I was a compulsive overeater for about 3-4 years, and have finally managed to recover. My main problem with compulsive overeating was a bad body image, which spurred numerous low calorie/ridiculous diets. I would diet, feel deprived of what I liked, therefore binge. I was obsessed with thoughts of food. I finally gave up dieting, but wasn't adjusted to not binging. It was still a big part of my life, although it wasn't as frequent.

Because I stopped dieting and continued to binge, I gained about 20 pounds. I'm 5'1 and 127, whereas I used to be 110 pounds. I would really like to get back to 110 again before I go off to college in about four months. Right now, I eat whatever I want when I'm hungry. I usually eat three bigger meals, and one to two smaller snacks during the day. I no longer am consumed with thoughts of food and no longer have the urge to binge, and I credit most of this to feeling like I'm able to eat what I want - I don't go hungry, and I don't diet.

My weight has stabilized. I'm not gaining any - but I'm not losing, which is what I want. However, I refuse to diet because I know if I do, I will feel once again restricted and fall back into my binging habits, gaining even more weight. How do I overcome this and ultimately lose weight without dieting? It's very frustrating! Am I kidding myself?

Hey you are an inspiration! My advice to you is add some nice walks into your day! It's a nice time to have for just you and it feels so good to get out and get some exercise. I'll bet that will help your metabolism and make you feel great too. Don't go back to dieting, choose healthy foods and try some exercise :-)
Hope that helped!

Hi

I am in exactly the same boat as you. I am 24 and have been bingeing on and off for about 6 years.

I recently bought a great self help therapy book which has really helped me. For the first time in my life I am eating like a normal person and actually have a good relationship with food. I look forward to planning meals and enjoy having control again. The problem is, I too have gained weight. However, I am really scared to even think about dieting because I don't want to go back to binge eating. I already excersize enough and I don't want to train any more because that is how I used to control my weight when I was bingeing. Rather than control my eating I would excersize excessively. It is very difficult to know how to loose weight without dieting. If I let myself go too hungry, I fear that I will go back to my old ways.

I know how you feel, it is very tricky to know what to do.

West.

What has really helped me in the process ISNT cutting foods and all that crap like low carbs and high protein and whatever but this has helped me.

Eating healthful foods with exercise

40-60 min cardio 4X a week with weights!!

Incorporate weights into your lifestyle and you CAN eat more because your body will burn off the food more effieciently because muscle needs more calories than fat. So If you drop fat and gain muscle, youll need more food and you can enjoy more food!!!! Dont cut out foods. Work on the exercise!