Nigtly binge - help!

Hi,

I have researched the topic I'm about to write about using the search, but didn't find much results. So here goes

Shortly after I was diagnosed with UC I tried the SCD in combination with Asacol. This was from June - September 2012, after not seeing much success (although I must admit my expectations were too high), I stopped the diet and went to no diet or what people call the western diet (ouch). I stayed away from major culprits like raw fruits and veggies and usually diary, but thats about it.

However after being on this restrictive SCD diet for so long (especially when you seem to be on the "beginners diet" and never move to more advanced foods), after I quit the diet, I started these nightly binges where I would go to the bakery, buy a bag of pastries and eat them as I walked home, occasionally if I finished before I got home, i'd stop by another bakery or grocery to reload. This behavior more or less, has been going on ever since - thats from September through now (including tonight - my packed stomach is what pushed me to write this up).

It's not every single night without exception, there are plenty of nights where I manage to make it to bed somehow without binging, but I would say the majority of nights I binge. lately I've tried to get back onto the SCD, the morning and afternoons went fine - however when the nights come around I just go on a gluten binge. I spoke about this issue with my nutritionist, she's not such a big fan of the SCD and suggested that although the SCD is good in what it eliminates - processed food, sugars etc. she feels it's too restrictive for me and thats what triggers the binges. She suggested that I add rice (rice cakes, rice pasta) potatoes and yams - to start with, the hope was that with these added foods I wouldn't feel so deprived and would not go binges.

However, although I did find her advice to be help somewhat, the first few nights, instead of binging I just told myself instead of gluten I could have some rice cakes with almond butter etc. lately it has not been doing the trick, and together with the occasional feelings of of being down I continue to binge most nights. My 'down' feelings are due to not having a friend who I can relate to (don't get me wrong, I do have a loving and caring family, and also have siblings with UC we discuss meds and treatments etc. however it bothers me that none of my friends can relate to me, even the ones I have told about my UC, have no clue and as for as I see don't really care to much. I know that until someone has gone through something rough they can't really relate to it, but I just feel alone in that fact that all my friends are dating and constantly asking me why i'm not [cause I'm waiting to get into remission] and occasionally these feelings just get to me...sorry for going off on a tangent).

I understand by now it's an addiction and even when I'm not the least hungry it's just a matter of habit, perhaps I should see a psychologist, would he be of any help? perhaps he wouldn't understand the first thing in this disease. I've considered going to an overeaters anonymous meeting (although I must say, the thought of a skinny underweight guy showing up at a overeaters meeting must be a interesting scene...) however I never actually attended a meeting.

So I continue the vicious cycle of binging, feelings of guilt and regret, (together with paying the price for the food I ate..) usually skipping breakfast the next morning (not by matter of principle, just don't feel like I need to eat), then being disciplined the whole day, only eating things that are good for me, and night comes around... I wish i could just end my day before the nighttime...

Any advice would be helpful.

Am I imagining having read that your bad gut bacteria can drive an addiction cycle like this?


http://pecanbread.com/p/intro/nt/motivategrown.html

I'm sorry but rice cakes are NOT gonna stop you from binging on pastries. Yikes! LOL

I crave sweets, always have, probably always will. On Weight Watchers, I would satisfy my chocolate cravings with a small handful of chocolate chips.

Now I eat animal crackers and other plain cookies but in SMALL quantities, (OK well, MOST of the time; lol) (I also have type 2 Diabetes). I just found these Good Meadow (Nourishing families since 1937) whoopee pies with yellow cake and white filling. It doesn't have the calorie count but I'm thinking I could make them pretty easy and cut calories. I try to just eat l/2 per day and NOT every day.

Maybe if you made it harder on yourself (baking your own pastries!), it might help?????????? But I like soy's thinking. If it isn't harming you, what's the worry?

(I monitor my sugar daily and I avoid bread on the days I feel I need something sweet.) Otherwise, I eat pretty healthy.

How much are you eating during the day, and how often. Yes this is an addiction, and is one that will take effort to kick. First things, you have to make a point to not do it, yes I know that doesn't sound like great advice, but this is really the key. You need to develope that self control. Second, try and slowly do it. Allow yourself to stop once a week, and get whatever, but do your best on the other nights, or if you do stop just grab one thing, instead of a big amount. If you know you are doing it, then you can try and work on saying no before you even head out to walk.

Allow yourself to have cheat meals now and then, think the key to any sort of success with a diet is to allow yourself to have those bad things now and then, keeps the cravings down. Also, you can't look at whatever "diet" your own as a diet, but mroe like a way of life. IF you go into it with negative feeling it only gets harder.

It will take time, don't expect to kick this habit right away, for me its taken 3.5 years of eating healthy to build up some solid self control and lose 90lbs, and even then I give in from time to time. Its all about limiting the amount you eat or how often, not eliminating it all together.

Good luck

so what is the problem with your nightly binge if your only going to the toilet twice a day?

sounds good to me lol