diagnosis? compulsive overeating/bingeing

I feel like I am a compulsive overeater. I know there's a "fat
acceptance" newsgroup, but I don't feel as though I am fat (probably
back to 140lbs now, whereas I was at my lowest at 131 two months ago,
standing at 5'9"). i binge when i feel like i need to "conquer" things.
in other words, objects (in this case, food) need to be touched by me
or i feel very uncomfortable with not having had conquered it. and i
don't even eat just a little, i totally gorge. for example, this
morning i had oatmeal AND half of a game hen. then i'll eat very weird
things like yoghourt afterwards and even spoon a fingerfull of nutella
and barbeque sauce --stuff i'd find repulsive on any normal day.

i try to return back to normal eating the next day only to binge one or
two days later. i don't think i'm bingeing because i feel hungry (in
fact, during my binges I am rather full), but it may be linked to
something more emotional. i tend to binge when i am bored and feel
unaccomplished. i know this is all mental and i know i can control it,
but my hands and mouth take over my brain when i'm in binge mode.
something is terribly wrong.

has anyone had similar experiences? please share how you have dealt
with this.

"Her Subj." wrote in message
oups.com...
I feel like I am a compulsive overeater. I know there's a "fat
acceptance" newsgroup, but I don't feel as though I am fat (probably
back to 140lbs now, whereas I was at my lowest at 131 two months ago,
standing at 5'9"). i binge when i feel like i need to "conquer" things.
in other words, objects (in this case, food) need to be touched by me
or i feel very uncomfortable with not having had conquered it. and i
don't even eat just a little, i totally gorge. for example, this
morning i had oatmeal AND half of a game hen. then i'll eat very weird
things like yoghourt afterwards and even spoon a fingerfull of nutella
and barbeque sauce --stuff i'd find repulsive on any normal day.

i try to return back to normal eating the next day only to binge one or
two days later. i don't think i'm bingeing because i feel hungry (in
fact, during my binges I am rather full), but it may be linked to
something more emotional. i tend to binge when i am bored and feel
unaccomplished. i know this is all mental and i know i can control it,
but my hands and mouth take over my brain when i'm in binge mode.
something is terribly wrong.

has anyone had similar experiences? please share how you have dealt
with this.

Yes, I've done similar things. I recommend a few resources to read that
have helped me:
Overcoming Binge Eating by Christopher Fairburn
Life is Hard, Food is Easy by Linda Spangle
It Was Food vs. Me...and I Won by Nancy Goodman

It's not something you just wake up one day and stop doing so don't listen
to those who know nothing about it and tell you to just to stop. You do
need to decide that you want to stop and then go through the process of
dealing somehow with the emotions that drive you to doing this. It's not
easy and it's work, but it can be done.

Professional help is also available but difficult to find someone who
specializes in eating disorders. Many binge eaters and bulimics tend to do
better with self-help.
--
the volleyballchick

I'm a weekend binger. Like you I'm not overweight. In fact I'm quite trim
now. I have my total weekly calories under control. Its just that on Sat/Sun
I'll eat more than half my weekly calories. And so Mon-Fri I need to eat
fairly lean, which is generally not a struggle but I realize that by
restricting myself during the week my body will start craving certain foods
and this will trigger another weekend binge.

People will say eating moderately is best, i.e. a similar amount of calories
each day. I'm not against that but I'm also not against varying my calories
day to day. I like the idea of listening to my body. Some days it wants to
eat more, other days less depending on what I'm doing or what mood I'm in. I
imagine that primitive man/woman may have had to eat lean some days, but
then after a successful hunt could make up for it with a bit of feasting.

The problem with this kind of eating though is during these weekend binges I
tend to eat a lot of carbs, and quite often not the good kind. So the
QUALITY of my diet is being reduced by eating this way.

I don't really know the solution. It's something I'm still working on. I
usually overeat in front of the TV. Cutting that down may well work for me.
I think the main thing will be my determination to overcome it. In fact your
post has got me thinking I really need to lick this problem and now rather
than just drifting along week after week. So thx for bringing up the subject
and good luck!

"Wanwo" wrote in message
u...

People will say eating moderately is best, i.e. a similar amount of
calories each day. I'm not against that but I'm also not against varying
my calories day to day. I like the idea of listening to my body. Some days
it wants to eat more, other days less depending on what I'm doing or what
mood I'm in. I imagine that primitive man/woman may have had to eat lean
some days, but then after a successful hunt could make up for it with a
bit of feasting.

I also vary my calories through the week with light days, "eating more" days
mostly due to hunger, and then splurges which are always planned. There
isn't really anything wrong with it as it seems like what most "normal"
people do when it comes to eating based on the observations I've made of my
naturally thin friends.

The problem with this kind of eating though is during these weekend binges
I tend to eat a lot of carbs, and quite often not the good kind. So the
QUALITY of my diet is being reduced by eating this way.

I don't really know the solution. It's something I'm still working on. I
usually overeat in front of the TV. Cutting that down may well work for
me. I think the main thing will be my determination to overcome it. In
fact your post has got me thinking I really need to lick this problem and
now rather than just drifting along week after week. So thx for bringing
up the subject and good luck!

If you are somehow not able to control *what* you're eating then you might
want to look at how boredom (watching TV, etc.) is affecting your choices.
The book that I've been reading lately "Life is Hard, Food is Easy" deals
with stuff like boredom and stress and "innocuous" seeming emotional eating
in addition to the more extreme stuff.

Sadly many people live such a black and white life that when they hear
emotional eating they think only of the person (usually female) being overly
emotional and downing a pint of ice cream while crying over her latest
problem. Simple emotions like a frustrating day at work can lead to an
extra snack of some type of comfort food and over time it adds up.

I too am glad this subject came up because it certainly isn't treated
seriously enough. Dealing with the emotional aspect of my eating has made
me feel so much better, stronger and in control.
--
the volleyballchick

On 10/31/05 5:37 AM, in article
, "Her Subj."
wrote:

has anyone had similar experiences? please share how you have dealt
with this.

When I am not dieting I binge eat regularly. I would eat even when not
hungry. Since you are not overweight your problem might be a bit different,
but I think most of the very overweight people here have experienced binge
eating.

doug

"Her Subj." wrote in message
oups.com...
I feel like I am a compulsive overeater. I know there's a "fat
acceptance" newsgroup, but I don't feel as though I am fat (probably
back to 140lbs now, whereas I was at my lowest at 131 two months ago,
standing at 5'9"). i binge when i feel like i need to "conquer" things.
in other words, objects (in this case, food) need to be touched by me
or i feel very uncomfortable with not having had conquered it. and i
don't even eat just a little, i totally gorge. for example, this
morning i had oatmeal AND half of a game hen. then i'll eat very weird
things like yoghourt afterwards and even spoon a fingerfull of nutella
and barbeque sauce --stuff i'd find repulsive on any normal day.

You aren't giving all the quantities, but it really doesn't seem like this
is what I would call gorging. Half a game hen and a bowl of oatmeal sounds
like a good--although untraditional--breakfast. Probably under 400 calories.
How soon afterwards did you eat the other stuff? And how much? With typical
quantities it still doesn't sound like a huge amount of food. What would be
a normal day for you?

i try to return back to normal eating the next day only to binge one or
two days later. i don't think i'm bingeing because i feel hungry (in
fact, during my binges I am rather full), but it may be linked to
something more emotional. i tend to binge when i am bored and feel
unaccomplished. i know this is all mental and i know i can control it,
but my hands and mouth take over my brain when i'm in binge mode.
something is terribly wrong.

This is making a little more sense. You are full, but continue to eat for
some emotional reason, because you are bored, or feel unaccomplished.

has anyone had similar experiences? please share how you have dealt
with this.

Boredom eating-yes. I use deflection of some sort. Go to the gym, practice
piano or guitar, take a walk, etc.

--
Matthew
Slow and steady wins the race.

I've never been a binger. My 1st thought is that your body must be short on
something.


"Her Subj." wrote in message
oups.com...
I feel like I am a compulsive overeater. I know there's a "fat
acceptance" newsgroup, but I don't feel as though I am fat (probably
back to 140lbs now, whereas I was at my lowest at 131 two months ago,
standing at 5'9"). i binge when i feel like i need to "conquer" things.
in other words, objects (in this case, food) need to be touched by me
or i feel very uncomfortable with not having had conquered it. and i
don't even eat just a little, i totally gorge. for example, this
morning i had oatmeal AND half of a game hen. then i'll eat very weird
things like yoghourt afterwards and even spoon a fingerfull of nutella
and barbeque sauce --stuff i'd find repulsive on any normal day.

i try to return back to normal eating the next day only to binge one or
two days later. i don't think i'm bingeing because i feel hungry (in
fact, during my binges I am rather full), but it may be linked to
something more emotional. i tend to binge when i am bored and feel
unaccomplished. i know this is all mental and i know i can control it,
but my hands and mouth take over my brain when i'm in binge mode.
something is terribly wrong.

has anyone had similar experiences? please share how you have dealt
with this.

"Ignoramus26744" wrote in message
...
People on the Internet love to give diagnoses, but they are rarely
correct. Check out the definition of binging and see if it applies to
you. Do you eat until you get so full that you are uncomfortable
physically?

Half a chicken (admittedly, with nothing else) is my regular lunch,
and my weight is only 23% more than yours.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Binge

i

It looks like you didn't even read your own cite. Even wikipedia says that
toe does not need to be uncomfortably full to have had a binge. Wikipedia,
while entertaining and informative, is not necessarily a reliable source.
It's only as reliable as the last person to post to it. Even a high school
teacher wouldn't allow it as a valid citation. In this case it's a good
start.

To the OP: when I mentioned people who really have no clue what binge eating
is, this is the guy I was warning you about.
--
the volleyballchick

Thanks for the suggestions on the reads.

I agree with you in regard that it definitely is not something one
can't "just stop" doing. It's like telling an alcoholic that they just
have to stop drinking and they will be cured. It's linked to very
intricate and sensitive issues.

"Her Subj." wrote in message
oups.com...
Thanks for the suggestions on the reads.

I agree with you in regard that it definitely is not something one
can't "just stop" doing. It's like telling an alcoholic that they just
have to stop drinking and they will be cured. It's linked to very
intricate and sensitive issues.

If there's anything more you want to discuss about it feel free. If you're
more comfortable doing it privately, this email works. There are a few
other people on this group that have experienced binge eating and understand
it. It's a lot more than just eating a bunch of food. Binges are in the
eye of the beholder because of the emotional and control issues involved.
I've found that discussing it here is not always fruitful because it's not
well understood by those who don't experience it.
--
the volleyballchick