Compulsive eating help?

[Anonymous]

I have been having this problem for almost 3 years and it only gets worse. During this period of time I have gone from 95 lbs to 120 (my height hasn't changed). The longest I have been able to eat healthy is 19 days in a row, and this was just before school started - I lost 8 lbs in order to look better, but I still felt so fat and worthless. And now I only manage to eat normally for a few days, then I binge again. I tried to talk to my mother and friends about that, but they simply don't get it. They say ''eat less'' or ''exercise daily', but they don't understand my battle with food. I just feel like eating all the time, even when I'm full, even if I know that's bad for me. How can I be normal again?

[JackieGraves]

I can see you're under 18, and I'm going to tell you right now to not worry. I went through a violent eating disorder due to a very similar issue when I was young, but the truth is, is that you're growing. You're developing and gaining weight IS normal. Now if you're worried about gaining weight too quickly, I highly recommend you see a doctor (if you don't want to go with a parent, just go to a walk in, they will happily help you) to put your mind at ease and give you a little insight. 120 lbs for a girl your age isn't bad at all, in fact, most women consider that an ideal weight. Remember as well that being skinny doesn't mean you're healthier, prettier, or contributes to your worth. That is a misconception that you need to get rid of before you get into a serious issue. Eating all the time when your young is also normal, because your active and your body is trying to build itself up for the next stage in your life. So don't stress: do your best to eat reasonable and enjoy your treats. If you feel you have to "over eat", binge on something guilt free, but don't let it control your life. You're worth more than your waistline.

[Amagi82]

What constitutes eating normally? I suspect you're trying to eat too little, and your body is fighting you because it needs more. Also, 120lbs is not very heavy. My wife is 135 and skinny.

If you're worried about weight, stop eating all forms of sugar, and cut back on grains and starches. Eat all the meat and vegetables you want. If you're eating the right foods, you don't need to worry about it. Let your body regulate weight naturally.

[yaddayaddayadda02]

You need to work on breaking your habit. The link below explains the habit loop and what you can do to help break yourself out of it.

https://charlesduhigg.com/how-habits-work/

[martyfellow]

First contact your family or a close friend.. but 3 years, it's almost certainly going to require professional help as well.

What happened 3 years ago to start this behavior? That's a key question a professional will ask you.

[Asker]

I was depressed for not having friends and feeling inferior at school. Looking back, I can see now that I was pretty, I looked stylish and I had good grades, but back then I felt ugly and worthless. I wanted to be one of ''the cool kids'' instead of finding some real friends, so I pushed everyone away. I was shy and introverted, and I was soon alone, no one cared about me and some even hated me. I just thought maybe I should lose some more weight, to feel ''prettier'', and all my problems would magically solve. The problem is that I just started eating more and more, thinking that I will eat clean ''tomorrow''. Which never happened. And now I feel like I am addicted to food.

[martyfellow]

OK, you are going to be all right, since you have a clear view of yourself and why you got into this pattern.

Friends/family should help. I'd suggest starting slow, cutting out desserts for example, taking up sports...

But you might still need a couple of sessions with an professional, to help you get started on the right track.

[kep79]

eat food without salt