Days when you wanna binge.. how do YOU cope?

ebayaddict0127

I'm in my 5th week now. The longest I've gone for some time. Yesterday I decided to have a cheat day and only ended up consuming 1400 calories (200 over my daily). So apparently I failed there. Not complaining!

Today I had a horrible day at work and all I could think about was drinking wine and eating junk. On the way home from work, I talked myself out of it. "You'll feel so guilty if you do this. You won't feel good tomorrow. You missed a workout yesterday, you really should workout today. Just get home and turn on a DVD. Do 30 minutes." And guess what? I DID IT! So proud of me.

What do YOU do when you have that urge to binge?

tgrey4

I do pretty much the same thing as you, OP! I think about the food, I see the food, smell the food, touch itttttt...but remember that it will still be there (if not in this same exact form, but you know, it'll exist) in a day, in two days, in a week, two weeks, a month, etc. I keep a little list on my iPhone of all the foods that I would love to eat in the moment of an almost-binge. Some include falafel (which I'm tempted by at the cart just outside where I live every time I step outside), chocolate cake with great fudge-y frosting, gruyere and sharp cheddar macaroni and cheese, an ice cream sundae... these are all on my list. IF YOU MUST CHEAT, choose one item off of this list, and go for it. That is your cheat. Maybe do this once a week. But do not give in in the moment, as best you can avoid it. Save it for later (literally).

piratesluver

I have a note on my computer that I wrote some months back that I read to myself. It explains how the short term fulfillment doesn't even come close to the long term gain and how even though it tastes good, I usually end up with a tummy ache after anyhow.

mlslocum502

I wish I was as disciplined as you guys! I usually binge... double stuf oreos are my thing. I do better when I live on my own but when my roommates are buying the food... I have a hard time controlling it!

hesn92

I just look at my body in the mirror. Lol. Or I also look at pictures of really fit women.

paavec

I'm just in my 4th week here, starting watching my food around Jan 4th (not exactly the 1st). I know from previous attempts about having a cheat day, a binge day, etc. and then feeling like a failure. The more important thing is to remind yourself "you're NOT a failure, you just slipped a step (or two)" - this does not equate to failure. Giving up is failing. So, you slip and binge a little. When I do (now) I kind of mentally smack myself or shake my head, take a deep breath or two or three, and resolve to pick myself right back up. I am finding that this way (having to publicly report my food intake) is REALLY a helpful tool. It shows me on paper (or computer screen) where I am. You will slip along the way, but the key is to get back up and keep going. I love that there's a community of folks in similar boats all right here to shoot the *kitten* with, and encourage each other. Just KEEP at it! Set short goals, and get there, and have a bite of brownie! or a drink! Celebrate!! Then pick it back up the next day, with the next short goal. I find that helps me keep on track better. 8)

smexypants

I have a standing rule that unless I am traveling I make everything I eat, from scratch or as close to (NO delivery, NO convenience food, NO drive thru). So, if I want to binge, then I will be doing a lot of prepping (shopping, cutting, measuring, etc.), cooking (tick-tock), and clean up. It really slows you down and makes you appreciate the food-- AND even if I do have a little binge-a-thon, all that work burns calories! and I can control what is going into my food, making it somewhat healthier.

When I get those emotional food cravings I brew some strong tea (chai or mint). Then sit and slowly drink it while I muse about what I would like to eat and how to prepare it. The act of making myself tea is very nurturing and comforting-- which satiates some of the emotional bits of the binge craving. The warm tasty liquid takes care of some of the physical aspects of wanting to EAT!

Alternatively- five min dance party! or walk outside (any weather). Getting my heart rate up/ fresh air somehow distracts my brain from the idea of eating if I am not actually hungry.

Wiseandcurious

I've done three weeks of MFP so far, and am very happy with the way it's been going. My way of coping is, when I crave something, allow myself a little. The moment I realize I've started binging and the mouthfulls are adding up, log it right away honestly and in detail. The first week or so I felt ashamed and would only log the calories (still honestly and exactly) but now I log those cookies/chocolate/wieners (odd I know :ohwell: ) by name and number as well as calories.

Then if I really want to I can go on, not stopping myself, but so far since I started doing this it has always worked. Before I never was able to stop at 3 squares of chocolate but now I can! i am happy, satisfied, on track and binge avoided.

Oh and I think first and foremost eat enough other stuff! I am eating at 1600 - 1700 cals which gives me a reasonable deficit to TDEE. First week I was trying (unsuccessfully) for 1200 and that was barely sufficient for substinence, let alone healthy pleasure in food, so guilty pleasure was in order instead - not any more

fortally

I have a pair of jeans that represent my end goal (I WILL fit into those jeans again!!). Sad pics of myself trying to squish into those jeans weren't enough of a 'reminder,' so I hung the jeans up on the bedroom wall. Literally took down the pictures, nailed the hanger to the wall, and hung up the jeans. They're the only thing on the wall, opposite the bed, so first & last thing I see every day.

When I get cravings, munchies, and self-pity whining (do a lot of that, unfortunately), I pull the jeans off the wall and try to squish my butt into them. That alone is a powerful deterrent. Same goes when I have trouble trying to work myself up to exercising - *squish, squish, suck it in, still no-go, sigh...* It actually motivates me to stay on track.

Started out as negative reinforcement, but the workouts are starting to pay off and I've started shrinking. Now when I get munchy or lazy I head straight for those jeans. I even look forward to the try on because I am SO much closer to fitting in them again. Now it's a pretty cool motivator - I can almost get that sucker buttoned and don't want to ruin the progress I've made.

PeaceHappinessBalance

Wow these are some really good tips! a lot of them I haven't even thought or heard of. I love the one about making a list and going back to it later. Seriously good tips from everyone who responded so far. Good question OP!