Binge eater and sugar addict :(

[SarahAnne]

Hi everyone
I am new here - my name is Sarah. It is difficult for me to even reach out to this forum, because I spend most of my life pretending I am fine as I am, that I am happy and that I love myself as I am - but that is not true.
I weight 174 lbs, I am 5ft 2. About 5 years ago, I lost over 40 pounds, but I have regained most of that.

Most of the time, I eat fairly well, I try to eat whole foods and I cook from scratch everyday and I try to make healthy choices, but I am a binge eater and a sugar addict. I am home alone most days and I can quite easily go through several chocolate bars and bags of chips - I am so ashamed of this behavior, but I can't stop myself. I don't keep this type of food in the house, but when a compulsion takes me I will go out and buy it.

I go walking every day with my dog, but I find it hard to find the energy to do much else - I would love to start jogging, but I can't find the motivation.

I don't have many friends and those I do have don't understand my issues with food, this leaves me feeling very lonely and adds to my urge to binge - I try to fill that lonely space with food, chocolate never judges you...

I don't really know what to do next, I just no that I have to do something. I am hoping maybe I will find some inspiration here...

 

[Kristy]

Hi SarahAnne,
Your story hit home for me. I too suffer from the same thing. I am really bad at binge eating sugar and snacks. I find that when I am at work or out doing errands I am not hungry and do not crave sugary things. When I am at home I tend to go for chips or sweets. I have been trying really hard to eat better as well. I have found a few tips that work and help curve my sugar cravings. Recently I started buying greek yogurt and adding fresh strawberries and blue berries to it, on top of that I add a small hand full of unsalted mixed nuts (almonds, cashews) and granola. This gives me the the chip crunch and the sweetness that I desire without all of the guilt. The good thing about granola is you can make your own and add whatever you want to yours such as small chocolate chips for additional sweetness. I hope you will find the inspiration your are looking for here. Share as much as you can about your story, it will inspire other people who feel exactly the same as you do. Thank you for sharing.

 

[Steve]

Welcome aboard SarahAnne! Good for you reaching out to a community like this. It's really hard to find a group of people who share the mission of getting control of fitness... at least in real life. Virtual communities like this can work wonders for providing that sense of belonging. Glad you're here.

What does eating junk food mean to you? What does it do for you?

Do you believe that you "medicate" with junk food... meaning that you manage uncomfortable feelings by stuffing them away with tasty food?

 

[MrNiceGuy1]

Hello SarahAnne and welcome to the forum.

It’s very true, chocolate doesn’t judge you, but it does very little to help your cause in the longer term either, despite how many endorphins it may release upon contact with the lips, particularly if you remain inactive.

You say that you’d love to start jogging. Well, instead of simply walking your dog every day, begin to introduce gentle jogging intervals of 30 seconds, followed by 60 seconds of rest throughout your walk. Not only will it slowly accustom your body to running, it’ll no doubt excite your four-legged friend by the sudden and unpredictable increases in pace.

Moreover, the slight increase in your level of activity will also begin to release endorphins, helping to provide you with a sense of satisfaction and feeling of contentment, thus improving your sense of self-esteem.

If ever you wondered why so many people choose to run, it’s largely due to the feeling it produces in the hours afterwards (commonly known as the runner’s high).

With time, the repeated ‘high’ that one experiences after running can become infectious, encouraging a change in behaviour, not least when it comes to diet, as there’s less inclination to binge eat due to an improved waist-line, increased running prowess and the fact running is satisfying a void you’ve sought to fill.

Your body no doubt will feel slightly weary after each run, but the sense of fatigue felt is so satisfying, it’s almost a smug sense of satisfaction.

Moreover, chocolate can still be enjoyed on occasion, without the guilt that you currently feel following its consumption.

To further fill the void and to extend your network of friends, seek out running groups, where you’ll meet like-minded individuals of all abilities. Some of those members will be serious, but there’ll also be those who simply attend to enjoy the satisfaction that running can provide.

Most importantly, with recreational running, the only person you’re in competition with is yourself, as you strive to improve upon personal PB’s, regardless of whether it’s attained during an event/race you’ve entered, or on a Tuesday evening when out with the running club, for example.

 

[SarahAnne]

Hi SarahAnne,
Recently I started buying greek yogurt and adding fresh strawberries and blue berries to it, on top of that I add a small hand full of unsalted mixed nuts (almonds, cashews) and granola.

I can't make myself like greek yogurt! I have tried, many times - I'm really not a yogurt fan. I have started eating nuts and fruit in the evening when I am after something sweet. It is definitely nice to hear that I am not the only one who struggles with this - binge eating is a very isolating thing, so thank you for that <3

What does eating junk food mean to you? What does it do for you?

Do you believe that you "medicate" with junk food... meaning that you manage uncomfortable feelings by stuffing them away with tasty food?

I don't know what junk food does for me, really - I suppose, it fills a gap - I don't feel good about myself and I have failed so many times - I guess its sabotage. If I do the opposite of trying, I can't fail!
I don't think I would call it medicating - it's more like an overwhelming urge, if that makes sense. It's not emotional eating, in that I don't have any trauma in my past that triggered me to eat, it is more like an addiction.

Hello SarahAnne and welcome to the forum.

If ever you wondered why so many people choose to run, it’s largely due to the feeling it produces in the hours afterwards (commonly known as the runner’s high).

It's funny that you wrote this today - this week I started doing just what you said, running for 30 seconds, walking for 60 - I can only imagine what I looked like red faced and puffed out running down the street, but I did it all the same. I have only done 2 days so far, with some weight training on my off day, but I have been feeling really good, so far. It would be lovely to become a running "addict" instead of a sugar addict.

Also, since I have started running I haven't had the urge to binge - I don't think it will be too hard to convince my brain that I am a runner now and runners take care of themselves.

Thank you for the welcome everyone, I am feeling really positive right now, so hopefully I can keep the momentum going!

 

[MrNiceGuy1]

That’s great news, SarahAnne.

The fact that you’ve not had the inclination to binge may suggest that you’ve been bitten early by the infectious feeling that running can provide.

In addition to allowing you to feel great afterwards, the ‘high’ experienced also goes some way to providing a sense of satisfaction. The greatest thing about running is that the ‘high’ experienced afterwards rarely ever goes away.

Granted, from time to time, you may experience a difficult run but don’t dwell upon it. Instead, simply put it down to experience.

Moreover, don’t worry about how you may appear, since your flushed appearance is simply a result of your increased level of activity. In the immediate interim, simply enjoy placing one foot in front of the other at an increased pace (above that of walking), concentrating upon gradually increasing your running bursts, while reducing periods of rest.

If you’re interested in following a beginner’s training plan, as a means to improving running fitness at a measured rate, research programmes such as the Couch2-5K, since they gradually increase the periods at which you run, while reducing walking breaks, with the eventual aim (usually over 4 weeks) of allowing 5K to be completed by simply running the distance.

On completion of such, to further your running experience, it may also be worth researching whether ParkRun programmes exist throughout South Australia.

Here in the UK, ParkRuns take place in various locations throughout numerous towns and cities (usually on a Saturday morning), with runners of all abilities competing, with the more serious runners running them at race pace. However, the vast majority take part for the simple benefit of enjoyment and improved level of fitness they can provide.

Moreover, it allows you the opportunity to meet fellow runners, where you can pick up tips from fellow runners on improving your own performance.

As such, contact your local leisure centre, who may be able to provide you with a list of ParkRuns (or something similar), allowing you to expand your running experience.