Food Addiction Support Group
An individual suffering from a food addiction disorder frequently experiences episodes of uncontrolled eating, or binging, during which they may feel frenzied or out of control. They will eat much more quickly than is normal, and continue to eat even past the point of being uncomfortably full. Binging in this way is generally followed by a period of intense guilt feelings...
I have not binged in almost 8 weeks. At first, I was loosing weight, but then I started gaining it back - not because i binged, but because I stayed home and watched movies instead of exersizing, and because I ate rich foods like chips and cream sauces, and had sugary treats, too.
It is so tempting to be totally discouraged by this. All that effort, and I'm back where I started. All those days of feeling deprived, etc.
But, I've decided not to be totally discouraged. After all, why be so hard on myself?? I'd never be that hard on a friend, so why on myself??
I mean, I'm doing a really hard thing here, I'm dealing with a food addiction I've had since I was just a kid! I remember using food to make myself feel better when I was like 7 years old! Well, now I'm 33. How realistic is it to expect to beat a food addiction AND loose weight, all in 2 months? I've had years and years to become addicted - it's not all going to magically go away in 2 months.
And, also, why focus only on the negative things, like gaining the weight back?? Why not also look at the fact that I have not binged in 2 months? Why not focus on the fact that I am, slowly, learning to become a normal eater? Why not be proud of myself for trying to deal with this??
I keep telling myself: learning not to binge eat is like a muscle...every time I don't binge, my will gets stronger, and the habit of not binging gets stronger. I've made a lot of progress on this in 2 months, and I am NOT interested in giving up all that progress, just because I'm still overweight.
Instead, what I want to do is keep re-enforcing those good habits!
Also, even though the weight has come back, there are other good things: skin looks better, feel better, have more energy, and am less isolated (because i don't just stay home and eat in secret).
It is so tempting to be totally discouraged by this. All that effort, and I'm back where I started. All those days of feeling deprived, etc.
But, I've decided not to be totally discouraged. After all, why be so hard on myself?? I'd never be that hard on a friend, so why on myself??
I mean, I'm doing a really hard thing here, I'm dealing with a food addiction I've had since I was just a kid! I remember using food to make myself feel better when I was like 7 years old! Well, now I'm 33. How realistic is it to expect to beat a food addiction AND loose weight, all in 2 months? I've had years and years to become addicted - it's not all going to magically go away in 2 months.
And, also, why focus only on the negative things, like gaining the weight back?? Why not also look at the fact that I have not binged in 2 months? Why not focus on the fact that I am, slowly, learning to become a normal eater? Why not be proud of myself for trying to deal with this??
I keep telling myself: learning not to binge eat is like a muscle...every time I don't binge, my will gets stronger, and the habit of not binging gets stronger. I've made a lot of progress on this in 2 months, and I am NOT interested in giving up all that progress, just because I'm still overweight.
Instead, what I want to do is keep re-enforcing those good habits!
Also, even though the weight has come back, there are other good things: skin looks better, feel better, have more energy, and am less isolated (because i don't just stay home and eat in secret).
Congratulations on such positive thinking and for making strides towards your goal! Big hugs to you!
Yep, it really does feel like a muscle! Every day, it gets a little stronger. I don't have the weight off yet, but I can manage to go into the candy isle of a drugstore, and only buy a reasonable treat, instead of buying all kinds of things to binge on!
:-)
It's so damn frustrating! I wish I could just kick this issue once and for all!!!
You are right. We need to keep focusing on the positives. You are doing so well, don't give in! :-)
Thanks for posting!
lifeordeath - wow, here I thought I was the only one going through this! I'm sorry you're having to go through it, but, at the same time, it is nice to know I am not alone in this. 3 months is a major accomplishment! I hope you're proud of that. I know, it is so easy to focus on not loosing weight....but, we've had so long to develop this addiction to food, I guess we need to understand that it's going to take a while to undo it.
And congrats to you, too! 80 days is a huge success!
It's nice to know that I'm not the only one experiencing this! I'm sure it's frustrating for all of us, but we just have to keep moving foward, celebrate our successes, and, eventually, I'm sure the weight will come off.
I've been binging for a year now. I used to be anorexic. I'm trying to bring myself back to normal and it's so hard...
I was doing okay for a few days-- but then I binged again tonight. I was feeling so frustrated and angry, but when I read this, I still feel down but you've given me hope.
Thank you and keep up the great work. You're strong and can get over this.
You know, we're pretty similar - I used to be anorexic, too, before I started binge-eating.