Isn't it funny? It does feel as if we're accomplishing something by restricting what we eat, and "keeping our weight under control" -- as I tend to think of it -- but when you come right down to it, we're only diminishing ourselves, aren't we? Until I read your post, that hadn't ever occurred to me. Thank you for that light bulb moment.

As for what your T was looking for, I think that's something you should ask him. In fact, that's a big pet peeve of mine -- that therapists aren't always very specific with their questions, so they don't make it easy to give accurate answers. I know that I've run into that, and even with a very good therapist. She asked me what I ate for breakfast, and I told her a poached egg and toast, which satisfied her. I didn't volunteer that I only ate part of the toast each morning, and she didn't think to ask.

For me, and it sounds like for you, too, restricting is so compelling that I don't want to stop -- even though I know I have to. It's like a parasite that's killing me while it tries to ensure its own survival. That makes it very hard for me to volunteer any really accurate information about it, although i will answer any questions put to me. If the therapist asked detailed questions, I would answer them honestly and accurately, but I can't volunteer without prompting.

I saw this as I was about to post a question about a related subject, in fact. I'm sorry if this isn't really addressing your question directly, but I hope it helped a little.