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

daska

oopsadaisydoddle wrote: »

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

No, quite, which is why it's so galling that so many people, including doctors, overlook the genuine physical reasons that can hinder weight loss and criticise people who could be actually helped by calling them weak or over emotional.

You can deal with this and if you do you will realise that you are incredibly strong. You should already know this - you've obviously been trying to deal with this problem for some time and you haven't given up, doesn't that tell you something about how strong you are?

oopsadaisydoddle

daska wrote: »

No, quite, which is why it's so galling that so many people, including doctors, overlook the genuine physical reasons that can hinder weight loss and criticise people who could be actually helped by calling them weak or over emotional.

You can deal with this and if you do you will realise that you are incredibly strong. You should already know this - you've obviously been trying to deal with this problem for some time and you haven't given up, doesn't that tell you something about how strong you are?

I can't multi quote! But thanks for this (it made me get a lump in my throat) and in answer to your earlier post, I do understand what you mean about insulin resistance and diet.

Have tried the low GI approach before and end up getting confused and overwhelmed, which in turn leads to stress and then a binge.

I often feel like whatever I eat is like I'm 'trying' towards something and I wish I could naturally know what to eat that won't cause me bloating, blood sugars drops, keep me feeling fuller for longer etc.

I wish there was an overeaters 'rehab' where you went to stay for a period of time and you made nutritional meals with the help of a dietician and investigated which things kept you feeling good. In my rehab place, there would be counsellors that would help you with your cravings etc and who would help you get to the bottom of things.

And once you left rehab, you would be given ongoing support, should you wish to take it. Oh but no, that's only available for druggies and drinkers!! (And I'm not for one minute saying they don't need/deserve the help).

I can dream!!

Thanks again.x

daska

what a fabulous idea - when I win the lottery I'll set one up!

In the meantime why don't you come and join the low carb thread? Or see if you have a local PCOS support group and see if you can find someone else you can hold hands with while supporting each other.

(((HUGS)))

ca55ie

Book me in too please ;-)

Just watching Supersize Superskinny on 47 - its dealing with binge-eating. Thats eye-opening!! And a good incentive to be sensible.

oopsadaisydoddle

ca55ie wrote: »

Book me in too please ;-)

Just watching Supersize Superskinny on 47 - its dealing with binge-eating. Thats eye-opening!! And a good incentive to be sensible.

What's 47? I may watch that! Thanks.

Fire_Fox

oopsadaisydoddle wrote: »

Hi all,

After much soul searching I have realised that my weight issues are down to binge eating/compulsive eating. I went to my GP to ask for help and he said it was 'normal' to eat emotionally. He said wha i described wasn't compulsive eating.

I am overweight, have IBS (whichI have accepted is probably due to me bingeing).

I often try and eat healthily but my 'addiction' takes over. Last night for example, I had yoghurt, grapes and a few almonds for breakfast and a sandwich for lunch. My plan was to have a couple of pancakes for supper with some fruit.

My plan went out of the window when I picked DS up from the in laws and I had a couple of pringles off DD. I got home and had 3 bags of crisps, more pringle, 2 packs of mini cheddars and nearly half a box of chocolates....without even batting an eyelid. When it happens, it's like I'm in a trance. It's making me feel rubbish.

I have read up on it and it is said to be made worse by low self esteem (which is true) and depression (which isn't as I am on meds and quite happy otherwise.

I belive that if I made myself sick or swallowed a handful of laxatives after binges, I would be offered help but because i don't it's like it's not really a problem.

I have tried self help books but I don't seem to get anywhere with them.

Can anyone help or share experience please?

Thanks,

Oops.x

Firstly your GP is probably not qualified to diagnose this, try seeing someone else in the practice (ask who is the most interested in mental health) and ask to be referred to your local Community Mental Health Team for an assessment.

Secondly I'm not sure you really understand what eating healthily is, it's not about depriving your body it's about giving your body a huge variety of different wholefoods from all the different foods groups supplying a balance of all the nutrients you need for health. The more you deprive yourself (not of junk but of filling nutritious foods) the more your body will crave calories in the form of fat sugar and white/ refined carbs.

Eat more not less: nine servings of low sugar fruits and non starchy vegetables in the full rainbow of colours every day, three servings of reduced fat dairy each day, oily fish several times a week ideally daily, lean protein and healthy fats at every meal and snack, tons of mineral rich foods (beans, lentils, nuts, seeds). That is mountains of food, but not necessarily tons of calories. Cut back hard on all white potato, wheat, rice and corn products they behave basically like sugar in the body.

Also make it far easier to eat healthy food and much harder to eat rubbish - why is there Pringles, other crisps, Mini Cheddars and chocolates in your house? Nobody in your household needs to eat that, the healthy eating guidelines are for a maximum of 10% of daily calories as sugary or fatty junk which is one small snack per head and in fact many breakfast cereals fall into the category or the children may have had a snack or dessert at school. If you were addicted to alcohol or illegal drugs would you keep them in the house, would you buy them for your loved ones?

IMO don't gift toxic junk to others, be very clear with your friends and relatives that you need support because you are becoming ill (physically and or mentally) and please not purchase junk for you, and only enough for your children as a 'treat' or to eat away from home. No different than you should say if you quit smoking, you'd ask people not to offer you cigarettes, throw away all your lighters and ash trays, no triggers in the house. This is your home and younr children, you can be in control.

If the children need filling snacks bake things like flapjacks with them - loads of nuts, seeds, lower sugar dried fruits, jumbo oats and barley, block creamed coconut, perhaps a little butter, unsweetened cocoa powder, part xylitol to sweeten (natural and good for dental health). Or cheese, peanut butter, fruit and crackers like oatcakes and Ryvita. Or homemade smoothies with frozen berries, soft cheese, avocado. This will not spike and trough your blood sugar like the rubbish in the house will and supplies vitamins, minerals and fibre.

I'm not suggesting this will 'cure' you if you have a disorder of mental health. But even if you can cut your binges by half you are heading in the right direction both physically and confidence wise.

For IBS some are helped by slowly changing over to a more nutrient dense diet, especially eating more long chain omega-3s from oily fish (powerful anti inflammatories) plus a freeze dried probiotic (friendly bacteria) supplement in capsule form. Fibre feeds the good bacteria, sugar and white carbs feed the bad guys but do build up on the fibre slowly and pick your produce carefully. If you struggle with gut cramps or have any issues with your hormones look at your intake of magnesium rich foods.

HTH.

Fire_Fox

oopsadaisydoddle wrote: »

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!

Either failure to warm up and cool down properly (ten full minutes easy conversational walking pace to warm up, return to easy walking when you stop exercising until your breathing and heart rate are well down towards normal), dehydration or - most likely given what you have said here - your blood sugar dropping through your boots. That is likely down to your food choices and amount, not being critical just a (semi educated) opinion.

TBH formal exercise on top of a poor quality diet can do more harm than good, it stresses the body out and increases your need for every nutrient whilst causing you to sweat out valuable minerals. Get the basics in place first - 10,000 steps every day at any pace, spread out not necessarily all in one hit. When your body is acclimatised to that then add in the jogging, don't underestimate how hard any high impact exercise is on the body so don't feel bad that it's tough just slow down and even repeat weeks of the programme. Remember you have the rest of your life to be healthy, you don't have to achieve everything NOW just be heading in the right direction. :j

GreatBigBookcase

Oops, seems like you've tried lots of different diets, maybe take a different approach and look at more psychological approaches to controlling what you eat? Someone else mentioned CBT, also look at NLP. Some books you could read if you can't access services through your GP:

Paul McKenna - I can make you thin (think someone else mentioned some of his techniques above).

Jason Vale - Slim for Life. He also does a book solely on chocolate. I haven't read this one, but I did read his book on alcohol two years ago and I haven't drunk since! Didn't intend to stop, I was just interested in the book because a friend had read it. Basically, he messes with your mind and shifts your thinking when it comes to alcohol. Maybe the chocolate one has the same effect...

And maybe try hypnotherapy? That's what Paula McKenna is really, but if you actually see a hypnotherapist they can tailor the sessions to your exact needs.

I'm also an advocate of low-carb/high protein & fat eating...refined carbs are just nutritionally void in my opinion, and a lot of what people think is hunger is often sugar carvings caused by a diet full of refined rubbish.

Anyway, just my thoughts...I'm certainly no expert, and I don't suffer from any kind of eating disorder, but I'm interested in food and the way Big Food manage to manipulate us into believing refined carbs are good whilst natural, unprocessed, whole foods like meat and dairy should be limited.

Keep trying different things, what works for one won't work for another, good luck working out what's best for you.

dktreesea

Is there an Overeaters Anonymous group in your area? They might be worth a visit. The people will all know what you are going through. Plus they sometimes arrange social outings around exercise rather than food, e.g. going on a walking trip somewhere.

heartbreak_star

oopsadaisydoddle wrote: »

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!!

I will always hold the opinion that you never 100% recover from an eating disorder, it lurks like a bad smell!

I got some help from the GP and thankfully we had an eating disorders clinic fairly nearby. The counsellors there were great - they really worked with me to find out how I could help myself. The crux of it - me realising I needed treatment - was when I discovered I couldn't swim more than a few lengths/finish a dance routine without being so exhausted I could cry, and when I discovered I couldn't lift a 10kg barbell. (Bear in mind now, >10years down the line, I swim 35 lengths, dance for 1-2 hours and deadlift 45kgs )

A lot of people with an eating disorder say there's one event that triggers the "get-better" defense - a girl from the clinic was told if she didn't recover before her teens ended she'd probably never be a mum. That was all she'd ever wanted. A woman with EDNOS who binged and starved started to go bald. Mine was as above.

Not eating refined carbs (modified primal) also helped as I can binge on salad and citrus fruit as much as I like, and protein keeps me full. Why not pop over to the "Big-Bottomed Girls (and Guys)" thread as well as the low carb one?

I really wish you the best, with lots of love.

HBS x