Does it always end in a binge?

[cyber_sam]

So I restrict for the most part of a week, which comes to ~500 calories a day. I go to sixth form, come home, eat my one meal, and that's generally Monday to Friday, unless I slip up. Then the weekend comes and I binge and purge either once, twice or sometimes three times.

It's been like this for so long. In the holidays I binge and purge more, because I'm at home more and I just can.

I'm just wondering, is this the same for everyone else? Does it (being periods of restriction, fasting, whatever) always end in a binge (and purge if you do that) or are there any more "moderate" anorexics, i.e. do not swing so crazily between NOT EAT and EAT EVERYTHING.

[KoH.]

Definitely.

If i under-eat, the next day i'll most likely binge. It's why i'm trying to get a reasonable amount of calories every day so tomorrow won't be such a dick.

[fer]

Yes. Actually, I only eat when I binge... when I'm not bingeing, I'm fasting.

Restricting? It will probably turn into a binge.

[CallItPerfection]

I've noticed that most times if I binge and was restricting the day before, that what ever I was eating was junk and empty calories. I'm *trying* to get used to eating normally and getting a reasonable amount of calories without restricting or binging, and I noticed it's a lot easier to fill yourself up with less when you eat healthier things, because I guess your body isn't craving food so much as it's craving nutrients from the food.

But yeah, I'm getting better at controlling my eating habits and getting them normal, but I used to and still sometimes do go back and forth to where I'm either eating nothing at all or everything in sight.

[cyber_sam]

I've noticed that most times if I binge and was restricting the day before, that what ever I was eating was junk and empty calories. I'm *trying* to get used to eating normally and getting a reasonable amount of calories without restricting or binging, and I noticed it's a lot easier to fill yourself up with less when you eat healthier things, because I guess your body isn't craving food so much as it's craving nutrients from the food.

But yeah, I'm getting better at controlling my eating habits and getting them normal, but I used to and still sometimes do go back and forth to where I'm either eating nothing at all or everything in sight.

That's really good...I think being in the mindset of eating a healthy amount and keeping it down is a good sign. I just can't seem to do that. I can't imagine myself eating like everyone else...it just won't happen for some reason. Even if I did then eventually I would return to the restrict/binge cycle because that's all I'm capable of.

I suppose in that case restrict = binge most of the time. Looks like there's only one way out of this mess...

[faemine]

if i restrict, i want to binge. if i fast, sometimes i want to binge but it scares me. well it always scares me, but yes, for me, i feel like the fear is always looming over me. i worry that as long as i know that binges are an option..they're inevitable.

[Spleen]

For me, I'm either eating "normally" (for me, that's between 1200-1400 calories a day) or restricting. When I restrict, I strictly eat no more than 300 calories a day. When I restrict, I restrict for months, and I get myself in to such a hole that I just do not slip up. I just don't.

When I fast, I find it INCREDIBLY hard to break my fast. There is absolutely no way I could bring myself to break a fast with a binge; I find it hard enough to break a fast with a cup a soup. The longer I fast, the harder it is to bring myself out of it.

The thing that switches me from restricting to normal is a hospital admission or something scary happening to my health, ie a seizure, or surgery, or something along those lines. And then I'll be triggered by something that makes me restrict again; sometimes I'll realise it, and sometimes, it'll totally blindside me and I'll realise what I've been doing.

[tripurity]

It always ends in a binge. Or at least overeating. I expect it to happen, and sometimes even plan it. Once my body has been in starvation mode, even the tiniest "unsafe" food I elect to put in my mouth, the physical craving and urge to eat overtakes me and I end up eating more than I intend. I don't purge either, so the fact that I can't get rid of it all makes me dread when it happens even more.

[Couldthisbereal]

I've never binge/purged like ever... been anorexic since childhood, and now recovering and even though I can eat whatever I want I've never binged... food just never seemed appealing to me at all and pretty much most food types taste the same to me. :/

[ayanahell]

always after any more than three days of fasting i know unless i am really careful it will end in a binge my therapist and dietician both say that it is basically inevitable
i think it is a combination of your body trying to get as many calories as possible and being so starved that anything more automatically feels like a binge
i have recently been not so bad and able to control myself but it is exceptionally difficult good luck with it