Abstinence is Freedom

Hard to believe but it's true. Since I have chosen not to eat or drink the white stuff I no longer have to think about it, plot to get it, eat it or feel guilty. It is just out of my life so I can focus on other things. That is liberating!

3rd Day off the White Stuff

Easier to get up today but now I am hungry constantly. I did sit down last night with the husband and had ricotta cheese with cinnamon, vanilla and stevia. It takes sort of like cheese cake. I had it with tea and read the newspaper and watched Guess Who's Coming to Dinner. If I had had a glass of wine, I probably would have fallen asleep during the movie.

It's nice to wake up somewhat fresh!

2nd Day off the White Stuff (Sugar, Flour, Chardonnay)

I went to bed at 8:30 last night. I was dragging. I get the same symptoms every time I do this detox thing. It feels like lead running through my veins. I dragged myself out of bed at 4:45. I just had a cup of caffeinated tea. That makes me feel human. A little more energetic.

Yesterday, I held my breath while walking by Nuts on Clark, a popcorn place. The smell of caramel corn is to die for. Anyway, now that I'm journaling I can't believe how much of my day is taken up with thinking about food, wanting food, plotting to get food, remembering delicious food experiences, mourning the loss of those delicious foods in my diet, feeling guilty about food, feeling triumphant about my victories over food. I feel like a country at war. I am using so much of my mental, physical and emotional energy to fight this battle. No wonder why I don't give my husband and kids the attention they need. When I think of how much I could accomplish in my life if I could end the war and just live in peace....

I had a 2nd cup of caffeinated tea because that's all the Corner Bakery sells. I felt much better today. I am home now and hungry and making fish, brown rice and spinach. As it is a Friday night I'd love to sit down and have a glass of wine with my hubby but that's not going to happen. I'll have to find some other way to unwind on a Friday or Saturday evening...

1st Day off Sweets and Alcohol

I have chosen to give up both sweets and alcohol as I think there may be a relation. I will have one cup of caffeinated tea a day. I have found that helps me get over the draggy feeling of getting off the white stuff.

I still feel full from all of my indulging yesterday. This is how I feel on white flour and sugar:

Pros:

full and satisfied
love, love love the taste of sweets
when eating chocolate, energized
illusion of eating less, example 2 starbucks dark choc grahams fill me up like a meal. So I don't eat the healthy meal.

Cons:

I forego healthy foods in lieu of sweets
Stuff like ritz crackers, I can't get enough of those. Not filling
I gain weight
Feel less like going to the gym
Guilt
Out of touch with my muscles.
I plot and plan my next "fix"
I can't have just one

Commitment:

I will do plan out my meals, make lunch at breakfast
I will continue to journal
I will go to OA meetings
I will read OA literature
I will shop responsibly, for kids as well.
I will go to the gym

It's 5 p.m. and I am exhausted, hungry even though I've had some cheese and pepperoni and popcorn. Definitely don't have the really full satisfied feeling I know and love. I do feel like I am deflating.

The Binge before the Break with Sweets

Well, I am already to have my last sweets before I go off sweets tomorrow. I am already full from eating some chocolate today. Not much. I had some Cadbury eggs with graham crackers. I do like the full feeling sugar gives me. I had some soup for lunch but am waiting to eat lemon bars, brownies, cream cheese brownies, mini-chocolate bundt cakes, and chocolate pretzels. Besides having a nice full feeling and not feeling deprived, I feel heavier and out of touch with my body. I am heavier. I've been going to the gym but that can't stave off the calories from eating like this. I do feel a little less energetic in some ways. I don't feel like eating healthy foods. They don't taste as good.

Stress is my big trigger and perhaps boredom. Maybe a sprinkly of loneliness. I need to be in touch with the triggers and deal with the stress without eating. I handle all my situations, I just do it with a cookie in my mouth. I went back and forth about baking cookies and chose not to. I thought it was too much work for not a good idea. I did by some stuff at Corner Bakery but I am actually not that excited about eating it.

My sister was kind enough to send me Food for Thought - Daily Meditations for Overeaters. So I have been reading it.

Things are Out of Control!

Lots of stress lately, kid problems, jury duty with a crazy week. I did not plan a lunch yesterday so I ate out of the vending machines and at McDonald's. I noticed the eating candy bars as I am stressed doesn't really relieve the stress. It isn't even pleasurable. When I am so stressed I hardly taste it? Interesting. Perhaps if I tried eating something good for me in a high stress situation it might make me feel better.

I didn't do much for Fat Tuesday as planned. I ate some sweets but did not eat at the ice cream store where I took the kids. I was going to bake for guest tonight but have decided not to. Too busy and just not a good idea. I will put the butter I left out back in the fridge. A small victory. I did buy and eat some cadbury eggs yesterday. They are one of my favorites. But then again I have so man favorites...

Planning for Fat Tuesday!!!

I would say things are a bit out of control here! I am planning for a Fat Tuesday Smorgasbord followed by my Lenten commitments to give a Sweets and Alcohol until Easter. I will also give $ to ever person begging on the streets.

I am driving my husband crazy with my plotting and planning. He is not partaking of my Fat Tuesday idea. I know better but I am doing it anyway.

Plotting My Next Fix!

I have not been planning my meals but I have been plotting the what, when, where and how to get my next sweet fix. I actually argued with myself on the way to school as to whether to just get tea at corner bakery or a treat as well. I talked myself into the cream cheese brownie.

I did realize that on the days I go downtown to school, I usually eat better and less stressfully. On these days I pack a healthy lunch and eat it. I am usually so busy with classes and my commute that I don't think much about food, I eat to stay energized. I am going to try preparing all my lunches in the morning so I don't have to think about it.

Stress Reliever - Action Not Food!

I went to my 2nd OA meeting last night. It was okay. Had a very stressful day related to one child and his schoolwork or lack of...Anyway I thought I was in control because I chose to eat. It started out with me stopping at the bakery to order mini pecan pies for a woodworking presentation. Yes, I can find any way to include food into a non-food event! I got cookies for myself and my kids.

Went home and ate my way through the day. Depressing and didn't actually relieved the stress. What did help was to take action, I made a lot of phone calls to get help for my child. That worked much better than hitting all of the sweets in the house. I also cleaned out the pantry. Got rid of a lot of sweet stuff and made a commitment to bring healthier foods into the house. Also got rid of any sweet liqueurs. Poured them down the drain. They smelled so good! Yikes! Getting rid of the liquor served 2 purposes. I know sugary drinks get my cravings going and I figure if a teen is going to start experimenting, we need to get rid of temptations!

Interestingly, in my meeting they were working on the 8th step which is to make amends to others you may have hurt with your food addiction. I figured the only one I hurt is myself. I am not a danger driving sugared up. But the reality is, that my behavior for years (as long as I can remember) has been driven by my need to get food, my guilt after eating it, etc. This has not left a lot of time, thought, or energy to be a great parent, wife or friend.

I have been dragging my feet about committing to a food plan. I've got to get going on that!

Stress, Stress, Stress!

Rough couple of days with kid stress! I went to the bakery to order pies for an event and treated myself to what turned out to be stale molasses cookies. I almost broke a tooth eating them. I ate in the car (without thinking), then nuked the stale cookies (2).

I then put together a small bowl of dark chocolate M&Ms and broken up graham crackers, a smore without the marshmallows...I ate some and threw the rest away. I have found that having the awareness of what I am doing makes it easier to stop and redirect myself.

Sugar and Alcohol Interchangeable?

I notice that if I am drinking alcohol, I don't crave sweets and when I am eating sweets I don't have a drink...When my dad gave up drinking he kept bags of chocolate bars in his desk drawer. He smoked and the tobacco in cigarettes is cured with sugar.

My parents generation is chock full of alcoholics and my generation is chock full of eating disorders, anorexia, bulimia, and overeaters.

I never overeat healthy food. I eat one serving. Even if I go to a fast food place. I'll have a cheeseburger and fries and then I am satisfied.

If I have a drink with liqueur in it, it's like drinking soda to me.

Some drink for thought!

Had some stresses today, so I ate white bread with butter at dinner. Also when I looked in the pantry to find a snack, I ended up eating popcorn. I don't think it is a trigger. I considered eating some crackers with hummus but when I looked at the boxes, I began to salivate in anticipation. I figured that's a bad sign...

Daily Eating Plan

Breakfast:

Oatmeal
Smoothie
Tea

Lunch:

Chicken Caeser

Snack:

Oatmeal or cheese stick

Dinner:

Pork Loin, Brown Rice, Green Vegetable

Lots of Water

Bingeing Triggers

Known Bingeing Triggers:

Foods:

Chocolate
Cake
Cookies
Pies
ice cream
Alcoholic Beverages with liqueurs in them.
Caramel Popcorn
Foods with sweet sauces, orange chicken, teriaki chicken
White bread,

Situations:

Stress
PMS

Food Triggers I am unsure of:

Popcorn
Wheat bread
white rice
white wine
beer
no calorie sweetners

Plan of Action!!!!

Things I am doing right:

1. Keep a food log, which I am doing with this blog.
2. Exercise - I got to the gym 4 days a week and walk 3 miles 2 days. One day off
3. Going to OA - just started. Will go to 2 meetings a week.
4. Journaling

Things I need to Do:

1. Get a Sponsor in OA

2. See a Nutrionist

3. Discover and List my Trigger Foods

4. Write Down an Eating History

Past relationship with food
When did I begin eating compulsively? - Very Young
What did I eat? - Sweets
What was going on? - Alcoholic Parents
What did I eat then? What do I eat now - Sweets
What foods do I think about most - Sweets
What foods I crave? - Sweets
When do I overeat? - stress, loneliness,
What is the reaction to life events and our eating patterns?
What foods trigger craving behavior?

5. Help Others

6. Create a Daily Eating Plan (helps to minimize time that I have to think about food)
I do this by reviewing my eating patterns in order to learn which foods/behaviors create cravings.
Commit the plan to someone other than myself
Letting go of problem foods
Recognize the difference between physical and emotional hunger.

I Went to My First Overeaters Anon Last Night

I got off to a good start yesterday. I went to the gym did 20 min on the stair climber then 45 Pilates class. I went out to lunch with a friend. I enjoyed a Mongolian BBQ with veges and meat and fish. I did put a sweet ginger sauce on it. I love sweet sauces! After we went to a candy store, where I salivated from the sweet buttery smell. Given time, I could probably tell you what each individual smell made up that aroma (which my daughter thought smelled disgusting). I didn't buy anything but my friend bought and shared the caramel corn. I couldn't get enough of it. It felt like a drug going into my system. I imagined the feeling the heroine or meth addict feels when the needle goes into the vein and the drug courses through their system. Sick but true. When I got home, I had to go to bed and sleep for two hours. I got up in time to eat dinner and go to OA.

My sweet husband was kind enough to get me there. It was tough. I can't believe I am at this point, "Hi, I'm Cathy, and I'm a Compulsive Overeater." Yikes. But sadly, or happily, it's the right place for me. The meeting went fine

The good news is that after reading all the literature they gave me, I have some good things in place and had previously been doing some of the right things. See my Plan of Action.

I Have Eaten Food Out of My Garbage (sadly)

Well I chatted with my husband and told him that sometimes I pull food out of the garbage and eat it. I showed him the 2 packs of chocolate covered grahams hidden in a coat pocket. I told him that when he is in the office which has a view of the pantry, I wait until he turns his head and I go in there and eat in front of him. He was quite shocked. I told him that I would eat whatever I wanted in front of him. I originally asked him not to make comments about what I eat and then I told him to say whatever. I need to be able to deal with what people say. I feel relieved. I threw the graham crackers away, as they were old. I believe they will stay in the garbage! I'll let you know.

I went to the gym and spent 45 minutes doing cardio and 1 hour doing yoga. Not so easy today!

Stress Management

Identify the sources of stress in your life

Stress management starts with identifying the sources of stress in your life. This isn’t as easy as it sounds. Your true sources of stress aren’t always obvious, and it’s all too easy to overlook your own stress-inducing thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Sure, you may know that you’re constantly worried about work deadlines. But maybe it’s your procrastination, rather than the actual job demands, that leads to deadline stress.

To identify your true sources of stress, look closely at your habits, attitude, and excuses:

• Do you explain away stress as temporary (“I just have a million things going on right now”) even though you can’t remember the last time you took a breather?
• Do you define stress as an integral part of your work or home life (“Things are always crazy around here”) or as a part of your personality (“I have a lot of nervous energy, that’s all”).
• Do you blame your stress on other people or outside events, or view it as entirely normal and unexceptional?

Until you accept responsibility for the role you play in creating or maintaining it, your stress level will remain outside your control.

Start a stress journal

A stress journal can help you identify the regular stressors in your life and the way you deal with them. Each time you feel stressed, keep track of it in your journal. As you keep a daily log, you will begin to see patterns and common themes. Write down:

• What caused your stress (make a guess if you’re unsure).
• How you felt, both physically and emotionally.
• How you acted in response.
• What you did to make yourself feel better.

Look at how you currently cope with stress

Think about the ways you currently manage and cope with stress in your life. Your stress journal can help you identify them. Are your coping strategies healthy or unhealthy, helpful or unproductive? Unfortunately, many people cope with stress in ways that compound the problem.

Unhealthy ways of coping with stress

These coping strategies may temporarily reduce stress, but they cause more damage in the long run:

Smoking Drinking too much Overeating or undereating Zoning out for hours in front of the TV or computer Withdrawing from friends, family, and activities

Using pills or drugs to relax Sleeping too much Procrastinating Filling up every minute of the day to avoid facing problems Taking out your stress on others (lashing out, angry outbursts, physical violence)

Learning healthier ways to manage stress

If your methods of coping with stress aren’t contributing to your greater emotional and physical health, it’s time to find healthier ones. There are many healthy ways to manage and cope with stress, but they all require change. You can either change the situation or change your reaction. When deciding which option to choose, it’s helpful to think of the four As: avoid, alter, adapt, or accept.

Since everyone has a unique response to stress, there is no “one size fits all” solution to managing it. No single method works for everyone or in every situation, so experiment with different techniques and strategies. Focus on what makes you feel calm and in control.

Dealing with Stressful Situations: The Four A’s

Change the situation: Avoid the stressor. Alter the stressor.

Change your reaction: Adapt to the stressor. Accept the stressor.

Stress management strategy #1: Avoid unnecessary stress

Not all stress can be avoided, and it’s not healthy to avoid a situation that needs to be addressed. You may be surprised, however, by the number of stressors in your life that you can eliminate.

• Learn how to say “no” – Know your limits and stick to them. Whether in your personal or professional life, refuse to accept added responsibilities when you’re close to reaching them. Taking on more than you can handle is a surefire recipe for stress.
• Avoid people who stress you out – If someone consistently causes stress in your life and you can’t turn the relationship around, limit the amount of time you spend with that person or end the relationship entirely.
• Take control of your environment – If the evening news makes you anxious, turn the TV off. If traffic’s got you tense, take a longer but less-traveled route. If going to the market is an unpleasant chore, do your grocery shopping online.
• Avoid hot-button topics – If you get upset over religion or politics, cross them off your conversation list. If you repeatedly argue about the same subject with the same people, stop bringing it up or excuse yourself when it’s the topic of discussion.
• Pare down your to-do list – Analyze your schedule, responsibilities, and daily tasks. If you’ve got too much on your plate, distinguish between the “shoulds” and the “musts.” Drop tasks that aren’t truly necessary to the bottom of the list or eliminate them entirely.

Stress management strategy #2: Alter the situation

If you can’t avoid a stressful situation, try to alter it. Figure out what you can do to change things so the problem doesn’t present itself in the future. Often, this involves changing the way you communicate and operate in your daily life.

• Express your feelings instead of bottling them up. If something or someone is bothering you, communicate your concerns in an open and respectful way. If you don’t voice your feelings, resentment will build and the situation will likely remain the same.
• Be willing to compromise. When you ask someone to change their behavior, be willing to do the same. If you both are willing to bend at least a little, you’ll have a good chance of finding a happy middle ground.
• Be more assertive. Don’t take a backseat in your own life. Deal with problems head on, doing your best to anticipate and prevent them. If you’ve got an exam to study for and your chatty roommate just got home, say up front that you only have five minutes to talk.
• Manage your time better. Poor time management can cause a lot of stress. When you’re stretched too thin and running behind, it’s hard to stay calm and focused. But if you plan ahead and make sure you don’t overextend yourself, you can alter the amount of stress you’re under.

Stress management strategy #3: Adapt to the stressor

If you can’t change the stressor, change yourself. You can adapt to stressful situations and regain your sense of control by changing your expectations and attitude.

• Reframe problems. Try to view stressful situations from a more positive perspective. Rather than fuming about a traffic jam, look at it as an opportunity to pause and regroup, listen to your favorite radio station, or enjoy some alone time.
• Look at the big picture. Take perspective of the stressful situation. Ask yourself how important it will be in the long run. Will it matter in a month? A year? Is it really worth getting upset over? If the answer is no, focus your time and energy elsewhere.
• Adjust your standards. Perfectionism is a major source of avoidable stress. Stop setting yourself up for failure by demanding perfection. Set reasonable standards for yourself and others, and learn to be okay with “good enough.”
• Focus on the positive. When stress is getting you down, take a moment to reflect on all the things you appreciate in your life, including your own positive qualities and gifts. This simple strategy can help you keep things in perspective.

Adjusting Your Attitude

How you think can have a profound affect on your emotional and physical well-being. Each time you think a negative thought about yourself, your body reacts as if it were in the throes of a tension-filled situation. If you see good things about yourself, you are more likely to feel good; the reverse is also true. Eliminate words such as "always," "never," "should," and "must." These are telltale marks of self-defeating thoughts.

Source: National Victim Assistance Academy, U.S. Department of Justice

Stress management strategy #4: Accept the things you can’t change

Some sources of stress are unavoidable. You can’t prevent or change stressors such as the death of a loved one, a serious illness, or a national recession. In such cases, the best way to cope with stress is to accept things as they are. Acceptance may be difficult, but in the long run, it’s easier than railing against a situation you can’t change.

• Don’t try to control the uncontrollable. Many things in life are beyond our control— particularly the behavior of other people. Rather than stressing out over them, focus on the things you can control such as the way you choose to react to problems.
• Look for the upside. As the saying goes, “What doesn’t kill us makes us stronger.” When facing major challenges, try to look at them as opportunities for personal growth. If your own poor choices contributed to a stressful situation, reflect on them and learn from your mistakes.
• Share your feelings. Talk to a trusted friend or make an appointment with a therapist. Expressing what you’re going through can be very cathartic, even if there’s nothing you can do to alter the stressful situation.
• Learn to forgive. Accept the fact that we live in an imperfect world and that people make mistakes. Let go of anger and resentments. Free yourself from negative energy by forgiving and moving on.

Stress management strategy #5: Make time for fun and relaxation

Beyond a take-charge approach and a positive attitude, you can reduce stress in your life by nurturing yourself. If you regularly make time for fun and relaxation, you’ll be in a better place to handle life’s stressors when they inevitably come.

Healthy ways to relax and recharge

Go for a walk. Spend time in nature. Call a good friend. Sweat out tension with a good workout. Write in your journal. Take a long bath. Light scented candles

Savor a warm cup of coffee or tea. Play with a pet. Work in your garden. Get a massage. Curl up with a good book. Listen to music. Watch a comedy

Don’t get so caught up in the hustle and bustle of life that you forget to take care of your own needs. Nurturing yourself is a necessity, not a luxury.

• Set aside relaxation time. Include rest and relaxation in your daily schedule. Don’t allow other obligations to encroach. This is your time to take a break from all responsibilities and recharge your batteries.
• Connect with others. Spend time with positive people who enhance your life. A strong support system will buffer you from the negative effects of stress.
• Do something you enjoy every day. Make time for leisure activities that bring you joy, whether it be stargazing, playing the piano, or working on your bike.
• Keep your sense of humor. This includes the ability to laugh at yourself. The act of laughing helps your body fight stress in a number of ways.

Learn the relaxation response

You can control your stress levels with relaxation techniques that evoke the body’s relaxation response, a state of restfulness that is the opposite of the stress response. Regularly practicing these techniques will build your physical and emotional resilience, heal your body, and boost your overall feelings of joy and equanimity.

Read Stress Relief: Relaxation Practices That Reduce Stress

Stress management strategy #6: Adopt a healthy lifestyle

You can increase your resistance to stress by strengthening your physical health.

• Exercise regularly. Physical activity plays a key role in reducing and preventing the effects of stress. Make time for at least 30 minutes of exercise, three times per week. Nothing beats aerobic exercise for releasing pent-up stress and tension.
• Eat a healthy diet. Well-nourished bodies are better prepared to cope with stress, so be mindful of what you eat. Start your day right with breakfast, and keep your energy up and your mind clear with balanced, nutritious meals throughout the day.
• Reduce caffeine and sugar. The temporary "highs" caffeine and sugar provide often end in with a crash in mood and energy. By reducing the amount of coffee, soft drinks, chocolate, and sugar snacks in your diet, you’ll feel more relaxed and you’ll sleep better.
• Avoid alcohol, cigarettes, and drugs. Self-medicating with alcohol or drugs may provide an easy escape from stress, but the relief is only temporary. Don’t avoid or mask the issue at hand; deal with problems head on and with a clear mind.
• Get enough sleep. Adequate sleep fuels your mind, as well as your body. Feeling tired will increase your stress because it may cause you to think irrationally.

www.helpguide.org/mental/stress_management_relief_coping.htm - 45k -

I think I'm eating too much! (even without bingeing)

Even though I fought the urge to binge on candy yesterday, I feel I ate too much. I got home from the city and was starving. I intended to wait on my husband for dinner but found myself chowing on popcorn, pepperoni and cheese (you think it would be filling but it's not) and then steak. After 2 Valentine drinks I felt the need to eat ritz crackers(which are delicious, almost a delicacy) before bed. I will be going to the gym today to do cardio and yoga. I must have been stressed because I dreamed about smokers smoking in my house, inviting people to a party 2 hours before it started (having not shopped for food) and when our alarm went off to take the kids to an outing, I panicked thinking I had school, forgetting it was the weekend. So stress may have been a factor in last night's eating.

This morning I ate 1/2 of a bagel with butter and 1/2 with American Cheese (one of my many favorites) and when will I have it again. I also ate 2 or 3 sausages. These are both "forbidden" foods. I am wondering if it is wise to have a "forbidden food" list. I never eat these in front of my husband unless I let him know what I am up to. As I am writing this I realize that that is a problem. I don't need his permission! I need to work through that. It is the same way with my mother. She will make comments as well, so I avoid eating unhealthy stuff in front of her. This must be the problem with us closet eaters. As we primly eat our healthy salads, our larger sizes tell the truth. We eating healthy for show and then cram the "forbidden" stuff in the car, the pantry, the privacy of our homes. I need to be up front with myself and others about my eating. I need to just eat like a normal person. Normal people don't eat in hidden places. I need to stop judging others and stop allowing myself to be judged!

Also, I keep putting time limits. When I will begin eating healthy. Dates by which I need to be thin. Also a problem.

Key learning: Research how to deal with stress! Be open about my eating and food choices. Stop with the time limits!

Not to Bad but wanted to eat lots of Tootsie Rolls

A little stress the a.m. hoping the babysitter would show. Which she did. I brought a bag of tootsie rolls to class today. I ate 2 but just wanted to keep going because they tasted good. But I was able to stop.

If I can deal with stress perhaps I can lick this problem!

It seems to me that stress management is the key to my eating problem. I have no smoking guns in my past, no traumas. But I was always a huge sweet eater. I hid food in my closet, dry cake mixes and Suzy Qs, which I didn't really like but they were so big and you got 2 in a pack.

Key Learning: I will try not to eat in my car, in the pantry or alone(except healthy stuff).
I will address the stress!

Getting Fatter

I just came back from the gym. I am getting fatter. I'd like to pull the plug on my eating but feel that I need to get to the root of the compulsion if I am going to be successful at changing my habits. So I am trying to accept myself the way I am. I am hoping to God there is a light (not a cookie!) at the end of this tunnel.

I am toying with going to Overeaters Anonymous tonight at 7 p.m.

Went to McDonald's with my kid and got a chicken caesar salad, I didn't even force myself to do it. I got stressed when I went to Whole Foods and they didn't have the Stevia I ordered. I almost went straight to Panda Gourmet to relieve the stress with orange chicken. Then was going to eat chocolate covered grahams or bread and butter when I got home. Instead I had a cup of vege soup and a cup of tea and pistachios. It doesn't take much to stress me out which then triggers the comfort food switch. This is very enlightening!

Other Compulsions

Cleaning - I made 2 additional trips to the curb to bring pieces of carboard for recycling pick-up. I was actually excited they came late

Laundry - I like to have my laundry bins (white, medium, dark) which are hidden to be completely empty each day. It is difficult for me to accept that it is ongoing, that I'll never be finished.

Gym -Upset if I have to miss a class

Decorating - Trying to get my house perfect. I've gotten my heart set on turning my firepit into a gas one instead of logs (we are terrible at lighting real fires). I also feel that our master bedroom will be perfect if it had a fake fireplace. My husband has put the kabosh on spending...

Shopping - I didn't realize how much shopping I do. I have been cutting down to just food shopping and have freed up some time. I have been stopping in at the boot store compulsively but didn't buy anything last time.

My Eating Log

2/11 - Gym at 5:30 - cardio and arms
Oatmeal with oat bran, stevia, skim and cinnamon
tea with stevia and 2%
1 chicken and red pepper sausage.
tea
Yoga
McDonald's grilled chicken caesar salad
small piece of bread with butter
bite of double cheeseburger
Vegetable soup with lt sour cream and parmesan cheese
tea
2 pieces of italian bread with butter
steak
brown rice
1 glass of wine.
Lots of Water

2/12 - Walked 3 miles, no gym
Oatmeal with ricebran, skim, cinnamon & stevia
Smoothie - berries, banana, nonfat yogurt & skim
Spinach salad with berries, steak, cheese and oil and balsamic
2 dark chocolate grahams - 340 calories
Tall, nonfat, decaf latte
Steak
Vegetable Soup
Whole wheat pasta with butter
1 glass wine
popcorn
4 ritz crackers
Lots of Water

2/13 - No gym - walked 3 miles
Oatmeal with all the fixins
smoothie
2 chocolate covered grahams
2 tootsie rolls - 100 calories
Steak and Spinach salad with cheese and ranch dressing
apple and cheese stick
4 cups of tea with skim and stevia
steak, popcorn, pepperoni, cheese
1 sweet champagne cocktail (in celebration of Valentine's Day
1 glass of Chardonnay
handful of ritz crackers
Water

2/14 - Cardio and Yoga
Tea
pepperoni and cheese
1 bagel with 1/2 butter, 1/2 American Cheese
3 Sausages
Chicken Sausages & Sweet Potato
Water
nuts, cheese, hummus, glass of champagne
Dinner:
Sangria and chips
crab cakes, sweet potato fries
spinach salad with a sweet dressing
coleslaw
glass of wine

2/15 - Gym - Cardio and Pilates
oatmeal
tea w/ caffeine
sweet potato
tea
lunch - mongolian bbq - meat, fish, veges, ginger sauce (sweet)
1/2 bag of warm caramel corn (it felt like what I imagine a drug going into my system feels like)
steak, brown rice,
1 glass of champagne

2/16 - Gym - cardio and legs
tea w/caffeine
oatmeal
fruit smoothie
steak
tea
oatmeal
3 teas
cheese stick
popcorn
brocolli with ranch dressing
seafood stew with brown rice
1 potsticker, no saucke
strawberries
2 glasses of chardonnay
Lots of Water

2/17 - No Gym
Tea
Oatmeal
Smoothie
spaghetti (regular) w/marinara (it was in the fridge and I hadn't shopped) did not make me feel like eating more
popcorn
chicken, strawberries
2 pieces of white bread with butter (very stressed at dinner)

2/18 - No gym due to sore wrist
oatmeal
fruit smoothie
tea
water
1 1/2 Molasses Cookie
1 smiley face cookie
dark Chocolate M&ms and graham crackers
icecream sandwich
1 cup vegetable soup
chicken and kraft mac & cheese for dinner
Very stressful day - stress eating
1 glass chardonnay
Chicken and Muenster sandwich on white bread

2/19 - Walked 3 miles
Oatmeal
4 Teas
Smoothie
brown rice
Vegetable soup
chicken
popcorn
2 cookies from bakery
Steak and chard
2 glasses of white wine
Water

2/20 - Walked 3 miles
Oatmeal
Smoothie
4 Teas
Cream Cheese Brownie
Brown Rice
Chicken
Vegetable Soup
Apple & Cheese Stick
Popcorn
Chicken Sausage
Vegetable Soup
2 glasses of wine

2/21 - Gym - Cardio and Arms
Tea
Oatmeal
Smoothie
Small piece of steak
vegetable soup
Chicken Salad
Pumpernickel roll with butter
Cheesecake
coffee with 3 packs of sugar
One glass of wine
vegetable soup
steak
roll
2 glasses of wine
Tea
small handful of choc chip morsels

2/22 - No exercise
oatmeal
steak
whoopie pie
bread with butter

2/23 Jury Duty 9 to 7
Oatmeal
Tea
Smoothie
$100,000 bar
Twix
McDonald's Plain Double Cheeseburger
Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad
Steak and Soup
Popcorn

2/24 - Gym Cardio and Arms
Smoothie
Oatmeal
Tea
Chocolate M&M
Cadbury Eggs
Icecream Sandwich
Salmon and Spinach
Water

2/25 - No Gym - 2nd fat tuesday- felt full all day, felt heavy but did not feel bad since I was allowing myself to eat this stuff. Knew I was detoxing tomorrow.
Smoothie
Graham Crackers
Cadbury eggs
Vegetable soup
turkey and cheese
cadbury eggs
Pizza
lemon bars
brownie
cream cheese brownie
chocolate bundt cake
artichoke dip with crackers
shrimp cocktail
2 glasses of wine

2/26 - walked 3 miles
caffeinated tea
oatmeal
smoothie
2 decaf tea
smart food popcorn - 240 calories
steak and spinach with blue cheese dressing
decaf non-fat latte from starbucks
popcorn
cheese and pepperoni
cheese stick
I am feeling tired and unsatisfied.

2/27 - woke up feeling like a sack of lead!
Walked 3 miles
caffeinated tea
fruit smoothie
oatmeal
Steak Salad w/ oil and vinegar and berries
& cheese
popcorn
apple

2/28 - cardio, pilates, yoga
Caffeinated tea
brown rice with butter and cheese
sweet potato
pepperoni & Cheese
Chicken with salsa & sour cream
seafood stew, with brown rice & broccoli & butter
popcorn
tea

3/1 - cardio, pilates - feeling exhausted
Sweet potato
Caffeinated tea
pepperoni, cheese popcorn
caffeinated tea
fruit smoothie
popcorn
lamb
scallops and bacon
hot wings with blue cheese dressing
carrots
vegetable soup
Water
Tea
Ricotta, stevia, cinnamon and vanilla

3/2 Cardio, arms, yoga
Oatmeal
smoothie
caffeinated tea at 10
piece of lamb
popcorn - this might be becoming a problem
2 cups of vegetable soup
more lamb
piece of cheese
I am starving today and tired this afternoon
chicken, brown rice, brocolli
water

3/3 - Day off from Exercise - feel okay but bummed that I don't feel I lost weight even though this is not the purpose of my new way of eating
Tea (decaf)
smoothie
oatmeal
vegetable soup with chicken
chicken, tortilla, lettuce spinach, cheese and ranch dressing
popcorn
pistachios
Steak
sauteed peppers and onions
brown rice

3/4 Cardio, legs, yoga
oatmeal - filling
decaf tea
slice of lamb
smoothie
vegetable soup
vegetable soup with chicken
popcorn
tea
steak, sweet potato
lamb
tea

3/5 - walked 2.5 miles
decaf tea
smoothie
oatmeal
chicken, with salad and berries, balsamic vinegar
popcorn
decaf tea
popcorn
salmon, spinach, brown rice
apple

3/6 - walked 3 miles
smoothie
oatmeal
decaf tea
steak, salad, oil & vinegar, cheese and berries
apple
cod, brown rice, spinach
popcorn

3/7 - cardio, pilates, yoga
smoothie
oatmeal
decaf tea
vegetable soup
lamb
popcorn
2 cheese sticks
Thai Food - which tasted very sweet
grapes
Water

3/8 - No gym due to other obligations
smoothie
decaf tea
oatmeal
vegetable soup
steak
sweet potato
popcorn
chicken
chicken sausage
spinach/artichoke dip
vegetable soup
milk

3/9 - cardio, arms, yoga
chicken
oatmeal
decaf tea
smoothie
vegetable soup with chicken
popcorn
pepperoni and cheese
tea
nonfat decaf latte
lamb, brown rice and broccoli with butter and cheese
warm milk

3/10 - No gym
decaf tea- although still tired from daylight savings
smoothie
oatmeal
vegetable soup
lamb
brown rice
spinach

3/11 - cardio, legs, yoga - still feeling fat
decaf tea- although still tired from daylight savings
smoothie
oatmeal
lamb
vegetable soup, chicken & cheese & sour cream
popcorn
cheese stick
Corner Bakery salad
milk

3/12 - walked 3 miles - feel a little thinner today but still tired
decaf tea
oatmeal
smoothie
popcorn
apple and chedder cheese
lamb
popcorn
decaf nonfat latte

3/19 - Day Off - Hungry

decaf tea
oatmeal
smoothie
full fat bacon -felt very satisfied
water

3/21 - Skied all day - Vacation

decaf tea
oatmeal
smoothie
unsweetened cranberry juice (for altitude issues)
caesar salad, tomato bisque soup (which was a little sweet)
tortilla chips
cheese sticks, bacon and scallops
pork chop, whole wheat pasta, brocolli with butter and cheese
lots of water

3/22 - skied

decaf tea
oatmeal
smoothie
unsweetened cranberry juice (for altitude issues)
caesar salad, broccoli & cheddar soup
tortilla chips
hamburger no bun
small pasta, butter & cheese
marinated salmon, pasta w/ butter & cheese, spinach with cheese

3/23 - skied

decaf tea
oatmeal
smoothie
unsweetened cranberry juice (for altitude issues)
caesar salad, broccoli & cheddar soup
tortilla chips
steak, mushrooms, muscles, salad
seltzer

3/24 Skied

decaf tea
oatmeal
smoothie
unsweetened cranberry juice (for altitude issues)
caesar salad with chicken, tomato basil soup
tortilla chips
popcorn, cheese stick
shrimp enchiladas, salad, seltzer

3/25 Skied

decaf tea
oatmeal
smoothie
unsweetened cranberry juice (for altitude issues)
caesar salad with chicken, tomato basil soup
tortilla chips
popcorn
small bowl of whole wheat pasta w/ butter and cheese
salad with berries, veges and cheese
sweet potato

3/26 - Day off from skiing - getting a cold

6 decaf teas throughout day
water throughout day
smoothie
oat bran cereal
cheeseburger
soft taco
popcorn
doritos not sure if these corn products are a problem probably
beef fajitas with corn tortilla, tortilla soup
tortilla chips (ate them like potato chips, couldn't stop

3/27 - Skied

6 decaf teas throughout day
water throughout day
smoothie
oat bran cereal
some fajita meat
tomato basil soup and ceasar salad
popcorn
oat bran cereal
stuffed mushrooms
salad
small amt of veal marsala, brocolli and mashed potatoes (ate too much)

3/28 - Last Day Skiing

6 decaf teas throughout day
water throughout day
smoothie
oat bran cereal
tomato basil soup and ceasar salad
popcorn
salmon, asparagus and mashed potatoes

3/29 - traveling home
4 decaf teas throughout day
water throughout day
smoothie
oat bran cereal
potato nachos
bacon
sweet potato
cheeseburger
cheese
pretzels (i forgot my carrot sticks and nuts for the flight)
chicken caesar salad from McD's

3/30 -gym
4 decaf teas throughout day
water throughout day
smoothie
oat bran cereal
1 large bag of popcorn (750 calories)
oat bran cereal
seafood stew with whole wheat pasta
brocolli

3/31 - Day 33 - I feel thinner

4 decaf teas throughout day
water throughout day
smoothie
oat bran cereal
chicken sausage, brocolli
oat bran cereal
one bowl of popcorn
chicken sausage
grapes

4/1 - Day 34 - I feel thinner-no food cravings

4 decaf teas throughout day
water throughout day
smoothie
oat bran cereal
chicken sausage
popcorn
chicken
pasta with fake butter and salt
strawberries and grapes

4/2 - Day 35 - I feel thinner-no food cravings

4 decaf teas throughout day
water throughout day
smoothie
oatmean
carrots and hummus
popcorn
corner bakery chopped salad

4/3 - Day 36 - I feel great!

4 decaf teas throughout day
water throughout day
smoothie
oatmeal
2 bags of doritos (I was starving - had walked 1 1/2 miles carrying something heavy
Chicken with carrots and hummus
popcorn
Chinese - stir-fry pork and vegetables
feeling hungry this evening

Compulsive Eating Triggers and Possible Replacements

Stress - big and small
Boredom
Loneliness
Spending too much time at home
Tastes Good
Need to feel full
Always enjoyable
I love Sweets

Other things I like to do:

Read
Exercise
Socialize
Make Stuff
Shop (that's another ball of wax!)
Talk on the phone
Attend art school
Write

Am I Supposed to Feel Satisfied Or Stuffed?

In answer to that question, I flukily got the following email from Interactive Health Solutions. Apparently I am supposed to feel satisfied, not stuffed.

By Joene Hendry

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - As people age, trying to eat less becomes more important to fend off middle-age weight gain, a new study hints.

Women generally need to increasingly restrain their eating habits over time or they will tend to gain weight, and this applies to exercisers and non-exercisers, researchers from Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, found.

After looking back at the eating and physical activity habits of 192 middle-aged women over 3 years, "on average, the only women not at risk of weight gain were those that increased their restrained eating," Dr. Larry A. Tucker told Reuters Health.

Compared with women who became more restrained in their eating over time, those that did not were 69 percent more apt to gain more than 1 kilogram (2.2 pounds), and 138 percent more likely to gain 3 kilograms (6.6 pounds), Tucker and co-investigator Laura Bates found.

Contrary to previous research implying that restrained eating -- the conscious restriction of dietary intake for weight control -- may lead to binge eating and possible weight gain, these findings suggest increasing self-control with food may be a logical way to prevent weight gain over time, Tucker and Bates report in the American Journal of Health Promotion.

At both the start of the study and 3 years later, the researchers obtained body weight and body fat measurements, as well as 7-day dietary intake and physical activity logs from 192 women. The women were 40 years old on average at the start of the study.

Women who did not increase their restrained eating practices were, "at substantial risk for weight gain," Tucker said.

This group also had 49 percent increased likelihood of a 1 percent increase in body fat over 3 years. Factors including age, weight, eating habits, calorie intake, and physical activity levels at the start of the study, did not significantly alter the risk for weight gain or body fat increases; nor did physical activity over the study period.

The goal of restrained eating, Tucker said, is to be satisfied, rather than stuffed, and to do so with the right foods such as non-starchy vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and vegetable proteins such as legumes, while avoiding cookies, high-fat foods, burgers, and pizza.

This study highlights how the average women, with no prescribed intervention, will gain body weight and fat over time. Therefore, Tucker and Bates call for improved interventions for helping women develop better eating habits while restricting their calorie intake.

Source: American Journal of Health Promotion, January 200

Experimenting with (and failing) to control my sweet intake

On Sunday I bought 4 packs of dark chocolate covered graham crackers for an experiment. I remembered that they gave me a feeling of fullness. I was going to try eating one pack a day. They are 270 calories. I ate them in the car on the way to Trader Joe’s. The quality was not as good as I remembered.

I ate well the rest of the day.

Monday, while hemorrhaging from a perimenopausal menstrual cycle, I ate my one serving of choc covered grahams after breakfast and then continued on with other sweets throughout the day. I get credit for not eating the funfetti cake at my kindergartener’s 100 days party.

This morning I am having tea and had a piece of pork with balsamic vinegar to hopefully counteract the iron from the massive bloodletting of yesterday. I am off to a good start. I took Martha’s advice and went out for coffee (sweetened with stevia) with a friend and have agreed to join a second book club that meets on Wed. afternoons. As much as I love it here, I miss my family and friends back home. I am here for the duration and need to commit myself to that and make some deeper relationships.

I also think that making some art outside of my schoolwork might be helpful. I spend a lot of time at home, mostly cleaining, reading, eating and thinking about eating…

Well, things have not been going so great. I went to the bakery to buy cookies for the police who helped with the accident last week. I bought molasses cookies for myself. I felt like if I bought 2, everyone would think they were for me, which they were, so I bought 4 thinking they'd think they were for a group. I ending up eating 3 and giving one to my kid.

Then I came home and finished off the Keebler chocolate covered grahams from last week, some ritz crackers. I did eat vegetable soup and oatmeal as well.

Positive things: I did get my thyroid tested today. I'd love to hang all my eating problems on that!!! I will be finding an Overeaters Anonymous meeting.

Key Learning: Did not realize that I eat when stressed.

Experiment with Controlled Consumption of Sweets Gone Awry

I forgot the delicious salad I made as I headed off to the train...So I went to Corner Bakery and bought a salad along with a cream cheese brownie. I thought I would do a controlled test.
By the time I got to school (in the city) I got a message to call the police. They informed me that my 5 year old and babysitter had gotten into a car accident, crashed into a 7-11 window (one of my favorite eating destinations) and everyone was fine. The police took Max to his art class and my sitter filled out the accident report.

After making all of my calls to get everything handled, I went in and inhaled the brownie. It made me so full that I was not hungry for my salad at lunch. Why is that? I ate most of the salad anyway.

When I got home I ate a bite of a twinkie, some ritz crackers and a klondike icecream sandwich. The I had seafood stew and brown rice for dinner.

There is a definite correlation between stress and my eating.

Still, nothing satisfies like some chocolate....

A Good Day for the most part

I ate quite healthy and feel good. Fought the urge to go to the pantry over little stresses. I did nosh on the kids' teriaki chicken, which should be called "candied chicken" but then got back on track with some sort of vegetable chicken sausage, brown rice and broccoli slaw.

This morning I put toasted oat bran in with my oatmeal. I feel pretty full and it tasted quite good. This is part of my quest to get that full feeling. I packed a healthy salad, cheese sticks and an apple for lunch.

Research needed: Am I always supposed to feel "stuffed" after a meal or just mildly satiated? I once read a children's book titled "Rikki Tikki Tavi" and in it his mother tells him not to eat until he is full in order to outrun predators. I, thankfully, don't run into predators on a daily basis (although I do worry about them daily!) but perhaps I should always be ready to move quickly!

Stress Triggers Binge Eating

I am doing o.k. but got stressed when I got home and found my kid had done something to my computer, so I didn't think I could get on. I wanted to go right into the kitchen. The pantry is in my line of sight and eat the Kettle Corn from yesterday. But I realized, none left. I had a cup of tea and a cheese stick.

When into the city for school and packed a nice salad with steak and berries. Still a little hungry.

Key learning: Maybe we are not supposed to be stuffed after a meal? I'll research and get back.

Too Much Time Alone Triggers The Binge

I did go and eat the Haagan Daz Dulce de Leche cup of ice cream. 270 calories and I thing 26 gram of sugar, lots of fat. I wasn't even hungry!

What I've discovered, spending a lot of time alone, which I do, will more likely result in an eating fest. My best eating was when I lived in Tennessee for 2 years and spent most afternoons outside chatting with the neighbors, often about food. I also am so accustomed to feeling stuffed. I don't know if that is normal or not. I can't seem to get that feeling from from healthy food.

Key learnings:

Get some support, maybe Overeaters Anonymous?
Socialize more, so I am not at home so much.
Research filling foods.

Day After A Binge

I got off to a great start today. I had a cup of fresh vegetable soup, followed an hour or so later by a nonfat yogurt and berry smoothie. For lunch I had oatmeal with skim milk, cinnamon and stevia. I had a friend for tea and had some pepperoni and cheese.

After running errands, I stopped at Trader Joe's and bought 3 pretzel rolls and Kettle Corn for the kids. Once I got in the car I realized that I only needed 2 pretzel breads for sandwiches so I wolfed down the extra. I love to eat in the car alone. I will eat and entire sandwich in the car, even if I am only 4 minutes from my house. I will finish it! When I got home, I shoveled mouthfuls of Kettle Corn into my mouth. Right now I am thinking about what's left in the bag. This is nuts. I had a perfectly nice day today.

I did go back and finish off the bag of kettle corn. I then joined my kids with pasta and mandarin chicken. Hopefully this is it for today.

I do feel nice and full but tired and disgusted.

Key learning: When I plan a binge, I should try not to let myself eat in the car. I will try to wait until I get home. I will not eat in the pantry. I will sit at the table and eat like a civilized person. Just putting this commitment in writing is making me want to make a mad dash for the freezer! Dulce De Lechi Hagaan Daz and Kondike Ice Cream Sandwiches await!

Tomorrow's another day!

The Binge

Yesterday, things were fine, although I was feeling tired. I don't normally drink caffeine because it makes me shaky but puts me in good spirits. So instead of having a cup of caffeinated tea I had dark chocolate M&Ms. That was the beginning of the end. After several handfuls of them, I finished my fruit smoothie, which did not taste as delicious as before the candy.

Once I begin a binge, the eating is very frenetic. Since I know that I will try to start fresh the next day, I have to eat all of the things I couldn't have for the last weeks. McDonald's drive-thru, just cheeseburger and fries, no milkshake(I was being good), cookies at the grocery store, half a loaf of fresh Italian bread. I ate the cookies in the car on the way home. Ice Cream sandwich, while full.

I forced down a cup of healthy vegetable soup for dinner.

These binges satiate me, unlike healthy food. I can get really full and I like that feeling. I can actually stop thinking about food for awhile when this happens.

What triggered this binge? I don't know. I was having a fine day. I was a little bored. I am very industrious and don't like to feel tired. I exercise about 5 days a week, cardio, pilates, yoga and weight-lifting. PMS, unsure.

I think constantly about body image, I have never been happy with myself physically, even when I've been, in retrospect, very good shape.

It is the morning after. I am having a cup of tea and hoping I can get back on track...

The following comment is not from me but something I pasted in from an email from someone calling herself Marshmallow.

What is Compulsive Overeating?

Compulsive Overeating

Definition

Compulsive overeaters, also known as binge eaters, overeat but do not purge, which usually leads them to become overweight. Binge eating is characterized by eating, in a discrete period of time, an amount of food that is definitely larger than most people would eat in a similar period of time under similar circumstances, as well as by a sense of lack of control over eating during the episode.
Symptoms

Almost everyone overeats occasionally, and sometimes, depending on the circumstances, individuals may need to eat a large amount of food. What separates these situations from binge eating is the loss of control. Other characteristics include eating what most people think is an unusually large amount of food, eating that amount quickly, eating to the point of discomfort and eating even when not hungry. Additionally, someone eats alone due to embarrassment about how much he or she is eating or feels depressed, disgusted or embarrassed about their eating habits.

The binge eating occurs, on average, at least two days a week for six months.
Binge eating also occurs in the eating disorder bulimia nervosa. In the strictest sense, binge eating is separate from bulimia nervosa, because people with bulimia often perform some activity to keep from gaining weight after they overeat. Either they purge by vomiting or using diuretics; they fast, not eating for long periods of time; or they exercise strenuously.

Compulsive overeating might be the most common eating disorder in the United States, where as many as 4 million adults struggle with the disorder. About 15 percent of the mildly obese, those who try to lose weight on their own or with commercial products, have the disorder. The rates are said to be higher among the severely obese. Although most people with this problem range from overweight to obese, binge eating disorder is a little more common in women than in men. Three women for every two men have it. The disorder affects Blacks as often as Caucasians. No one knows how often it affects people in other ethnic groups.

People who compulsively overeat sometimes isolate themselves from public gatherings because of their embarrassment and depression over the disorder. It may even lead to missed work and school. The ability to hide their habits becomes so good that often the people closest to them don't even know they have the disorder.

The depression associated with the disorder is a constant health difficulty. The obesity that regularly arises from the disorder can also lead to diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, gallbladder disease, heart disease and certain types of cancer.

Causes

Depression is one hypothesis for why people become binge eaters. But no one is really sure if depression comes first and leads to binge eating, or vice versa. It is common for people with the disorder to behave impulsively and have other emotional problems, however. And many report being angry, sad, bored or worried—all of which sufferers say can cause them to binge eat. Also, researchers are looking into how brain chemicals and metabolism (the way the body uses calories) affect binge eating disorder.

Research also suggests that genes may be involved in binge eating, since the disorder often occurs in several members of the same family.
It is also unclear if dieting and binge eating are related. Some studies show that about half of all people with binge eating disorder had binge episodes before they started to diet.

Treatment

There are several options for people who want help with controlling this disorder. Cognitive-behavioral therapy teaches people how to keep track of their eating and change their unhealthy eating habits, as well as changing the way they react in difficult situations. Interpersonal psychotherapy helps people look at their relationships with friends and family and make changes in problem areas. Drug therapy, such as antidepressants, may be helpful for some people.

The methods mentioned here seem to be equally effective, but researchers are still trying to find the most helpful treatment for binge eating disorder. Other therapies include dialectical behavior therapy, which helps people regulate their emotions; drug therapy with the antiseizure medication topiramate; weight-loss surgery (gastrointestinal surgery); exercise used alone or in combination with cognitive-behavioral therapy; and self-help.

Self-help books, videos, and groups such as Overeaters Anonymous have aided some people in controlling their binge eating. Many people with eating disorders respond to outpatient therapy, including individual, group, or family therapy, as well as medical management by their primary care provider. Support groups, nutritional counseling, and psychiatric medications taken under careful medical supervision have also proven helpful for some individuals.

Hospital-based care (including inpatient, partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient and/or residential care in an eating disorders specialty unit or facility) is necessary when an eating disorder has led to physical problems that may be life-threatening, or when it is associated with severe psychological or behavioral problems.

Exact treatment needs will vary from individual to individual. It is important for anyone struggling with an eating disorder to enlist a trusted health professional in coordinating and overseeing his or her care.

Sources:

* National Institute of Health
* National Eating Disorder Association
* American Psychiatric Association

Last Reviewed: 15 Apr 2008
Last Reviewed By: Laura Stephens

What This Blog is About

I am a compulsive over eater. I cannot control the impulses. I can go for weeks, even months, eating healthy foods. Then something happens and I am like a tornado, eating everything (always sweet) in sight. My hope is that through blogging I can figure out why I am doing this...