For me this means no sweetening anything with anything, no matter where it comes from. If I (or the manufacturer of a food) add something to a beverage or food with the intent to sweeten it, it‘s a no go. I eat some fruit once in a while, usually in summer, usually berries.
Exceptions:
Hello Aga 
I am very happy hearing from you, it’s good to have you back!
Your posts are always so beneficial if you share something, look how you already opened the can of warms with the topic about sugar 
Reading your post is interesting, mainly the part about dopamine. I can relate to doing things to get “high” and I struggle with eating once everything around me calms down. I have never learnt how to be bored and it’s a constant struggle. So I fulfil the time od boredom with eating. And sugar is the worse, I can second that!
After I started watching my nutritions closely I found out that I have no cravings for sugar for as long as I satisfy my nutritional needs. But if I go and grab something sweet anyway, it can cause me cravings regardless and they will be with an immediate effect. For example I will grab a piece of chocolate and now I end up with cravings to have more. I can regulate sugar and I want more of it. There’s no point of satisfaction, I can only stop after I am totally full. And I will likely have cravings for sweet the following day too. So it’s better to quit it for good.
With exercise, I don’t know. I do it for fulfilment of my free time and to socialise since I am in running and cycling clubs but I could do less or at least less intense. This one is more complicated because I like to push to be the best within women in my club and I have a big respect from all the guys because I can perform like them, unlike any other woman. Which makes me feel good (dopamine haha). But I also appreciate that I burn more calories if I cycle fast as opposed to a relax pace. So there is mix of many factors for me..
I am looking forward to hearing more from you (I hope!). You’re amazingly self-reflective and can always put your experience in clear words for us to read and understand 
Thank you and again - welcome back!! 
Good morning all!
I want to add my 5 cents about sugar. It’s such a poison, it seems that we all agree on it
I was at an Italian restaurant yesterday and had a lovely dinner. Then I ordered a dessert. It would be fine but the issue was that towards the end I felt really full and because it was creamy I started feeling even sick as I was forcing it. I engaged my old disorder behaviour based on believe that food should not be wasted (coming from my childhood). Unfortunately I didn’t log it yesterday whilst doing it so I ended up feeling ill for quite a while. I think it put me off having that dessert ever again though 
I don’t class it as a binge but it was wrong. Fortunately I managed to fall asleep and I feel much better today 
345 substance free
131 binge free
1 sugar free
Have a peaceful day, everyone 
I’ve been thinking all morning about what you said about your workouts. I felt a little sad, but I didn’t know why at first.
I think the most important thing is learning to feel good about ourselves without needing external validation. It’s great to be strong, fast, and respected by others. But I feel our worth shouldn’t depend on being the best, proving we can keep up with everyone else, burning as many calories as possible, or looking like a fitness model.
I don’t know if I’m right, but maybe you can only love yourself if you live up to your own expectations of right and wrong? That thought made me sad.
Learning to truly love and appreciate ourselves, even when we’re not achieving or performing, is a hard challenge. I’m still working on it myself.
Big hugs 
I think that you’re right. I excel in sport and I excel at work. I really can be the best and I quite admire it about myself (not trying to preach here) but in the same time it puts so much pressure on me. Well, I put so much pressure on me. I feel like I need to be validated by others to feel good about myself 
I used to be a top runner too but I over did it, got injured and couldn’t run for 2 years (that’s when I became a cyclist). Now I returned to my running club and people still keep referring to me like the “too fast”. It’s like a sticker to which I used to live up. Now I run much slower but I also love it much more!! It’s still weird when I run with someone and after the run they say to me “You had to be bored, this was well out of your pace.” Some people refuses running with me, because they think that they are slowing me down, no matter how much I am telling them that I want to run slower. Did I do this to myself? And when will people get used to the new me?
Definitely something to think about, Daniela. You’re so so sweet that it makes you sad for me 
Awwwr, thank you! You’re just such a lovely person, honestly
Day 114 binge free
Day 27 free from compulsive eating behaviors
Afternoon friends! Just wanted to check in. Thank u to everyone that commented about my questions on sugar. It was all very helpful! I havent started a sugar free timer yet (im not really sure how to approach this honestly), but I will do some self-reflection on it.
I have been feeling pretty good about my eating this week. Ive been eating quite healthy and in smaller amounts (to not upset my stomach).
Blurred for mention of GLP1:
I have been on 1mg of Ozempic for months now and the Dr suggested I alternate from 1mg one week, to 1.5mg the next week and vice versa. But i have chosen to stay at 1mg. I really want to see how my weight changes when i am able to exercise regularly (which will be mid-October.
I honestly cant wait to get back to exercise. Its been waaaay too long that Ive gone without. I have to make sure that i dont overexert myself, bcuz i have a tendency to do that. I expect myself to be back to where I was strength and stamina wise, before my schedule changed. And I know I have lost some strength.
Anyways, im grateful for my recovery from food. I dont feel that “pull” to overeat or binge or snack like I once did. Its amazing how freeing it is 
Day 2123 : No binge today. 
@Butterflymoonwoman If you choose to avoid sugar that’s ok! Make sure you read canned produce carefully, it’s notoriously easy to miss the hidden sugars. Good luck on your sugar free diet should you try it! I also hope your exercise routine goes well either way! You got this! 
Day 2124 : No binge today.
Day 2125 : No binge today.
I am so proud of you that you came so far with your compulsive eating Timer! Even more since you had to do a overnight shift with your son. I know that is so hard and can be a trigger for you.
You are doing amazing, friend!
I keep you and your son in my thoughts and hope everything goes as planned with his trach coming out
Thank you sooo much!!! And thank you for thinking of us with the procedure! Its this Tuesday 
Cant believe it!!
Day 118 binge free
Day 21 free from compulsive eating behaviors
So lots has/is happening lately thats affecting my eating:
First of all, yesterday I ate high calorie lunch. It was healthy (a strawberry protein smoothie and a chipotle chicken wrap), but this higher calories meal made me go over my daily calories. This has really messed with my mind. I was thinking, “should i reset my timer?” But i chose not too bcuz i dont think i was eating to soothe or to cope with anything. I was hungry but maybe ate too much in 1 sitting? I WAS tired yesterday due to doing the overnight with my son the night before, but still… i dont think i was eating for the wrong reasons. To be honest though, Im not sure 
And then i think to myself, “well, everyone has days where they eat a bit more than they usually do”. And again, i dont know if im justifying my actions to myself? Sometimes, when it comes to my reasons for eating, i dont know what my reasons are. Whereas other times its very obvious (like if im stressed amd i start thinking of food). I also have to avoid falling into that perfectionism trap. For example, if i eat over my daily calories, i have screwed up the entire day. Not helpful thinking at all!
2nd of all, my son is going into the hospital this week for his procedure. We will be staying for at least 1 day afterwards for observation. I dont feel prepared for this, food wise. I dont want to succumb to eating crappy foods at the hospital. However, they dont have a family unit fridge on the PICU where I can store some food for myself. Ill try to bring a few non-perishables but as for actual meals, Im not sure what I will do. They DO have healthier options at the hospital, but its just getting me to eat it instead of being triggered to eat the unhealthy stuff. I tend to make excuses for myself for why i am alowed to eat the unhealthy stuff. I will really have to stay focused on Tue and Wed.
So this week will be challenging. Im sure my emotions will be heightened as well. Including lack of sleep. Both are triggers for me to eat poorly. But I am aware of it thankfully, and so i can try to plan ahead.
Thank u all for being here 
I can relate to this very much. It’s a huge challenge to prepare for days like this.
Maybe you‘d like to steal one of my favourite food prep. I take it with me when I have to go somewhere and there‘s no fridge.
banana overnight oats:
You can mix the dry ingredients in a jar and leave some space in the jar. In the evening, you fill it up with some water or milk or plant milk and stir. After a few hours the oats are soft and like a porridge, but without cooking.
Then you chop the banana and put the pieces into the oats. Ready to eat
I like it a lot as breakfast or lunch. You can vary with cinnamon, different fruit or nuts, vanilla… And also, I find it easy to digest which is a win for me when I am excited.
And about your timer: Eating a bit more on some days is completely healthy and not a reason to reset.
It would have been if it was a binge or if you ate not because your body needs food but for other reasons. I think this voice that tells you to reset is your perfectionism. Please don’t listen to it, be kind to yourself and allow yourself to be proud of your eating no matter if you had some more calories than planned.
Day 2127 : No binge today.
@Butterflymoonwoman Congratulations on making it 3 weeks without compulsive eating! That’s not easy to do, I am so impressed! Keep it up!
Day 2128 : No binge today.
Hey I was wondering what did you choose for your timers? I was in the same debate with binge, compulsive eating behaviours, triggers food, etc.. I’ve been reading some OA articles and found it interesting after you wrote about it.
Hey!!! Its sooo good to see ur name pop up!!! How are you?! How is life treating you?
So to answer ur question, i have 2 timers. 1 timer is specifically for binge eating. The other timer is being free from compulsive eating behaviors. Because basically, when I have thought about my eating disorder, i noticed that binge eating was the biggest problem (so i gave that its own timer). My 2nd timer, being free from compulsive eating behaviors means not eating my emotions (as that is another big issue of mine). I try to eat for nourishment when Im hungry, instead of eating when Im bored, upset, stressed, fatigued. Basically… i dont want to soothe myself with food.
I used to have 1 timer for everything but noticed that I was constantly resetting for one reason or another. And so by seperating the 2 issues, i was able to see progress (however small), in one or the other
OA has honestly been sooo helpful for me. The meetings especially are fantastic. I have gone thru the steps in OA with a sponsor and it was a great refresher for me also (as I did the steps in NA and AA). The literature is REALLY good! Especially the OA 12n12 and the personal stories. Theres an OA book on Amazon for fairly cheap (in canada it was $14 i believe), and its called A New Beginning. Great personal stories
Have u tried a meeting yet?
Thank you for your thorough answer!
Life is keeping me busy - a lot! But then, to « take the edge off », I think I am on almost a year streak of eating way too much at night while watching TV. It’s getting ridiculous and totally unhealthy. I am in the same cycle I was with alcohol : saying I’ll quit tomorrow, or even today, and then by 2pm I am already fanticizing about my late night treat 
Abstinence from alcohol was good for me. But I am not sure how to « choose » my « rules » for eating. I am stuck in the classic all or nothing. Either i calculate my intake and try to be super healthy or I eat like there’s no tomorrow.
The easy way would be to just cut my « trigger foods » (I think that’s what OA calls it?) like fast-food, high-fat/high sugar treats /desserts, etc. Or set the basic rule 3-L-1 which I like… but then I tell myself I am getting too restrictive and that I won’t be able to hold onto it etc… for me it’s really the combination of binge/late night eating/fast-food and junk. During the day I am fine.
And no… I never been to any meetings, not even AA. I read mostly and practiced the steps on my own and with this forum. And therapy.
Thanks again for your time I’m trying to think of the boundaries I can set for
Hi @WCan
You’re my person!! I have no issues with eating throughout the day and then I finish my work and suddenly I don’t know what to do with myself. Sometimes I go for a walk, sometimes I clean the house, sometimes I even exercise…but I am mostly feeling tired and like doing nothing but sitting on the sofa, relaxing whilst watching telly and eating… But unfortunately it’s almost like no amount of food can satisfy me. I must make sure there’s enough for me to eat, because having like a normal dinner portion and park it there isn’t possible. So I totally feel you on this one and I also find it similar to alcohol addiction when I would wake up in the morning, sit on the bed and say to myself “Today I won’t drink” and then I would be drinking the same evening. It’s the same with food for me - as the day goes I just feel that need to satisfy my loud cravings by chewing something whilst watching TV.
It’s the way I taught myself to relax after a working day I am afraid, the way to kill boredom and it’s became a strong habit too.
I don’t know if it’s same for you, too, but sometimes I don’t even care about what I am watching because the food is the satisfactory factor and the TV show can be a bit crap. And it’s something I wouldn’t actually watch if I wasn’t eating
