Binge eating , Food addiction

[sadie786]

Has anyone recovered from a life long food addiction binge eating?

Any coping strategies?

[Grigid Moderator 4 stone]

Hi sadie786

Welcome back to the Weight Loss support community. I know you've been here before, but as it was a while ago, I thought it might be useful to give you a few sign posts to help you find your way around and link in with the parts of the forum that suit you best.

A great way to start is by having a look around the pinned posts, which include a Welcome to Newbies link, as well as FAQs

healthunlocked.com/weight-l...

You don't say in your message if you're on a weight loss journey, but if you are the weekly weigh in is a great place to find support on that journey.

There's also a very popular Daily Diary where people post what their plans are for the day, and again offer each other positive and constructive support. This is also in the pinned post section I've mentioned above.

The best way to get the most out of the forum is to have a click around until you find something you think might work for you.

Best of luck, and shout out if you need some help finding your way around

[BridgeGirl Administrator 2 stone]

Hi, I wonder if there's anything here that might help helpguide.org/articles/eati...

[EveryoneKnows 2 stone Restart May 2023]

I have a friend who said the book 'Brain over Binge' changed her life, there is also a podcast.

I think CBT/ therapy might help? Its normally advised you try not to restrict when recovering from binge eating. Good luck

[sadie786 in reply to EveryoneKnows]

I have read soo many books nothing seems to help been suffering with this eating disorder for 20 years I wonder if I will just stay like this it’s so painful wanting to stop but can’t feel like such a failure

[Wobbleless in reply to sadie786]

Hi Sadie I wonder if some general counselling may help. It sounds like identifying the why may help you avoid and understand the triggers. Sometimes we are feeding something and it’s not our bodies. Looking at what food means and your self esteem can help identify why we have coping strategies which are not always helpful. Just a thought good luck.

[SVR28 in reply to sadie786]

I hear you, I feel very similar. I know what to eat, read books, diet programmes, classes etc. but it feels like something takes over and I can't stop myself from eating. For me, it's like another person doing it. I go into a trance almost and then when the binge is over, the sensible me, the adult me sits there wondering what on earth just happened and why I ate what I ate!Guilt, self loathing follows and the cycle continues - like a hamster on a wheel and I just can't seem to get off!

I've been to counselling and I was making some progress with realising past hurts and my eating was how I learnt to deal with uncomfortable feelings rather than coping in more positive ways, but the therapist was so expensive I had to stop, which was a real shame. I was so upset about that, that it led to a massive binge

Now I'm in limbo and don't really know what I am doing but I know that I HAVE to do something. I have wasted/wasting so much of this precious life being unhappy in this body of mine, I don't want to waste anymore, but I just need to work out the tools to help me do that, which is the tricky part and where I am at right now.

But in a way I feel like I have made a leap forward just by working out that my eating is not laziness, ignorance, failure or weakness. It is a relief to know that. It's way more complicated than the old trope "move more eat less" that's rolled out.

I'm hurting and food is the way I cope - now I just need to find a new, healthier and sustainable way to cope that doesn't revert to comfort eating.

When I have bad feelings I ask myself "am I really hungry or am I sad/angry/lonely/depressed/bored/stressed?"(everyone is different but these are my triggers) I order my groceries online so I'm not tempted in shops to throw things into the trolley for a binge later. I tend to binge in secret so now when my family go out, I plan something structured to do to keep me away from the kitchen. I choose a different route home so I can't pass the corner shop, then change it again so I don't pass the coffee shop. I'm trying really hard to not turn to food and recognise what is going on before I harm through eating, stuffing down my feelings with food and eating myself into oblivion. 😞

This is a journey of self discovery, not just healthy eating, and it will take a long time to undo past habits that are no longer helpful or healthy. Just an hour at a time, forget the day, get through an hour, be mindful and really care about oneself - sounds easy, just words, but boy, is it hard to do! But worth it. You, me, us, we are worth it.

I wish I could give you an answer to your initial question and be a success story but I've just started on this journey myself.

Hopefully one day I will be able to say that I've cracked this addiction once and for all, maybe we both will! Why not? One can't be a quitter if one keeps on trying, right?

I wish you the best and hope you get some comfort in knowing you are not alone.

[casacera in reply to SVR28]

Thanks so much SVR28...# 1 for speaking from your own experience and truth not the often "we this and we that"For we are unique individuals relating to some behaviors and help and not others. #2 Bottom line, one thing that has helped me is no "Guilt, self loathing". I have compassion for others , why not myself? I work as hard as I can at this. And guilt?...given food as a baby and this struggle began for me in puberty, maybe for different reasons than yours but as one therapist told me "the brain never forgets". I never give up. Like you I can't. casacera

[sadie786]

I read that book brain over binge

[casacera]

I only speak for me and try to use words that are specific to me. I applaud and admire etc. any recovery re: food addiction. The word that best describes my physical and emotional comfort is management. I simply love ALL foods. So my word is MANAGE. For me like any disability/affliction/condition/illness recovery great! A much more reachable goal in my life and history has been finding tools for managing my addiction and part of that is helping and supporting others wherever they are with their struggle. And that's expressing my experience and truth as part of it.

[focused1 Maintainer 13kg]

I only lost weight by - if it isn't there I can't eat it . I took comfort in food . I can't say I was a binge eater in the way that it is classed as an illness but I bought a load of rubbish . Mainly at night so I joined an exercise class in the evening and now I plan to go swimming at a leisure centre. I also walk to the library - my longer route avoids the shops . Maybe have your food delivered , plan meals and only buy what you need . It is annoying as so much revolves around food . I try not to watch TV adverts too so I record my favourite must watches . For me it is all about distraction and eating 3 decent meals a day so I am not hungry . I feel some 'diets are bad as they are too low in calories , then I am hungry , then I will eat or if I have to cut out a whole food type so I balance my meals . I would rather have some mainly brown carbs but to ask me to cut them out completely makes me crave other products . This is hard , easier said than done but I feel my body easily gets used to certain foods but if I haven't got access to them then I can just about get over that hellish hour.

[petcheetah in reply to focused1]

I definitely agree with this. I tried keto but never got over the dreadful carb cravings so for me cutting out a food group doesn’t help at all.

[casacera]

Wow! What hit’s me is that even though we relate and share so much still, this problem and struggle is very individual.

[Chubster55 Visitor]

Hi Sadie. did you find help with your binge eating disorder? If so, would you please share with me what the help was and if it worked.

[Gizmocat Moderator 13kg Maintainer in reply to Chubster55]

Hello Chubster 55. You have replied to an old post. This member may not still be around so you might not get a reply.

I wonder if you are on weight loss journey? If you are we would be happy to give you more information about the forum.

If you need help regarding an eating disorder I would suggest you contact your GP for help as we are not medically qualified to advise you.

[Chubster55 Visitor in reply to Gizmocat]

That's just it. I have. Here in Mississippi resources are limited. My GP just says push back from the table. If I could do that, wouldn't talk to him about it. I'm trying to find a therapist that specializes in eating disorders is what I think I need. Have tried several that I just gave money to. Is there anything available other than I think NHL plan?

[Gizmocat Moderator 13kg Maintainer in reply to Chubster55]

We are in the UK so don't have access to information about resources in USA other than the internet which I'm sure you have already done if you have already tried some therapists.

Is there some sort of therapists register you could look at? Here in the UK you need a GP referral so I'm sorry there isn't much I can suggest to help.

There are some members here from USA so maybe someone will come along who might have some information to suggest.

[moreless Administrator 7 stone in reply to Chubster55]

This is a UK based charity that deals with eating disorders, it may give you some pointers for what to look out for closer to home. beateatingdisorders.org.uk/... luck

[Chubster55 Visitor in reply to moreless]

Thank you so much.

[Chubster55 Visitor]

Thank you so much.