triggers and making sure your diet is balanced. A good rule of thumb is three meals, two to three snacks, and at main meals half your plate to contain fruit or veg, a quarter of it with complex carbohydrate like brown rice, wholegrains, potatoes, and a quarter containing protein.

Anticipate your emotions. I personally found that realising what was setting me off helped me prepare for an oncoming binge. Then, instead of going for food, I'd write down how I felt on some paper or I'd draw, I'd paint, maybe I'd dance around in my room for a bit - anything to keep me busy. A short walk, a bubble bath, calling a friend or a relative. If you can get your hands moving, your body moving, and stay clear of foods, you may find that urge to binge passes entirely. Furthermore, coming back to writing things down: writing your emotions out helps you understand them when you read them back.

While it may be good to avoid trigger foods make sure you don't deprive yourself of any foods either. A good balance of moderation in your diet should mean that you shouldn't feel as though you're "missing out" on anything - which should then stave off irrational binges on foods you've otherwise told yourself you can't have. Never say never to a food unless you've an allergy or intolerance.

As well as taking up hobbies or relaxation aids, do you have a local community group you could become a part of if you've the free time? Or possibly even a local Overeaters Anonymous, or a similar specific support group if you'd feel willing to go to one of those? Anything that might help you. If you've access to a doctor, too, you can always rely on asking them for help and advice. CC is a brilliant tool, but that is what it is - a tool, not a replacement for a doctor or friends and family you can reach out to directly.

Binge eating is a serious problem and can affect your health in many ways. Calorie-Count and medical professionals do consider binge-eating to be a considerable health/wellness concern. You must know from the Posting Guidelines, Calorie-Count is all about healthy and sustainable weight management. Please be aware that this website does not support unhealthy eating patterns (such as binge eating) and given you have been provided countless advice by users and mods, and encouragement to speak to a professional in the past, I should warn you your post warrants a delete or lock.

It is important you do speak to someone about this, particularly your doctor. For online support, in addition, try Something Fishy: Binge Eating Disorder and Overeaters Anonymous.org.

this may sound stupid, but have you ever tried not going home afterschool? if you aren't at home, then you can't really binge. you could go to the library with a snack like a banana or something and do your homework there.

my heart goes out to you, because i know how it feels. september 2007 i weighed 107 lbs, and september 2008 i weighed 145 lbs. but honestly, i'll never stop fighting the binges, and neither should you. we deserve MORE than this and we can do better.

Original Post by eerica:

this may sound stupid, but have you ever tried not going home afterschool? if you aren't at home, then you can't really binge. you could go to the library with a snack like a banana or something and do your homework there.

my heart goes out to you, because i know how it feels. september 2007 i weighed 107 lbs, and september 2008 i weighed 145 lbs. but honestly, i'll never stop fighting the binges, and neither should you. we deserve MORE than this and we can do better.

 Hey Erica,

Yes I've tried going to the library afterschool. But it doesn't work because the library is 30 minutes away from my house. And since it's winter, it gets dark around 5:00pm and I honestly don't feel like walking in the cold in the dark. And going home before 5:00pm takes the point out of going to the library because time flies. And before I know it, I would have to head home and then I end up binging.

Thanks for your advice though :)

First of all, Merry Christmas to you! The new year that is starting seems like an excellent moment to stop beating yourself up about what is already behind you, start anew make some resolutions you can stick to. ;)

While I am not nearly an expert, I want to ask you something: are you getting enough protein in your diet? Haven`t seen any mention of protein-rich foods, and I know it is very common for people to mistake protein cravings for carb & fat cravings, and you end up overeating A LOT as you enter the vicious cycle, considering your body is still not satisfied with the loads of food you are feeding it.

You might need to find the best carb/protein/fat ratio for you (depending on activity level) and plan your meals around it for a while, until you learn to listen to your body more closely, start to read the signs and understand what exactly it is that it`s asking for.

I`m sorry if I`m way off here; I`m speaking strictly out of personal experience, and what worked for me might certainly not work for you.

Happy holidays!

I am right there with you.... 2 weeks ago i was 110 lbs.. and now i'm heading toward 118lbs... Nobody can binge like me.. I've been on this cycle for fifteen years.. i know ALL the tricks.. advice.. and 'logical thinking'..

I know how to 'fight off' a binge every so often.. But what i really want for 2009 is to not have to 'fight' off a binge

I want to try to get my head out of this depression and weight-related sadness.. I want to truly worry about things other than my weight -- I'm exhausted!!

I think you deep down know exactly what you need to do ... but like me, until you can 'get out of this rut'.. its going to continue on..

You need a serious vacation from your own head !:))