Do I have Binge Eating Disorder, or just no self-control?
Hi--I'm new to this and am feeling desperate with my lack of control over my own eating habits. I gained a lot of weight from mid-spring through now since I drastically cut my exercise and ate a lot more than usual. I always thought I just had a sweet tooth and could stop whenever I wanted to and get back in shape (I run cross-country and track for my college but haven't done as well as I did in high school due to weight gain). I tried to start a diet a few weeks ago but would get too hungry and indulge in disgusting amounts of junk food. My bingeing has gotten worse and worse, and I often eat to the point of feeling horribly nauseous and am unable to do my planned runs because of how sick I feel. For example, I stopped at the grocery store on my way home today, bought a pack of oreos and a big bag of frosted animal crackers, and am currently working my way through them. I feel really sick, ashamed, and disgusted with myself, but I feel like I have no control to stop. Often I'll finish food so that I can throw away the packages and no one in my athletic family will see what I've been eating. If I do save food, I hide it in my bedroom and eat it only when I'm home alone or after my family has gone to bed, being careful that no one finds me eating. I desperately need to lose weight for track, and I had to stop a run early today because I felt so dead; afterwards I felt hopeless and craved sugary food as a way to calm my emotions.
Also, is it really dangerous for the body to consume so much sugar in one sitting? I've heard of a fungus called Candida that normally lives in your body but can grow to unhealthy levels when one consumes a high-sugar diet, and I have some of the symptoms for it now. Wondering if anyone else has heard of/experienced this or just has suggestions for how to control my binge eating in general. Thanks!
Hi... I have a similar problem with food. Almost alexactly the same, actually. But, I am getting better at it. For me personally, focusing on other things helped. Once I started doing more things I had more on my mind and eventually food was pushed to a corner. I still have bad days when I'm too stressed out. Stress-eating, ya know. :P
Other than that, I also realized that the problem wasn't just food. It was my lack odlf selfconfidence or self respect. I did not, still don't love myself enough. You have to realize that you are an amazing person and you deserve to feel good about yourself. You shouldn't have to hide petty things like junk food and all. Just start loving yourself. Slowly and steadily. You will automatically start respecting your body and giving it the love that it deserves.
I am not an expert in any of this and I am just speaking from personal experience and what worked for me. Hope it helps. 😃
Hi!
I am sorry to hear you struggle with this kind of problem:( I know how hard it feels to not feel able to learn yourself how to control your own eating habits. Hopefully you're not hating yourself to much, but anyway sending love your way<3
I do not exactly know why you ask if we think it's binge eating disorder or just a lack of self control. If the lable binge eating disorder would mean the difference between being less angry on yourself, and maybe search for help.. I hope you seriously realise that whatever you're struggling with does not mean in my eyes that you deserve your own empathy less or that your struggle is not valid<3
One thing, idk if you already do this but please eat fruit etc as well. Try to eat nohealthy foods in general. This has maked it way easier for me to overeat less. I am not a nutrionist so I do not know exactly how this works, but I feel like my body is craving way less unhealthy foods.
I hope you will be able to overcome this, and do not give up while trying to find ways to overcome this<3
Hi PlumCircle
I think i have heard something similar about Thrush of Candida although i can't confirm it's source.
I have been a binge eater for over half my life, and i have been all sizes in that time. What i have learnt is that i have unrealistic expectations of myself and this stems from not feeling good enough. I set these impossible targets for myself and then i cannot obtain them and i fall into a binge/diet cycle.
My day will start with promising i'll be good and then by lunch time i've started an out of control binge, then tell myself i'll be good or i'll start that diet tommorow. My eating tends to reflect how i feel inside, if my mind is chaotic my eating will be to. If i'm not respecting myself enough or allowing other people to treat me like dirt (then i punish myself by eating and not respecting my body).
I don't have an athletic family, but a family that is very slim and in some ways very vain. So you can imagine how under the microscope i feel. I feel like i can't even relate to those people and i certainly can't discuss how i can fit 10 cream buns down my neck in less than 10 minutes without feeling the sting of their disapproval.
When i have lost weight, nothing has really changed i have still had to battle this illness, except the stakes are higher. And their is more pressure on me not to gain it back.
I don't think their is any magic bullet cure. There are groups like OA overeaters anonymous which some people find helpful. Or simply going online as much as possible and writing how your feeling. I think it's important to stay engaged with your support community even when the chips are down. It's important to connect with similar people and pay forward some of that support that others have provided for you.
Thank you all for replying! It helps so much to know that I'm not alone in this. Wishing you all the best for overcoming your struggles!