Gave in...In need of help

[eatmorocco]

Hi!

I have not been following the plan to the T but instead eliminated s/w/f about a month ago. I thought, like I'm sure many do, that this would work for me. I was wrong. I have recently started doing "little binges" on foods that are within the plan. Roasted vegetables, sautéed cabbage, meats, etc. Going back and eating more after I finish my plate. Eating out of a plastic container while standing at the counter, etc.

Last night I had a horrible binge at a holiday party. I brought a large mixed bag of nuts and a mixed bag of dried fruits. I basically consumed all of them. A VERY large amount. I also ate other things at the party. I am feeling so sick. The feeling won't go away. I think that my body cannot handle the huge amount of fat and sugar that I ingested.

Needless to say, I'm feeling awful. I want to get on the plan full-throttle but I don't know where to start. I'm in Morocco, with no support from my husband (who is in the US), friends or family. I'm feeling pretty alone with my food addiction.

Is there anything I can do presently to feel physically better from my binge? I'm so nauseous.

Is there anyone out there that could help me get started. I am very limited on options as far as foods are concerned here in Morocco. I also don't have access to a food scale or measuring cups. I am going back to the US to see my husband next week and I can pick up a scale and cups then.

Any help would be much appreciated. Thanks!!

[reflectionsinjune]

What worked for me was to follow FAA's food plan the way it's written (with the amounts, the foods, etc.) I plan out every day what I'll eat, and in the early days of my abstinence, I reported it every day to my sponsor. Reporting it was also making a commitment to another person that I would eat what I said. If there was a change, I'd let her know. Since I didn't want to have to tell her too often that I had to make changes (for instance, someone in my family ate the food I had committed to, or some other reason), I was careful about what I planned. It also helped me to not be making spontaneous decisions about what to eat, something that has always seemed to get me into trouble.

There are people in the program who come from around the world, and have found sponsors either through the phone meetings, the online meetings, or the FAA Loop. Attending meetings is a very important part of being able to maintain abstinence for most of us in FAA. Also, it's possible to get foods, measuring cups,, etc., online. For instance, I just ordered a case of clean soy milk online and have done that before. I have some foods available locally to me and some, like some of the grains, I do find online.

I hope things work out well for you, eatmorocco. You're in the right place, and that's a good thing! Keep coming back.

[Boboelink]

I am like you. Felt sick from bingeing the other day. It passed within a day -- by sipping peppermint tea, water and resting...but I do not want to repeat that. I was "abstinent" yesterday. I was a bit nervous as was being taken out to lunch by new boss and coworkers to an Italian Restaurant. However, it turned out fine as I was able to order a delicious salmon and vegetable platter. Anyway, I've been told to start out with simple basics. At Disneyworld/Epcot one year we chose to eat at the Moroccan pavilion. Love that food--isn't it lots of grains, rice filled grapeleaves, veggies and beans and proteins and fruits and interesting spices? At least that's what I think it is. How did you do yesterday? Today is a new day. Hope you are feeling better and have a good day.

[cutiepiex9]

Hi there!
Morocco, hang in there. Please don't give up. I know how horrible it feels to have that full stomach. I would take the recommendation above-take it easy. Drink lots of herbal tea, rest, and try-as hard as it is-to not condemn yourself and ruminate about what you did the night before. Tell yourself you just have to get through the next 48 hours.
There are a lot of us that even surrounded by family, feel like we have no support from them. Truthfully, even the best support from our family and friends is not enough because they can never fully understand our experience. Stay on the forums, try to make calls via skype if you can. That is why FAA is here. We understand. You cannot do this alone, but don't count just on family. We have people who join the phone calls from as far away as Australia. We'd love to hear from you.
Try to get the literature when you are here. The scale and cups should help. The food is clean, and if you can eat meat, fish, vegetables, grains, fruit and dairy, you'll be able to find food to eat. Hang in there!

[nevertoolate]

What's up in Morocco??? Sounds like you may be suffering from loneliness and trying to fill that void with food....it's really hard being "alone" at this time of year, but we are here for you for support.....holidays are not the best time to start a food plan but slowly cutting back may be helpful...keep coming back...that painful stomach is probably from the nuts, they can be mean little critters and can really upset the intestines and take a week or so to heal....try to have a good holiday and enjoy yourself...hey, who gets to see Morocco????
marilyn

[rachelwang]

I share part of ur problem. I am in China and it is really hard to measure the content of Chinese food especially that my mother basically prepares all my meals. All I get to choose is my breakfast. I usually have half a glass of skimmed milk, two loafs of black bread with a small slice of cheese and a fruit. Anything less will be noticed and chased by my parents actually.
As I said in my earlier post, my parents, like most Chinese people, do not believe that food addict is ever an illness. When I tell them I am having this thing, they just laugh it off and keep telling me it is normal. I simply cannot get them to understand how bad I feel after each binge. And what makes things worse, they will buy me many snacks with sugar and fat to "cheer me up". That is destructive especially when I first start to follow a healthy pattern.
So I gave up on convincing them and ended up eating slowly so that they would not notice that I have been cutting down my intake. Also I tried to find something to do to get my attention off from food, to normalize them. It is hard and I am just starting the food plan. I am clearly not the expert but hey, you are not alone. It is an illness and it always takes time and effort to fight one. I am sure you will find your way to fight. The very fact that you faced your giving in and posted here for help tells me you are a strong person and willing to address the problem. So cheer up and do not lose hope! We are here for you.

[chicko3x]

Hang in there, things will start falling into place. I eat a very simple food plan most days with very little preparation (cooking etc) I recommend batch cooking, which allows you to prepare up to a week of meals from one batch of food. Take care of you, and your body will thank you so much! Binges would definitely knock me off track for a couple days, resting always helped me the most, along with expressing kind gratitude to myself and my efforts. Hang in there, we believe in you

[aldenbotha]

I have messed up myself so much.I myself needed some suggestion about the same.I will try batch cooking.Thanks for the advice.Hope things works out for me.

[Boboelink]

I have really messed up this morning. Went on a super binge of non FAA stuff. I still haven't found even a temporary sponsor and also I get tripped up over lunch and trying to be "perfect" on this plan. However, I need help. I just had another birthday and messed up already so soon into my new birthday year!

[step3]

When I was new, what I did was try my best to follow the suggestion of those who have walked this path ahead of me... that helped me to achieve and maintain abstinence. Once I had gotten some solid abstinence, I started working the FAA 12 Steps with the help of my sponsor. The Steps are what help us food addicts to recover from this disease.

A lot of what's needed in the early days can be found in the Guide to Abstinence (which is where you'll find the suggested FAA food plan also). I recommend getting to lots of meetings and starting to make some phone calls, if you haven't already. I was able to find my sponsor by calling people, and before I found her, the support and encouragement I got from those phone calls helped me tremendously to stick with the food plan.

Keep coming, Boboelink ~ and don't give up, no matter what!