Binge Eating, Anxiety, Obsession and Panic

[Faithy]

Krabi!!!.. Well I'm assured that milk is EVIL!!!!!.. I've done without it since whenever it was I said I'd go without.. 2-3 weeks?? Anyway it's made a HUGE difference.. Cravings are pretty much zilch & my skin is glowing.. weird huh..

[Kristine..]

Hi krabi

I think that Faithy has hit it on the head regarding the insulin spikes, and how addictive the rush is

I found that going back to 'family meals' for dinner was difficult. Mike does all the cooking, and I just eat what is put in front of me. 'That's lovely, Dear, thanks so much'

However, I kept up with Cohens breakfast and lunch, but found that after dinner I would get very fidgetty. I put it down to the root vegetables - carrots, potatoes, pumpkin, and the green beans, not just the quantity of food. These vegetables are not on the diet program because they are high in carbohydrates ie sugars. After meat & three veg I would be prowling around looking for 'something' else to eat

I found that a handful of almonds (high in tryptophan) and a couple of square of very dark chocolate would settle me down. I did not go back to milk in coffee for about two years, and would feel quite ill after drinking a latte or similar.

The maintenance guidelines are well worth reading almost daily. The use of protein cannot be underestimated. I used to eat an egg salad during the late afternoon if we were going out for dinner. I maintained 60 kilos - spot on 60 kilos - for nearly a year after refeed with no problems at all, despite the family meals, and I put this down to knowing how to use protein throughout the day. The fidgetting subsided when I asked Mike to use more of the Cohens vegetables for dinner, rather than rushing back to English Boarding School type meals or endless stir fries with loans of rice or noodles.

So don't beat yourself up, make sure you keep taking the multi-vitamins (chocolate is high in magnesium, perhaps you are short of this, too, after months on Cohens) and keep up with the water. Never mind the diamonds, water is a girl's best friend!

Hope this helps
Kristine

[krabi]

You know, i think we are onto something Faithy...i have tried to avoid having milk but a couple of times i have had a cappacino, and the result - i have wanted to eat every muffin, chocolate and cake within a 3km radius (and a couple of times i did, much to my disappointment and disgust). See, i thought i could handle the occassional milk coffee but it really seems to be bigger and stronger than i am! Seriously, i baked, said no to cakes, had chocolate in my house with no problems through my weight-loss journey but now, on the days i have a coffee, they are not safe, i even resorted to eating my white cooking chocolate (and i hate white chocolate!!) It is so bizarre. My latest "episode" was on Saturday and I vowed and declared to give up milk coffee (and milk) completely as I can't be trusted when i have it!! And my skin! I have had so many pimples and people have been asking me if i have hayfever (i don't) after having glowing, clear skin for the past year.

Thanks for sharing your experience too Kristine...i have mainly been avoiding carbs where i can and do believe milk has been the greatest threat to my maintenance so far. I just hope i haven't upset my hard earned balance with these binge episodes. And you are right, i think i will re-read my maintenance guidelines every day for a while and see if i can settle myself into a decent maintenance routine rather than this binge/reset cycle i seem to be on.

Argh, who would have thought the plan was the easy part.

Bye bye milk!

And thanks!

[Annabelle Joy]

I visited my consultant today. One of the subjects we discussed was eating something sweet, e.g. sweet biscuit, that gives the urge to eat more. She said wait half an hour after the urge first appears, which gives the insulin spike time to settle. If you still feel like eating, have one, and wait another half hour before giving in to eat another. Even if you have one more, a second is unlikely.

I had milk in my coffee today for the first time (flat white). I didn't enjoy it at all (and that was something I was worrying about give up before I started), and will find it easy to continue with black coffee in maintenance.

AJ

[krabi]

I think that avoiding the milk will be key for me. While in refeed i had the biscuits etc and wasn't tempted at all to have any more...it really seems that it is the milk coffees that do it to me so it is back to the tea when i am out and about "for coffee".

[Kohinoor]

Hi Krabi,

believe milk has been the greatest threat to my maintenance so far

Could it be you are Lactose Intolerant? Many are, and it seems to be difficult to diagnose. My Mum was FINALLY diagnosed with this, after living through hell for DECADES - she was never overweight, but milk products led to her having all kinds of abdominal upsets over time.

She was finally diagnosed as "LI" when in her 70's - and has been fine ever since giving up milk and cheese (she celebrated her 89th birthday this week)

Koh

[krabi]

Hi Koh, I don't think I am lactose intolerant so much as just really sensitive to lactose and the sugar rush it gives me. (I used to live with a lactose intolerant friend (and a coeliac vegetarian...made cooking dinner a nightmare but that is a whole other story) and i don't seem to have the physical tummy upsets that she used to have...). Still, i probably shouldn't discount it completely.

[Annabelle Joy]

Krabi, I would expect that there would be different degrees of lactose intolerant. While you may not have the severe symptoms your friend had, you may still be intolerant.

My future DIL has recently been diagnosed as fructose intolerant. This means she needs to avoid products with gluten, onions, a number of fruits. In addition, she's vegetarian plus fish and free range chicken. That's pretty challenging to cater for too.

AJ

[krabi]

So what is everyone's thoughts on soy milk? Is it better carb wise than normal milk? While i will avoid coffee as much as possible, if i get the desire, do you think soy milk would be a better option?

[Annabelle Joy]

This might help, Krabi: http://lowcarbdiets.about.com/od/wha...dairycarbs.htm. I have a book which indicates that soy and cows milk have about the same carbs, soy slightly more.

AJ

[hexi2]

*bump*

[hexi2]

Wow...I just read this entire thread again...12 months after starting it! And I realise the amazing learning journey I have been on.

I am so proud of myself that I continually sought answers and I have worked so hard to change how I think about myself and how I think about things in general.

I have changed, changed so much since I started this thread. I haven't fully combatted my thought process and still self sabotage at times but it is fabulous that I understand how it all works and there is some sense of inner peace.

I am hoping this information will help others out there too...I know I am not the only one who is/has or will travel this journey.

I feel so much stronger than the person I once was...I don't feel like the 'fat' Karrina anymore...she is almost a 'forgotten person' now and I don't feel fear about being thin. I am thin now and into the future...

Onwards with this amazing journey...there is still so much to learn!

[shell]

I just re read it as well.
Seems like a more common problem than I imagined.

Shell

[hexi2]

Hehehe yes it is common! And that is sort of comforting....

I remember when I first finished and felt so alone, like I was the only one experiencing all of this??? I felt like I was losing my mind....and worse I felt like a total failure...

Now I know differently...I think it is almost 'normal' and if sharing it helps other to be prepared for the journey post Cohens then that is fabulous.

It is scary feeling alone and I am so happy that the forum is a place where we can share how emotionally difficult we humans and our belief systems can be when we actually 'succeed'!

For those who move into maintenance without any problems WONDERFUL!! I think that is truelly fabulous...but for me I wanted the magic wand, the more I wanted it the more my anxiety built. There is no magic wand...but a lot of soul searching and it is amazing finding out ALL SORTS of things about ourselves along the way.

We never stop learning and that is what is so amazing about life! even in the bad times

[Daniella]

Guys,
This has been a really helpful thread, thank you.
I'm not even on refeed yet - I'm less than 5kg from goal, and I'm having massive problems with bingeing and cravings, that have really only cropped up in the last 3 weeks. I'm planning a wedding at the same time as renovating a house, and while this isn't any excuse, I feel like I've totally lost any resolve that I had and I'm so scared I won't get back on track.
I've been so worried about posting my feelings up online, as I've read posts where others really get given a hard time for not 'committing'. To me it's not a matter of commitment, I've managed to lose almost 10kg now (probably less now after today's sugar-crazed frenzy), but a matter of -?? I'm not sure. I just can't seem to clear my head, back to where it was when I started. I only have a liitle bit to go, so why am I stopping myself from achieving my goal?

I hope Im not sounding like an idiot. Some people here have lost so much weight compared to the amount I want to lose, and I know I run the risk of looking like a little drama queen.
I guess I just wanted to say thanks for giving me a chance to actually post my feelings up without fear or being shot down or bullied by others who feel they're superior.
We're all human. Emotional reactions, reward pathways, etc.

Did anyone else go through this? Almost a self-sabotage near the end of their plan? Any tips to help? I guess a psychiatrist is a good idea.

Any feedback is appreciated.
Similarly, anyone who can lend me a muzzle or some kind of electric-shock device every time my mind wanders to sweets would be much appreciated

[hexi2]

Hi Daniella

95% of people fail on diets because they haven't done the head work...and it sounds to me it is an area you need to start working on. Subconscious and self sabotage play a HUGE role in us not 'making it to goal' but more importantly changing our thoughts about food and being thin for life...when we do get to goal

You are not an idiot! Never put yourself down...I recommend the book Think Thin by Mark Stephens...it has been the best thing for me, others find other books helpful.

Head talk, head talk is the key....diet has little to do with it

From my time in being around there have been quite a lot of people who 'fall off' the wagon near the end...and I still believe that has so much to do with our fear of success and self worthiness

[Daniella]

thanks hexi... I am off to buy that book right now!

[gab1969]

Hi Daniella,

I have been off my refeed program for approx 2 weeks now. Yes I was anxious to begin with but have found this forum a "BIG" help. I found my biggest downfall is peanut butter. I eat it by the spoonful. Don't know why. Anyway went to see a hypnotherapist and after one session I have stopped eating the peanut butter and other naughties. Sounds too good to be true but it has worked. What she taught me is we need to evaluate why we are eating. My reason I was frustrated and / or bored during work time (I work from home). One week on and all is good.

[hexi2]

Cool...I really want hypnosis too but we dont have any here...

Something I would definately give a go if I had the chance

[Daniella]

Oh I totally agree - my downfall is my mind - it could be anything 'naughty' put in front of me and I just have no self control. I was FINE a month ago, I couldve sat there and it not bothered me, but now, I don't know what's changed.
I think I'm an emotional eater too. I have noticed I've been a hell of a lot more stressed and upset lately. Besides the wedding, fixing the house stuck in the 70s, we've got some big family things that have really been hard to deal with. My 2-yr old nephew was born with a condition called Bilateral Tibial Hemimelia, basically he has no tibia bone so can't bear weight on his legs. The only solution is a double through-the-knee amputation and then to fit him with prosthetics. I've been ok up til now, dealing with it hasn't been too hard and I've managed not to lose it. But he was scheduled for his amputation surgery for tomorrow, and a few weeks ago the doctor postponed his surgery date to August. It's been postponed twice now so it's been really hard. You try to prepare yourself for what's coming up, it's bloody hard going emotionally- and then they postpone and you've got to go through the whole process again. I know it's for the best reasons (the doc doesn't want to risk an infection so close to the bladder surgery he's just had) but it's just SO hard.
I'm not trying to make excuses. I think I just answered all my questions though. Duh.
Thanks so much for all your support. I am definitely going to look into hypnosis too. I just can't seem to control my food urges lately.