Eating got out of control yesterday... always wanting food... HELP!!!

So my body has been through alot ove the past five months. I went away to a residential treatment facility for anorexia and gained about 30 lbs. (just an estimate, I don't know my actual weight).

Yesterday, I think that I binged... I just couldn't stop eating. It was so scary. I crave things like sugar free pudding, carrots, protein bars, boca burger, and vitamuffins which I know might seem commical, but it's true and really hindering my life.

At one time during recovery, I was eating about 4000 calories per day. And even when I was in my eating disorder, I would always eat atleast 2500 because it was more like exercise bulimia that I had so I still lost alot of weight.

I've had an eaitng disorder off and on for six years, so never really got to know my true hunger. Well latley, I can't keep my mind off of food! I alwyas want to eat, even when I'm not hungry! And somtimes, I give in and eat anyway, even though it's above my usual calories for the day.

I try to stay at 1900 calories per day, because I think that's what my maintianence is. But I don't know for a fact, sinceI don't know my weight. The last time I found out my weight was like a month ago, and I was 115 lbs. and 5'4".

Yesterday, I just kept eating and eating and eating and ended up eating 2300 calories. My stomach felt like it was going to burst, but I still wanted MORE food! It was rediculouse! My hunger and urges to eat are always there, they never go away!

I'mnot even that active really. I do a half an hour of isometircs (planks, motor boats, wallsits, pushups), and a half an hour of step aerobics six days a week. But yesterday, I was at the animal shelter and walked ten dogs around the block, whch I estimate was about 4 miles of walking total.

My apologies, I don't really know what I'm asking. But I think I've been binging lately. And I don't know how many calories I should be eating. Yes, I have a therapist, but we don't talk about calories. I see her tommorow though.

Is 1900 calories enough for someone who does light activity for an hour a day and then is sedentary for the rest of the part? For those of you who are around my size, what's your maintianence calories? And should my maintAINENCE calories be more since I had an eating disorder? I'm really freaking out wiht this food obsession, and appreciate all comments and feedback, so thank you.

You can always get metobolic testing done.  It told me exactly how many calories I needed to maintain my weight.  I had it done at the YMCA.  Hospitals also do this.  WELL WORTH IT !!  Your therapist may also know who to go to.

You're probably not feeling hungry from your stomach.  Your brain is telling you to eat and your eating out of bordom maybe.  Please talk to your therapist and see if she has a number you can call off hours if you are having trouble.

I have trouble eating out of bordom and the love of food.  When it gets bad, all you need to do is paint your nails.  It makes it so I can't just munch for no reason. I do clear coats, color, top coat.  lol .  I always have great nails when I'm watching what I eat.

Please talk to therapist, she will know if your body needs more food possibly.  Don't starve yourself (no one is pretty this way).  Keep your chin up and I hope you feel better.   I'm glad to hear you got help and gained some weight.  It was the right thing to do !!

Well for the most part I agree with what Vkkesu suggested, boredom eating is normally a factor in over eating and metabolic testing can help you make more informed decisions about your own dietary needs and goals. Its hard to give you a straight answer to your question, everybody's body is different and your body's metabolic needs are based from many factors from physiological to physical. A BMI test will give you a pretty good ballpark on a maintenance weight, though coming back from a eating disorder it might take some time for your body's metabolic weight to level out  it eventually will and you should be able to consistently maintain your weight without to much trouble.

As for a day of random day's of binge eating and food obsession no freaking out on me. Its really a pretty normal thing, happens to everyone from time to time, everyone has different triggers and patterns but I assure you its nothing to be overly stressed out about. Personally I have this problems as well, my solution was to simply embrace the really that at least once a week I am going to binge and instead of stressing out about it like I used to do I simply started working it into my diet plan. Now it took a few weeks of trail and error but I now normally have a good binge on Thursday, due to stress, or Saturday due to a hard workout on Friday. It took care of my guilty feelings after a day of gorging, being that I was still within my weekly limit and it helps keeps your metabolic rate from getting to comfortable. This works for me doesn't mean it will work you but it is something that has really been working well over the past month and I would recommended giving it a try.

I hope this helped, good luck in finding a solution that works you for, in the meantime an extra sugar free pudding and protein bar ever hurt anybody and more No Freaking Out.

1900 especially when you were gaining on 4000 is too low and that alone will lead to binging but eating 2300 total in a day is not binging. I eat more then that to maintain. When you were discharged from ip did they set you up with a op treatment team? It sounds like you need to see a nutritionist who deals with ed to set you up with a plan. I think 1900 is too low especially if you are young with activity.

I recently have reached my ideal weight after a prolonged 1200 cal program. 

When I started adding higher fat and calorie foods to my eating, I noticed that my hunger increased.  It seemed that the more I ate, the hungrier I got.  I decided to treat my hunger like pain. (hunger management). 

When I quit being afraid to be hungry and not eating just because I was hungry, I got back into control!  

Good luck!

Marylee, that comment is really inappropriate for someone who is in / was in ED recovery.

Anyways, you definitely need more than 1900 calories!! I'm not sure of your age (teen or 20s?). The constant hunger / urge to binge / food obsession is going to be heightened because your body is not getting enough. You feel constantly hungry because your body may actually be constantly wanting more. Some days your body may only need 1900, but generally, I really doubt that is enough. Up your calories, and that urge will die down considerably. 2300 calories is not a binge (and may very well be your real maintenance). 

I suggest listening to your hunger for awhile. Stop counting calories and just eat when you're hungry. At first, you'll probably feel ravenous (like you could eat all day) because you have been depriving your body and ignoring its signals (I know this from experience). That appetite will reside after awhile if you continuously listen to your body. Maybe calorie counting works for you, but why not try this for awhile? (but don't pay attention to the scale because of fluctuations in water weight). Just an idea.

I would hope that your therapist would tell you to visit a professional nutritionist/dietitian.  You need a professional to sit down with you and map out a healthy eating strategy. 

You seem so overly mentally anquish about eating 2300 calories.  My goodness!  Many females eat 2300 calories on a daily basis. And it is not binging -- it is just eating healthy.

You just seem so obsessed with convincing yourself that your eating is out of control.  It isn't. Most people are hungry.  Sometimes we get really hungry.  Try spacing out 6 meals/snacks throughout the day. 

Relax.  115 and 5'4" seems rather normal and healthy, as far as I know.

Listen to your body.

Spend the time Googling to find out a healthy eating plan of protein, carbs, and healthy fats for someone your age.

Select foods from this list:  http://www.whfoods.com/foodstoc.php

If you are truly "freaking out" about thinking about food, you absolutely need to consult a professional who can best set up a good eating schedule for someone of your age, height, and weight. 

I think all of us who can should get some sort of consistent exercise.  Even doing 30 minutes 5-6 times a week can be very beneficial.

anonymous,

Thanks for the correction.  I learn something everyday, mostly to keep my silence.