once you binge it's SO hard to stop...HELP!

So, the other day I had an awesome victory on the scale when it said 165.8, which is the lowest weight I've gotten to so far, and it means I've officially lost 7 pounds this summer. For some reason, instead of this motivating me to keep going and lose even more, all I wanted to do was binge and basically reverse the whole thing. I just wanted to reward myself with a lot of food that has been "forbidden" to me over the past months...so I did...and then I thought well, it was only one night, I'm just going to get right back on the horse tomorrow. Nope. I binged again the next day, and by binge I mean going to the grocery store specifically to buy ice cream, cookies, chips, etc... and go home and eat literally all of it.

I've already gone over my maitenance calorie limit for today too, so that's the third day in on this, and I don't know why I can't stop and why I chose the best time ever in my weight loss to say "what the hell" and binge like a crazy person. I'm not even PMSing. I don't feel like working out, I don't feel motivated, and all I can think about is (already!) what I might eat for dinner tonight, even though I'm stuffed. I just don't know how to get back on track right now and I feel like my relationship with food is so unhealthy and when I start to eat healthy and do well I just start to think about food even more and then something like this happens all over again. I really need some advice...

I wish I could tell you a magical cure, but alas, there is none.  I find too that once I start binging, it's really hard to stop.  Really Hard.  Once I start, it's like my body says "YIPPEE!!  I can eat whatever I want" and then suddenly there is no end to my hunger.  I'm literally hungry all the time. 

The only advice I have is this.  Start to eat right and DRINK WATER right now.  Not later, not tomorrow morning, not Monday morning.  Now.  I know it's easier said than done, but putting it off is only making things worse.  I find the same thing with working out, if I work out, even if I'm not motivated to work out, once I do, it's not as hard the next time.  I try to use my famous stubborn streak for good instead of evil.  You can do this, you've lost 7 pounds this summer already!!  So start with small steps, go for a walk around the block, and choose a piece of fruit over the ice cream, then celebrate your success rather than dwelling on the past!

Om my gosh! I am so feeling ya. I've been on a month long binge and gain back 9 pounds!!  I FINALLY just stopped. I removed all temptation, and just went back to my routine. I didn't think I was ever going to stop bingeing. I realized that my birthday is in 2 weeks, so I had better knock it off. I just went back to my routine this week and have lost 6 of the 9 in a few short days. so I'm thinking the majority of the gain was from water weight and the other 3 are actually "weight" gain. I'm confident that I can get these last 3 pounds off by my birthday.  I'm only a third to where I want to be, so it's going to be a long road for me.

I hope you find the trigger you need to put an end to the bingeing!

Good Luck!!

So, this has been a learning experience.  For me, I know that there are some foods that are hard to eat just one of.  The pleasure of eating one can be outweighed by the nagging and unpleasant inner battle to have more.  It is easier not to have the first one.  I am actually good at sticking with my daily calories... I just dislike the inner battle.  If you have one, are feeling tempted for more, try brushing your teeth really well. I think the desire for more is something about the aftertaste.

I have experienced this binging and lack of control, but only when I did WW back in the 80s... back then it was pretty low in carbs, and I supplemented heavily with artificial sweeteners. I have since done way better just counting calories. I choose the foods I want (more carbs), just within my calorie limit. I also rarely use artificial sweeteners now. I seem to do way better if I choose the healthiest possible foods... nothing processed, diet or otherwise.  In a good way, food gets very "utilitarian" for me.

I don't know the words that will make you flip that switch in your head to get back on track.  Maybe think about where you want to be in six months or a year... if you don't get back on track, another year will slip by without progress.  Self control, self discipline, will power is a funny thing. You might think you don't have it, but I guarentee you do.  If the stakes were high enough, you could do it. For example, if the consequence for going over your calorie limit was getting a finger chopped off, within a few days (and a few lost fingers) you would decide you could stick to your diet. So you do have the will power, you just have to utilize it.

WOW.  I just found this site yesterday and I can SOOOO relate to these posts.  I don't have the answer but trust me, you are NOT alone.  It's definately an emotional thing on my end.  I am coming to terms with the fact that food is not my friend, it is strictly a resource to get the energy I need to function...not to be used as a reward, a comfort, etc.  Yes, I know easier said than done!!  The only advice I can give is try to think about how you feel AFTER the binge next time you feel the urge.  Think about how sick and depressed it makes you and remember that we're ALL IN THIS TOGETHER!  :)

Oh yeah, this is such a big issue for me, too.  I think part of the problem is our tendency to see food as a reward.  I have to make a conscious effort to NOT say to myself, "If I exercise every day this week, I get a bar of chocolate." Have to get out of that mindset!

The other part of it, I think, is seeing your new, healthy habits as a true lifestyle change, not a diet.  A diet is something that ends, and you go back to your old ways.  If you want to lose the weight, and keep it off forever, you can't ever go back to the old ways.  Some big mental hurdles to overcome.  Good luck! :-)

OK i have had HUGE binging problems and I'd always get comments like " wow you eat too much, how are u possibly losing weight" and it was true, i would lose 10 pounds then have 7 cookies, a bag of popcorn, candy..it was bad lol. but then i realized that I had to do this for myself. I wasnt going to lie to myself and cut out everything. Try keeping one sin food that doesn't wreck you. Do you like fruits? they are a healthy sweet, try reaching for that. Or maybe factor in low fat bars and when u want another one just take a few minutes before running back to the kitchen. You'll think about it. and im sure ull leave it behind.

Its a hard thing, but try to think of that body you want whenever you wanna reach for the bad stuff

Why is it when you hit the lowest # on the scale that you think its ok to eat more than normal? It may not be things I can not have.. I just all of the sudden feel HUNGRIER ? I havent had this happen for awhile, but I do know that feeling!!! Its like all of that work is now sitting in GUILT! Walk away!!!! Its goes away!

And what also works for me is staying OUT of the house, but away from any shopping centers with food courts lol

lmao!  my advice is stop eating crap.

you think its over?  its not.  its a life style unless you want your fat to come back.  There's no... im going to stay this weight forever unless you maintain it.

calorie in calorie out.   make your choice.

Vudoo - you are correct, it is a lifestyle change but i *completely* understand where everyone else is coming from.

I stepped on the scale today and weighed 3lbs less than my last weigh in and I have been hungrier all day today than I normally am.  But i'm sticking to it - and laying off the snacks!

My friend recently lost 42lbs over about a year's span.  She, instead of rewarding herself with forbidden food, rewarded herself with a "goal charm."  Every so many lbs she losts, she would buy herself a charm for a bracelet she purchased at the beginning of her weight loss.  They were inexpensive so it wasn't bank breaking but it was a simple daily reminder of her success that she wore.

I have just started my lifestyle change this week and I'm considering doing the same concept my friend did.  I made a chart of how many lbs to lose before my next "reward."  It may not be the right way for motivation but it helps at the start!

Me too. Worked HARD for one month and got to my lowest in 2 yrs, of 186.  But I could feel in the back of my mind a hunger for substantial food, a casserole or chicken pot pie or something really good.  I wasn't thinking about it, but I could tell the thought was lurking.

Woke up last weekend, started eating and didn't stop for 3 days and gained 7 pounds.  THEN, in the back of my mind was the fact that I wasn't any happier, in fact sad, I ruined my hard work, and woke up the 4th day back on track.

It was like I had a multiple personality take over for 3 days.  A baad personality.

I am keeping a log of how long it lasted, so I know if it happens again.

What is it about getting to your lowest, then blowing it?  I am now trying to lose 4 pounds of binge weight..........then will start fresh.  I'm thinking that to get to my lowest of 186, I had denied myself too much, which caused the craving. 

Also I heard a nutrionist say that white flour can cause cravings.

if worse comes to worse....spray your food with bug spray or some other poisonous spray ;-)

But really, you just need to work on it.  You know that you don't want to continue doing this to yourself., which is good that you've come to realize it. It's just the demons in your head that make you think that you need food to make you feel good, which is not true! Maybe when your back on your routine you should allow yourself a treat now and then.  So you don't feel so restricted. If your not sure if you want to eat something, take a walk with your thoughts and decide after if you really want to go out and get it. And make that treat a special one so you enjoy it to the fullest.

Goodluck! there's no mountain that you cannot climb.