Binge eating

rootlessblogger

Does anyone have any tips on binge eating disorder? My binges correlate with stress levels, and I just had one of my worst binges ever, and am drowning in negativity. Would love any tips or thoughts about what the root cause of binges are, and how to manage them. Thanks!

Here's a description of what my binge thought process was: http://rootlessblogger.com/2013/09/16/confessions-of-a-binge-eater/

Excerpt:
"Then I tore into the ice cream. The first bite was delicious. Yes. Exactly what I was craving all day.

The first bite was the only bite I actually tasted. I began shoveling the cold viscous mass into my mouth as quickly as possibly. My tongue was numb almost immediately as I chewed enormous mouthfuls of ice cream, swallowed, and repeated again and again. My jaw got tired from chewing the cold ice cream, and my stomach was really starting to hurt from how bloated it was.

But my body was outside of my control. I was like an observer, floating above myself, witnessing this disgusting behavior and idly making note that I should stop eating ice cream. I ate and ate and ate, through the pain and the self-loathing, and eventually, all the ice cream was gone.

And so was the itch. It was satisfied."

sophzr

I struggled with disordered eating for many years and this book, among other things, saved my life: http://www.amazon.com/Brain-over-Binge-Conventional-Recovered/dp/0984481702/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1379301156&sr=1-1

Please feel free to private message me if you like. Hugs and best wishes to you. x

christinemadden0223

Man I know that feeling. I was really bad a bout it in college and I began to get better after going for counseling. It still happens from time to time and on the times I actually can't control it it leaves me baffled. I think its an addiction that is different for everyone- it fulfills a different want for each person. When discovering why I binged and trying to learn and fix it I noticed that mine tends to be more compulsive behavior than actually wanting food. I'm not craving ice cream and cookies, I'm craving the adrenaline rush I get on the way to buy it or get it out of the freezer. I know I shouldn't be doing it and that's part of what makes it attractive- the fact that I am going to "do what I want when I want". And like you said, I feel awful afterward. I have learned a few things that make mine more manageable and occur less often-
1. I try to get a lot of sleep. When I'm tired and crabby I will give in way more easily because I'm already in a bad mood so who cares if I put myself in a worse mood? If I feel a binge coming on I'll try to sleep instead. Or I'll hit the gym (gives you energy) so I feel less like I need "something" and then I can decide to have ice cream if I want because I worked out- it usually makes me eat less or choose something healthier because I feel better about myself. I think I get low self-esteem when I'm tired.
2. I eat small meals all day, drink a lot of water and never let myself get too hungry. I'm like that snickers commercial when I'm hungry only I become cookie monster throwing junk in my mouth in a compulsively violent manner...
3. I try to avoid sugar and "fake" sugar. They just make you want more! If I want to treat myself I'll decide on something thats still not the healthiest, just as delicious, but without sugar. Ex. I want to run out and get cookie dough and ice cream and just sit on my couch and go nuts- I'll go get steak and a sweet potato and green beans from a restaurant... probably just as many calories in the end, but at least everything I eat will have nutrients and not have sugar so I won't crave sugar again and hour later. That and I still feel like I treated myself
4. Work out at least a little in the morning or right after work BEFORE eating. Something about working out blocks cravings for junk. I'm also less hungry all day then (provided I refueled healthily afterward). All my worst binges and cravings seem to fall on my rest days.
5. Finally, write EVERYTHING down. Did you have a bite of sugar and find yourself craving something crazy 30 minutes later? Did you get less sleep than usual and wake up NEEDING pancakes? Try to see what correlates positively and negatively and make adjustments. See what works for you!
I hope some of this helps- I know how frustrating and depressing this disease can be. Feel free to message if you want help or have advice for me as well!

Steven_James_1

The best response I can think of is finding the right diet for you. I use to struggle with binge eating as well. This is when I was eating 4-5 well portioned meals throughout the day; I'd never get full and I always end up binge eating and destroying my diet. The solution for me is intermittent fasting; having an 8 hour eating window a day and then fast the rest. So I only eat to large meals a day and that's. Me personally, I like feasting so eating portioned meals throughout the day is just not for me. I need to feel satisfied after I eat and intermittent fasting helps compensate that fact.

I'm not saying you have to use intermittent fasting, but instead I'm illustrating the point that you need to find the diet that works best for you. So do some research and experiment with a couple of different diets that you seem interested and figure out what works for you.

JesterMFP

My tip would be: seek professional help. :flowerforyou:

jacksonpt

The only thing I've every found to help is to avoid ending up in the situation that triggers the binge. Once it's started, there's no stopping it. So I try to be more proactive about my stress/mood. It's not perfect, but it does help.

diannethegeek

The only thing I've every found to help is to avoid ending up in the situation that triggers the binge. Once it's started, there's no stopping it. So I try to be more proactive about my stress/mood. It's not perfect, but it does help.

My experiences have been similar. I'm an anxiety eater. If I don't get in front of my anxiety before I reach for the ice cream I'm doomed. It's taken lots and lots of practice to break old habits and lots of work on my own self-confidence and stress relief.

KirstenNB

It's been said, but I will repeat...

1. Avoid the trigger. Stress is hard to avoid. Find PROACTIVE ways to destress.

2. If desserts and sugary foods are your binge of choice, avoid them at all costs. I have found that if I stop eating sugary sweets and desserts, I do not binge on them. If I allow myself to have sugary sweets/desserts at all, it opens up opportunities to binge at any given time.

I've been battling with binge eating for 20 years. Not until I stopped eating sugary sweet desserts was I able to control it.

If I am craving sweets in the evening, I will make a green smoothie. This type of sweet does not bother me for some reason.
My two favs: peanut butter banana (3/4 - 1 cup almond or coconut milk, 1/2 frozen banana, handful spinach, 1 tsp peanut butter powder) and orange julius (3/4 to 1 cup almond or coconut milk, 1/2 frozen banana, handful spinach, 1-2 Tbsp frozen OJ concentrate).

Good Luck! We are all here for you if you need us!