how did you stop binge-eating?

mythaidream

hey everyone!

ill get stuck in straightaway - im a binge eater. i have strong urges to binge most days and end up eating a bunch of crap and ruining my healthy eating plans.

i read brain over binge - made so much sense, absolutely brilliant etc but i cant put any of it into practice/doesnt seem to work.

ive tried regular eating, not thinking so much about my eating, encorporating all my fav sweet things in my diet etc i still binge!

i dont restrict calories anymore, i dont have rigid rules or anything.

i think maybe i just dont want it badly enough, i dont want to stop binging.

i sometimes think bingeing is better than anything else i could do - how sad is that!

please, any advice, or help, or how you stopped binge eating would be great.

im not hugely overweight, but this problem is affecting every aspect of my life.

thankyou in advance )

margaretturk

Do you have food cravings too. There is a good web site that is called Food Cravings What your body wants? Feeding your body the food it needs can cut down on overeating. I eat a high fiber diet and I find that keeps my overeating to a minimum. Drinking enough water also helps. Have you tried drinking a glass of water before you eat.? It sounds like binge eating is a pattern of eating you are trying to break. Your body will thank you for it. Good luck.

brittany2188

I struggle with this a bit too. If it's something I love, I want to eat it all, not just a serving. I have to constantly remind myself that I don't need the whole thing. And it's not like a food group (salty, sweet) that I want to binge on, it's a specific food. I don't get it.

a_stronger_me13

What do you consume on an average basis in terms of calories?

What would you consider a binge in terms of calories?

Are you typically hungry at certain times of the day?

Do you have certain trigger foods?

DrJenO

I started tracking every. single. thing. I ate. Made me think twice before reaching for that handful of M&Ms...

Tobi1013

I won't pretend to know that I know what you should do, but it does sound like you are doing many of the things that you should be doing to help (no longer restricting calories, no rigid rules, allowing you favorites). That said, it may be time to talk to an ED counselor to get the help of a professional.

awilwe

If you understood binge eating, you would also understand that "drinking a glass of water" before a meal is hardly the remedy. I don't have the answer but....really? Do you think it's that simple? I'm sure you are sincerely trying to help, but really?

msliu7911

ive tried regular eating, not thinking so much about my eating, encorporating all my fav sweet things in my diet etc i still binge!

HI there, the fact that you made the statement above makes me think that the binging is more than just cravings or that you're not nourishing yourself.

In all seriousness... have you thought about other things that may be triggering the binges, such as depression or saddness (i.e. over the fact that you can't stop binging or lose the weight you want)?? Emotional eating is a real thing, and it can be a serious problem if you don't recognize it. I know it's crazy to think that stressing over your problem and could actually be causing your problem.. but its very possible.

I didn't realize I was an emotional eater until a couple years back when I went through a bout of depression and other issues. I was seeing a counselor and she helped me to be able to recognize this and slowly work through it.

Just recently I've been under stress and feeling really down on myself.... late at night the sad feelings will kick in sometimes and even though I'm not hungry, EVEN THOUGH I know I've reached my calories for the day and will hate myself for eating more, I still find myself looking for food that I normally would not have eaten.

It took a couple days for me to realize I was falling into my emotional eating again.

Next time you reach for that extra serving of pasta or food in general that you know you're truly not physically hungry for, maybe try to ask yourself if you're upset about something.

Has someone let you down? Are you feeling lonely? If you can learn to take 5-10 seconds to pull away from the food and ask yourself "Am I really hungry or is this something deeper?".. then maybe you can break away from the bad habit.

Emotional eating/binging is truly a bad habit but it can be broken. This just means you really need to work at it and try to separate yourself from the food when you know you're trying to soothe your feelings with calories.

Long post, I know, but I hope this helps a little.

WaterBunnie

Having a daily calorie allowance to stay within and having to log everything keeps me from bingeing. When eating too much of the wrong thing started to mean I couldn't have proper meals I soon realised the crap foods had to go.

Jbarbo01

Uncontrollable bingeing is normally psychological. Food fills some sort of emotional need that feels necessary. I've been in therapy for 5 years for my binge eating and I've learned that my obsession with food is connected with my emotional needs. If you can afford it, I would see a therapist to talk about what is causing you to seek comfort from food. If you can't, start a journal and log when you binge and what you were feeling when you felt the compulsion to do so. What events might've triggered it so you can find a trigger. My issues stemmed from childhood. Love my parents but they came from very abusive homes so though they tried their best they didn't know how to truly give emotional support. So food filled that role for me, I have to learn how to go to friends now or look to myself for emotional soothing rather than food. I share this because many people relate to these reasons for overeating as an adult. Food is easy and fast, it gives you an instant dopamine rush which is why you feel good after and also crave it when stressed, bored, frustrated, etc. I'd be surprised if you had no issues in childhood with food if you have compulsions to binge that are hard to control but is possible. Look back into your life and see where these issues might've started and that also might give you clues. Once you understand why you want to eat, you can fill that emotional need in a different and healthier way. Food isn't emotional comfort, its just food. The only power it has over you is the power you give it.

northernsoulgirl123

I can identify with this issue - I am not hugely overweight either but overweight enough not to fit into my jeans again and I hate it.
If I buy a yogurt I don't just eat 1 pot I eat all of them until they're gone - I mean what's that all about? it's the same with anything
sweet - I think I may be addicted to sugar? If sweet things are in the house I have to eat them and that goes for cakes, buns
anything of that nature........I suppose realistically the only solution is not to buy them but unless you live on your own it's not always
practical or fair is it? not sure what the answer is really, maybe try a low calorie chocolate drink when you fancy something
sweet - that's why my daughter does and it's working for her. I am going to try the same thing I think although I did buy some
Tesco yogurts tonight and so far have only eaten 1 of them..... let's hope my will power kicks in. Let us know how you go on.

ChristineOlivarri

working out two hours a day five times a week has helped me not to binge eat, something about all that physical exercise and not wanting to blow all my hard work is what helps me.

Iknowsaur

If there's something I really like, I feel the need to eat all of it until it's gone.
My solution is to not have those things in the house, and to maybe buy them once a week in the form of a single serving. I don't keep icecream in the house anymore because I can eat a gallon in two days. Instead, I occasionally get a pint of Ben and Jerrys froyo for my boyfriend and I to split over a movie.

FlatTummyTrish

I feel your pain, I used to have no control over my eating whatsover it stopped me from talking to others and going out because I felt too angry with myself for having eaten everything in my kitchen again.
I honestly can't pin point a specific time when I stopped this vicious circle, but I know that I became busy with work and things to do, even a little hobby (photography blog) helped me keep my mind off food. I hadn't realised it then but I stopped obsessing, I stopped making diet plans and making more promises to myself.
Right now my eating is still bad, but it's just like others', meaning I eat whatever I want whenever but I make sure exercise is my one of my top priorities.
I can't remember who's book I read a few years ago, could be Paul McKenna's, but it said to go and take a picture of yourself in a bikini. Look at it every day and have a healthy 'vision board'. It might be false hope but when I look at the ideal body I want I feel determined to get it.
I know binge eating can't be solved in a day or even a month, just remember MFP is here if you nee support

serrazee

You are not alone in this, in fact there is a whole group of people who struggle with binge eating. It's called the Binge-Eating Support Group

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/groups/home/726-binge-eating-support-group

A lot of people are struggling with the exact same problems as you, and you can find people there to support you! Also, feel free to add me as a friend if you want some support (I'm also a binge eater trying to get it under control).

cadaver0usb0nes

I would talk to a counselor. Binge Eating is a mental illness just like any other eating disorder like anorexia or bulimia. sometimes you need extra help and can't just "stop binging" because you want it badly enough.. I used to be bulimic and got over it through therapy but recently in the last couple years I have turned to BED. hope you can get past it and don't be afraid to seek help!

nikkihk

Don't label anything as bad... eat it, just in moderation. I still have pizza on occasion, hamburgers, french fries.. etc. I just figure out how to eat it within my calorie limits. Small fries as opposed to large, one square of chocolate vs. the whole bar... etc. It helps to only have portioned items so you don't feel the need to eat an entire bag, for instance, mini snack size candy bars or single serve chip bags.. etc.

chani8

I was doing well on the No S Diet (nosdiet.com) for curbing binge eating. Then I got sick, lost too much weight and went below goal weight by 5 lbs. I recently gained back 10lbs on a two week non-stop binge fest.

I usually binge from tasting sugar or salty carbs. In order to get back on track I'm going to allow myself to binge on fruits and veggies for a few days, while increasing my proteins and fats. Then I'll cut carbs. For me, the less carbs, the less bingeing.

sunnyskyjb

bump, thank you for the advice

nsimon24

Before I eat anything, I ask myself two questions - why am I eating it? If my answer is emotion-based I can usually put it down and figure out something else to do instead (go for a walk if bored, call a friend if lonely, drink a glass of water, etc). The second question is "is this worth putting on the weight for?" If I decide to eat whatever it is I am about to eat anyway, and it is unhealthy and as a result of emotional eating, I can usually tell myself no and let it go after or at least put it down for something that would be healthier and/or more satisfying.

I also radically changed my eating habits for two weeks. Not a big fan of Adkins for long-term, but can't argue with the way it seemed to reset my sweet tooth for the two weeks I severely cut carbs - the first week was agony, but it was worth it to me. Most cheap junk food (inexpensive chocolate, additive-laden ice creams, and super-sweet stuff) doesn't taste good anymore, all I taste is the additives. When I do indulge in sweets it's the good stuff - and one serving generally satisfies me now.

My two favorite fellas are still Ben and Jerry, but I don't see them very often anymore!

SunshineGirl0518

Thank you for you post. I just realized that my binge eating and emotional eating is a real thing. I've always used food to comfort but only in the past few months has it become a real issue. I know my triggers I just can't seem to stop. It is a comfort to know others are battling this too. I am sometimes able to pull away, fully recognize it is stress causing me to eat, but then what? It is such a scary and out of control feeling?

Nickih4619093

Read this the other day, it's more to help with cravings, but maybe it will help!? http://m.naturalnews.com/news/044579_food_cravings_mineral_deficiencies_essential_nutrients.html