For many years, I found myself in a cycle of uncontrollably overeating which made me feel so ashamed and guilty. I was stuck in this seemingly never-ending loop of put on weight, restrict myself for a while, only to ultimately find myself binge eating again with more regret and guilt.
My struggles with binge eating have had such a tremendous impact on my life. Apart from the physical health consequences associated with it, it has taken an emotional toll that has affected almost every aspect of my life - relationships, self-confidence and ultimately our overall wellbeing. It felt like there was no end in sight and no hope to make the situation better.
After numerous attempts to break out of this destructive pattern, I finally decided to reach out for help by talking to a professional who specialized in this issue. Through therapy sessions they gave me strategies that really helped me reframe my thinking about food as well as how I talk to myself about it. The therapist also suggested keeping track of what I eat during the day as a way of being aware of my eating habits. The combination of having someone listening and giving me tools on embracing mindful eating allowed me to take back control over my own body and understand that food is not just meant for pleasure but also for nourishment.
The journey has been an uphill road with some setbacks along the way but eventually the habit started to slowly develop into something healthier and now I can proudly say that binging isn’t part of who I am anymore. From learning how to be conscious about my choices when it comes to meals up until replacing unhealthy snacks with nutritious alternatives, taking even small steps towards making smarter decisions has ultimately led me towards recovery which has improved both mentally and physically in ways unimaginable before.
I want others who are faced by similar struggles know that there is light at the end of the tunnel, it’s possible to become aware of your patterns, acknowledge them and replace them gradually with healthier ones!