Help! I can't stop eating. - Eating Disorder Recovery Message Board

Erinbabe · 09-12-2003, 07:59 PM

Well I'm new here so I suppose I'll explain my problem. Basically I can't stop eating. It's horrible. My weight keeps yo-yoing up and down and now its the worst its ever been.

The catch is that I dont eat a tub of ice cream at once, or a box of cookies one sitting mainly because I have so many allergies (wheat, shugar, cow dairy, Beef and eggs) that I can't buy junk food or pizza - what I do instead is eat constnatly throughout the day - I'll eat every hour or so. I have to eat or I go crazy. I never feel full! Not totally full anyways and for some reason I allways feel more secure when I am totally full. When I'm not full I just have to put something in my mouth - and if I happen to not be able to eat at that moment all I think of is food. When I get home I rush to the fridge and eat and eat and eat. It's not nessearily bad food - just sooo much of it that it's crazy. I dont know what to do - and my weight is increasing and I feel horrible about myself (5'7 and 170). I used to work out a lot, but now I cant even get myself to do that. Does anybody have any clue how to stop this?

Your suggestions would really be appreciated.

mochi · 09-15-2003, 02:00 AM

Hi Erin!
I am so sorry to hear about what you are going through. I ahd a very similar problem a few years ago. I would eat and eat and eat all day. If I wasn't eating I was thinking about eating or planning meals. I didn't even realize how much I was eating at times. My binge eating eventually developed into bulimia. But, I have been well for the last year, luckily. It soundas like you have a binge eating disorder. I think it coule be partly emotional and partly nutritional. I had a very similar diet as you when my disorder began, and it ended when I added eggs and dairy back into my diet. Have you had any especially stressful experiences lately? That is why my disorder began. I suggest you see a nutritionst and a psycologist both that deal specifically with binge eating disorders. Good luck!

paperdoll · 09-16-2003, 04:42 PM

hey erin! i can SO relate. i think i must be the queen of bingeing. the whole reason i even started purging was because i would eat so much i could barely walk. when i decided to stop the bulimia, it became clear to me that the real problem, for me, was bingeing. and it is a big problem. i've been doing really well for about almost a year, and i look great, 130 on 5'4". i tried a lot of things before i found my solution. i tried a bunch of stuff that involved adressing the emotional issues behind overeating, and paying close attention to when you're body's full, and slowing down and really enjoying your food. didn't work. i honestly think i have no satiety signals in my brain. what i do now, and i swear by it, is i plan out exactly what i'm going to eat and when the night before. i'm a little flexible with myself on when i eat, like i don't make myself sit down to have lunch at exactly one o'clock, but i stay within a certain period of time for meals. and i don't eat even one bite that isn't on the plan. i know that sounds strict, but i'm not restricting my food, i get enough calories and nutrition, i've just found that if i decide to eat what i want when i want like most normal people it gets out of control really quickly. sometimes friends will decide let's all go for ice cream or something, and i'll go but not eat. if i have a craving for something i'll plan on having it tomorrow. i know this sounds a little nutty, but it's made me very healthy and happy and back in control of my life. i also like being full, but i just tell myself a firm no to whatever's not on the menu for today. it's been well worth it. but i know this method is not for everyone--i was an obese child and teenager before i became bulimic, so i was willing to do something so stringent to be able to get rid of the problem. just an idea i thought i's share, good luck.