Battling binge eating...any suggestions???

[TheBigM]

Well here's the scoop ladies. I am a 22 year old, obese woman. I have been a pretty bad overeater for a few years now and it just seems to be getting worse. I was put on a medication that I REALLY need and packed on 65lbs in just over a year partly from the meds and my already growing issue with binge eating. I am 5'4 and 254lbs and am desperate. I have tried sooooooo many different things, but nothing seems to satisfy my hunger. If anybody on this forum has experienced this and/or has some advice on how I can alter my thinking and curve my hunger you would rock my socks! Thanks a bunch!

[Still Nobody]

Well, my aunt has been trying to tame her binge eating for the last few years. She said that her binge eating is because of a bunch of different things going on in her life, but probably began with her divorce.
She had to join a therapy group, though. You might want to look into that if you can't get a handle on it by yourself.

Just some of the things they told her, that I can remember are:
She doesn't skip breakfast anymore. Apparently, that was a big problem for her because of work, and later she would eat like crazy to compensate.
One interesting approach she learned was to not stock up on too much food at one time. After work, she comes home with only enough food for dinner and breakfast, and then she does the same thing the next day. The store is right there on her route home everyday, so this works really well for her.
I know she read some self help books too, but I don't know which books. Sorry.
The main thing that she does, though, is just trying to stay busy and keeping her mind busy with other things.
She also has one of her friends (her neighbor) helping her.

I can't remember anything else. I hope this helps.

[misskitty3]

i was also on medicine that made me hungrier than i already was, and i just ate everything in sight. i work in an office so i don't get any exercise either. i only gained 20 pounds, but it was so fast that it was really uncomfortable. i couldn't fit into my wedding dress! true, the wedding was still 5 months away so i had to think of something.

i started eating breakfast, which does help a lot. something with whole grains. then i had a snack (yogurt), lunch was a salad, then a snack of fruit, and maybe pretzels.

see, you can eat as much as you want if its healthy. in fact, if you eat a small portion all day at 1-2 hour intervals, you'll speed up your metabolism and start to lose weight. keep healthy food around you at all times.

i'm not saying its easy cause i crave the chips and cookies real bad, but its doable and worth it.

good luck!

[misskitty3]

oh, and think to yourself that its OK to be hungry. that means your metabolism is working for you, not against you.

[snowangels2]

Still Nobody - those are great suggestions! Although I would hate having to go to the store EVERY DAY, I think that could be very helpful. Once I run out of 'this batch', i'll have to try it Thank you again!

TheBigM - If youre interested in having a little support buddy, i'd love to help I have the same issue unfortunately. I'm 23, 5'1" and 180lbs. I have battled with eating disorders for years and now my body is all out of whack. I was anorexic then bulimic...and with the bulimia came the ability to pack down some major food. Lately I've been able eat an entire pizza by myself... and yes, I felt sick, but i just couldnt stop. Ultimately, I stepped on the scale yesterday for the first time in 6 months and ive gained 15 pounds.

As I posted in another thread - I just started Meridia again yesterday (I was on it a few years back and lost 45 lbs and kept it off for a year and a half). It is one of the only things that has ever been able to control my cravings. I've already lost a pound and a half! (Granted, that might be water weight too, but either way I'm happy! haha) Anyhow, I would love to be a support buddy if you would be mine!

[sallyskellington]

I knew someone that suffered from binge eating. You need to try to get to the root of whats causing it. You can treat the symptoms but if you don't treat the underlying issue it will keep resurfacing.
As for helping manage it. Eat a hardy breakfast everyday. Try 3 egg whites with a 1/4cup reduced fat cheddar cheese and tablespoon of salsa on top with a slice of reduced cal whole wheat bread and a cup of tea. It's a darn filling breakfast then before lunch try having a snack like celery with some hummus, or an apple with a tablespoon reduced fat or natural peanut butter. Also eat a good lunch. Try a Large salad or a wrap just watch your dressing and croutons. You can throw chicken in it or little bit tuna fish made with light mayo or fat free thousand island. Spice your salad up so it doesn't get plain. (if you work) when you get home take a relaxing walk or do something for you that doesn't give you idle time. If you feel you need to snack make a bowl of oatmeal eat it slow and have a glass of water or seltzer with it. Have a light dinner. Again make a salad or have a low cal soup before before you eat your supper. Then push away from the table for 10 min before you start the supper. Give the soup or salad time to digest. Then for dinner go simple get a lean cuisine something that is premeasured out for you. Remember to drink lots of water or seltzer water during the day helps keep you confusing hunger for thirst

.
Remember this is just tips to help manage the situation the existing condition. You really need to treat the cause though

[abusymum]

The advice about tackling the underlying causes of your binge eating is really useful. I personally started to go through binge eating phases when I began suffering from chronic anxiety, which turned into depression later on. It was only when I was prescribed beta blocker medication for my anxiety that my cravings started to reduce, probably because I was getting some treatment for the underlying problems that were contributing to them.

[Jerzeebabie04]

Hey there, I'm an overweight 22 year old also. I experience the binge eatting issue every once in awhile. I'll do really well for a couple weeks and then I just eat everything! Maybe you could see a diet dr about a weight loss pill? I've done that and it does help, but at the same time sometimes I am still just eatting (but helps me gain less). Also try eatting every 2-3 hours with healthy snacks that help keep you full longer. If you are eatting every 2-3 hours it will speed up your metabolism and make sure you arent so hungry. Also I would suggest using a calorie calculator it will tell you how many calories you should be eatting a day at your weight & height for the goal weight you want. I use a calorie calculator that tells me how many carbs/proteins/fats I should have a day. I've realized that some days all my eatting still wasn't giving me the calories I needed, which put my body in startvation mode & stored some fat for later on! Make sure to eat your calories & calculate your exercise... you get more calories for that too. Drinking lots of water helps, but definitely eat every 2-3 hours & all of your calories. If you are looking for a good calorie calculator I use Myfitnesspal it works really well for me. Hope that helps & add me as a friend if you'd like or need some support good luck on your weight loss journey!

[Hopeless Dork]

I agree with Jerzee, eating often small meals keeps you burning your calories all day long. Never skip breakfast because when you go to bed at night your metabolism comes to a screeching hault, when you wake up - eating again helps get it started right away and the longer you wait to do so after waking up.. makes it continue to be sluggish throughout your day.

Drinking water as often as possible, keeps your stomach physically full as well as helps to flush out fat when you are losing weight.

I've lost a lot of weight through diet and exercise and have been working on maintaiing that loss for the last couple years and I KNOW that I am a binge eater, I KNOW that I can't be okay with just ONE m&m and I KNOW that the second I allow myself an indulgence I tend to over do it and skid off the road into 'might as well keep on eating I already messed up today' territory. So I know that I have to avoid trigger foods. When you quit eating junk, your body quits craving it, having a little taste of something can bring all those cravings right back. At least for me. So use caution when choosing snacks or nibbles on things that might lead you astray.