Healthy New You: Your Change For Life #2

Well it was more about sorting my head out than actual physical progress. These days I can have one or two chocolates in an evening without having to eat the whole box.


A doctor would take information about your eating habits and general mental state and then make a decision. For me, the phrase "the food is crying out at me" is so real. If I had a box of chocolates in the house, I HAD to eat them. It got worse when I was living in halls with nobody to answer to. An average binge would be 4 bags of crisps, a share bag of maryland cookies, sharebag of giant buttons plus a couple of chocolate bars. This was EVERY evening, and I felt completely powerless to stop. Would eat all that as well as my normal meals, all of which were huge portions.. I was just addicted to food. Whereas now, I think I can control myself a lot better. When I've had a meal, my body doesn't cry out for more food. I can sometimes feel urges to eat LOADS of chocolate when I have a bit, but most of the time I manage to keep it in control. It'll be when I reach my goal weight and stop eating below my BMR that the real test will come in.. but I'm not worrying about that for now.

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I've only lost about 20lb and I haven't noticed a massive difference. My friends and family don't know I'm "on a diet" (hate to call it that because it isn't what they associate with diets...) and haven't noticed a difference really except for my mum but she noticed when I put on weight at uni and told me so

I was telling my friend about how I couldn't be vegetarian because I would never get enough protein (not my only reason lol I like meat too much too) and they didn't know why we need to eat protein and I said I like to have enough whilst on a calorie deficit so I don't lose too much muscle and they looked confused and asked how I knew about nutrition and I said I'd lost over a stone and she looked sceptical...

I guess I dressed well when I was bigger, lol. I guess I carry a bit of weight better than I think. The only difference I've noticed is that anything I have in a 12 is too big now and size 8 dresses fit properly now. I'll know when I'm done because I'll fit into my 26 inch jeans (although they are a big 26) comfortably rather than having flab when I wear them now

Posting about BED last night made me want to test myself. As Goldsequin said, it really does take a stronger person to do things in moderation than it does to cut things out completely. So, I decided that I'd test myself a little bit. Mum had a box of chocolates out that I got her for Mother's Day, and I accepted a few. Four, to be exact. Now, this isn't anywhere near the same as them being MY chocolates, because it would have been rude to eat the whole box, and they weren't my favourites either (I'm not feeling strong enough to try moderating Galaxy Counters just yet..) but even so, in the past I would have eaten at least double that number, or carried on sharing them with my family until the box was finished. I stopped at my 4 and let the rest of my family carry on. Therefore, I'm proud of myself. I've come a long way. I'm not saying I'm cured or anything, because I don't believe that ANY ED truly leaves us completely, but I am certainly "in recovery".

I think I didn't tell anyone I had an ED because everyone expects people to be dangerously thin, not the opposite. When anyone says ED, you automatically think AN or BN, not BED. But now I think if I can help other people to understand themselves by posting information about myself, then I certainly am going to post about it from now on. Now that I am a normal weight, now that I know I can succeed.

Posting about BED last night made me want to test myself. As Goldsequin said, it really does take a stronger person to do things in moderation than it does to cut things out completely. So, I decided that I'd test myself a little bit. Mum had a box of chocolates out that I got her for Mother's Day, and I accepted a few. Four, to be exact. Now, this isn't anywhere near the same as them being MY chocolates, because it would have been rude to eat the whole box, and they weren't my favourites either (I'm not feeling strong enough to try moderating Galaxy Counters just yet..) but even so, in the past I would have eaten at least double that number, or carried on sharing them with my family until the box was finished. I stopped at my 4 and let the rest of my family carry on. Therefore, I'm proud of myself. I've come a long way. I'm not saying I'm cured or anything, because I don't believe that ANY ED truly leaves us completely, but I am certainly "in recovery".

I think I didn't tell anyone I had an ED because everyone expects people to be dangerously thin, not the opposite. When anyone says ED, you automatically think AN or BN, not BED. But now I think if I can help other people to understand themselves by posting information about myself, then I certainly am going to post about it from now on. Now that I am a normal weight, now that I know I can succeed.

All the time! No matter what I eat for breakfast I'm starving by around 10.30-11am (usually have an apple around this time). I often have something around 3-5pm, like a couple of pieces of dark chocolate/a biscuit/sugar free jelly/crackers & hoummus, etc. Then I have my actual dinner about 6.30-7.30pm...and I'm reaching for snacks again at 9pm, haha. I don't buy much junk food though so most of the stuff I have isn't too bad. Defrosting my dinner now but I'll probably have natural yoghurt and berries later on.

As stupid as it might sound to some people, I understand how difficult situations like that can be. Cutting chocolate out of your diet completely would be a lot easier than learning to have it in moderation, but by doing so you'd still be letting food rule your life. There's no such thing as an unhealthy snack if you have a balanced diet and eat in appropriate moderation.

Good luck with your recovery, you've managed to conquer your BED to such an extent so far that you've got down to a healthy BMI and weight It would be stupid to say that you're over it entirely because, as you say, EDs may never leave people completely, but I honestly think one of the hardest parts is over for you. You've admitted that you have a problem, you've succeeded to thus far address it by altering your attitude towards eating, and you've been helping countless other people with their problems along the way, whether they want to gain 5lbs or lose 50.

I've lurked in this thread forever, and occasionally I'll choose a random page from near the beginning to see how far some of you have come. It's inspiring stuff.

As stupid as it might sound to some people, I understand how difficult situations like that can be. Cutting chocolate out of your diet completely would be a lot easier than learning to have it in moderation, but by doing so you'd still be letting food rule your life. There's no such thing as an unhealthy snack if you have a balanced diet and eat in appropriate moderation.

Good luck with your recovery, you've managed to conquer your BED to such an extent so far that you've got down to a healthy BMI and weight It would be stupid to say that you're over it entirely because, as you say, EDs may never leave people completely, but I honestly think one of the hardest parts is over for you. You've admitted that you have a problem, you've succeeded to thus far address it by altering your attitude towards eating, and you've been helping countless other people with their problems along the way, whether they want to gain 5lbs or lose 50.

I've lurked in this thread forever, and occasionally I'll choose a random page from near the beginning to see how far some of you have come. It's inspiring stuff.

PRSOM. We're all rooting for you, Angel!
As for me, just had second discharge-the therapist came to the conclusion I don't have an eating disorder as much as extreme anxiety around food, weight and shape still. It has virtually the same effect but it's a product of GAD more than anything. Anyway, I think they've helped me to figure out what's going on and move forward from here. Seems to be working so far, the anxiety's reducing a little. I hope it's not just because of downtime for Easter, but I'm enjoying the respite all the same.
Yesterday was my own little test. Despite a pretty damn bad day food wise , practically no guilt or worry about anything. I had a Zizzi Classico when eating out with a friend (amongst other bits and bobs through the day!) and actually, it was great, second pizza this year and the first I've enjoyed in two. Catching up with my friend before they head back home for the holidays was lovely and far more important than the food anyway, and later I had a brilliant game of badminton with Dad which I'm really getting into. The important thing was the indulgence wasn't a punishment, it wasn't for self-piteous comfort and I was completely in charge of the decision; it was just what I fancied, and that in moderation can do a world of good. I'm learning half the battle is faith in the strength of your own judgment.
I love this sunny weather, it really feels like brighter days ahead ^ ^

This is me and I feel like there's a sort of driving force pushing me to eat it to the point where I feel physically sick. It goes through phases but it's calmed down in recent weeks (probably because I haven't been sticking to the diet much) but there was a point where every single sunday (don't know why it's specifically sunday) I would eat to the point where I felt ill and emotional about it. I think its calmed down recently because I force myself to go to the gym early every sunday morning and I find it helps.
I struggle to know when to stop with food. Like i'll open a box of chocolate or flapjacks and eat the entire thing really quickly as though it's my last meal and eating to point of sickness rather than satisfaction. For me, it takes a stronger person to eat good things in moderation and know when enough is enough, than it does to completely eliminate them altogether. I just wanna be normal with food!

hello! I started slimming world last week and I need to lose 2 stone before I go on holiday in June. hope it's ok to post here, some of the progress is outstanding!

Hey, of course it's alright to post, everyone's welcome on here :-). Well done on joining Slimming World. To be honest I think I could have done with that kind of motivating group years ago but I never got around to it. Never mind.

I wish you the best of luck, and don't forget to keep us all updated with your progress!

Thanks! Looks like you've done amazingly on your own though, I just needed a kick up the bum really. Lost 7.5lbs in the first week strangely, probably just water and such but nice motivation all the same!