do I have an eating disorder?

[VeggieLifterChick]

CircusGirl,

I've had issues with bingeing similar to what you describe, related to feeling lonely or sad. (I have never been bulimic but I have had issues with compulsive overeating).

I find that acknowledging my behavior and recognizing the reason/cause makes me feel a bit more in control over it. It is very very difficult for me to "just stop" especially once I get used to eating so much and such yummy (but bad) foods.

I find that what helps me the most in overcoming it is, like Velvett said, being with people and being busy. If I am around friends I am less likely to binge because a) its embarassing to be seen doing it and b) my mind is most likely occupied with things other than bad feelings or problems.

I also think that you might be sick of eating the same "diet foods" and that this may be playing into your compulsion to eat tastier though unhealthful foods. That has happened to me, anyways. You might want to find some new recipes or new spices or just new alternative foods to those you have been eating that have similar nutritional profiles to the ones you've dieted on.

You also mentioned that you can't keep up your exercise while eating clean. It is more likely that you just need to eat more of the clean foods, as in higher calories. I'm not sure what 10 hours of tkd training is, as I'm not sure what "tkd" stands for.

Hope this helps! About the counselors: look for someone who can help you with behavioral therapy, someone who can teach you coping mechanisms for when you crave a binge.

 

[NY Muscle]

NY Muscle,

Was this the type of test where you're lying on your back and you hold up one arm while she tries to pull it down while touching a point on the body saying something like "thyroid", and if your thyroid or whatever isn't healthy, your arm goes weak (even though you think you're holding it as hard as you can)?

YES! Except I was standing…and she did touching and tapping on certain points on my body, face, hand, ribs. Pretty wicked. Its like she knows when your body is lying to you, so that you don’t even know it.

Pretty cool…and she was right on everything she discovered. You also have a perceived level of stress for each activity you do or thing about your life…and after an hour or so of relaxing your mind she tests you again, she wont put you under until the stress level is from 0-3, and many of the levels started out with and 8-10 on me…like for instance..if you are afraid of heights, petrified…that’s a 10…but she relaxes the shit out of you that you are so calm later that you only feel its like a 3 or less. Then she puts you under.



Have you had this done or someone you know? if so, how did it go?

 

[circusgirl]

Thanks for all the advice folks. I will try to stay busy and will try hypnosis. It helped my dad give up smoking... didn't get him into the gym though .

Did I say I couldn't keep up exercise while eating clean? Sorry, must've typed the sentence wrong, no, it's when I DON'T eat clean and only binge, I no longer have the energy to work out as the insulin rockets up and down and I lose the desire to do anything - when I have been eating clean I have had SO much more energy, maybe I should focus on that.

Tofu in the fridge, maybe I have been eating too much tuna... that's also a possibility. I tend to find something that works and then eat it and eat it and eat it and I guess I may be sick of eating similar stuff all the time. The oatmeal and protein powder option with a chopped apple is a great breakfast tho - thanks spatts for the oatmeal + powder tip!

I am off for 4 days to a project meeting in Italy - I will try to stay away from pizza lol.

Things are looking up though - I may be closer to a new job than I thought... a friend's company is desperate for good programmers with my specialist knowledge, and there aren't many of them about.... my current boss's husband owns that company tho! Trying to cheer myself up - I'll go take some more piccies of my kitties...

 

[trial0rzgrl]

reading through your story, i see my life for the past two years. it almost perfectly describes me (exept i gained 40 pounds when they put me on bc pills ) it has been tough.. i have really been trying to replace my starving and bad habits with bb and eating healthy, for more than a year. i have to tell you that today has been the first day since then that i ate enough without going over split between 5 meal(which was the hard part for me)... so today is a very special day.... i know it prob wont last for too long but i have learned that i have to be able to be nice to myself and understand i will be sick for a while so if i slip i can just start over the next day....
it helped me to fill house with healthy foods and no junk food just in case....
things that worked to keep me busy: warm bath (calming also).. a funny one... going to walgreens and buying greeting cards... reading about nutrition...
the most imp thing to rem is that if you want it you can have it.... you will get through anything.... i am so happy to hear you keep your food down. i know how diff that can be.. congrats!!!! thats so great... when you think things are terrible think about how far you have come and are willing to go.... i wish you only the best... rem you are not alone and you will get through this.. good luck

btw... l tyrosine worked wonders for me... 2 grams a day!

 

[wannabeBB]

Do you crave alot of sweets?
I just heard about this book and have been reading it. (That's why I havent been on here much lately . I find the idea so fascinating. There are 2 books: one is The Sugar Addicts Recovery Program and the other is Potatoes not Prozac. I have anxiety disorder which can sometimes lead to depression.
I crave alot of sweets (like binging on sweets) and never knew what was wrong with me. I would overeat, then starve. I could eat hardly nothing and still never lose weight. This is eating disordered. Then someone on another board told me about this. I read the book, and was amazed to find out that it sounds just like me! It is very workable into a bodybuilder diet.

I hate cheat days. I mentioned this in another thread. How I do good all week and cheat once and have a relapse. I cheated on saturday(after doing great all week). I had alot of sweets and then sunday I was depressed and moody and couldnt get back on track.

Go to www.radiantrecovery and take the quiz, "Are you sugar sensitive?"
I know it's hard to give up sweet stuff, but I am miserable and the cravings are holding me back from my goals.
I'm not saying this is what you have, but it is definately worth looking into.

 

[circusgirl]

wow I am a total sugar JUNKIE. I think about sugar 24/7, whether I am going to have some soon, when I can have some, f I can't have some - kinda like cigarette smokers must feel when they give up their habit... off to take that quiz.