Neecee O.
I am the oldest of five children. When we became adults, it was revealed over time that every one of us has battled an eating disorder (ED). What that knowledge did was very powerful - it caused me to nurture myself more, know that somehow, whether it is a genetic thing, or circumstance, I was not the only one affected.
Pretty much we are all binge-purgers, one exception is my baby sis, who is strictly anorexic. Now that we are all well over 40, it has subsided, but as you know, ED never really goes away completely.
My personal journey has included my aha moment that all of my bad habits, smoking, using drugs, etc., were really an attempt to control the real monster, my ED. Luckily for me, I went to OA and learned many principles that help me to this day. One of the most important that is a guiding principle: eat regular, balanced meals and snacks. The balance comes from including vegetables in my case - this is something i have to work at.
I am left with a body I have abused; my metabolism is trashed. One bright side is that one symptom of pinge/purge is excessive exercise, which I still possess, I just turned it into more of a hobby. I'm not sure anyone can successfully have a life-style of daily exercise without being a little compulsive. Looks like I turned this bad word (compulsion) into something that works for me. I shudder to think how fat i might be without that. (see, i'm still sick)
Most recently to budge that damnable scale, I am seeing a bariatric doctor. He prescribes phendimetrazine, an anorectic. Bascially, I am eating bariatric food every couple hours, mixing in vegetables on a good day. At night, eating a reasonable meal with my DH.
