Binge Eating

Pretty_Little_Nobody

Please help me.

I used to binge eat to cope a few years ago and recently it has started happening again. I am literally like a locust and consume everything in my sight at night time. Does anyone else have experience with this? Has anyone beaten it or is anyone going through it currently?

I wouldn't mind some friends to support me on this journey.

I have been trying to keep a food diary but usually give up because the binges are literally out of control and unloggable.

Lolinloggen

I binge when I am stressed and have nothing much to do and feel cornered. Food then seems to have a calming effect on me.
For instance at a family gathering and there is lots of food at the table and I feel I can't leave the room and due to many family interactions feel like screaming. I just keep picking up food and eating it because it means people will expect less interaction from me.
The realisation that this is what happens makes that I can work on it but work on it does not mean it does not happen. Usually I am good the next day and manage to listen to my body and not eat as much untilll the binge nausea disappears .

DanaDark

I am pretty good all day long... then around 9pm to midnight I am a beast, binging on everything while watching shows. I've managed to not be as bad, but the best success I have had was to simply stop. So long as I don't start putting a snack in my mouth, I don't binge at night.

There are healthy snack items you can go for. Rock out with as much celery and iceburg lettuce as you want for example.

jjpptt2

Figure out why you're binging, then take steps to correct the issue or develop new/other habits to deal with it. It's likely to be a long process, so be patient.

GottaBurnEmAll

Realizing I was binging from both anxiety and restricting too much was a huge factor in helping me start to get a handle on it.

I never had a problem with this until after I lost my weight and tried a very restrictive plan to lose the last few vanity pounds. Then I was on a roller coaster with binge/restrict cycles for a couple of years.

I tried logging my binges, and sometimes that helped, and sometimes it made me more anxious, which is finally what made the penny drop about them being anxiety related.

I'm sharing all this because I'm hoping that maybe the idea that getting to the reason for binging, which was key for me, might also be helpful for you.

RelCanonical

jjpptt2 wrote: »

Figure out why you're binging, then take steps to correct the issue or develop new/other habits to deal with it. It's likely to be a long process, so be patient.

I'll second this for solidarity. I had to figure out why I was choosing to eat beyond the point of fullness, and then figure out how to cope with those things in healthier ways. For me, it was boredom (kind of a gentle way to put it, more like "emptiness") and stress. I've been filling those times with writing, caring for my cat, and other interests - things that provide a mindful distraction. Watching videos or reading just wasn't enough engagement.

UltraVegAthlete

It’s weird to think that a diet caused me to binge and now a diet has helped me stop binging.
I did partially raw vegan 1.5 years ago, lost too much weight, was told I needed to gain weight, ended up binging and shot past my starting weight pre-diet, and now I’m fully raw vegan again and the binging has stopped. I think it’s more determination than anything, though. I’m hoping to lose enough weight to get a PR in the marathon in May and to fit into some of my old clothes that I love. And I want to feel more confident with myself and talk to this guy I’ve had a crush on since middle school.

rfajitas12345

This may not work for everyone but it's worked for me pretty well: coffee and water.

kshama2001

I took a look at your diary and your protein is very low - about the lowest I have seen. I mention this because when I don't get enough protein I can eat and eat and eat and never feel satisfied.

Looks like you are vegan? If so, I highly recommend eating more higher sources of plant based protein such as legumes, tempeh, and seitan.

(I realize you don't log your binges but I'm guessing they are not on tempeh )

collectingblues

Looking at your diary, it looks like your logged calories are very low (echoing Ksharma that I recognize you maybe aren't logging your binges). You may have more success keeping the binges in check if you are willing to up your logged and planned for calories to *at least* 1,200. Restricting down to what you're doing really perpetuates that restrict-binge cycle, and the first step to breaking free of that is getting adequate planned nutrition.

GottaBurnEmAll

collectingblues wrote: »

Looking at your diary, it looks like your logged calories are very low (echoing Ksharma that I recognize you maybe aren't logging your binges). You may have more success keeping the binges in check if you are willing to up your logged and planned for calories to *at least* 1,200. Restricting down to what you're doing really perpetuates that restrict-binge cycle, and the first step to breaking free of that is getting adequate planned nutrition.

^This. It was over-restricting that led me to begin binging in the first place.

It was compensatory restricting for binging which perpetuated the cycle of binging.

One of the steps I took which helped make my binges smaller and become less frequent was to stop trying to compensate for them by restricting after them.

I cannot urge you strongly enough to eat more, OP. It's part of a cycle you're in, and you need to stop one part in order to start working on stopping the other.

fatmonsters

Perhaps increase your daily calorie goal so the day isn’t as restrictive overall. Second the protein recommendations above.

If you are binging at home during the day, then leave your house and go out. It’s more unlikely you’ll binge at work or at the library etc. when you’re around others. Move yourself physically away from your food supply.

If during the night, then go to bed earlier. Seriously. And stop the late night tv watching which is full of food commercials and reality shows with people constantly eating. This was a big trigger for me. Now I notice how much people are always eating and drinking on shows. Pick up a book instead or go for a walk. Take a bath and go to bed.

Pretty_Little_Nobody

You're all so kind and supportive. You're right in that my binges are mostly junk. Lots of white bread with margarine and chocolate/biscuits and cereal. Nutritionally devoid sugary/carby stuff really. I don't know why once I start I can't stop. I also really struggle with sleeping so I don't think this helps. If I do sleep, I wake up hourly.

jjpptt2

Pretty_Little_Nobody wrote: »

You're all so kind and supportive. You're right in that my binges are mostly junk. Lots of white bread with margarine and chocolate/biscuits and cereal. Nutritionally devoid sugary/carby stuff really. I don't know why once I start I can't stop. I also really struggle with sleeping so I don't think this helps. If I do sleep, I wake up hourly.

I struggle with both as well... binge eating and sleep issues. For me, they are interrelated. Poor eating habits cause/exacerbate sleep problems. Fatigue leads to (indirectly) poor eating habits. Poor eating habits lead to poor sleep... and so on and so on.

I go back to what I said before... figure out what's causing the binge and either fix that or develop better habits. For me, it's usually either boredom or depression. Boredom is easy to fix, but hard to feel coming (for me)... depression is the opposite. I'm working on trading bad habits/responses for slightly less bad habits/responses. It's definitely a process.

kt90gurl

Following this because I binge too, and its awful. I barely eat during the day, or even think about eating, then it hits about 8pm and its all i can think about despite having dinner etc. I've even logged on here because all I can think about is eating, I'm not hungry, its like my body is yearning for the taste of something and my diluted water and herbal tea are not cutting it!

amy19355

kt90gurl wrote: »

Following this because I binge too, and its awful. I barely eat during the day, or even think about eating, then it hits about 8pm and its all i can think about despite having dinner etc. I've even logged on here because all I can think about is eating, I'm not hungry, its like my body is yearning for the taste of something and my diluted water and herbal tea are not cutting it!

I never understand the idea of not eating all day. Even if you don’t think you are hungry, eat something anyhow.
Eat anything three times a day is better than nothing twice a day and a binge-fest once a day. IMO.

Whatever you try, and it’s different for everyone, at least try something new.

Good luck!

sassypandabear

kt90gurl wrote: »

Following this because I binge too, and its awful. I barely eat during the day, or even think about eating, then it hits about 8pm and its all i can think about despite having dinner etc. I've even logged on here because all I can think about is eating, I'm not hungry, its like my body is yearning for the taste of something and my diluted water and herbal tea are not cutting it!

I'm almost the same way!! I try to restrict during the day to counteract the binges that happen at night but it seems to just make them worse. everyone is saying to up the daily calorie intake and eat during the day, too, so I'm gonna try that.

ssarzen1976

As someone who has an addictive personality, it was the hardest thing to break especially after quitting drinking/drugs and smoking.
I'd seriously consider seeing a doctor and go from there, it's what helped me.

smolmaus

Pretty_Little_Nobody wrote: »

Please help me.

I used to binge eat to cope a few years ago and recently it has started happening again.

What are you trying to cope with?

Binge eating isn't your problem, it's what you're trying to smother with food that's the problem. You need to find your real problem and start there. For me it's anxiety. Worrying about eating too much or too little is a distraction that stops me actually thinking about whats making me anxious.

Honestly I just stopped caring about my binges. No guilt, no shame, no should-I-log-this, no "making up for it", nothing. I can't have a healthy body before I have a healthy brain and overeating and maybe gaining a bit of weight means nothing compared to taking care of your mental health. Thinking about binging, fighting against it, worrying about what method to use to stop, what foods can't I have in the house, will this ever stop, what if I eat myself to death, what if someone notices how many cereal boxes there are in the recycling, it's exhausting. Save your energy for being good to yourself. Particularly your sleeping!

kt90gurl

amy19355 wrote: »

kt90gurl wrote: »

Following this because I binge too, and its awful. I barely eat during the day, or even think about eating, then it hits about 8pm and its all i can think about despite having dinner etc. I've even logged on here because all I can think about is eating, I'm not hungry, its like my body is yearning for the taste of something and my diluted water and herbal tea are not cutting it!

I never understand the idea of not eating all day. Even if you don’t think you are hungry, eat something anyhow.
Eat anything three times a day is better than nothing twice a day and a binge-fest once a day. IMO.

Whatever you try, and it’s different for everyone, at least try something new.

Good luck!

Sorry, I do eat, perhaps I worded it incorrectly. I meant the binge doesn’t happen during the day and I don’t think about it until night.

jacksonsoxfan1207

I too have struggled with binge eating. I ate everything in sight and didn't care. Mostly sugar. This is the year I pray to gain victory over my food struggles. I have gained over 25 pounds this past year. Ten pounds just in December when I went off the rails. Let's stop the insanity, let's help and support each other. I think I need to find the root of why I do this.

jjpptt2

jacksonsoxfan1207 wrote: »

I too have struggled with binge eating. I ate everything in sight and didn't care. Mostly sugar. This is the year I pray to gain victory over my food struggles. I have gained over 25 pounds this past year. Ten pounds just in December when I went off the rails. Let's stop the insanity, let's help and support each other. I think I need to find the root of why I do this.

Yes, do that. Definitely do that.

lwr731

Binge eating is a huge problem for me--especially sugar. I am working with a therapist now, and although we are just getting started, she has had good insights. My meals are okay, maybe a bit more restrictive than necessary. The thing is, I am "bargaining" with calories: I leave room for sugar. Too much sugar; once I start I cannot stop. Also, it is when I do not get enough protein during the day that my body needs more food at night. My goal right now is to stop sugar. I expect to have a difficult few days, but I need to detox.

psychod787

Food will not fix your problems. I used to binge eat. I had to learn to have other outlets. Now in lift heavy $#it... it helps me. I hope the best for you.


*edit* I wanted to add, that in retrospect, there were some days I easily ate 10-12k calories. Could have been more, but recall is faulty and it was before I started tracking.

kbmnurse1

eat,eat,eat.

kt90gurl

Is there something wrong with you kbmnurse1? You can't tell a binge eater to eat eat eat.

psychod787

kt90gurl wrote: »

Is there something wrong with you kbmnurse1? You can't tell a binge eater to eat eat eat.

If the young lady is under eating, then going on binge cycles... telling her to eat might not be a bad idea... jmho


*edit* wanted to add this. If I am not careful, I can see restrict and binge start with me. I like a bigger dinner before bed. It helps me sleep. If I am not vigilant, I will not eat enough during the day to have a HUGE meal at night. Almost to the point of being sick to hit my calorie and macro targets. I never go over, but still really not healthy for me.

kt90gurl

Depends if the binge happens due to emotions or to hunger. For me I could eat a whole cow, but then if something upsets me, could easily go on to binge about 4 choc bars. So telling someone to eat if its emotional binging, really would not help.

psychod787

kt90gurl wrote: »

Depends if the binge happens due to emotions or to hunger. For me I could eat a whole cow, but then if something upsets me, could easily go on to binge about 4 choc bars. So telling someone to eat if its emotional binging, really would not help.

As calorie trackers, we tend to be kind of control oriented. We limit ourselves, while the majority go yolo. Control is a major emotion that people tend to ignore. When you add situations in life you cant control to many of us.... you can get binge eating. I have seen this with a close family member. When she loses control of certain aspects of life, she turns to food. I also have the strange feeling, there is guilt restriction going on... return of control.

Rocknut53

psychod787 wrote: »

kt90gurl wrote: »

Depends if the binge happens due to emotions or to hunger. For me I could eat a whole cow, but then if something upsets me, could easily go on to binge about 4 choc bars. So telling someone to eat if its emotional binging, really would not help.

As calorie trackers, we tend to be kind of control oriented. We limit ourselves, while the majority go yolo. Control is a major emotion that people tend to ignore. When you add situations in life you cant control to many of us.... you can get binge eating. I have seen this with a close family member. When she loses control of certain aspects of life, she turns to food. I also have the strange feeling, there is guilt restriction going on... return of control.

The bolded part is me over the past few months. It started with my 46 year old son's heart attack that he had during an ice climbing trip, then I lost 2 close family members within a month of each other and while all this was going on my husband began having heart issues which finally will be resolved with open heart surgery at the end of this month. On days when I get overwhelmed emotionally I stuff my face like there's no tomorrow. I'm trying hard to ignore the triggers that result in binging, but I just take it day by day. I know until my husband is healthy again it will be a roller coaster ride. I would like to get rid of the 20 pounds I've gained (after losing 60), and if I can maintain like I've done for the past month I'll feel like I've accomplished something. OP, just know you are not alone!

Pretty_Little_Nobody

I binged so so badly last night. It's getting to the stage that I'm scared to go out because of the rapid weight gain. It feels so humiliating and i know people are judging me. I'm at a complete loss. I try so so hard everyday and everyday I fail. I really feel so trapped by it all.