Why Is There Not Much Help For Binge Eating Disorder (and if there is, where is it?)

oopsadaisydoddle

heartbreak_star wrote: »

Exercise, exercise and more exercise - also lifts your mood.

Have you been checked for hypothyroidism?

HBS x

I have been checked numerous times over the years.

I want to get out and exercise. I aim to do the couch2 5K. Hopefully DH will join me to spur each other on.

I did join the gym but exercising made me ill. I literally used to come home and I'd feel sick, shaky, dizzy - and I don't think I'd overdone it as I'd built up my length of sessions and number of sessions gradually!

mel48rose

Just a thought. Have you tried Weightwatchers? You can get a free 3 month referral through your GP. My partner has lost over 12.5 stone with WW and is living a different life now. You can decide what you eat as long as you have the daily points. Totally liveable and not restrictive. Makes you more careful regarding portion sizes, food choices etc. Good luck and hoping you find the help you want.

ca55ie

Hi oopsa

Some of the replies you have received seem pretty unsympathetic. I understand your problem only too well. At present I keep my weight under control by lots of exercise but I am aware that this doesn't really address the problem of over-eating it just reduces the amount of opportunities to do so.
Try keeping an honest food/mood diary to see when the trigger times are. At those times try to find something else to do so you don't think about hitting the food option.
I have also ben advised to try drinking a glass of water first then see if I still want to eat - of course I do - doh!!!
Good luck with the couch 2 5k.

bigmaz

I am currently doing the couch2 10k, you totally should do the couch 2 5 k, its a great program, eases u into it slowly. Also done Scottish slimmers, similar to weight watchers, lost a few stone on it. But hard to keep at it after a while, needs to b a total life style change, no excuses to eat crap, just control it. Which is easier said than done, i find it so hard, hopefully one day

oopsadaisydoddle

ca55ie wrote: »

Hi oopsa

Some of the replies you have received seem pretty unsympathetic. I understand your problem only too well. At present I keep my weight under control by lots of exercise but I am aware that this doesn't really address the problem of over-eating it just reduces the amount of opportunities to do so.
Try keeping an honest food/mood diary to see when the trigger times are. At those times try to find something else to do so you don't think about hitting the food option.
I have also ben advised to try drinking a glass of water first then see if I still want to eat - of course I do - doh!!!
Good luck with the couch 2 5k.

I'm the same! I love water now (used to think it was only good for washing in) - but yes, I always still want the food after the water too!

Thanks for your response. I know I have a problem. If it was as simple as just 'don't eat' - I wouldn't be here asking for help.

Using Cleggy's analogy again - I've never known it work with a drinker who is told to just stop drinking!x

oopsadaisydoddle

bigmaz wrote: »

I am currently doing the couch2 10k, you totally should do the couch 2 5 k, its a great program, eases u into it slowly. Also done Scottish slimmers, similar to weight watchers, lost a few stone on it. But hard to keep at it after a while, needs to b a total life style change, no excuses to eat crap, just control it. Which is easier said than done, i find it so hard, hopefully one day

Thanks - I had planned to go this morning on my first outing but it is snowing and really slippy here. I have my trainers, kit and ahem 'support' sorted. Also have the app downloaded and a arm band thing for my phone.

Just need a kick out of the door. It's not always easy as DH works shifts. Had thought about locking the kids in the cupboard under the stairs instead but they'd only escape lol!!

oopsadaisydoddle

heartbreak_star wrote: »

I suffered from this and it developed into bulimia

Exercise really helped me, I started craving protein post-exercise, not sugar.

Good luck and lots of hugs!

HBS x

I hope you are recovered/recovering. Did you seek help or did you self manage things.

The strange things is, I have thought about making myself sick before but I have a fear of vomiting so that stopped me. I explained this to my GP who didn't really have much to say!!

Bitsy_Beans

cleggy. wrote: »

Overeaters, just like overdrinkers will always come up with an excuse that they think makes it ok or just that once... etc etc.

Get a grip. I shan't tell you again.

Quite frankly I rather you didn't tell anyone in the first place.

Overeaters, much like those that drink and do drugs, use food as an emotional crutch. I don't think the OP is making excuses otherwise she wouldn't be looking to her GP etc for some support in making a change for the better. She's not excusing her behaviour just looking for some help to correct it.

Anyway OP have you ever tried CBT?
I've seen this site recommended a lot on here
http://www.llttf.com/

Unless you address your emotional ties to food you're going to struggle. Try googling Paul McKenna craving techniques to see if you can manage the cravings you might get. I agree with cassie about keeping a food/mood diary. I know it's hard but try not to see food as good or bad. It really is just food, it's us that apply labels to it, you only have to listen to the way many women talk about food etc "oh I've been "good" today" etc. Maybe if you break these associations you can manage your urges (sorry couldn't think of a better word) a bit more easily if you don't feel you're breaking some unwritten rules about what you should and shouldn't eat.

Re going to the gym.....we're you eating such meagre portions and still trying to exercise? If so no wonder you felt dizzy.

Am no expert but I am to a certain extent an emotional eater. I really recommend Geneen Roth and maybe try asking yourself the following questions:
What are your reasons for eating?
A treat
a reward
tired
bored
stressed
transition eating (it breaks up the day, allows you to move on to the next part of your day)
holiday eating (on hols or it's Xmas and its all part of the pleasure/ritual)
missing the moment (don't want to miss the opportunity to eat a particular food)

Underlying causes for overeating?
For example how do you view yourself, always been the fat girl and that's how subconsciously you see yourself always being hence self sabotage
It's a distraction from dealing with emotions

Triggers for binging
Bad day (emotional day)
Wearing clothes that don't flatter or make you feel good (eg jeans which cut into your waist which make you feel bloated and fat)
!!!!!! days aka f**king ugly days where your hair goes wrong, you feel self conscious and want to stick a bag on your head

I am by no means an expert or health professional but in the course of books I've read etc these are the things I've had to ask myself

ETA if you can't get out for a run don't panic google High Intensity Interval Training it's quick, very hard and can easily be done at home without any equipment.

daska

But the science shows that losing weight really isn't as simple as 'don't eat'. Because success depends on how your body reacts to what you're eating. If you're insulin sensitive you might manage it on low fat or low carb, if you're insulin resistant you'll do better on low carb. You have PCOS which means you probably come into the latter category. Insulin controls both the way excess carbs are stored as fat and also controls the release of that fat so for you it's really not just a case of simply eating less by choosing smaller portions, your smart move is to choose the foods that result in you not craving the large portions - does that make any sense at all LOL?

And while I'm at it please remember that in the same way emotional distress can cause you to turn to food, food can cause emotional distress - plenty of evidence for improved mood (fewer, less dramatic swings) if you can get your blood sugars under control.

TBH I could quite easily have eaten all you've written down and carried on and then felt compelled to finish another box of chocolates before going out to buy crisps, cakes etc. anything to try to assuage that craving. I was always able to eat more. Now I don't. I won't pretend I dont' enjoy the odd slice of cake or crisps etc but it's no longer a problem for me.

oopsadaisydoddle

Bitsy_Beans wrote: »

Quite frankly I rather you didn't tell anyone in the first place.

Overeaters, much like those that drink and do drugs, use food as an emotional crutch. I don't think the OP is making excuses otherwise she wouldn't be looking to her GP etc for some support in making a change for the better. She's not excusing her behaviour just looking for some help to correct it.

Anyway OP have you ever tried CBT?
I've seen this site recommended a lot on here
http://www.llttf.com/

Unless you address your emotional ties to food you're going to struggle. Try googling Paul McKenna craving techniques to see if you can manage the cravings you might get. I agree with cassie about keeping a food/mood diary. I know it's hard but try not to see food as good or bad. It really is just food, it's us that apply labels to it, you only have to listen to the way many women talk about food etc "oh I've been "good" today" etc. Maybe if you break these associations you can manage your urges (sorry couldn't think of a better word) a bit more easily if you don't feel you're breaking some unwritten rules about what you should and shouldn't eat.

Re going to the gym.....we're you eating such meagre portions and still trying to exercise? If so no wonder you felt dizzy.

Am no expert but I am to a certain extent an emotional eater. I really recommend Geneen Roth and maybe try asking yourself the following questions:
What are your reasons for eating?
A treat
a reward
tired
bored
stressed
transition eating (it breaks up the day, allows you to move on to the next part of your day)
holiday eating (on hols or it's Xmas and its all part of the pleasure/ritual)
missing the moment (don't want to miss the opportunity to eat a particular food)

Underlying causes for overeating?
For example how do you view yourself, always been the fat girl and that's how subconsciously you see yourself always being hence self sabotage
It's a distraction from dealing with emotions

Triggers for binging
Bad day (emotional day)
Wearing clothes that don't flatter or make you feel good (eg jeans which cut into your waist which make you feel bloated and fat)
!!!!!! days aka f**king ugly days where your hair goes wrong, you feel self conscious and want to stick a bag on your head

I am by no means an expert or health professional but in the course of books I've read etc these are the things I've had to ask myself

ETA if you can't get out for a run don't panic google High Intensity Interval Training it's quick, very hard and can easily be done at home without any equipment.

Thank you for taking the time to post this. I have just read eating less by Gillian Riley which was great at first but then the 'novelty' of the newness of it wore off and my old ways slipped back in.

And you're right. I'm not trying to make excuses although I have done in the past - I know I'm not force fed - it's my choice what I eat (although sometimes feels like it isn't).

I bet if I was a drinker or a druggie and I went asking for help, I'd get pointed in the right direction and a proverbial pat on the back. As an overeater, I get told to get a grip!!!

And drinkers and druggies don't need their stuff to survive. It's not like I can avoid food altogether and go cold turkey!!

Thanks again, I will look into your suggestions.x