Eating Disorders Support Group
Eating disorders are marked by an obsessive need to control the intake and/or purging of food. This community is dedicated to those struggling on the road to recovery. Join to discuss your experience with others and find support. Get advice, ask questions, and meet others who are going through similar struggles.
I am really struggling here and I don't know if this is common. I eat a specific number of calories each day but I make sure to exercise each calorie away. Because I eat regularly, I don't get really hungry but when I do, I have been chewing and spitting my food. This really seems to help the "craving" for food without adding calories to my body. The problem is that I am doing it A LOT! Saturday night I c/s for about 3 hours straight. Sunday my jaw hurt so bad that my bite was off. This still doesn't stop me, I just go for softer foods. I try not to justify it, but I only c/s healthier foods, organic/natural foods, raw nuts, cereal, etc. No "junk" or gluten just in case some of it does get absorbed into my body. I am spending a ton of money on food, just to spit out. How do I stop this terrible, gross behavior? Can anyone relate?
It's really bad for you, your jaw especially. Plus your stomach. Think about it. When food enters your mouth the brain signals the stomach to "get ready" for food. It produces acid to aid in digestion. Well, then that food never comes. What happens to the acid? Mhmm. Chronic c/s can cause ulcers, especially if no food is ever injested. I know you think you are "cheating the system" but you're only going to hurt yourself, just with any other ED behavior. By the way, even if you c/s healthy foods 25-50% of the calories are absorbed depending on the food item regardless.
With that over...I used to c/s but it was only junk food. So I solved that and emptied the 100's of candy bars I had. I also just stopped buying and being around donuts and other triggering foods like that. What you need to do is eat something...even if it's your safe foods. You don't need to worry about introducing new foods, just focus on getting fuel in your body now.
I know it'll be hard, but when I used to do I made my existing TMJ worse and for a week I couldn't open my mouth more than a quarrter of an inch. THAT was bad.
Just keep trying. Don't give up. You don't have to live with c/s anymore!
The human body is very clever and eventually your body will get used to this behaviour. It will realise than sometimes when food is in the mouth and the stomach prepares to recieve food, it might not actually get it. This will result in the same functions of the body as restricting does. So that when the stomach DOES recieve food, it will hold onto it more and store more of it because it doesn't know whether it will recieve it the next time.
Also this behaviour will stimulate the increase in insulin which increase appetite. Making you want to c/s more and this is how it becomes addictive.
Also c/s can result in stomach ulcers are extremely painful.
Also...some calories are absorbed..no matter HOW careful you are. The breakdown of food starts as soon as it enters the mouth.
As for ways to break the cycle it's like any other addiction really. Distractions? Try to stabilise an eating plan so that your not actually craving the food anymore?
Do you see and therapist or doctor at all?
have stomache ulcers they r extremely painful. hugs
being ill is not your choice or your fault. the only choice you have is to seek treatment hun.... xx