Homework and Binge Eating

irishdancer23

Hi everyone! I've been dealing with binge eating disorder since senior year of high school (I'm now a senior in college) and lately it has gotten worse and worse. My worse urges to binge come when I'm doing homework- when I don't want to do homework in the first place, or when I come to a math problem that's too hard or an assignment that I don't understand, my first and most overwhelming urge is to binge. I've tried taking a break, but that usually leads to hours of surfing the internet mindlessly until I get so frustrated with how much time I've wasted trying not to binge that I binge anyways. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to deal with this?

victoria_1024

I had this problem in grad school, that's when I first put on all my weight. I would just sit and study and eat handfuls of peanut butter m&ms. Could you make yourself a big bag of popcorn and just sit and munch on that while you study? You can eat a pretty big bowl of popcorn for not as many calories.

SherryTeach

Do your homework in a study carrell in the library where you cannot eat.

kshama2001

Sounds like your mind is not calm at these times, and you want to soothe it with food. (Which does work, after all.) How about you soothe it with exercise instead?

Yoga is thought to have originally been developed by people who were trying to meditate but found their brains were too distracted. Once the brain was calmed, meditation became easier.

I never hop into meditation cold - I always do yoga first. Sometimes I'm too wound up for yoga and do some form of cardio first. Then, I can focus.

My aunt had asked me to do some work on her website. (I'm not a webmaster but can do some stuff.) This morning, it just wasn't coming to me. After work tonight, I went for a walk in the woods and when I came back it flowed easily.

Good luck!

tomatoey

Try the pomodoro technique to plan your study & break times. On breaks, don't go online (disconnect from the internet & your phone completely if you have to), and do something physical, like walking. Or even knitting & listening to the radio. Timer beeps, go back to work.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pomodoro_Technique

You can get a standalone timer like this (can program intervals, has a vibration-only setting if you go to the library) or use a kitchen timer (if at home).

ALSO plan in fun things, use these as a reward.

+1 popcorn (but air-popped, and limited butter, that is something that's gotten me into trouble).

kiela64

I can definitely relate. I find not being at home with the food helps a bit.

tomatoey

When you're concentrating hard on something, your brain uses more glucose (& expends more calories. I doubt it's as much as you're consuming, but it's a BIT more). Between that and stress, easy to see how hunger can be triggered, and then get out of control bc the food is rewarding. + 1 to @kshama2001, her advice could be really helpful. (I'm not good at meditating - find it easier to walk or do something more physical - but I totally respect it as a practice.)

RobynLB83

Oh my god. I put in 15 lbs studying for the bar exam eating bulk candy. Just make yourself a big bowl of veggies to munch on, gum, drink coffee like a fiend, do some reading on the treadmill at the campus gym, break up the monotony by studying different places. Study in busy cafes... You won't binge in front of other people, right?

PinkPixiexox

Have you been diagnosed with this condition? I'd suggest speaking to your doctor to find coping mechanisms for this. It's all very well us saying "Every thing in moderation" but your urges sound slightly out of control (in the nicest way possible). I would really recommend getting help and trying to address your relationship with food. It seems you turn to food when stressful situations are presented to you - this can totally be changed around but I think you need some solid guidance.

bologna111

The book brain over binge was life changing for me.