When and why do you binge? Is it depression. boredom? Wjat are the triggers? How do you feel before and after a binge? Try to keep a journal for a week, noting what you eat and when and how you feel.

Try to keep junk food out of the house then you won't eat it at night. If it is 2am and you face having to get dressed and leave the house to buy food, you are not likely to do so. But if you binge on foods like bread that you cannot really avoid having in the house it is more difficult.

Can you change your medication in any way? Is your doctor aware of the weight gain and what do they say? Can they prescribe a sleeping pill so you stay asleep and do not wake to binge in the night?

These are just some ideas, could be they don't help, I don't know.

I would really talk with your doctor about this. If you were losing weight before the weight gain and then you all of the sudden gain weight when you take your pills it sounds to me like the pills are causing it.

Lizzie, last night I ate leftover mashed potatoes and corn with 2 slices of bread. so it is not just junk food. I feel satisfied after i eat but then feel guilty later. My medication is helping so my doctor doesn't want me to go off of it yet and maybe the cravings will go away but sure is hard waiting.

I used to use a site called "my fitness pal" to tract my food but have gotten lazy with putting it all in and seeing the calories. I need to start it back and see how much I am actually eating.

Thanks Stephanie, I am going to talk to my doctor about changing this medication but hate that it was working for my depression.

Hi belle - I have bipolar and am on a number of medications that cause cravings and, sadly, massive weight gain. I never had a weight problem, was actually too thin until my early 20's when I started those meds and from my regular weight to my heaviest... well, it was 125 lb journey.

Still, my psychiatrists do not want me to go off my medications because I am quite frankly dangerous when I am... to myself, and possibly to others too. I have come to terms with this over the last 12 years.

Truly, the cravings do get better with time. I know all about the night time eating though, and for me, the biggest solution to that is take night time meds and go right to sleep, do not pass go, do not collect $200, lol. Just go to bed. I used to get up in the morning and it looked like a tornado went through my kitchen. I try not to keep sugary things in the house because that is what I reach for when I get the munchies. I have lost 80 lbs in the last year and a half on Weight Watchers, but if you aren't a joiner honestly just keeping a journal of what you are eating really helps keep things in perspective. It keeps you accountable to yourself by having to write it all down.

Good luck. You can PM me if you want, I've learned a lot about psych meds, stability, and weight problems over the last decade...

Halterbroke seems to have very good advice.

Ok so you aren't eating junk, but could you change the types of food in the house? Maybe have sweet potato/root veg mash instead of regular mash for example, so that any leftovers are relatively better for you. Use brown starches (bread/pasta/rice etc) rather than white. Bulk meals up with plenty of veg and reduce the starchy foods. Get bread with whole grains in it and lower carbs per slice, and low fat spreads. Keep fresh veg and dips ready in the fridge for snacks. And things like dried fruit too if you need a sweet kick. If the only foods available to binge on are relatively healthier ones then it won't be as damaging.

I don't know how much exercise you are doing, but if it is not enough maybe look into doing some more to counteract the food.

I would also say, try not to link your weight to your self esteem. You are not a better person if you lose weight, or a worse person if you gain it. You are still you, either way. It is only a number on a scale. If a friend gained weight would you suddenly dislike her or consider her a bad person purely because of that fact? Of course not. So why think of yourself like that?

thanks halterbroke and lizzie. Will take all these into consideration.

I would talk to your doctor about the sudden shift. Medications should not change you that drastically, especially since you were only borderline.

As a stop-gap, get rid of anything processed and do not resupply the potatoes. Stick to healthy fruits and vegetables. At least then, if you do over-indulge, you are getting nutrients, not just sugar.

Absolutely take this to your doctor! Many meds have side effects like you're describing.

but OMG!! your "snack" from 8-21 was NOTHING BUT CARBS!!!! carbs *create* cravings! That one "snack" was probably greater than my entire day's allotment... if not more!

Fats are the things which will curb cravings. If you're eating low-fat, you're always going to be struggling and hungry. Eating fat does *not* create body fat. Eating carbs does.

I'm very "religious" with my food tracking, too. I use a site called SparkPeople. Their Nutrition Tracker has been the best tool I've had the fortune to use. I use it for everything, even my meds and supplements. They have some pretty good forums, too. Worth a look. It's free.

One thing I've found helps me in nighttime eating is to brush my teeth right after my last meal, and then just STOP. No more food. Kitchen's closed. Finis. It's tough at first, but eventually you'll be accustomed to it. And don't have junk laying about to tempt you!