how do i stop eating when i dont even want to and am not hungry?

I am desperate.  I can't stop reaching for food when im not even hungry and dont even enjoy the food.  Everyday i say i will control myself and my eating but I always end up giving in and overeating and eating large quantities of unhealthy fattening and junk foods.  I end up feeling so guilty and ashamed and stuffed that I end up throwing it all up.  The worst part is that I will usually end up re-doing this cycle all over again soon after i throw up. It is perpetuating my shame and self disgust and I can't control myself.  I am in a eating disorder program but they have given me no statagies to stop this behavior.  I have a councelling session once every two weeks and see a shrink every month and a nurse and doctor regularly but Im not getting better and am loosing hope.  Aren't these programs supposed to help? Don't they give advice on how to manage the disorder?  

can anyone been through this before give me any advice and or stratiegies !!! I would greatly appreciate it and will be forever grateful.

Marlane

[nat241]

u sound exactly like me. i have gone from starving my self to full blown binging an throwing it all up. all i think about is food even when and if i eat i still want more no matter how much i have i cant do it anymore my throat and stomach hurts

[LeftCoastChick]

Bingeing is is just as bad an ED as any of the others. You have think this is a form of passive abuse to yourself, not just putting food into your mouth.I repeat it's a passive form of abuse. I saw that you purge too (throw up), do you realize how deadly that is?
As well, there are long term side effects, like teeth falling apart, you eroding your esophogus, and you can even bleed out from thowing up. (I've had all that happen)

You have to learn to  listen to what makes you eat, if it's a negative thought, or words that trigger your or feelings, then you have to address them and retrain your brain to learn to address that negative thought, and change your thinking.  ED is a compulsion, just like many others. Are you on any meds?
Do you suffer from Body Dysphoria and/or Depression? or Bipolar?

Some meds can help with compulsions, but it takes time to get to the source. So there is no easy fix, or quick cure. Have you also been checked out by your GP lately?

I have a a longstand ED(28yrs), but recently I was diagnosed with Bipolar, and the meds I am on, have changed my brain functions, which I think has had a direct impact on my bingeing. I have gone from daily binging, to almost nothing. I believe that the underlying cause for the ED is being worked on so the ED, isn't active.

You are going to have to be pro-active, tell them you need to find ways, real substantial ways to cope with this, things you can do to stop.
I personally would write, and put on your mirror, You are worth it. You are perfect soul how honors your body. Remember that.

If you slip and binge, that's okay we all do that, but please don't purge, that's the potentially dangerous part. I've learned coping strategies like, not leaving junk food in the house, I have fruit which will ease those sugar cravings in minutes. I drink a ton of water.

Sit down with your team and tell them what you need, like you did here, you need strategies. You're on the right track.

[marlane]

Thankyou very much for your advice and sharing your own personal story and your insight!  

I am so grateful for you!  I am taking cipralex for anxiety and depression but it hasn't done a whole lot besides make me less irritable.  I still feel really down but actually less weepy.  It must be helping a bit then.  

what are some drugs for impulsiveness?  That is my downfall!  If I see food on the counter I eat it, if i drive by it i buy it and eat it and if i go grocery shopping I usually look for evening meal binge foods.  If I save food I cant stop thinking about it untill it's eaten.  once it's eaten whether i am hungry or not whenther i even like that food or not (its usually one of my husbands foods) i end up eating it because it causes me anxiety to have it in the house.  


I am seeing my ED councellor tomorrow and will address your suggestion for concrete advice and startegies to quit or just minimize my binging and purging.

I don't know about you but I look forward to eating whatever i want knowing i can throw it up and not gain weight from it.  It's like food is my friend and makes me happy to eat what i want which is normally junky foods and too much fat and processed stuff.  I just can't stop it though!  I am addicted!  How do i get over this! How did you?

Is there hope?  I binge every day and often more then once.  
I feel lost and hopless and feel there is no way out of this until i die from my ED.

I am even geting councelling at the eating disorder clinic.  Why do they go so slow.

Do i have bipolar?  I get these spells where I melt down and cry and feel aggressive and screeam for my husband when he gets frustrated and mad and leaves me crying by myself in my bathroom.  I also feel sometimes very intense highs for about 3 days when im really excited about something.  I end up coming down again and crashing and feeling very drained and fatigued.  I have beeen more depressed lately so i haven't felt that way for since summmer and warm sunny weather.  Its now freezing out and no sunshine so my brain is not getting the full spectrum light.  i get worse in winter starting in the fall.

Anyway I am so proud of you for overcoming your ED!  I would welcome any more insights and suggestions you may have for me here  that helped you get through yourself.

Love to you,

marlane

[BritXOXO]

i think the best thing to do is to try your best to fill up on water and when a binge hits, stuff urself on healthy foods so that theres not too much damage, and there won't be as big a need to throw it up :-) You CAN control your eating though, i know it's hard. If your levels are depleted (i.e mine are coz im a recovering anorexic ) then ur bingeing will come to an end when all of ur levels have corrected themselves xxxx

[20stock]

When I'm hungry I eat everything in front of me. I don't keep the negative foods, if someone brings a negative food (fast food, fatty foods ect..) in, I throw it away before I get hungry so I won't resort to eating it later. I over eat so if I over eat junk I'll have health problems following. It maybe drastic not to keep the foods but that's what I need to do. Sometimes I'll buy them but a small amount and throw the rest away when I'm done so I can't go back and finish it all when I'm hungry again.

[20stock]

It's not an answer but I can't eat it if it's not there to eat. I'll have to resort to eating more healthy foods. Water seems to just make me more hungry.

[Bonnie73]

My WW meeting leader said when she throws out her binge food, she sprays them with Windex so they are really gone. She said, we can always take it out of the trash otherwise. I try to remember the low fat popcorn for those times when I cannot eat enough. I was also warned that sometimes hunger is really thirst. I know I don't drink enough water because of a weak bladder. I think my body is falling apart....