online conference transcript

Bob M is the moderator.

BEGINNING

Bob M: Good evening everyone. We are ready to begin tonight's conference on Overeating. My name is Bob McMillan. I'm the moderator. For those of you who aren't aware, this is Eating Disorders Awareness Week. At Concerned Counseling, we consider Overeating, Binge Eating, as important a disorder as Anorexia or Bulimia. Our guest tonight is Glinda West. She authored a book entitled The Fat Fairygodmother's 5 Secrets to Being Thin Forever: End your Addiction to Food and Start Your Life. Good evening Glinda and welcome to the Concerned Counseling website. I'd like to have you start by telling us a bit more about yourself and your own experiences with overeating.

Glinda West: Hello Bob and all. I first had an eating disorder when I was about 14 years old. I was anorexic. By the time I finished high school I was bulimic. A few years later, I was a compulsive overeater. I suffered from compulsive overeating for 10 years.

Bob M: What led to your compulsive overeating?

Glinda West: I absolutely could not control my bingeing. When I was bulimic, I began to vomit blood and have terrible stomach pain. I decided that being thin was not worth dying for. When I began to eat again I was not able to control the bingeing.

Bob M: And you say this went on for 10 years. Would you describe your overeating difficulty as stemming from an emotional or physical problem?

Glinda West: I believe the problem was emotional. Knowing the cause, however, was not all that important in my overcoming it.

Bob M: Before we get into that part though, we're you able to discover what led to your overeating?

Glinda West: I think part of it was the deprivation I had suffered for so long by trying so hard to control what I ate. There was a definite physiological component.

Bob M: For those just coming into the room, Welcome. I'm Bob McMillan, the moderator. Our guest tonight is Glinda West. She authored a book entitled The Fat Fairygodmother's 5 Secrets to Being Thin Forever: End your Addiction to Food and Start Your Life. Tonight's topic is Compulsive Overeating. And I'm already receiving some audience comments, so I want to clarify one thing before we continue. Ms. West's book and this conference are not about "dieting". As we go on, I think you'll be a little surprised by what you hear. When you say that you "tried hard" to control what you ate, can you explain that in further detail please?

Glinda West: Well, as a bulimic and former anorexic I was always trying to control my food intake in one way or another. However, it only led me to binge more. I wasn't fully ready to give up "dieting."

Bob M: Over the 10 years, had you tried diets? or any other solutions to deal with your binge eating?

Glinda West: Oh my gosh! I had tried everything on the planet. I tried diets, diet pills, food supplements, fasting, electric shock... you name it. Nothing worked.

Bob M: Just one other question before we proceed. I would like to know your emotional state as the years progressed and you weren't able to get a handle on your eating.

Glinda West: I became severely depressed, almost suicidal at times.

Bob M: We have a couple of audience questions for you Glinda, then we'll proceed:

cloudburst: I haven't read your book; however, I find the title problematic. The implication being that one must be thin. Please explain. Thanks!

Glinda West: For most people the ultimate goal is to be thin. Overcoming the obsessive thoughts about food is far more important.

Bob M: And how did you reach that point?

Glinda West: I took it step-by-step. I challenged the obsessive thoughts and my eating patterns on a daily basis.

Bob M: At the opening of your book, you say "You will be liberated from dieting hell! Welcome to your new life". The first thing you say is "food is not the issue". Can you explain that?

Glinda West: Focusing on food will only create more of an obsession. People need to look outside and find a good life while they are challenging the obsession.

Bob M: In fact, you mention that you lost many good years of your life because you were obsessing about food. What did you do to break the obsession?

Glinda West: I tried to take the obsessive thoughts as they would come. I would say "Stop" in my head, and immediately substitute another thought about something else.

Bob M: Did you keep a diary or use some other tool to measure your thoughts?

Glinda West: No. I only tried to be aware of what my thoughts were. As I would begin to have a thought about food, I would immediately substitute another. This is only one technique. The obsession will only go away when you make a minute-to-minute effort to fill yourself with thoughts about your life, not food.