Fourty Years

[Marjie]

Just wanted to share that I've been on a search for answers to my BED for 40 years. I am 57 and my first binge was age 16 after remaining
on a perfect diet for about 5 months. This is exactly how KH explains why bingeing starts. Especially at such a developmental stage of the
brain.

Although I'm only 12 days without a binge, when I read BOB 12 days ago it was as a LIGHTENING BOLT went off in my body/brain and I "instantly"
got it. I thought I had read EVERY book there is on the subject but apparently I had NOT.

I have been able to do the two steps of dismissing the urge and eating adequately. I have started blogging about my journey.
The reason I have credibility is because I'm telling you I was tormented for 40 years trying mostly a food plan in Overeaters Anonymous or Geneen Roth.

Polar opposites as every hour I would change what plan I was following- raw, vegan, no carbs, intuitive - you all know.
I defined myself as an addict.

The clincher for me is when I read that the reason I gave in to the binge was because it quieted the URGE!
The URGE was the problem all along, not the perfect food plan I was searching for.

I am so excited about this process and hope I give some hope to you out there who may still be grappling with the idea.

[Shelli]

Hi there Marjie,

It was so refreshing to read your blog as we have some things in common. I am 55 years old and have had this eating disorder as old as the hills! As far back as age 10 with binge eating. I have battled with these demons my entire life and have tried every method known to man until I stumbled across this new approach. BTW, I too have been in Overeaters Anonymous with all the different food plans & abstinences among other food related 12-step programs that never seemed to stick only got worse & I felt like more of a failure. I still get Geneen Roth's newsletter & have read every book she has written. Also, no success. KH's book struck a cord with me - I believe in what she wrote in her books. I have seen many of her interviews & she is so real, sincere, passionate & honest. I have not had much success because of something I learned of later from one of her interviews that I was doing wrong. Something critical - I was dealing with my urges with my willpower only to give in after white knuckling all night long. Katheryn says to detach it from yourself, it is not "you". Well, I now have a few days which is great for me as I battle bingeing nightly & give in at least every other night.

Anyway, your success inspires me & 12 days w/o a binge would be so awesome! I too was always in the hunt for the perfect food plan & I love how she says it's ok to not be so perfect & rigid. I wish you well to keep on being binge free.

Thanks, Shelli

[Marjie]

Hi Shelli
Wow - we could be twins! Yes you have discovered a big difference in using willpower versus "letting the urge go" or not reacting or seeing it purely as NJ (nuerological junk) If you need any support feel free to contact me at [e-mail] and also I have a blog where I am chronicling my journey.
Its crazy how many different approached I have tried and FINALLY I have found my truth and am HAPPY about the journey. I no longer feel in a prison around a "food plan" to protect me from a binge. Its my gently letting go of the URGE TO BINGE and not judging it.
Marjie

[Shelli]

Hey Marjie,

Thank you so much for offering your support with your personal email address, I may take you up on that. I tried KH "mental limit" approach last night when I wanted more & it did work but I don't feel good about overeating. I guess it's a far cry better than a binge but still. Maybe it's that 'do it perfectly' tendency that I have.

Tonight I am going to a restaurant which is always stressful for me. I banned going out to eat for months because I felt it was a trigger for bingeing. I went with my husband a week or so ago & overate but it didn't turn into a binge. So, I will try to focus on that little success. I know it comes from all the deprivation for decades of only ordering diet food if that.

Anyways, it was great to hear back from you & I would love to follow your success on your blog. So happy for you, yay!!!!

Shelli