Can a binge eater lose weight?

[dgirl1986]

I really really really want to and need to lose weight but my binge eating disorder is causing complications.

As soon as I start counting calories or anything like that I become obsessed. I see everything in terms of calories. When I know I have blown it due to a binge I try to restrict my intake to try and make up for it and end up bingeing again because I feel so guilty about it. I also end up weighing myself every single day.

When I am not trying to lose weight I can manage my binges a lot better but my weight doesnt move. I am not sure what to do. I do not want to be #kg for the rest of my life :/

 

[DallasApple]

Stop weighing every day. Water gain can even affect that.


Try to stick with high fighber foods (veggies and fruits) eat lean meat .Don't be afraid of an egg or 2 a week.,

Stay away from bread.

Don't drink sodas. Or eat sweat things.

Avoid pasta.

Give that a month ? Promise you will lose "weight" .

walk at least 20 minutes a day .

 

[InformedIgnorance]

I would agree to stop weighing yourself daily... instead perhaps weekly or monthly (preferably at the same time - such as directly after using the bathroom after waking up to keep the volatility of measurements down). I would almost suggest ignoring the Kg altogether... instead set fitness goals or some garment size goal... dont reduce well being to a number because it does not work effectively, they are merely signposts on your journey and not always particularly helpful.

But more importantly; do not consider this a diet.

What you need to do is identify the type of lifestyle that you are willing to engage in, how large a meal you are willing to limit yourself to, how often you are going to want to treat yourself, how much exercise you are likely to perform: not over X months, but for the rest of your life; make a commitment that this is to be your new lifestyle and it is in that spirit that you can lose weight in a sustainable fashion without significant health impacts.

Also be aware of what factors are influencing when and what you eat and shop; for example dont go food shopping when hungry, make sure you are not eating for emotional reasons such as stress relief, to fill in time or as a result of oral fixation from giving up smoking etc. Look at what foods (and beverages) make you feel more hungry, which make you feel full for smaller portion sizes, which keep you sustained for longer etc

It would be a very good idea to see a dietitian not for the purposes of dieting, but rather to assist you in recognizing the various nutritional impacts of potential intake. But it really is important that you recognise that while you might 'cheat' now and then, it is important that your plan not be a temporary one, but rather one that will be long lasting so as to facilitate a healthy lifestyle.

 

[dgirl1986]

Stop weighing every day. Water gain can even affect that.


Try to stick with high fighber foods (veggies and fruits) eat lean meat .Don't be afraid of an egg or 2 a week.,

Stay away from bread.

Don't drink sodas. Or eat sweat things.

Avoid pasta.

Give that a month ? Promise you will lose "weight" .

walk at least 20 minutes a day .

Completely avoiding breads and sweet things increase my chances of a binge.

 

[dgirl1986]

I would agree to stop weighing yourself daily... instead perhaps weekly or monthly (preferably at the same time - such as directly after using the bathroom after waking up to keep the volatility of measurements down). I would almost suggest ignoring the Kg altogether... instead set fitness goals or some garment size goal... dont reduce well being to a number because it does not work effectively, they are merely signposts on your journey and not always particularly helpful.

I was considering measuring myself with a tape measure rather than scales...not sure if that would be better or not.

But more importantly; do not consider this a diet.

I try to consider it as a lifestyle change.

It would be a very good idea to see a dietitian not for the purposes of dieting, but rather to assist you in recognizing the various nutritional impacts of potential intake. But it really is important that you recognise that while you might 'cheat' now and then, it is important that your plan not be a temporary one, but rather one that will be long lasting so as to facilitate a healthy lifestyle.

Dieticians are not cheap :/

 

[InformedIgnorance]

I was considering measuring myself with a tape measure rather than scales...not sure if that would be better or not.

Hmmn I am not sure about that... I have never tried using that method... personally I think it might be particularly susceptible to variations caused by water retention (especially around the waist) and it is somewhat difficult to be able to tell the ratio of muscle to fat simply using a tape measure so it might not be particularly useful depending on what your goals are.

There are quite a few different ways to measure your current body state and the way that best suits you will likely vary depending on your goals. Perhaps the most interesting way I have seen of people doing this is to take a full length photo of themselves (in the same pose) every day under the same lighting conditions and make a slide show of them, to see how your body is trending.

I try to consider it as a lifestyle change.

Its a really good thing that you consider it a lifestyle change - most people dont - the results of changing lifestyle may take longer to come into fruition than a diet but there is less yoyoing. ^_^

Dieticians are not cheap :/

I know dietitians arent cheap and personally I wouldnt use them as a primary means of gathering information (there are some good online websites in terms of nutritional suggestions) but rather in terms of assisting you identifying how these impact on you personally (for example, if you have issues with your blood sugar levels etc).

 

[dgirl1986]

Hmmn I am not sure about that... I have never tried using that method... personally I think it might be particularly susceptible to variations caused by water retention (especially around the waist) and it is somewhat difficult to be able to tell the ratio of muscle to fat simply using a tape measure so it might not be particularly useful depending on what your goals are.

There are quite a few different ways to measure your current body state and the way that best suits you will likely vary depending on your goals. Perhaps the most interesting way I have seen of people doing this is to take a full length photo of themselves (in the same pose) every day under the same lighting conditions and make a slide show of them, to see how your body is trending.

Actually that is a really good idea!

Its a really good thing that you consider it a lifestyle change - most people dont - the results of changing lifestyle may take longer to come into fruition than a diet but there is less yoyoing. ^_^

I know dietitians arent cheap and personally I wouldnt use them as a primary means of gathering information (there are some good online websites in terms of nutritional suggestions) but rather in terms of assisting you identifying how these impact on you personally (for example, if you have issues with your blood sugar levels etc).

Part of the issue is sugar addiction and part of the issue is the actual eating disorder. They usually recommend counselling AND seeing a dietician but agh expensive.

 

[Me Myself]

When you want to binge, eat just apples or other foods that are mostly fiber and water.

Get strict on that and binge away all the apples you want. Also, drinking a lot of water wont leave you space to eat any more.

 

[dgirl1986]

When you want to binge, eat just apples or other foods that are mostly fiber and water.

Get strict on that and binge away all the apples you want. Also, drinking a lot of water wont leave you space to eat any more.

I am afraid it doesnt work that way. Plus that would be really bad for my bowel.

 

[Me Myself]

I am afraid it doesnt work that way. Plus that would be really bad for my bowel.

How does it not work that way? Why would it be bad for you? You alergic to apples or sumething?

 

[dgirl1986]

How does it not work that way? Why would it be bad for you? You alergic to apples or sumething?

Binge eating is not a rational decision that one makes. It is a bit hard to explain. The compulsion is to eat extreme quantities of bad food until you either throw up or are extremely full.

Too many apples gives you runny dunny runs lol.

 

[apophenia]

This is complex. It is not just about calories. I assume you binge on sweet treats, which also means you are possibly going for the elevated serotonin caused by sugar. So just as an experiment, I would suggest that you try a double-pronged approach. Prepare some sweet treats made with stevia instead of sugar - very sweet, no calories - and start taking St John's Wort, a herbal supplement which raises serotonin. SJW is often used for mild depression because it raises serotonin. Check with your doctor if you are already taking an antidepressant.

 

[dgirl1986]

This is complex. It is not just about calories. I assume you binge on sweet treats, which also means you are possibly going for the elevated serotonin caused by sugar. So just as an experiment, I would suggest that you try a double-pronged approach. Prepare some sweet treats made with stevia instead of sugar - very sweet, no calories - and start taking St John's Wort, a herbal supplement which raises serotonin. SJW is often used for mild depression because it raises serotonin. Check with your doctor if you are already taking an antidepressant.

It is 99% sweets that I end up bingeing on. It is that intense flavour that seems to spur me on.

Stevia is an artificial sugar isnt it?

I cannot take St Johns Wort as it cannot be taken with my current meds.

 

[Me Myself]

Binge eating is not a rational decision that one makes. It is a bit hard to explain. The compulsion is to eat extreme quantities of bad food until you either throw up or are extremely full.

Too many apples gives you runny dunny runs lol.

Doing more of number too is not bad, its actually a good thing and that in and on itself will get rid of some weight that you may have had since ling long time bottled up there.

I am aware that it is not a rational thing, I understand it is a compulsion, but I also understand you want to change it. You cant simply eliminate a compulsion, you have to replace the habit.

Replace eating bad food with eating good food. Do this till you are extremely full.

Its just an advice, whether you will mmanage your compulsion or not is not on me, I can only give you alternatives that may work so your rational side is able to redirect the compulsion into something healthy.

 

[dgirl1986]

Doing more of number too is not bad, its actually a good thing and that in and on itself will get rid of some weight that you may have had since ling long time bottled up there.

I am aware that it is not a rational thing, I understand it is a compulsion, but I also understand you want to change it. You cant simply eliminate a compulsion, you have to replace the habit.

Replace eating bad food with eating good food. Do this till you are extremely full.

Its just an advice, whether you will mmanage your compulsion or not is not on me, I can only give you alternatives that may work so your rational side is able to redirect the compulsion into something healthy.

I have actually not had the bad foods in the house when needing to binge and all that happened was I climbed the walls and ended up starving myself because all I wanted was junk.

 

[Me Myself]

I have actually not had the bad foods in the house when needing to binge and all that happened was I climbed the walls and ended up starving myself because all I wanted was junk.

Then you eat apples

In any case I really doubt you "starved yourself" . Children in Africa starve themselves. Most of us just go a day or two without eating or go into a """detox""" week.

 

[apophenia]

It is 99% sweets ...

Stevia is an artificial sugar isnt it?

Stevia is a herb which is very sweet, but has almost no calorirs. The sweetness is just like sugar, so it is a fantastic substitute.

 

[dgirl1986]

Stevia is a herb which is very sweet, but has almost no calorirs. The sweetness is just like sugar, so it is a fantastic substitute.

Oh wow I didnt know that. I will have to try to make some muffins or something which may help.

 

[dgirl1986]

Then you eat apples

In any case I really doubt you "starved yourself" . Children in Africa starve themselves. Most of us just go a day or two without eating or go into a """detox""" week.

To starve is to be deprived. I deprived myself of food to make up for other foods.

It is clear you do not understand binge eating disorder or bulemia. I suggest you research it.

 

[dgirl1986]

I guess if a binge eater cannot diet by counting calories than perhaps one should just photograph all food consumed and purge with exercise.