Almost four year out and struggling with binge eating...

Lori - I have this issue as well. Albeit not as severe as when I was SMO, but it still happens for me. In fact, i would bet that most of us can relate. Thanks for sharing such a personal issue, and be assured you are not alone. I posted on your blog (with my email) and would love to hear from you.

Dawn

Thanks Dawn!  I look forward to talking and accepting your pearls of wisdom on this subject!

Xoxo,

Lori

It's your nerves and the stress you're under with your cir****tances!  Get yourself some help to ease you through this..........love ya kiddo!  Hope to see you in the near future!

Love you too, Diane!  xoxo

You are not alone!!
Not that that is a solution but it is a bit of comfort.
At nearly 5 years out...I still have head issues and do any binging in private and even if I am not binging but am eating something crappy at work (like chips or a candy bar) I do it secretively and feel ashamed when I am buying it.  Like they are all looking at me waiting for me to fail at this and like they are seeing me at 280lbs. Even though NOT ONE of these people has ever seen me overweight and none of them even know I used to be overweight.

Darn head issues.

But, I am trying to lose regain so I am being good. But I know my limits. I want nothing more than to sit down and eat a bag of double stuff oreos. It has been more than 3 months since I have had an oreo and I STILL crave them. But, it is easier for me to NOT buy them than to control myself if they are in the house.

If they were in the house...the bag would be gone in 2 days, 3 tops. That's disgusting. But reality.
I don't buy chips because I can't control myself. I am getting better but I still can't be trusted.

There is no accountability after 9pm when everyone has gone to bed.

So, I too fear this is going to be a lifelong battle but as was said before, we all have battles and this isn't nearly as bad as some others.

You can do this!! And take care of yourself, whatever that looks like... (therapist, meds, etc.)

mmmmm....whoever made the first Oreo should just be shot.  Seriously, my favorite cookie on the planet....Fudge Stripes fall right behind.  OMG< don't get me started!  Lol!  I hear you on the no accountabiltiy past 9pm.  I try to make myself stay in my bedroom to avoid the binge monster!  It works MOST of the time. 

I'm in the same boat as you trying to lose some regain.  I'm up 37 pounds from my lowest weight right now, though my lowest weight was nothing to compare me to now since I was underweight then.  It still plays with my head, trying to figure out what weight is normal.

Hugs to you as you work on losing your weight.  Let me know if there's any way I can support you.  I just started doing Zumba three weeks ago and it's completely transformed my fitness life.  I LOVE it!  If you haven't tried it, I highly recommend that you do!

xoxo,

Lori

 I'm like you....I still keep my binges under wraps.   I also plan binges for when I know people are not going to be at home.   I still feel the need to "treat" myself.    Although I try to do it with DS friendly splurges, I am not nearly as successful as frequently as I'd like to be.    I was never a potato chip eater before my DS (at least not to access) but I LOVE chips post-DS.    Normally, I'll buy one of those little 99 cent bags once a week or so, but the other day I bought a big bag at Walmart.   That sucker was gone in ONE DAY.    I told my DH, "please don't let me do that again."

Believe me Julie...I so understand!  I really try quite hard to stay on the up and up, but sometimes I simply cave.  And it's not like I cave to ONE 99 cent bag of chips...more like the damned family size bag of chips and a family sized bag of chocolate.  Le sigh...

Oh yeah, was a binger, still am...

My therapist's favorite saying: "When under stress, we regress."
So very true.

The DS is a powerful tool, but it doesn't change our brain, or our long-ingrained coping mechanisms.

I've fought the "something's missing" feeling many times since the DS. This may be why some land into an alternate addiction. Take away the numbing power of food, and some turn to alcohol, sex, whatever.

I, like you, don't have the answer. But being aware of the problem is at least 80% of the way there. Be aware of what you are doing to cope. Find ways to limit the damage or long-term effects. Definitely stay in therapy. If you are off meds recently, that could have caused a flare up. Maybe it's time to consider going back or trying new?

Hugs. Remember it's a journey, and don't be too harsh on yourself.

my sister once gave me a book about positive addicitons and I thought it was very interesting as we really do have a choice of how we channel our addictive energies . . .mine can go to shopping or men or even the gym . .maybe I was also a binge eater by hearing you describe your behaviors except mine was modified by having a small pouch from stomach stapling for 25 years . .but I have a sugar addiction for sure. . .and was always grazing all day. It's one of those day-at a time things we deal with the way an alcoholic deals with not taking a drink I guess - but doing the DS food and alternate kind of binging might be as good as it gets for us unless we dinf something else we enjoy to keep us busy it seems . .