Can't figure out why I'm doing this... - Weight Loss Message Board

Peepers · 11-01-2005, 05:48 AM

I'm not sure where to begin. Lately, I've been eating unbelievable amounts of food - some junk, some healthy - but lots of it. I eat until I'm stuffed to the point of pain sometimes. Problem is, I don't know why I'm doing it. Is it depression? Anxiety? Hunger? Obsession? Boredom? I honestly have no idea, but I can't seem to stop. I feel so bloated all the time, like my skin is getting so tight it's going to burst. I've always been about 15 lbs heavier than I want to be, but now it's 30 and climbing. I'm scared, because I can't seem to stop, no matter how hard I try. I am not a weak person, anyone who knows me will tell you that. But I just can't seem to fight this. I guess I should go to my doctor, but how can he give me a solution if I don't know what the problem is? If I tell him I'm depressed or anxious, he can prescribe meds for those things... but I don't know what he can possibly do for me if I can't even tell him why I'm doing this. Sorry to wallow in self-pity; I know my life could be a lot worse... but I'm scared of the health problems that could begin to pop up if I don't get this under control. Guess I just needed to get this out there and vent about it. I don't expect anyone to have all the answers for me, but any input would be appreciated.

Cutie14 · 11-01-2005, 06:17 AM

Wow.. your situation sounds all too familiar to mine. I used to be a very healthy eater and was at a healthy weight.. but with stress and alone time I started doing the exact same thing as you.. it's called binge eating!! Today, 25 pounds heavier than I was 2 years ago I struggle every day to keep it under control.. What happens is that you start to try and diet to lose the pounds that creeped up but then you start becoming so fixated on it that you rebel.. Maybe you are restricting your food too much! That's what I do all the time.. Last week I binged like 3 days in a row.. I ate well for the next three and then binged again this morning. I can't take it anymore either.. you might wanna check out the eating disorders group.. there are a lot of binge eaters over there. Believe me I know what you are going through!!

Peepers · 11-01-2005, 09:28 AM

Thanks Cutie14 - if nothing else, it's nice to know that I'm not alone. Not that I'd wish this on anyone else! I will check out the other group. For some reason, I just assumed that group would be mostly made up of folks with the opposite problem (anorexia or bulimia - sp?). The more I think about it, I'm starting to wonder if maybe part of my problem is anxiety. I've never had a problem with that before, but anything's possible. I have this nasty habit of biting the skin near the sides of my fingernails - kind of hard to explain, but I don't bite the nails, just the skin next to them - and over the last few months, I've been doing it more & more. My fingers actually hurt now because I've been doing it so much lately. Don't know what could be causing anxiety (if that's what it is), but that sure seems like it could be part of my problem. Anyway... I will check the other board. Thanks again for your reply, and good luck to you!