Compulsive Eaters - lets end this cycle!!

[PowerWithin]

Who here is an over-eater that feels like they are allowing destruction of their bodies, and even sometimes cannot maintain control of their problem AT ALL?

My Problem is binge eating disorder; compulsive eating; food addiction. Sometimes I am inspired to improve my eating habits for an hour or two, sometimes a whole day, but soon after, I go right back to stuffing my face!

I say we change our perspectives!

First of all, hug yourself.

Second, figure out NOT ONLY your trigger foods, but all triggers! Songs, emotions, people, smells, atmospheres, etc.

Third, take it one meal at a time! From my experience, "one day at a time" absolutely doesn't work for compulsive eating. By aiming the focus on the meal, encourages a meal and not an all-day eating session. Which is a very smart start!

Fourth, I say we exercise! Who is with me? *crickets* Heh... I think I just lost half the crowd on that one. Not talking about an hour a day... not even 30 minutes. Start SLOW! Do one exercise, such as leg lifts, or jogging in place for a short amount of time each day..... then when YOU feel it is right, work your way up. You don't even have to work your way up... at least you're adding consistent movement to your body.

Another helpful thing is meal planning. Sometimes I get lazy with planning my meals. I don't feel like taking the time out to plan ahead, I would rather grab a fast burger or a box of snacks... Honestly, if food is so important, why wouldn't we take extra time just to make it special? That is why I try for 5-6 SMALL meals a day. Not even looked at as breakfast, lunch, and dinner- but rather, meal 1, meal 2, meal 3, meal 4, meal 5, and meal 6. This eliminates any room for excuses! If I oversleep one morning and miss breakfast and lunch, I can no longer decide to eat all day. I can just start meal one, no matter the time of day!

Ok, so...
1. Hug and hope!
2. Study triggers!
3. One meal at a time!
4. A little movement!

WE CAN DO IT!!!

[PowerWithin]

Originally Posted by PowerWithin

WE CAN DO IT!!!

Who is with me???

Lets encourage one another!

[mxchaos]

I'm not a compulsive overeater I suffer from anorexia but I understand your struggle with food.

My tdoc keeps reminding me that its not about the weight it's about becoming healthy. I'm glad you started this thread and are challenging others to be healthy with you.

I'll add my healthy start to the day with some swimming follewed by eating something healthy.

good luck

[PowerWithin]

Word! Swimming sounds good, actually! Thanks to the YMCA.

Good luck to you too!

[RRecovery]

There are page after page here of people hugging themselves and each other--and a day later they post how they are still struggling with the disease of food addiction. No quick fix here. I surrendered 2 1/2 years ago and joined a 12 step fellowship FAA. Then I started working a program of recovery. Elsewhere on this page there is a thread on Food Addicts Anonymous. It's not for everyone. Just for people who have tried every shortcut, every diet, every latest fad and finally have come to the conclusion that they are addicts. AND there is no easy way out.

[tuffenuff]

Nice post! OK I will join in on that...starting Sunday Feb 1st ( I have an evebnt on Saturday and I just don't sdee it happening before that).

I have just recently come to realize that I have a problem with food. When I was younger, my metabolism must've been pretty great, but now, the past five years it has about dissapeared and I need to change my eating habits.

[Bamboozle]

Originally Posted by PowerWithin

Second, figure out NOT ONLY your trigger foods, but all triggers! Songs, emotions, people, smells, atmospheres, etc.

What do you do when pretty much EVERYTHING is a trigger?


Hello, everyone. I'm Bamboozle...I spend much of my time elsewhere in SR dealing with my alcohol problems.

I think that food is a much more serious addiction for me than alcohol.

The alcohol is bad...but I'm finding it easier to leave that behind than eat healthy and in moderation.

I remember watching a show about this guy who was severely addicted to food...and he said something (not an exact quote here) that stuck with me: 'Could you imagine telling a cocaine addict that in order to fix the addiction, he/she has to take a little bit of cocaine everyday? That's what dealing with food addiction is like.'

I was floored. Obviously, the two addictions are not the same…and I’m not trying to argue at all which is more difficult to deal with….What struck me was the absolute absurdity of having to take some of the very thing that is a part of the problem everyday.

I will just eat and eat and eat. Usually it’s bad food, but in the rare moments I’m eating good things, I cannot stop eating until I’m bursting full. It’s a nightmare. I just want to eat like a “normal” person.

I’ll try to hang around this forum more often…I need to be here, but this makes me upset. It’s hard enough to try to beat alcohol…I know I need to conquer food as well, but how do I do that without becoming overwhelmed?

ARGH!

[ZombieWife]

I'm posting here. I'm usually on the friends/family members of substance abusers (husband is a recovering drug addict.)

And this will be one of the first times that I've really laid things on the line about my own addiction. I think I've known for some time that I've had a food addiction. The more I read about the addiction of my husband, the more I see signs of food abuse in myself (not sure if that's what it is called: food abuse? It sounds so odd.)

I'm tired of hurting myself with food. Sometimes, I feel like I eat so much that it hurts. Then, I'll eat again an hour later when I'm not even hungry.

I will go on a diet for a week or so. Then, I'll have a day when I binge and eat everything I can get my hands on. Usually, this ends up in me throwing it back up. I'll binge/purge for 1-2 days, then forget the diet and start eating whatever I want again.

It's the same cycle, over and over. It's like, I can't get the food out of me fast enough when I go through that type of thing. The pressure of dieting becomes so much that when I fail, I have to "make it even" in a sense, and the feeling of emptiness in my stomach is comforting.

I've never told anyone about my bulimia (even though it only happens about a dozen times a year, I still know it's bulimia and it could get worse.)

So, tomorrow I'm going to get help through my college--get some therapy going. I've never done this before (for an eating disorder.) I get 5 visit free then 10$ a visit after. I need help and I'm willing to do it.

Have any of you been through therapy or such? I'm wondering what to expect. My biggest fear is that I will get a therapist who will sit there and say nothing. I feel like I need hand-holding because I am VERY apprehensive about this and afraid at the same time.

Would appreciate any kind of input/advice/words.

Thank you for reading. I want to break free from this. I hate being this person who has no control over food. I just want to be normal, just a normal person who eats in a normal way. Why is that so hard?

Sometimes, I get so mad at my husband because he can avoid his drug. He distances himself from it and from people who use drugs. I have to look at food every day. I try to imagine him only using a "sensible amount of meth" every day (as opposed to being abusive toward it.) How silly does that sound? A heroin addict only using a "healthy" amount? It's not fair that we have to face this three times a day, every day, for the rest of our lives. I'm so angry about that. I know it's just me lashing out, but I'm resentful. I don't want to be, but I am.

Anyway, that's it for now. I will let you know how tomorrow goes when I go in to talk to the office about an appointment.

[Done_With_It]

Would appreciate any kind of input/advice/words.

Thank you for reading. I want to break free from this. I hate being this person who has no control over food. I just want to be normal, just a normal person who eats in a normal way. Why is that so hard?

Having struggled with both ana and B for most of my life, I can say kicking meth was a piece of cake compared to making myself eat. I was never a binger but I just hate food. Hate it inside of my body. Period. Amen.

Been through Treatment, Years of Therapy, You name it.

The one thing that is so true is It's not about What your eating,
it's about what's eating you.
That's why it's so hard.

Plus society, ads, etc. puts a lot of messages into our head.

Society does not tell us we need drugs, but it does tell us we
need to be thin.

That's me anyway.

{{{Zombie}}} and everyone.... :ghug

[PowerWithin]

Originally Posted by Bamboozle

What do you do when pretty much EVERYTHING is a trigger?

You give up ALL control to your Higher Power. Easier said than done, I am still working on that.

Originally Posted by Bamboozle

I will just eat and eat and eat. Usually it’s bad food, but in the rare moments I’m eating good things, I cannot stop eating until I’m bursting full. It’s a nightmare. I just want to eat like a “normal” person.

I’ll try to hang around this forum more often…I need to be here, but this makes me upset. It’s hard enough to try to beat alcohol…I know I need to conquer food as well, but how do I do that without becoming overwhelmed?

I am the same way, I will eat like a fool. It doesn't matter if I am hungry or not. I've often said I just want to eat like a normal person. But maybe that is the problem? What is my idea of a "normal" persons eating habits? Most likely they are healthy sized people... and so because I am not, I get discouraged and subconsciously think that I won't eat like a "normal" person because I don't look like the normal person. You must find a plan that works for you, and we have to stop comparing ourselves to the "normal" person.... The normal person has adapted to their own individual eating habits since they were young! We can't be them, because they are all different; We just haven't found our individual healthy way about this!

For me, I feel overwhelmed sometimes because I quit smoking, and now have realized I have a food addiction. The lack of nicotine pushes me to eat anyway, but on top of that, you add the addiction... talk about overwhelming! Don't look at them as two separate things. Look at them as one addiction. Even though you have to face food at LEAST once a day, and you can live without one sip of alcohol, just look at both addictions as one. You have the same goal in each case: to eliminate your compulsive behavior for these things; ultimately to conquer what is conquering you. If you look at them as 2 addictions that overpower you, you might as well give up now.

I am proud of you for facing your problems and looking for solutions.

[PowerWithin]

Originally Posted by ZombieWife

I'm tired of hurting myself with food. Sometimes, I feel like I eat so much that it hurts. Then, I'll eat again an hour later when I'm not even hungry.

I will go on a diet for a week or so. Then, I'll have a day when I binge and eat everything I can get my hands on. Usually, this ends up in me throwing it back up. I'll binge/purge for 1-2 days, then forget the diet and start eating whatever I want again.

It's the same cycle, over and over. It's like, I can't get the food out of me fast enough when I go through that type of thing. The pressure of dieting becomes so much that when I fail, I have to "make it even" in a sense, and the feeling of emptiness in my stomach is comforting.

I've never told anyone about my bulimia (even though it only happens about a dozen times a year, I still know it's bulimia and it could get worse.)

So, tomorrow I'm going to get help through my college--get some therapy going. I've never done this before (for an eating disorder.) I get 5 visit free then 10$ a visit after. I need help and I'm willing to do it.

Have any of you been through therapy or such? I'm wondering what to expect. My biggest fear is that I will get a therapist who will sit there and say nothing. I feel like I need hand-holding because I am VERY apprehensive about this and afraid at the same time.

Would appreciate any kind of input/advice/words.

Thank you for reading. I want to break free from this. I hate being this person who has no control over food. I just want to be normal, just a normal person who eats in a normal way. Why is that so hard?

Sometimes, I get so mad at my husband because he can avoid his drug. He distances himself from it and from people who use drugs. I have to look at food every day. I try to imagine him only using a "sensible amount of meth" every day (as opposed to being abusive toward it.) How silly does that sound? A heroin addict only using a "healthy" amount? It's not fair that we have to face this three times a day, every day, for the rest of our lives. I'm so angry about that. I know it's just me lashing out, but I'm resentful. I don't want to be, but I am.

Anyway, that's it for now. I will let you know how tomorrow goes when I go in to talk to the office about an appointment.

First of all, how did it go?

I feel your pain, and I am the same way, except I have not dared to puke anything back up. This thought has been lingering on my mind for a while now....... I know that would be a step in the completely wrong direction. And all I want to do is move forward with this, not back. That mindset is the only thing keeping me from screwing up. My body usually hurts so much that I feel like if I don't puke, I will explode. The answer lies within getting rid of the cause of the pain (excessive eating), not ending the pain by puking.

I am SO proud of you for taking the step to see someone for help. If your fear is getting someone who will sit and not speak, let them know right off the bat, and say if you will not be vocal with me, I will seek other help- not being rude, just honest. Surely if you say something like that, you will get the proper care. Let me know how your visits go! You can PM me if you don't feel comfortable with speaking about it out here.

I will be praying for you AND your husband. I wish the best for you and your recovery!

[PowerWithin]

Originally Posted by Done_With_It

Plus society, ads, etc. puts a lot of messages into our head.

Society does not tell us we need drugs, but it does tell us we
need to be thin.

This is exactly why me and society have never gotten along! It's sad but true. You have to search deep within yourself- discover you- and never lose focus of what you've learned about yourself, beyond society, if you ever want to overcome ANY obstacle!

[Done_With_It]

[QUOTE=PowerWithin;2101644]This is exactly why me and society have never gotten along! It's sad but true. You have to search deep within yourself- discover you- and never lose focus of what you've learned about yourself, beyond society, if you ever want to overcome ANY obstacle![/QUOTE

and never lose focus of what you've learned about yourself,

Never losing focus of yourself (myself) and living in Hollywood? Those two
together? I'm sure are somehow possible? I just don't know if I'll
find it in my lifetime, lol

But you are so right!!

[Bamboozle]

Hello, everyone. I'm not doing well today (in terms of food).

Sorry to the guys reading this, but the closer I get to my monthly time, the worse the consuming gets.



Eating food is like breathing...


I'm not super stressed out today, but I am thinking about how I have a crappy go-nowhere-job and piling bills...it's enough to make me want to pull my hair out (or eat a box of ice cream sandwiches).

I just hope I can get through all of this medical crap (hopefully it's nothing serious) and work out a payment schedule so I can get my butt to a psychiatrist. I honestly think that's the only thing that can help me. It feels like my mind is sick and I just want it to get better. I can't do this by myself. I just need to hang on a bit longer.

[Done_With_It]

Originally Posted by Bamboozle

Hello, everyone. I'm not doing well today (in terms of food).

Sorry to the guys reading this, but the closer I get to my monthly time, the worse the consuming gets.



Eating food is like breathing...


I'm not super stressed out today, but I am thinking about how I have a crappy go-nowhere-job and piling bills...it's enough to make me want to pull my hair out (or eat a box of ice cream sandwiches).

I just hope I can get through all of this medical crap (hopefully it's nothing serious) and work out a payment schedule so I can get my butt to a psychiatrist. I honestly think that's the only thing that can help me. It feels like my mind is sick and I just want it to get better. I can't do this by myself. I just need to hang on a bit longer.

What about seeing someone through the state if you are not able to afford it right now? I don't have insurance so I go through the state. It was a pain to go through the tape work, but worth it in the end.

As to the ice cream sandwiches, what about doing something healthy for yourself instead? Eat something healthy, Fruit, Vegetables, or what about those edamales beans? Low in calories, good for you, and take a long time to eat, and going for a walk, and/or getting a manicure, etc.

You can take care of yourself in a good way instead of a bad way to get rid of your stress~ :ghug

[Neagrm]

OK PW, I'll at least commit to some movement/exercise of some sort today. Does even only 5 minutes count? I'm going to say it does. I'm going to shovel snow outside for a bit, for one thing, probably ten minutes.

I intended to walk daily 1/2 hour on the treadmill, but haven't been able to stay with it due to other health issues. I need to get back to it; found it so helpful to listen to books on tape while I walked and did well for a couple weeks. Now need to wrk back up to it.

I will eat a decent breakfast; probably double fiber english muffin with peanut butter and jelly and green tea. Then my goal is to not eat any sweets for the remainder of the morning. At noon I will pat myself on the back for doing this. Then I must take it one minute at a time forthe rest of the day because that is the hardest part for me.

Thanks for your post. I'm with ya!

[TryingisDying]

Originally Posted by Bamboozle

Hello, everyone. I'm not doing well today (in terms of food).

Sorry to the guys reading this, but the closer I get to my monthly time, the worse the consuming gets.



Eating food is like breathing...


I'm not super stressed out today, but I am thinking about how I have a crappy go-nowhere-job and piling bills...it's enough to make me want to pull my hair out (or eat a box of ice cream sandwiches).

I just hope I can get through all of this medical crap (hopefully it's nothing serious) and work out a payment schedule so I can get my butt to a psychiatrist. I honestly think that's the only thing that can help me. It feels like my mind is sick and I just want it to get better. I can't do this by myself. I just need to hang on a bit longer.

I find that my PMS magnfies (SP) my character defects. Im angry, no patience, ect. My sponsor was telling me to write about my feelings instead of taking them out on people and to stay abstinet(food plan) and to write about my hunger instead of eating. Im getting better at keeping my mouth shut when I have PMS lol but then I find I want to eat.....Sooooooo im going to write about my feelings instead of eating over them....You are never alone!

[Cathy31]

Thanks for the ESH guys. I had a my wisdom teeth taken out so no appetite, no food cravings and I'm only eating healthy stuff for sustenance not enjoyment...eating to live not living to eat. It feels great. I hope this can be the start of a big turning point for me in terms of how I approach my sugar addiction and eating in general. With my mouth like this there's very little I CAN eat, however it made me think of how much divine stuff we can eat in moderation ... for me, not sugar, but there is lots of lovely other food and I find that for me if I stick to savoury I tend not to 'binge' So it's been a real eye opener. And of course this comes after much praying to my HP over the past few weeks and months as I am really powerless over my addiction to sugar and generally bad things in my diet> Today I can see the positive in my addiction to sugar and alcohol. there IS a solution!
thanks everyone, the hope and sharing is great.
Cathy31
x

[girlontherocks]

Cathy... I really love that "Eating to live not living to eat".

That motto has helped me in the past maintain a balanced, healthy food intake!!! And oh the freedom.. the freedom to enjoy life in all it's textures and colors... Have a great day!

[Cathy31]

Originally Posted by girlontherocks

And oh the freedom.. the freedom to enjoy life in all it's textures and colors... Have a great day!

That is so true!!! Thanks girl and have a super day too!

Cathy31
x

[Bamboozle]

Originally Posted by TryingisDying

I find that my PMS magnfies (SP) my character defects. Im angry, no patience, ect. My sponsor was telling me to write about my feelings instead of taking them out on people and to stay abstinet(food plan) and to write about my hunger instead of eating. Im getting better at keeping my mouth shut when I have PMS lol but then I find I want to eat.....Sooooooo im going to write about my feelings instead of eating over them....You are never alone!

That's a pretty good idea. Thanks. I hope I can stick with it.

[TryingisDying]

I did really well this month with it...just kept it right near me so I could write at any time about what was going on. it really did help...