What exactly is a binge? Is it the number of calories you consume within a small period of time? Or, say, if you eat 100-200 calories or so and feel the need to purge because of it--is that a binge?

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Sorry, I can't help you there. I've never binged, maybe that's why I can't seem to throw up. As far as I know, it's when you eat a very large quantity of food at one time, it doesn't matter what kind, and quite often is followed by throwing up. But that's just my opinion, I don't really know for sure.
Ashlee

A binge is when you eat and feel out of control. the quantity of food differs from person to person, there's no real set number of calories. Generally, binges are when large amounts of food are consumed, but not always. I've heard of 200 calorie binges, and I've heard of 15 000 calorie binges. Binges aren't always followed by purging, though. I think purging is a separate thing that just happens to usually follow a binge. And remember that purging isn't just throwing up - it's also abusing laxatives and/or over-exercising. I hope this has helped a bit with answering your question, and please anyone correct me if I am wrong!

Fiona

Yeah, Fiona's right. Technically any amount of calories is a binge if it really freaks you out and you have to purge. Mine are usually about 3000 calories, though. Anyway, don't even get started throwing up/using laxs/etc. because it will just add one more complication to your life.

Plus, I personally think that it's even worse for your body than anorexia, as long as your arn't extremely skinny. Lately my chest hurts some, like in the spot of my heart, so that's kind of freaked me out some and I've layed off the binging/purging.

I don't ever do it more than once a day (hardly) and I've heard of some folks who do it up to 30 times a day. It takes over your life more than anorexia even does. It's easier to recover from anorexia in my opinion too (as someone who's had both). Just take it one day at a time and you will get through this! http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif

Thanks, everyone, for answering. I knew I binged a little, but usually only 500 calories or so, and I wasn't sure if that qualified. Then I take laxatives. I've tried vomiting, but I don't have the willpower. Those dumb laxatives make my stomach hurt so much, but I take them anyway... How do you stop?

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my q's the opposite-how do yuo get laxatives? what kinda do you use
luv and luck, http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/heart.gif
Rachel

lissa

this is going to sound kinda stupid, but I have been gettingmyself off laxatives by making a bet. My boyfriend wanted me to stop using them (and I wanted to stop, too), so we said this thing that if I used them, I had to pay him $20. Afer losing the bet a few times (and I really couldn't afod to lose), I cut WAYYYY back on my laxative use. I actually haven't used them since September http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif I would suggest you do a lot of reading on the dangerous effects of lax. abuse, that stuff is really an eye-opener. I think CloudyDaze has a lot of information on that.

Fiona

How do I get laxatives? I don't think I understand that question... I've been using Surfac. A couple years ago I was having trouble with gut pains (not from an ED), and a nurse recommended it. It was only recently that I started abusing them. The funny thing is, I don't know why. I hate them. And I take them anyway. It doesn't make sense. I threw the rest of the box out today because they were making me so sick... Plus, knowing that my only option for purging now is vomiting, maybe I won't binge as much. I HATE throwing up. I can't make myself do it.

And I don't think I want to know the problems associated with the laxatives. I know it can't be good. I've only used them for a month, so hopefully it takes longer than that for the negative effects to pop up.

Thank you all. Your advice has helped a lot. Any more ideas would be welcome. I'd love to hear them.

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Laxatives are normally used when someone is constipated and they need to have a bowel. Eating disorder victims commonly use them to try to "rid themselves" of food and cals quicker, when in truth, they aren't doing anything accept causing just more damage to the body.

By the time the food reaches the colon, which is where the laxatives work, the calories have already been separated and digested by the body. Then, after the food does come out, within about 48 hours the body retains water to make up for all of it that it has lost. The person that took the lax are left feeling bloated and 5lbs heavier.

Repeated laxative abuse is not only a waste of money, but it can be deadly to your health. It can cause rupturing and ulcers are VERY common. The more and more time that is spent abusing these pills or suppositories , the more the body becomes immune to the affects and pretty soon up to 90-100 pills have to be taken in order for them to work. The worst part is pretty soon you are unable to have a bowel unless you take lax. I have had friends that took them for as little as 2 months and they couldn't "go" for up to a month because of the laxatives. The body soon loses control of the rectum and you may wake up in the middle of the night lying in feces or you could be walking in a store and all of a sudden "it" is in your underwear. Severe abdominal pain is common and so is chronic diarrhea, gas, and nausea during and after laxative abuse.

Laxatives should only be used as nature intended them to be because if taken when un-needed, they don't rid cals, they don't rid weight, and all they actually do is promote water retention problems and more medical dangers than it's worth.

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