Binge Busters - 11/4

[ShrinkingKaren]

This thread has been MIA for a long time now and I need it back. Any T-20s with binge eating issues or experience overcoming binge eating, please chime in!

[ShrinkingKaren]

CONFESSION TIME - I've been feeling really funny lately in the afternoons: shaky, blurry vision, just generally "out of it." Well, I convinced myself that some sugar would help.

I went to Walgreens and bought two bags of candy. And just now polished them both off

Of course, after eating them, I calculated points. That quick and mindless binge just set me back 33 points. YUP, almost every single FP I have (they reset this morning).

And I have a challenging weekend coming up... STUPID!

I guess the good news is that I did it today while I still had the FPs. And now I can plan and work my week without any.

Next time I will post here when I start to feel loopy and try to come up with other solutions. Shockingly though, I do actually feel more "with it" and less spacey. Guilty, yes. But I feel less odd than before.

Kick me hard, buddies. But then hug me afterwards because the way I've been feeling in the afternoons is freaking me out.

[moondragn9]

okay, you know you dererved those kicks... I personally keep an extra Fiber One bar on hand for when I feel like that, and it helps everytime...

[Jennlk84]

Good to see you started this back up Karen. Especially in a time of need!

I just replied to your post over in your thread on the Goals Forum.

[steff23]

Karen,

At least you counted the points and held yourself accountable!! That is great in itself! Sometimes I just get an overwhelming feeling that I need to eat something that I know I shouldn't and a lot of it, usually I would "forget" about the points or let it snowball into something worse!

Acknowledging how your feeling and accepting the points is the best way to deal with it! If you know your going to have a hard time in the afternoons maybe find a lower point option for the sugar cravings to keep around?

[Bianca]

Karen - I'm doing this for your own good. LOL. Don't worry, I'm going to get mine after everyone reads my post below. I know exactly how you feel in dealing with the binges. I get these times where I just feel like I HAVE to eat everything in sight...as if I'm never going to be able to eat again.

If it's okay, I'm going to join right in here with you Karen. I had an "issue" Monday night. I tried to fake like I was okay with my gain (even though I had done everything right last week) on Monday night. Well, when I came home I had every intention of staying OP even though I had a major headache and was upset about the gain. Mom and I had gotten Taco Hell for dinner. I can usually do okay there. Well, I ate my meal, plus what DH didn't eat of his, plus Layla's dinner that she didn't eat, and a whole bunch of leftover Halloween candy that was sitting on the counter. Oh...and I had some leftover takeout from the night before. All within the span of 2 hours. I don't know what comes over. It's like a madness and I have to eat and eat and eat.

Please kick me! I should have posted here about it earlier, but I didn't. I was so ashamed of myself. The good news is that my points re-set on Tuesdays and I've been OP ever since. I'm determined to not let that slip up, okay - HUGE slip up, derail me the rest of this week.

I'm going to start a Binge-Free counter. As of today, this is my 3rd day binge-free.

[SawYouWearingFlares]

i think you were both in the right mind to come here and make these confessions. writing it, typing it and saying out loud (no matter how embarrassed or ashamed you feel) i feel can really help. you are owning what you did. you are explaining how you feel. you are explaining your struggle. and this is the right place to come for help and encouragement.

yes, you both binged. no, you shouldn't have. but sometimes (sadly to say) it is a part of our journey and we have to learn. as you know, the best thing to do is not hold on and dwell. That will just derail you even more. remember how you feel right now and next time you want to binge, ask yourself if it is worth the horrible feelings or if it is worth all the work you have but into losing. i think about all the time i'm in the gym and working out. i seriously have to talk to myself sometimes to talk myself out of eating or binging. i know, it seems crazy.

we all have slip ups here and there. you both are accountable and moving on the right way. you ladies are doing a great job. everyone here is to support and cheer you on.

also karen - if you need some candy or sugar, try gobstoppers. you get 9 for 1 point. you have to suck on them, so they take awhile. it's my trick!

[Bianca]

Thanks Kristen.

[chellybats]

Karen
I totally need this too, work is the 2 weeks of hell and just today, I got another huge re-do of a game, in full due in a week.

I haven't been doing my points for like 2 weeks, I'm up 2 lbs since but I'm on my TOM - I've been keeping active, but I eat SO much at nights.
Popcicles, prunes, oatmeal cookies, smoothies.

I try so much to be full but it's like I can't until I'm at the "holy crap I might puke I am so full" feeling.

I'm beyond stressed and I wish things would just simmer down at work so I can resume my life normally.

I love that this board is back, I really need it.

[Bianca]

Michelle - I'm the same way. What is it about being home at night that makes us want to eat?

[chellybats]

Bianca, right now it's the stress.
I absolutely hate my job, I didn't find last year's convention too bad, but they expect OT from us, the demands are UNREAL - so I'm really unhappy/stressed.

Usually I'll eat like 200-250 calories after supper.
But right now it's insane.

I eat well all day, keep it light, and then supper is heavier... but I still crave the sweet/salt/something cold every single night.

I thought about even going to a 12 step program, but maybe I'm just stressed... I've been on WW for a year and this is my first slip up. Sometimes life's demands and deadlines just don't make my body and emotions deal too well with WW.

[Bianca]

Michelle - I'm like you. I eat light all day and save most of my points for dinner. Then, after dinner, that's when the cravings hit. It's like that for me every night pretty much. I don't binge every night, but that's when the craving hits. Almost always I choose something healthy as my sweet/salty craving. Every now and then though, I go on a complete rampage!

[goddessRu]

I have a quote for ya'll I think will help:

"The thing to remember about chocolate is, that they aren't going to stop making it. So you don't have to eat all those leftover snack size candies..."

My daily calendar said this right after Halloween. But replace chocolate with anything, really, and the truth is- that FOOD is not going to disappear! And if we really want it, YES WE CAN HAVE IT- but control it.

[chellybats]

Bianca, this is my complete rampage, it's not unhealthy stuff.
I either made it, or it's organic/sugar free/vegan.

I'm just not sure... why.
Maybe it's the stress right now, maybe it's the fact I didn't have a period in 3 months and I finally have one and it's one of the worst I've had? I have NO idea.

[Christyn238]

First on binging - this is something we clarified before and I think it's important to do now.

Binging is not "I really want this XXX so I am going to have it and oh oops, I ate all of it." Binging is disordered eating and is usually, extreme and includes an inability to control oneself, eating in private, a feeling of extreme guilt or depression as a result of.

For many of us who have this challenge it is rarely about food or trying to substitute a healthier food because we may just binge on that healthier food. You can binge and stay OP but it is still not healthy and does not decrease the feelings that come with binging. People who are trying to get control over binging often have to work through with themselves about why they binged and how they can prevent future binges rather than what could they have had in place of the food they binged on.

Please deliver kicks as people request and if you have experience with binging or advice for those who have this challenge please contribute. But please keep in mind that this is not a typical, "I went off plan" issue.

I also want to say that I am not speaking for everyone but this is my interpretation and experience specifically within BCB.

[Christyn238]

Karen - I think you said you had gone to the doctor. Have you been in contact with them and told them that you were still feeling this way? You shouldn't have to feel that way. That really is scary.

I'm not going to kick you because you didn't go off plan. You did have other options, if you feel the need in the future maybe a glass of OJ or some fruit would help with those symptoms. Maybe you couldmake a plan for how to deal with these symptoms int he future until you can figure out why you are feeling this way.


Bianca - and another kick for not posting . How soon can you feel a binge coming on? Do you have an anchor you can use to keep you from binging?

[Bianca]

Christyn - I'm trying to assess at exactly what point I felt the urge to binge on Monday. I don't know that there was any warning. I was eating my food. Then DH said he couldn't eat his and a voice in my head told me I need to eat it. We can't throw it away! Then, my daughter has been having tummy issues and couldn't eat her nuggets. There was that voice again telling me I had to eat that too. After that it was a free-for-all where I had to find everything I could to eat. I'm pretty sure the triggers were my gain at WI and my headache, coupled with the fact that I knew my points reset the next day. I'm not sure what my anchor would be. That's something I need to contemplate. What is your anchor in these types of situations. Any words of advice are welcome. I don't do this kind of thing typically. Normally, if I just plain old overeat, I will just count the points for it and move on. This episode was different. I only get like this a few times a year.

I should also mention that this is specifically why I don't keep certain things in my house. I literally can't control myself around certain foods. Weird stuff, like the Special K multigrain crackers. Or 100 calorie packs. If DH wants something special, I have to tell him to hide it from me so that I don't find it and eat it while he's not home.

[Christyn238]

I also binge rarely, a few times a year seems accurate for me s well with more frequency when I am under a lot of stress or missing some of my ususal outlets and less when things are going smoothly.

Because it's rare it can be hard to have an anchor that always works. For me it has been as simple as going to the living room and turning on the tv. That's it, just something that got me out of the situation, it's almost like "snapping out of it" because for me binging can be like a trance. I have also just walked outside in the dead of winter without a coat on. That wakes me up and changes my mood/mindset. I know for some people their journals or WW awards help them, for me it didn't because it wasn't about being op, it was totally mental. Other ideas: taking a shower, blasting the radio, going for a drive, playing with your daughter, play darts, clean the bathroom...

For me I need to be active. But if you don't feel that way there are a million activities you can do that are less active. Paint your nails, knit, etc.

[Bianca]

I think next time, given that I'm alone during one of these situations, I will either find something to do with Layla (if she's awake) or if she's alseep I can pull out the laptop. I never eat when I'm on the laptop because I use it in my living room and it pretty much requires both my hands. Monday was a little harder because we were all at the dinner table when it started. Maybe I should mention this to DH and give him a "word" to say when he sees this behavior in me. I can't just have him say "stop eating" beause I'll get pissed at him and feel like he's judging me. I just need to find a secret word for these situations.

[Christyn238]

Thats a great idea.

I know I also "know" that I'm out of control when it is happening. So maybe the secret word is for you too, and he will know to help distract you. (Haha that actually sounds like it could be quite fun for you if DH gets creative on how to distract you ) And if DH isn't there maybe saying the secret word will help to snap you out of it.

[Bianca]

Christyn - I was thinking that too....that if I'm alone, maybe I can say the secret word out loud to myself and it will work. Now, I just need to think of a creative word!

[Christyn238]

I would make it as shocking as possible. Something you wouldn't normally use, maybe a bad curse word. I actually really like this idea...I'm going to keep it in my personal tool box!

[Bianca]

In order for it to be shocking or out of the norm, especially for DH, it would have to be something other than a curse word. LOL.

I'm thinking maybe something like off-the-wall like supercalifragilisticexpialadocious? We don't ever say that. LOL.

[Bianca]

Oh...I just thought of another idea as well. If I'm alone and the word thing isn't working. I could go grab a teaspoon and down a spoonful of apple cider vinegar. It has some great health benefits....but it tastes like crap! I actually tried to do 2 teaspoons of it a day at one time, but I couldn't hack it every day. If I down a spoonful of that I think that would be shocking enough to get me out of "binge mode". If not, maybe another spoonful would be called for.

[Christyn238]

Hahahahahahahaha. I am totally not kidding you about this. I was thinking about what words I would use and supercalifragilisticexpialadocious came to mind. I happened to be in the bathroom and relized I was singing it to myself. It was stuck in my head for awhile. LOL.

The vinegar thing is a good idea too. The only thing I can think of is that you have to stop binging to do that...I know when I was binging I wouldn't stop to get the vinegar....but if it might work for you then give it a shot!