/r/BingeEatingDisorder

Photograph via snooOG

A supportive group for those who struggle with Binge Eating Disorder and compulsive overeating.

A support group for those who struggle with Binge Eating Disorder and compulsive overeating. Binge Eating Disorder (BED)

is an eating disorder that is characterized by recurrent episodes of binge eating without the use of measures to counter the binge eating like purging. It accounts for approximately 1-5% of the general population.

Symptoms include frequent episodes of consuming extremely large quantities of food until feeling sick, but does not include self-induced vomiting after. Typically, one will feel out of control while binging, and commonly will feel extreme shame after. BED is a very serious eating disorder that leads to obesity, diabetes, high cholesterol, depression, and many other health issues.

Those who struggle with frequent episodes of binge eating are also welcome. We are not professionals, and cannot diagnose anybody. There will be no judging, and all unsupportive comments will be removed.

Official /r/BingeEatingDisorder Discord Server

/r/BingeEatingDisorder

91,477 Subscribers

2

I Can't Live With or Without Calorie Counting

Does anyone else struggle with feeling like they might be eating too much, even if they’re not overfull? I’m confident I’m not binge eating, but I recently took a break from calorie counting, and now I’m starting to worry that I might be overdoing it without tracking. Has anyone here successfully lost weight without counting calories? I don’t think calorie counting is bad, but I’d prefer not to rely on it forever. I’d love to hear your experiences! I had U2 stuck in my head, so that's where I got the heading from.

3 Comments
2024/12/02
02:12 UTC

2

Why must I eat so much at once?

I just got done throwing up for the second time this week because I once again ate more than my stomach could handle. I wasn't even hungry. I was told by my doctor that one of the reasons I throw up so frequently is because I have a plethora of food intolerances. She told me to decrease my portion sizes so as to allow my body to more easily handle the foods I'm intolerant to, but it's been hard. I'm very all or nothing when it comes to eating, so it's either I eat large portions of the foods I constantly crave, or I don't eat these foods at all. I just can't seem to control myself. Whenever I see food, I just want to go crazy. Anyways, that's all.

0 Comments
2024/12/02
01:43 UTC

1

How to have snacks on hand without binging them?

I’m pre-diabetic, and if I go too long between meals, my blood sugar drops and then my body gets ravenously hungry and I end up frantically eating my next meal.

I really need to plan some healthy snacks in-between meals…but all of the types of foods I would want to snack on, I purposely don’t keep in my home because I will binge on them.

I do have veggies & fruit…but sometimes that just isn’t what I want.

I also don’t really have money on hand to just go out and buy stuff.

What should I do?

1 Comment
2024/12/02
01:42 UTC

4

Within the past two days I’ve had 3 cakes, 2 on Friday and 1 today. I hid the containers in a drawer and now they’re gone.

I’m going to expose everything about myself here because it’s too much to keep in and I feel so shitty.

I exploit DoorDash and Uber eats. Exploit as in I report food as undelivered because I’m 17 and still don’t have a job. I use my parents credit card to pay then get a refund for free food. I’ve done this 3 times now despite knowing that it affects the drivers and it’s so shitty of me I know. I’m a scumbag but I don’t know, like I just can’t stop anymore

On Friday I ordered $80 of sweets. I ate 1 entire container of Ben & Jerry’s and some ruffles before going to the toilet and c/sing 3 double caramel ice cream bars, an entire massive cheesecake, and toblerone cheesecake with Nutella. I hated myself so much by the end of it I started to cry

Yesterday I didn’t get to continue it because my mom was home. Funny how that’s the only thing stopping me because when I move out next year for university I know it’s over for me. My mom just so happened to use my bathroom and scrubbed the toilet with that cleaner thingy, but I used it the day before to clean the chocolate stains from the toilet. My mom exploded at me saying I cut myself and how the chocolate stains from the cleaner was old blood. But it wasn’t, but like, how was I supposed to tell her I spent 2 hours on the floor on Friday shoving cake into my mouth then spitting it out over the toilet?

Today I just ate half a chocolate cake and c/sed the rest. I feel so sick I want to die. Then I went to put this container with the rest in my drawer and the containers from Friday are gone. My heart dropped so far. I don’t know what to do when my mom comes home because I know she found them while looking for blades because I’ve been cutting myself a lot lately

I used to be anorexic and didn’t eat any junk food at all. I don’t know what happened to me. It hurts so much, how did I become such an insatiable pig

5 Comments
2024/12/02
01:18 UTC

1

Up and down

I was doing good, about two weeks without bingeing and now I’m back to “excessive night snacking” - I haven’t back to full binge mode but I feel like that’s where this ship is headed… even with all the positive results like not feeling bloated in the mornings and losing a couple pounds… none of it is motivating enough to be done with binging. I feel so angry at myself, disappointed and frustrated. Why do I keep going down this road? Over and over and over again? I just want things to be different but fear I’m just stuck in this cycle forever, it really feels like a prison at time

0 Comments
2024/12/02
00:32 UTC

2

Meal kit services for one person

I'm sorry if this sort of question isn't allowed, but I'm hoping for some advice.

I tend to binge far less when I take time to prepare a well balanced meal, as opposed to "easy" things like making a pizza. I had hello fresh in the past and it worked well for me, however the meal plans all come with 2 person serving sizes and I'm currently single. All the meal kit plans I've found seem to be for 2 or more people. People tell me, just eat one serving and the other is your meal tomorrow, but the problem is once I start eating it's hard to stop and I know I'm going to end up eating both servings.

Is anyone aware of companies that sell single person meal kits?

4 Comments
2024/12/02
00:09 UTC

3

can bingeing stretch your ribs outwards?

I (15f) can't find any information on this, but I've been binge eating HARD for a month straight after attempting to recover from a restrictive ed. Due to the severity of the restriction, I'm unable to feel full anymore and I sometimes experience delayed gastric emptying, so all of the food stays in my upper stomach and I've struggled to breathe for days.

My ribs are in extreme pain and feel like they are being stretched out, is it possible that they could be being moved? And if so, how can I prevent this?

3 Comments
2024/12/01
23:55 UTC

8

setting december intentions

Every month i say "im not gonna binge eat" and then fail. Im trying to set my intentions right this time. A big trigger for me is artifical processed sugars so I will try my best to keep those away. I will try to stay busy and prioritize my body

1 Comment
2024/12/01
23:06 UTC

2

Tips and tricks to end BED?

Hi, I’m a 23 year old Med student and I recently realized that my eating habits haven’t been normal over the past 10 years. I always thought, I sometimes had huge cravings. My roommate eats always Chocolate in her room, but has 17.5 BMI. So I thought, my body is just different and I easily gain weight. I always struggled with weight loss. Since I’m getting heavier over the time, I realised this isn’t normal. These eating episodes aren’t just cravings, these were Binge episodes. Now I know since october 2024 I’ve definitely got BED.

I’ve not enough money for expensive Psychotherapy, but I still wanna fight it. I’m having depression because of how my body is rn. Since I’m a med student it makes it worse. My mother tells me, why you gaining so much weight, aren’t u a med student? Don’t u feel ashamed of treating patients, if your self looked like this? I dont wanna tell her that I’ve BED, they probably don’t know that it exists.

Does anyone have tips and tricks? Book recommendations? Youtube channels? Podcasts?

1 Comment
2024/12/01
22:28 UTC

2

help break binge

ive been doing so good the past few weeks then smth triggered me yesterday and i m cant stop binging... been shoving everything possible down my throat feeling like an actual gacuum... feeling like an absolute loser but cant stop at the same time... can anyone give me some reasons to stop plz 😭😭😭 literally anything

4 Comments
2024/12/01
22:05 UTC

3

Anybody have any Boston/MA based BED therapy recommendations?

I find when searching for clinicians most are geared towards anorexia and bulimia. I would like to find someone who really gets this disease as I can't afford to be wasting money on therapy that doesn't work.

2 Comments
2024/12/01
22:00 UTC

0

teen struggling with binging

im 15f, 160cm and i fluctuate from 57-61kg Around 2 years ago i tried to lose weight by eating 500-700 calories per day and as a result i dropped from 55kg to 49kg in a month, obviously i gained this weight and more back. Ever since i’ve had such a bad relationship with food, it’s just been a cycle of binging and restricting, then eating fine one day, going to the gym just to end up binging at night, being in a calorie defect, eating my maintenance calories. Nothing works. I just feel hungry all the time and i just feel like an endless pit, and so greedy. However it’s been so bad these past couple of days and i don’t know why, i ate around 4000 calories yesterday and 3000 today- my maintenance is around 1800. All of my friends eat whatever they want at their own leisure but i just feel like i need to track my calories and meal plan to the exact decimal or else i’ll just lose control over my eating for that day. I’m only 15 and i dont wanna care about food this much but i’m scared if i dont fix my relationship with food it’s just gonna haunt me for the rest of my future.

1 Comment
2024/12/01
20:29 UTC

5

Infinite hunger

I wrestle at a certain weight and I keep binging and having to lose the weight to get back into the weight I need to be I have a crazy problem I feel hungry every second even after I’ll have a snack I constantly think about eating again I also live in a very high stress environment. I used to smoke weed and nicotine and this helped me feel better now I became sober and I do not have these things and I’m honestly just thinking about giving up and going back to drugs because I can’t cope with bad feelings and high stress personally this is the most I’ve ever binged in years 😭

2 Comments
2024/12/01
20:25 UTC

6

I eat cause I hate myself

I tell myself every day that I'll start cutting down the calories, that I'll start working out seriously, and that I will finally be fit for once in my life. I'll do it for a day and then I'll stuff my mouth with whatever I can find doesn't even need to taste good sometimes I'll do it the same day I decide to change.

I do this because I hate myself. I am a bad person no matter what anyone tells me I know I'm a bad person cause no one knows the real me. I don't deserve to be fit so why should I treat myself. So I eat and eat and eat and eat and eat and eat and eat and eat sometimes even consuming 15k calories in one day cause I don't deserve to skinny.

1 Comment
2024/12/01
19:42 UTC

3

Working Out

Hey guys, Ive struggled with binge for about 2 years now and am recently in recovery. I want to get back into working out but I am scared to since it would just trigger a lot of unhealthy thoughts around food and calories. I really loved how it made me feel before the disorder. I was just wondering if any of you know how to stop that noise or that voice that keeps talking about it.

Thanks :)

1 Comment
2024/12/01
18:05 UTC

1

Do you think the FDA will ever approve GLP-1 medications for BED?

I‘ve recently been prescribed vyvanse for my BED and it has helped quite a bit with controlling my appetite and impulse control. However, it seems like GLP-1 medications are have some promising results for the treatment for BED. While vyvanse was originally made for ADHD, it was later approved for BED. Would GLP-1 medicines, first made for diabetes, in the same way later be approved for BED?

8 Comments
2024/12/01
17:12 UTC

1

How to stop binge eating

I need serious help. Okay so a little background info. (This is gonna be a long post) I started my weightloss journey when i was 15. Lost a total of 22kg in 2 years while doing calorie deficit +cardio and was really happy with my body. I would struggle sometimes with binging urges but would still be able to fit my cravings in my deficit. I was enjoying all of my favourite foods in moderation and was really happy. But still decided to continue losing weight and developped an ED. Then dropped 14kgs more this past year. I restricted myself too much of my favourite foods. And now ever since october 13 something inside me was triggered. I decided to "recover" because i was still not satisfied with my body.

On october 13th my friends were over to celebrate my birthday. We ate lunch then ate cake (huge trigger food). I felt really off and couldn't wait for them to leave. I felt really sad like there was a hole inside of me. I saw how they were looking at me like they pity me because i look sick. They all looked healthy and happy. I envied them. Even though i was skinnier(extremely underweight) which was supposed to make me happier, i was just not satisfied with my body and how i look. Once they finally left, i turned to the only thing that could comfort me, food. I ate everything that was on the table, ate the whole cake, crying histerically. Feeling sick. Felt like puking(can't physically make myself puke). But still continued eating. Ever since that day, the binges never stoped. I have been binging every single day. Managed to gain a total of 12kg. But this was not how i was willing to gain weight. I wanted to do this little by little. Like increasing my calorie intake every 2 days, so my stomach wouldn't "stretch" that much and would be able to digest the food consumed (since i haven't been eating normally before). I feel like absolute sh*t after every episode. I convince myself that this thing won't happen again tomorrow. That i'll start eating "healthy" and try eating 3 seperate meals, but nothing is working, i always end up binging. The beginning of my binges were mainly fruits (plums and peaches). I'm talking like 5kg worth of fruits every. Single. Day.(don't ask how my stomach was able to handle it) Then started binging on protein bars. I thought the fruit binges were normal because fruits were simply made of water and not filling. But once i started binging on protein bars, i knew it was serious. I'm talking 12-20 bars in 1 sitting, then i'd feel like my blood glucose was really hight and would go eat handfuls of nuts to top it all off. I mean i wouldn't have a problem with this if it happened once a month or even once a week. But it's been happening every day. This past week, decided to stop buying protein bars because i thought they were the reasons to my binges. The next day i wake up, feeling like it was gonna be a fresh start, and that "i'll do this the right way this time". Big mistake. I walk to the kitchen. Start healthy by eating apple. Then decide to eat greek yogurt with toast. Then go and munch on some nuts. Eat spoonfuls of peanut butter. Toat, peanut butter, nutella. I don't stop until the whole loaf of bread is finished. Then eat more nuts. Then open a can of corn and eat that with feta cheese. Start searching for chocolate. Open my sibling's drawer of chocolates and finish it. I felt like absolute shit. 2 months ago i would have NEVER imagined myself going near sugar and now i just can't stop consuming it. It has become an addiction. I can't control myself around it And it has been like this every day. I can't stop myself until i eat everything and feel like puking.

Now there can be many reasons for this.

  1. The reason why i decided to recover from @na were my parents. But i wasn't fully convinced of the idea. I just decided to eat more in front of them so they wouldn't get worried that i wasn't eating.

The binge episodes were mainly happening when they weren't home, so once it was time for lunch or dinner, i would already be too uncomfortable to eat, so i simply wouldn't eat. They thought i was back to my old eating habits and we would fight (even to this day) about it. One day, my mom was home when i was binging (i ate chicken, rice, cucumber, apple, peanuts, almonds, cashews, cereal, peanut butter, nutella, whole loaf of bread, pasta, 2 kitkats, 3 protein bars, greek yogurt, then she was making lasagna so i ate that too). She was simply watching me. I think something inside me knew that she was happy that i was eating and especially in this huge quantity so i was carrying it on. I wasn't able to stop myself. But i was enjoying it (i love food too much and feel so free when i'm eating). But even after seeing all that she tells people that i'm not eating enough, she still thinks i'm @norexic. Every. Single. Morning. I hear my parents talking about how "i'm not eating enough" and i think that's triggering my binges and causing me not to stop eating. I decided to talk with her about it. All she said was "that's okay, you need it (binging) anyway, can't you see how disgusting u look, i'm ashamed to even tell people that you're my daughter". What a great mother right? She knows how much i hate it when she comments on my body. She does it on purpose. She knows it'll trigger my binging. And she loves it. I know how much she's enjoy this. I'm losing it. I hate how i'm "letting her win". Because no matter what i'm doing, it's ME that's being affected. Nothing's happening to her. She's enjoying every moment of this. And still going around telling people that i'm not eating enough. That i'm too "thin". That i need help. Worst part is that my dad comes home late so he wouldn't see me eat at all. He asks my mom what i've eaten and she ofc tells him that i haven't eaten anything. Which is making it worse cause my dad was the main reason i wanted to recover( that day was the first time i saw him crying ).

  1. University. Too much stress. I'm not sure i'm liking my major. I have to improve my grades. I have too many assignments and can't manage my time especially with all of these issues going around which might be triggering my binging even more.

  2. I don't have friends.

I mean i did this to myself. I isolated myself too much and didn't check up on any of my high school friends during the whole summer because i was too busy "working".

  1. Summer job

Okay i think this is the main reason why yhis is happening. Summer was the time i started eating only once per day because of my working hours. I would wake up at 11am. Eat one big meal. Work till 11pm. Go to sleep. Every day. I think i got used to eating only once. So now i can't stop eating once i start because i "have to eat from everything" to satisfy all my cravings. (The only thing that was stopping me from binging during summer was that i had to hurry up before i'm late to work)

5.parents Again. I think something inside me liked how they were giving me more attention after my binges. Every time i would finish eating, i'd tell them how i'm gonna throw up and my dad would ofc get mad at me telling me how "i did this to myself" but would tell me to take this pill or to try to sleep or to drink tea. I liked the attention. I've been craving my parent's attention during the whole summer since i wasn't even able to see them (i was working 12 hours every day).

  1. Love life

I think part of this hole in my heart is simply because i just want a partner. I've never experienced love. All my life i've been focused on loosing weight. Never looked or talked to boys. Now i'm just craving someone's touch.

  1. The protein bars that i've been binging on are stolen. So i think this is some kind of "punishment".

8.cardio U ofc might be wondering how i've been able to handle all these binges every day. I've been hula hooping every day 5-9 hrs) as a "punishment" to burn the cals. Abusing my body every day. Which might be triggering my mind even more because "i know that i'll burn them anyways later".

  1. I haven't been going out much

Since i don't have any friends anymore, i've been staying home, near food so normally all i'm gonna do is eat the whole day.

  1. I'm not eating with my family and not portioning my meals

I KNOW that if i sit with my family like a normal human being, i would control my portioning and not binge(my binges are only triggered when i'm alone). But it still hasn't happened because every day i tell myself "i won't eat today" then once everyone leaves the kitchen i run to the fridge forgetting everything and start eating mindlessly.

  1. My eating habits

I usually never portion my meals. I eat while standing. Without a plate. I eat straight from the container. So my mind is convinced that what i ate was "just a snack" and is never satisfied. Plus all the things i'm eating aren't even filling.

  1. Water

I usually never drink water. So my mind confuses thirst with hunger and there's more place in my stomach for food.

I feel like there are more reasons. I'll update once i figure them out.

0 Comments
2024/12/01
17:02 UTC

0

Anyone out there who has BED and is thin? How do you do it?

I'm sorry if this is an insensitive question

But im afraid of gaining weight and I officially have BED now

If you are thin how do you do it? Maybe you have an excercise routine or a diet

I can't believe my BED is officially back

I am thinking of skipping work tomorrow because I will be bloated and fat

Edit, please I don't want to hear about how I shouldn't be thinking about my weight now

21 Comments
2024/12/01
17:00 UTC

0

Health

Hello, I will talking about weight and other eating disorders.

I am underweight for my height and age. People mistake me for anorexic. My parents thought I was starving myself for a very long time because I would never eat in front of them. Little did they know I would wait until everyone was asleep to bring the pantry to my room to feast until I was sick. This is a very sick way of thinking but, I wanted to be anorexic for the longest time. I felt inadequate when I couldn't starve myself. I didn't know what binge eating was at the time.

I go to the doctor because my muscles are deteriorating, my joints hurt, and I sprain my back with a sneeze. I tell my doctor I have been the same weight since I was in 7th grade. She tells me she can prescribe something to increase my appetite. I tell her my appetite is NOT a problem, in fact it is too big. She labels me a binge eater, she labels me noncompliant with treatment because I won't take drugs she offers without her knowing more about my problems or without my knowledge of side affects and long-term use.

I am malnourished despite the fact I eat more than my dad. My body won't absorb nutrients from any of the food I eat, so I continue to feel hungry. No matter how much I eat I continue to be underweight. I feel this constant hunger that continues to grow as I shrink. Sometimes I think I may have a tapeworm.

Sometimes I think people only value me because I'm "pretty". I know I set myself up for this one but, I ask my ex partner if he'd still love me if I gained 100lbs. He said that would be impossible. He said he would no longer find me attractive.

Weight is very much tied to my unstable self image. Some days I want to be emaciated. Some days I want to be fat. It's unattainable. If I met my goal for one day it'd change the next. People feel the need to make MANY comments about my appearance. "Your bones are showing" "Do your parents feed you?" "You need to eat a burger" I DO I DO. I eat until I'm laying in the fetal position wishing for death.

2 Comments
2024/12/01
16:46 UTC

1

Therapist canceled appointment

I just found a new therapist and the day before Thanksgiving she canceled our second appointment. I wasn't getting good vibes from her anyway but the day before Thanksgiving? Really? No reason why just canceled. Yes, I have been binge eating off and on all weekend.

4 Comments
2024/12/01
16:03 UTC

2

Battling this ED for 13+ years & losing hope

Today marks day 1 of me attempting to once again bounce back from a severe, month-long binging relapse. For about 3 months I was binge-free and was running 5 days a week. It was incredibly effective in all but eliminating my desire to binge eat. I got injured at the end of October and have been binging / over-eating almost every day this month, sending me into a deep and dark depressive state. Because I'm on crutches I can't move or walk around but I've still managed to sneak binge foods into the house. I've been gaining weight and can barely fit into my clothing. I am so depressed that I sleep in my daytime clothing, am up every night until 3-4am, and basically spend everyday in a vegetative state unless I'm eating or at work.

I have been in a binge/restrict cycle for over 13 years (started in 2011-12 at age 12) and I am beginning to lose all hope. I just got out of a 5 year relationship in March and since then the cycle has been at an all-time high (reaching record low weights and having record number of binges). I injured myself and put myself on crutches from running so much to avoid binging. But once on crutches I just ended up binging everyday and losing 150% of my progress anyway.

I am reaching the end of my willpower to continue on. I've been to outpatient treatment 3x and inpatient 1 time. My family is no longer in a position where asking for support or help is an option. I am in therapy once a week paying out of pocket but to no avail.

I am basically at the end of the line here in terms of options / methods to try and stop this cycle. Literally any advice, resources, ideas, things that worked for others in a similar position would be helpful at this point.

I feel like I'm on the verge of becoming completely incapacitated. It's a miracle that I get up for work at this point, but I have to be physically shaken awake.

1 Comment
2024/12/01
15:56 UTC

8

Why do compliments on my recent weight loss trigger my binging?

For the holidays, I saw old friends and they all complimented me on my weight loss (my binging has been less frequent so that tracks).

But for some reason, it makes me binge more. I mean, it's Thanksgiving so maybe it's unrelated.

But if anything, wouldn't it trigger starving? What's going on?😂

I'm lost and wanted to seek advice / understanding / support on navigating the upcoming holiday season.

1 Comment
2024/12/01
15:54 UTC

2

Had a really bad binge

I just got home today and I am Gonna go on a cut because I want to so ai decided to have whatever I want today so I binged on peanuts, has a shit ton of peanuts and a really heavy tuna and chicken salad in the morning. Then I also had some sweets because I have a major sweet tooth. I just threw up so much and I was in pain. I hate how society expects women to be skinny and have the flattest stomachs and the extents women have to go through including me. Obviously I am going to be eating super clean from tomorrow onwards, best of luck to me. I will try my best.

1 Comment
2024/12/01
15:52 UTC

33

I AM DONE!!! Enough of this

Typing this as I…am having discomfort which is keeping me up and I’m on the toilet 💩. Feeling awful, bloated, full, my head feels weird…a bit nauseous. I binged again last night. I don’t wanna do this anymore. I just wanna remember this current feeling so that I don’t do this shit again. I’ve said before I’d be done but ofc that’s hard. But now…forreal…it’s simply not worth it, in ANY WAY. All this for 10 mins of pleasure?! It’s ridiculous. My mind and body are both tired of this. Wanted to also write this here to hold myself accountable. I know how hard this is yall but we can do this. It’s truly just not worth it 😭 and I know we all know this and it’s easier said than done, but…I wish us all success with this terrible illness.

9 Comments
2024/12/01
13:51 UTC

1

I ate a whole box of ice creams

Is this bad or a sign of binge eating? Every second to third day I seem to be eating to much sweet stuff. Like two days ago I ate an entire chocolate bar. Then 5 days ago it was an entire frozen chic chip ice cream cake thingy. My other meals through the day are very healthy though. Lots of salads, wraps, oats, vegetables etc. but for some reason I can't help binging lately on a lot of sugar every 2-5 days. I'm currently pregnant so I'm not sure if that is why, or if I'm actually beginning to show signs of binging?

1 Comment
2024/12/01
13:30 UTC

0

Best strategies to stop compulsive eating

I’d love to hear everyone’s most helpful strategies to stop compulsively eating. I’m doing well on my binge recovery (probably down to 1 binge per month on average) but I still compulsively eat, especially in the evenings. It’s better when I keep myself occupied with things that are more active but I don’t always have the energy for that. And I still eat to self-soothe at times.

So, what’s really worked for you? Thanks in advance for sharing!

0 Comments
2024/12/01
13:07 UTC

7

December Recovery Challenge Day 1 Check In

Hello and welcome to Day 1 of the December Recovery Challenge, how are you?

Wishing you peace and success for today :)

**If you're new to these recovery challenges, here is a post that outlines what they are about (and what they’re not about!) along with some basic strategies if you're new to recovery and some important info about the group boundaries.**

Today's check in:

Aside from anything about body size, why is recovery important to you?

(If you've done the challenges before you'll know that I often start Day 1 with that question - I wonder if your "why" has changed over time?)

Bonus exercise: Goals vs focus

Sometimes a goal like “stop binging” or "recover from my eating disorder" feels impossible. It’s so big, we can’t even wrap our minds around it. It can be helpful to reframe it because although goals are important, too much attention on them can be draining, and doesn’t necessarily help us to accomplish them! So that’s where focus comes in.

Mountain climbing is a helpful analogy: when you’re at the bottom of a mountain, you know the goal is to get to the top and back down again. But to do that, you have to focus on three things: safety, technique, and the next step in front of you. Each step is small but essential and it builds on the one before it. There are no shortcuts. You have to pace yourself.

The top of the mountain is reached in stages, and every time you reach a stage you stop, rest, reflect, and adjust your tools, strategies and supports. As you’re climbing, when you slip or fall you may just fall a few feet or you may fall all the way to the bottom, but as long as you’re still alive then wherever you do wind up is where you pick yourself up, reflect/regroup, and start climbing again.

Recovery is like climbing a mountain. Yes there is a goal in mind, but we get there by focusing on:

  • Safety: coping with urges, relapse prevention, staying with whatever program we choose for ourselves
  • Technique: the tools and strategies that we develop to help ourselves
  • The next step in front of us: giving ourselves the opportunity to go one step at a time and forgiving ourselves for not being at the end of the journey on the first day!

So the bonus exercise is: What is the next step in front of you for your recovery?

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WHAT IF I HAVE A SLIP DURING THE CHALLENGE?

If you have a slip, here is a link to the slip debrief, which can help to turn the symptom into a learning opportunity. :) 

HOW CAN I GET A REMINDER TO CHECK IN TOMORROW?

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31 Comments
2024/12/01
12:54 UTC

1

Plan for December

I’m going to eat healthy, yes with counting calories, with a reasonable limit. Except for a trip to NOLA and Christmas dinner, when I can splurge on meals but not binge. I want to look forward to that. Holidays are difficult, huh?

2 Comments
2024/12/01
12:53 UTC

3

Binged last night.

I’ve been in recovery for probably about 4-5 months now and have been binge free for about a month. Last night it happened.

I’d been having just a shitty day mentally, plus I had a headache and menstrual cramps. I ate normally the first part of the day but I’m transitioning from the Thanksgiving leftovers to my normal diet so it was less than previous. I didn’t drink enough water.

I started getting the urge in the afternoon, after I just ate. I brushed my teeth and tried to distract myself. Tried to talk myself out of it. But it happened anyway. The Mac n cheese, cheese dip, and ice cream were calling my name in the fridge.

Anyhow what happened happened and I’m moving on. Trying to realign myself with my goals. I want to feel good in my body, not constantly bloated like I am now. I want to have energy. I want to be social and not isolate myself like I do when I binge. I want to have hobbies and extra money.

So today I’m going to drink extra water and eat when I’m next hungry. Not hungry now as my stomach still hurts a little. I’m going to do my self care routine later. I’m going to stay positive.

1 Comment
2024/12/01
12:12 UTC

8

My boyfriend's dad is triggering my ed

I spent thanksgiving with my boyfriends dad's side of the fam. Ever since I've known my boyfriends dad, he's been a twig. Literally no muscle or fat.

I'm a tall girl, who has always struggled with my weight. I love to eat but I try so hard to stay in shape by working out and eating healthy.

My bf's dad is wealthy and he will treat us to dinner but only order one 10 inch pizza to split between 4 people because he's not hungry, and makes comments about how he doesn't want to over eat. I was still starving after only having 2 tiny pieces of pizza . So was my bf, but he doesn't say anything most of the time.

The next day was thanksgiving And he ordered food from the clubhouse. The food from the clubhouse is amazing but he only ordered 2 thanksgiving plates for 7 adults to split. It was definitely not enough food but his dad didn't care and said him And (the dad's new gf) eat like birds.

He constantly makes fun of fat people And will brag about how little he eats. He thinks he's so in shape just because he's a twig, but I probably weigh more than him and can knock him out. He also will eat a burger for lunch and be like "okay I'm done eating for the day"

It makes me feel fat being around him And like I should feel shameful for eating a normal amount. Everytime we are at my bf's dad's house, I feel so uncomfortable when he brings up food/calories. I feel like his dad has an ED, but it triggers mine when he constantly talks about food in a negative way. It can really be triggering for me. Any advice?

3 Comments
2024/12/01
11:30 UTC

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