binging bulimic

[needyounow]

I"ve been struggling with my weight for the past year. I have been 130 all my life, and over the past year i've reached up to 148. All of my friends are tiny, and i feel as if i cant compare. Whenever i try to go on diets, i usually reach about 138  and then gain it all back. After each diet, i binge and then throw it up. Each day i tell myself that i'll make it through the day without binging, but when i come home around 130, i go straight to the kitchen. I'm going to college soon and want to start to lose weight and keep it off the right way. I dont think i'll be satisfied until i reach 135. and lastly, how can i find a way to control my eating . when i'm at dinners or parties and there is food, i cant resist. Please help


This discussion is related to can't stop binging.

[athena00]

Being as close to your father as you say you are, telling him may lift some stress from your shoulders and having him know what you are going through and allowing him some insight about your hopes and fears and what you expect to do about your situation while in a college setting should hold the bond of your relationship. There is always that terror in his disapproval, but if he really loves you he will accept the situation and be there to support you and help you through the tough times. He may be a little angry at first but if you just really have a heart to heart he should be just proud that you are putting forth the effort of acknowledging the problem at hand and telling him about it. It is no easy task. I wish you all the courage and luck.

[needyounow]

thank you both for the advice. I've considered telling my dad lately, but i dont know how. i'm graduating soon and going to college so i feel like i'd dissapoint him. we're really close and hes so proud of me right now..what should i do?

[athena00]

i agree with zoelula, consulting a therapist and pehaps even going as far as to inquire about mood enhancing/controlling medications such as xanax or zoloft may assist in mind/body/control. i have been struggling with my weight for the better part of a decade and it is not the life that anyone should endeavor and the fact that it has not consumed you as it has me means you still have a very great chance of being successful enough to overcome the whole situation. it is not an easy thing obviously, but your mental and physical health are number one and keeping to a healthy diet and excersise routine can be the devil. binging and purging has long term damaging results to your digestive system, teeth and esophagus so if you are so very concerned with your weight joining a weight watcher type group or simply eating at least 5 small meals (at least somewhat healthy) food a day, lots of water and multivitamins can help keep you feeling full while helping your metabolism and preventing overeating. and you can allow yourself to slip up once in awhile is not going to hurt you, in fact once a week eating a bit of junk can be good for your body and metabolism. anyhoo, i hope at least some of this has helped. take care.

[Zoelula]

Right now you are focussed on the issue of weight but food and weight are only a part of the problem, and the least important part at that. Eating disorders are about much more than food and weight, they are about emotions. Obsessing on a couple pounds and going on a roller coaster of weight loss followed by binging is all part of the cycle of an eating disorder. Fortunately, the good news is that you haven't had this eating disorder for very long which makes it easier to treat. I would suggest asking your doctor for a referral to a therapist with experience with eating disorders. Also you might try attending meetings of OA, just look in the phonebook under Overeater's Anonymous to find meetings in your area. There you will get support from lots of people who are going through what you are. You think right now that if you get to 130 pounds your life will be perfect, but that thinking is a part of the disorder as well. If you get into recovery from your eating disorder than your life will be your life and you can get all the benefits and pleasure from your time in college. Otherwise you will spend it in a blur of weight loss and gain, binging and worse.