My eating disorder seems to be in some kind of a cycle. I was wondering if anyone else was experiencing this or knows what I am talking about. I can't remember exactly when it all started. It just did. It went on for awhile, although at that point I really had no idea what was truly going on. I lost a lot of weight, but after awhile I gained some back. I was still much smaller but I was slightly better. Then it all started again. And this time around it was worse. It was longer, I lost more weight, and I went to greater extremes to do it. Then history repeated itself. I gained some weight back, habits were still bad, but I wasn't as thin as I had been. Next thing I knew, back to the same old lifestyle. At times I had actually thought maybe this whole thing had gone away. Well this pattern happened another time. And now...I haven't gone back to gaining any weight or thinking that maybe I am getting better. This time I know it's not really going to go away. This time I know better. This time around this whole thing has got my life messed up, this time around the extremes have intensified even greater, this time I don't think it's going to stop. I don't know if this cycle is ever going to fade. Is it all downhill from here? Anyone with some feedback would be great. Thanks. :rolleyes: :confused:

I had the same sort of time for the last year. Honestly the only way you have to get through it is when you are having a good period, recognize why it is so and try to remember that motivation. Then, as hard as you can, fight to stay this way for longer. Try new approaches to managing your eating and weight, without getting worse. Eat by a plan and try to wield yourself off of it s l o w l y, after you are comfortable with the choices and the amounts and whatnot. When you feel yourself going down again go back to the meal plan basics, and follow it strictly. It will get repetitive, but I found that this helped me to eventually not go downhill SO much. Hopefully one day the downhills will just disappear! Good luck and keep us posted!

Hi there. I've been through the same thing myself. For almost 9 years I have been battling bulimia. I am also in recovery after seeing a therapist for a year and a half, and the thing that helped me the most was to figure out my issues outside of the eating disorder. I had to discover what it was that was prolonging and triggering my behaviour. I think that is the most important step in full recovery. Setbacks are pretty much inevitable for many of us dealing with this. But the important thing is to get back on track by analysizing what is going on in your life that is making you return to the eating disordered behaviour. Personally, my issues revolve around how I feel as a person...my self-worth and self-esteem. Getting into and trying to maintain bad relationships is always a trigger. But I recognize this and try to deal with the issues head on instead of expressing my emotions through my eating. No matter how far I get in recovery certain things will always bring me back down, so I have to constantly keep this in mind and fight to get back on track. Life with bulimia is horrible, and I know what it feels like to be without it and that's what keeps me motivated to keep at the recovery process. I know it may feel hopeless at times, but just remember that it is not. Figure out what is keeping you there and do whatever it takes to move your life away from those triggers. :angel:

I'm bulimic and an "emotional" binger. So mine cycles all the time with my emotions. The problem with me is that since I'm an "emotional" binger I binge for every emotion. If I'm upset...I binge...If I'm frustrated...I binge...If I'm depressed...I binge...If I'm really happy...I binge. Then I have times when I'm emotionally stable...like the past 4 weeks...so I haven't binged..it cycles like that for me all the time. The key is to find out what is triggering the binges...is it emotions...are you stressed...are you depressed. You should try journalling when you feel a binge coming on so you can pinpoint what it is that's triggering it then work on that factor and see if that helps some. It also helps to have a therapist where you can get some support and feedback. :nono: