Disordered Eating and Mental Health

[ceeveg]

I am not sure where to post this, but because what I struggle with is largely emotional in origin, I thought I'd post it here. I'm overweight and suffering from high blood pressure and high cholesterol. I am a binge eater and, in the past, was bulimic.

Recently, I was told to lose weight and prescribed a low-fat, low-sodium diet by my doctor.  I'm 60 lbs overweight per my doctor, and I am on bp medication. I really feel like I need to address the binge eating behavior and really look at what is going on emotionally before I think about trying to actively lose weight. I feel like trying to go on a diet would trigger some of the binging behaviors.

Has anyone struggled with these things? I am interested in the HAES approach, and wonder if that would be helpful given my background with restriction, binging, and purging. I appreciate any wisdom/thoughts. Thank you.

[Turquesa]

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[Turquesa]

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[pek64]

I read a couple months ago that drinking 8oz of concord grape juice daily results in weight loss. I drink concord grape juice and am a good weight. You may want to give it a try.

[Turquesa]

My long drawn out reply seems to have disappeared.

The gist:

1. A typical recovery "team" consists of A.) a therapist--trained in eating disorders, including Binge Eating Disorder, if that's your diagnosis-- to help you through the underlying stuff, B.) a dietician/nutritionist to collaborate with you in creating healthy, realistic menus AND to master the art of *mindful* eating, if that makes sense , and C.) a physician--again someone with knowledge of eating disorders.

2. Dieticians and therapists are increasingly getting on the HAES band-wagon, fortunately, but you may still wish to call around. It will be harder to find a HAES-minded doctor but not impossible. Definitely get recs from your therapist and dietician.

3. I don't like straight cognitive-behavioral therapy, but some is definitely beneficial!

I think your intuition is spot-on; a conventional diet may well backfire.

Good luck with your recovery journey!

[justmama]

I didn't want to read and not respond since this thread is slow right now.  I don't have any suggestions, just sympathy.  I'm considered a healthy weight right now but have very disordered eating and not great body condition due to anxiety/depression issues.  I know how frustrating it can be and I really hope yo u can get some assistance.  I'm not sure if you have a mental health condition other than disordered eating issues or are seeing a therapist, but it may be beneficial for you to see one for help controlling the emotions that cause you to binge eat.  My psych made me see a nutritionist last time I was at the local psych hospital and I didn't find her advice to be very helpful at all.  She was very insistent on pushing 3 glasses of milk daily(I hate milk, always have) and questioning my vegetarian diet and where I would get protein(I've been vegetarian for 15years) and didn't really want to listen to me and my needs.  But I think a therapist would probably be pretty helpful in helping you deal with the emotional side so you can start to focus on the physical side as well.    Food shouldn't be a battleground.  Food should just be fuel.  It shouldn't be so emotionally charged.  I hate that it is.  

[fruitfulmomma]

- This book doesn't deal with eating disorders specifically but he does talk about his experiences with low-fat dieting leading to binging because the body is always looking for something more.

http://www.amazon.com/Life-Unburdened-Getting-Over-Weight/dp/097920951X