Binge eating

[JoWilkes1978]

So does anyone else binge eat? I'm always starting a healthy eating plan on a Monday and by Tuesday I've gone off plan by having a few naughty bit's then I just give up and binge that evening and think 'draw a line' tomorrow morning but I never do! It's like if I don't touch any sweet stuff I'm ok but once I do I can't stop! I'm 40, 5ft 4 tall and around 12 stone 10 I think? My youngest son and last child is 3 so the baby fat joke is waring a bit thin 😣 Any tips?

[Bungiecat]

Hi I am 43 and have binge eating problems unfortunately I cannot blame mine on baby weight I wish I could my weight is all self inflicted hope you and me can support each other I have not got height on my side I am 4 ft11 and 11 stone something and have a BMI of 31.2 Gail

[JoWilkes1978 in reply to Bungiecat]

Yes that would be fantastic to have some support! I'm so annoyed with myself as I've lost weight before in the past following a healthy eating plan but I've just got no inspiration anymore 😣

[Bungiecat in reply to JoWilkes1978]

I know what you feel like I find now that I cannot eat three meals a day I have been having yoghurt shakes for two meals and normal meal at night. I too have once been at my lowest weight which was 9 stone 7 my heaviest was 13 stone 7 so I guess I am somewhere in between Gail

[JoWilkes1978 in reply to Bungiecat]

I managed to get to 9 stone 3 from 11 stone in 3 months on weight watchers after the birth of my now 7 year old, which is in the healthy range for me and again after my now 5 year old but after the birth of my 3 year old I've just been 'trying' on and off and actually put on another 6lb in the 6 week summer holidays!!! I am going to get this weekend over with and start a fresh on Monday. I'm going to use the knowledge I gained over the years and do it by myself instead of paying a monthly fee and weigh in on a Friday morning at my local Boots store using their 70p machine. I have 2 hours to myself on a Wednesday evening and Sunday 12 until 7 so I really need to use this time to do some kind of exercise, I think I'm going to dig my bike out and give it a service and go out on that for a few hours on a Sunday. I just hate doing things alone but I guess I will get used to it 😊

[Zest]

Hi Jo,

Welcome to the forum, and it's great that you've already found some support already. Have a look around, and see what interests you - there are lots of pinned posts and also Topics.

Wishing you a great weekend.

Zest

[Zest]

p.s. You may also find this HU community helpful, as it has lots of group activities relating to weight loss plus weigh-ins as well - all are free and very supportive. It's the NHS weight loss community:

healthunlocked.com/nhsweigh...

Zest

[JoWilkes1978 in reply to Zest]

Anything has got to be better than paying over 20 pound a month for a plan I keep failing on! Thanks ☺

[Zest in reply to JoWilkes1978]

Then you can spend that money on something you enjoy/want instead of on a weight loss program - much nicer!

[grace111]

hi Jo its great the you'v come to the forum as you will get plenty ideas of good healthy food recipes and another good thing is getting support from people at least you know that your not alone and keeping in touch with others also helps us to stick to our good healthy eating. i'v changed my diet since coming on here but i still have got to control my eating as i want to eat eat eat even the healthy foods, i find i still have got to control my eating and eat smaller portions. I thought that now that im eating healthy food i can eat huge amounts. welcome Jowilkes

[JoWilkes1978 in reply to grace111]

Thank you Grace! I've got myself a smaller dinner plate and also a smaller bowl so hopefully my meals will look like a banquet! Fingers crossed ☺

[grace111 in reply to JoWilkes1978]

thanks for making me laugh xoxo

[JoWilkes1978 in reply to grace111]

Well if we don't laugh about it we will cry! 😉 Xx

[donttrustaskinnycook]

I have found in the past that my binging happened when I restricted eating 'naughty' and called these types of foods 'naughty'. In my head I had ruined my healthy eating plan if I ate them, causing me to give up and binge. This would then make me try and cut that food out my diet again, causing guilt if I ate it and more binging again!

I have found that by allowing myself to eat these types of food I don't binge anymore...I have nothing to feel guilty about and I haven't ruined my plan because I'm 'allowed' to eat them.

To give you a run down of my past week

Mon-weds - ate probably 100% healthy Whole Foods for 3 days with no treats (HOWEVER, I didn't feel the need to binge because I knew what was coming up later in the week which I had allowed)

Thurs - breakfast and lunch I ate completely healthily. Dinner, went to a baby shower and ate the food provided and a slice of cake.

Fri - my sister is visiting me for the weekend so we went out for lunch and dinner. Ate dessert.

Sat- out for lunch and dinner again with alcohol and bread at dinner, Also bought an ice cream to eat around 5pm

Today - we are going to eat paella for lunch before taking my sister to the airport.

Next week mon-fri I will eat healthily again...I don't know about the weekend yet (depends what my plans are ;-))

[JoWilkes1978 in reply to donttrustaskinnycook]

Oh I know exactly what you are saying and I never restrict myself, I used to write a meal plan for everyday and allow myself a small pudding like banana with half a small pot of low fat custard or a options hot chocolate with a chocolate rice cake, it's just me, it's all me, I became so weak and started to comfort eat back when I was going through a bad time. I go to the cupboard and instead of going for my treats I will go for the kid's packlunch chocolate tub and it starts from there! If I don't touch it I'm ok but once I eat a mini pack of chocolate fingers I then have a penguin then a mini pack of party rings then a one stick twix and I feel better eating it but crappy afterwards 😣

[JoWilkes1978 in reply to JoWilkes1978]

Skinnycook, are you on a weight loss mission or to maintain? Did you lose any weight during that week?

[donttrustaskinnycook in reply to JoWilkes1978]

I am now maintaining, However I was also eating like this whilst I was losing...because let's be honest ...life without chocolate is a miserable life 😜

[donttrustaskinnycook in reply to donttrustaskinnycook]

Different approaches work for different people. I do also find that if I want chocolate I will ENJOY it. I used to grab the whole pack and stuff my face, lose control and not know when to stop. Now I make myself a cup of tea, take a biscuit and eat slowly enjoying the taste. I used to eat without focusing on the taste and just had my hand going from my mouth back to food back to my mouth...without actually enjoying what I was eating. Now I try and focus on enjoying the mouthful in my mouth (and swallowing it before putting more in!!) haha.

[JoWilkes1978 in reply to donttrustaskinnycook]

Exactly! I just need to change my relationship with food, like you say actually taste it and enjoy it rather than shoving it in like it's the done thing 🙈 Food is essential to survive not there to endlessly stuff and everything is ok in moderation including chocolate ☺

[donttrustaskinnycook in reply to JoWilkes1978]

I think nearly all of us can relate on here we have all been there with binging. Let us know how you get on and share any tips you find which work

[JoWilkes1978 in reply to donttrustaskinnycook]

Will do! Thanks ☺

[Jof84]

Hello Jo. With regards to the binging does it happen at particular times. Is something triggering the urges? Moods or being alone? Our could be related to emotional eating. I have this issue. If you can find the cause if there is one you can try to work towards resolving that. I k know it's easier said than done when you have kids bit not having junk in the house means took can't eat it also.

[JoWilkes1978 in reply to Jof84]

Yeah I've had a few issues but I'm going to put all my energy and emotions in to loosing weight now ☺ I've got 4 boy's so there will never be no sweets or chocolate in the house, they shouldn't go without a treat, it's down to me to stay away from it now. I'm just tucking in to salad, boiled eggs and zero dressing 😋

[Jof84 in reply to JoWilkes1978]

Well done. Having that positive attitude is a big step. I'm not sure how true it is, I've heard a craving last 3 minutes so when you have it change what your doing get up so 3 minutes of horse work, make a tea go to the loo anything to change the pattern till the craving passes. I'm still battlingwith my issues and find it difficult to keep away from food I shouldn't eat. Once you start to see a change out does become easier

[JoWilkes1978 in reply to Jof84]

Ah that's a good thing to know. I'm just going to crack on with my ironing and have a big glass of water to sip on between now and dinner time! I'm very determined to do this 🙂

[Freesia3]

Hi Jo, I recognise the problem very well but I think you have hit the nail on the head yourself by saying that you can’t stop once you start on the sweet stuff. I know it’s not easy but surely the solution is not to start in the first place. I have been on a low carb diet for a while which works really well and I have lost my cravings for sweet things. Why don’t you try it, it might work for you as well. Good luck 😊

[JoWilkes1978 in reply to Freesia3]

Yes exactly that! I need to have the strength not to touch it. Thank you 🙂

[Freesia3 in reply to JoWilkes1978]

The longer you can resist it the easier it gets, promise! By the way, very appropriate picture even if a bit horrible at first glance 🤢

[JoWilkes1978 in reply to Freesia3]

Yes that's how I feel at the minute. I've had it in my photos for months and now I want to be the lady climbing out eventually ☺

[poseymint]

I totally understand about binging on sweets! I am out of control around chocolate. There have been studies done about the addictive qualities of refined sugar. It does give a comfort and a sense of well-being but that good feeling is so short lived! I quickly want more and more. Where other foods like fruit, vegs and meat are satisfying, sugar stimulates my appetite. I hit near 100kg in 2015 and one day felt bad enough to not eat sugar. It really only takes 3 days to get over the attachment, I don't crave it at all now. BUT that said, people push sweets on me all the time so resisting over time and through the holidays does take courage. Being off sugar for 3 years has been the best thing I've ever done. I've lost 20kg but even more I feel so much more calm and empowered- and even more present and loving. Do it while you are young! I am 66 and it took me that long and multiple health problems to accept that sugar didn't work for me. Its such a gift you can give to yourself- good luck on your journey. Enjoy your beautiful self!

[JoWilkes1978 in reply to poseymint]

Thank you for your comment. I'm not sure I want to go totally sugar free, I believe everything in moderation is ok. I had a options fudge chocolate last night and 3 biscuits with it instead of 2 packets of crisps and an endless supply of chocolate so I'm happy with that. I've lost 2 and a half stone before whilst having some treats but like I say, in moderation 🙂

[elliebath in reply to poseymint]

Well said about sugar addiction ! I agree with you, once you cut it out ( or at least cut down) your sweet tooth goes. Nowadays my taste buds get far more excited about a bag of nuts than a bag of sweets.

[andyswarbs]

jo, imo binge eating is a lifetstyle caused by calorie counting. You try so hard to lose weight that then your body becomes both calorie and nutrition deficient. When that happens it will do anything to right that balance - thus one a moresel of sweet salty and fatty foods pass your lips you will do anthing to get more until you are totally satiated. This is true for you, me and every human - and indeed animal.

The trick is to find a way of getting a steady supply of calories and nutrition for your body and lifestyle. Fortunately one exists and that is a whole food plant based approach. The more you head towards that kind of lifestyle the less and less you will binge eat, guaranteed.

[Bungiecat in reply to andyswarbs]

I am trying to kick my habit I have chocolate in the freezer so that I can only eat a small amount this was advised by s very good friend who list over 8 stone doing this Gail

[mysmugcat]

Yes. I was anorexic but even then had binge episodes. I am more a normal weight now but still struggle at times. I can eat so much chocolate.

[JoWilkes1978 in reply to mysmugcat]

I'm glad you managed to overcome your illness. I guess we all have a binge now and again. Food has a lot to answer for!

[Bungiecat]

Hi jo hope you are doing okay today how is the binge eating I managed a whole day yesterday without buying chocolate which was a big thing for me I also know that I need to show my doctor on Friday that I am at least trying to loose weight otherwise I may end up on meds to stop me from eating large amounts Gail

[JoWilkes1978 in reply to Bungiecat]

Hi Gail, yes I've done really good since I started on Sunday 😊 Had a bit of a headache today and was quite shakey this evening but it was quite late when I had dinner so I guess it's because I haven't had much sugary things and also I'm actually hungry at dinner time now! Had my mum and sisters and daughters around today and my daughter brought 2 boxes of Tesco mini doughnuts and I didn't have any! And check you out! Well done you! To some that might be nothing but for you a massive achievement! I got told it's 12 weeks until Christmas so I'm going to be lighter by Christmas, I'm determined ☺

[Bungiecat in reply to JoWilkes1978]

Go for a pound a week you might even loose a stone by Christmas I should find out on Friday what weight I should be to be in my healthy range then I intend to make a goal as to how much I need by Christmas but also whether I should go for a short term goal by the 13th of November when I finish the twelve week food and diet plan Gail

[Bungiecat in reply to Bungiecat]

Hi been to doctors got to go for blood tests on Monday the doctor was not really concerned with my weight and told me to carry on with the last six weeks of the 12 week plan Gail

[JoWilkes1978 in reply to Bungiecat]

That's some good news then ☺

[Bungiecat in reply to JoWilkes1978]

Thanks yes my only worry now is whether they may find that I am diabetic but I guess I will not know until the test is done and I get the results sometime in the coming weeks Gail

[JoWilkes1978]

Yes exactly, although I hope to lose more some weeks that I exercise. I'm thinking of going out on my bike when I get the opportunity as that's a good all rounder for exercise and heart. If you type in NHS Bmi calculator on the Web you can put in sex, height, age, weight and it will tell you what weight range you should be! That's how I found mine

Jo