Advice for Binge Eating
Sylean12
Posts: 2
I've always had problems binge eating. I weighed 310 lbs. at my heaviest, and and got down to 165 at my lowest. This morning I was at about 178 lbs. I've taken up running and was feeling pretty good about myself, but I just went on a huge binge eating spree. I do it all the time. I'll do really well all week, and then I'll binge about 5000 calories in one day, and it'll take me all week to lose it again. Why do I do this? If anyone has any advice to help me stop binge eating, I would be so grateful. Is there anyone I can go talk to, like a psychologist, to stop this? I really don't want to gain all of the weight back, but I've slowly been gaining weight for the past two months! I used to have so much will power, but now I feel like I'll never be able to get back to the really determined woman I used to be.
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Replies
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I don't know whether this is due to actual physical effect or whether it's psychosomatic, but I managed to break my carb-craving cycle (which is what I think drove me to binge for pretty much most of my life) when I started switching to protein based snacks (such as sweet chilli chicken pieces, etc) under the basis that protein makes you feel fuller for longer.
Like I said, it could all be in my head, but I no longer feel the need to binge (sometimes I still want to, but it's not an all-out craving, thankfully!). Also, I don't restrict myself too rigidly - if I want to eat something that means I'll go over my calories, I will, and I just accept the hit that sometimes (but, strangely enough, not always!) comes with it. Or else I'll plan to eat less so that I can fit that bit of chocolate in or whatever.
Good luck - I hope you find something that helps you break the cycle.0 -
Your diary is private, so I cannot confirm, but I would bet that you are not eating enough on a normal basis.
The usual reason for binging is that you are consuming too few calories per day and/or you are following and absurd low fat/carb diet, causing your body to want to overcompensate.0 -
I am in recovery of an eating disorder, so I know how frustrating uncontrollable binges can be!
Make sure you are eating enough, you should be eating every couple of hours. At the height of my disorder I would starve for up to a week which then led to having a massive binge. Now that I am eating every few hours, I have been binge free since the end of April!
Hope this helps! And good luck
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I binge at night when i feel too full....i hate feeling full at night even if i didnt go over my calories if i feel full ill be like f** this im gunna be fat forever anyways . Ik this is crazy but its how it is for me :ohwell:0
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Yeah man, I think you should talk to a psychologist...perhaps you are afraid you will work really hard, and not reach your goals, so you sabbotage your plan on purpose so you have a reason why you failed? I don't know man.
I try to eat clean the entire week...today I reached a new personal low, and I celebrated by not logging calories and pigging out. i usually don't log calories on sundays, but I still try to eat in moderation...today i pigged out like there was no tommorrow...But I plan for it, and it gives me something to look forward to, and it makes eating turkey sandwiches on whole grain bread during the week more tolerable. Good luck on your journey.0 -
Why do you do it? Because it's a compulsion. Binge eating disorder is in the DSM for a reason, it's a valid psychological disorder. I've had BED since I was 9 years old. I'm currently making the first real effort to stop it.
When you binge, is it because you're hungry? I'm guessing not. Usually it's not. It can be due to boredom, stress, etc. Other people are suggesting you're not eating enough during the day, but that might not be true (although you should be sure you are, obviously!) If you're binging due to other reasons, you need to find things to distract yourself with. Take up a hobby. Write, play an instrument, call a friend. Find something you can do INSTEAD of eating.
As it is a disorder, I would definitely recommend therapy if you can afford it. There are tons of therapists who specialize in eating disorders, and binge eating disorder is just as valid as something like anorexia or bulimia. I would also recommend something like DBT (which is a sort of therapy) and even some antidepressants can curb the urge.
If you find that there's a certain time of day that you binge, try to set aside some calories as a 'just in case' for it. For example, I know I'm more likely to binge at night, so I try not to use all of my calories during the day, because that way I can still eat something, satisfy the urge to snack without going overboard.
I hope any of this helps 0 -
You might look for a therapist or see if your area has a local chapter of Overeaters Anonymous. Make sure your daily calorie goal isn't too low as others have said.0
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I completely know what you mean. I will binge (my binges are small but still a binge for me) at night when I'm already full. I definitely have a mild form of compulsive eating disorder.
I also eat a varied diet and almost always get close to around 120 grams of protein. It just doesn't matter. It's something I work on everyday.
I highly recommend the book, Food: The Good Girl's DrugI binge at night when i feel too full....i hate feeling full at night even if i didnt go over my calories if i feel full ill be like f** this im gunna be fat forever anyways . Ik this is crazy but its how it is for me :ohwell:0 -
I don't keep those binge-worthy foods around.
I leave notes on and in the fridge and cupboards. "Walk away fatty" "Are you hungry or just bored?" "Walk it off" "You have launry to do" etc...0 -
Excellent post. I think it needs to be highlighted that it usually ISN'T because one isn't getting enough calories or protein or some other lack of nutrition.Why do you do it? Because it's a compulsion. Binge eating disorder is in the DSM for a reason, it's a valid psychological disorder. I've had BED since I was 9 years old. I'm currently making the first real effort to stop it.
When you binge, is it because you're hungry? I'm guessing not. Usually it's not. It can be due to boredom, stress, etc. Other people are suggesting you're not eating enough during the day, but that might not be true (although you should be sure you are, obviously!) If you're binging due to other reasons, you need to find things to distract yourself with. Take up a hobby. Write, play an instrument, call a friend. Find something you can do INSTEAD of eating.
As it is a disorder, I would definitely recommend therapy if you can afford it. There are tons of therapists who specialize in eating disorders, and binge eating disorder is just as valid as something like anorexia or bulimia. I would also recommend something like DBT (which is a sort of therapy) and even some antidepressants can curb the urge.
If you find that there's a certain time of day that you binge, try to set aside some calories as a 'just in case' for it. For example, I know I'm more likely to binge at night, so I try not to use all of my calories during the day, because that way I can still eat something, satisfy the urge to snack without going overboard.
I hope any of this helps0 -
been there, ate that! read my profile for more details, but i know where u are coming from, and ive been getting better each month. the best advice i can give is TRACK THE BINGE AS ITS HAPPENING. put food in your mout- log it right then and there. sometimes just seeing how fast the calories are adding up is a good motivation to stop.
whenever i binged, i found that it was typically on useless carbs that never filled me. the other night, in a world of stress after a pretty horrible week, it was 9pm and i stared at a box of cereal, wanting to pour a giant bowl that would have been a waste of about 500 calories, and knew i wouldnt even be full. i literally stared at the box for 2-3 minutes, put it away, and grabbed a protein bar and a large glass of water. done. healthier and only 190 cals- and filling. i consider that a major victory.
PM me if u need to talk more. i know what u are going thru.0 -
Sometimes you have to stop and consider WHY you're eating.
If you're depriving yourself of cravings all week you could just be giving into all those cravings in one day.
Heres some tips for you
1. Before you eat drink a tall glass of water
2. While you're eating, keep this in mind; "am I still hungry? or just eating?"
3. Stop yourself from eating after the initial meal, by doing something to take your mind off it.
4. Treat yourself to something SMALL. Like a small piece of dark chocolate, etc. something you've been craving,no more than once a week.
Binge eating happens, but definitely shouldn't happen every week.0 -
^^ just trying to eat something small can be dangerous to a binge eater. if other have experienced what i have felt- they will agree, u dont even feel like yourself when its happening. when i feel in control, which is the majority of the time, i can have a serving of something and be fine. those occasional binge moments- i need to learn to step away from the food completely, or learn to eat one filling thing and walk away. a little indulgence can easily spiral out of control when that binge monster hits0
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Absolutely. It's very easy for a non compulsive eater to say, "Just have a small piece"
I wish it worked that way. I have to keep trigger foods OUT of my house.^^ just trying to eat something small can be dangerous to a binge eater. if other have experienced what i have felt- they will agree, u dont even feel like yourself when its happening. when i feel in control, which is the majority of the time, i can have a serving of something and be fine. those occasional binge moments- i need to learn to step away from the food completely, or learn to eat one filling thing and walk away. a little indulgence can easily spiral out of control when that binge monster hits0 -
As I lost weight my trigger foods changed...it slowly turned into my husband's Clif bars or small peanut butter single packs (he's a runner) so he now keeps them in the trunk of his car for me.0
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*IF* you only binge eat when you are bored... then you can try Chia seeds. They help me! Google them. They arent regular seeds.. as i have crohns disease & shouldnt eat regular seeds! These turn into a gel when they sit in water! They have tons of anti oxidents, omega fatty acids, vitamins, etc they are SUPER good for you and they help keep you full for a really long time. They work WONDERS for me and really give me a FULL feeling, so even when i KNOW im full... i can drink a fruit smoothie or eat a salad with the seeds in it.. and i get super full to the point that i dont want anything else... and it lasts a LONG time!
They are just at 120ish calories for 2 tablespoons (a serving) and IMO are worth it for binge eating. Some may agree or disagree, but they are perfectly healthy enough to consume daily... even though i dont binge eat daily, they help me to stay within my calorie intake anyway!
Just a suggestion, and i wouldnt advise you to use these if you are having any issues with normally eating below your calorie intake, or if you have any signs of an eating disorder. I dont know the full situation at all, but just specifially for binge eating, i suggest those. Good luck to you!
You can get them on Amazon or at a health food store. 0 -
My sister helped me by telling me that every time i feel like binging at night, I have to remind myself that "THE FOOD WILL BE THERE IN THE MORNING".
Obviously, if the binging is seriously emotion-related, it may not work, but it has definitely helped me at times when I want second helpings or peanut butter right before bed.
So remember.
IT WILL BE THERE IN THE MORNING!0 -
That's actually good advice. Something about that can work with a "binging mind" sometimes we feel like we have to eat all the food! I will often be eating a meal thinking about the next meal. So it definitely goes back to what you said. I'm not running out of food!My sister helped me by telling me that every time i feel like binging at night, I have to remind myself that "THE FOOD WILL BE THERE IN THE MORNING".
Obviously, if the binging is seriously emotion-related, it may not work, but it has definitely helped me at times when I want second helpings or peanut butter right before bed.
So remember.
IT WILL BE THERE IN THE MORNING!0 -
I meant eating a small piece of a craving on days that you're not feeling like your going to binge. (if that makes sense)
I know when I binge it's because I spend all week craving something until I finally give in.
If you eat a small piece of whatever you're craving instead of letting it build, it tends to subside easily0 -
If you're having trouble dealing with it, maybe you should see a psychologist. You should be able to find one that specializes in weight issues. You certainly don't want to gain back all the weight that you've worked so hard to lose. I think a lot of us eat poorly due to emotions -- I binge when I get angry -- it's like I'm punishing myself. I overeat when I get bored. There's a difference between binging and overeating.
Hope you get back on track. :flowerforyou:0 -
I binge when I'm stressed. I binge when I' really tired and I feel a little hungry. Food is fuel and we get energy from it.
If I eat and I don't feel that "high" I will continue to eat until I do. So, yes usually this is carb and/or fat filled foods. I
am most likely to binge at that TOM.
There are some really good suggestions here. One thing that I am grateful for is that I don't have binges as much as
before. I also am grateful that days that I binge are not as the average day I had six months ago. I have been able to
avoid them sometimes when I get the urge.0 -
what an awesome idea!!I don't keep those binge-worthy foods around.
I leave notes on and in the fridge and cupboards. "Walk away fatty" "Are you hungry or just bored?" "Walk it off" "You have launry to do" etc...0 -
if your weekly routine is super super clean, you might be feeling deprived of foods i call treats, in my case its a sweet tooth, ice cream, cake
i make it a habit of having treats at least 3-4 times during the week so i dont ever feel like im depriving myself of anything.
i think that is what's keeping my new eating habits in check
ultimately, you've done a great job at taking off a considerable amount of weight off, remind yourself of that, every up/down moment leads to a lesson learned0 -
Absolutely. It's very easy for a non compulsive eater to say, "Just have a small piece"
I wish it worked that way. I have to keep trigger foods OUT of my house.^^ just trying to eat something small can be dangerous to a binge eater. if other have experienced what i have felt- they will agree, u dont even feel like yourself when its happening. when i feel in control, which is the majority of the time, i can have a serving of something and be fine. those occasional binge moments- i need to learn to step away from the food completely, or learn to eat one filling thing and walk away. a little indulgence can easily spiral out of control when that binge monster hits
QFT0 -
I've always had problems binge eating. I weighed 310 lbs. at my heaviest, and and got down to 165 at my lowest. This morning I was at about 178 lbs. I've taken up running and was feeling pretty good about myself, but I just went on a huge binge eating spree. I do it all the time. I'll do really well all week, and then I'll binge about 5000 calories in one day, and it'll take me all week to lose it again. Why do I do this? If anyone has any advice to help me stop binge eating, I would be so grateful. Is there anyone I can go talk to, like a psychologist, to stop this? I really don't want to gain all of the weight back, but I've slowly been gaining weight for the past two months! I used to have so much will power, but now I feel like I'll never be able to get back to the really determined woman I used to be.
Hi, I have had problems with binge eating since I was a little girl. I remember one time my mom made fudge and I pigged out on it, another time they had ice cream sandwiches and I ate the whole box. This was when I was under 8 years old.
Lately, for the past several months, I have been free from binges and not even wanting to binge. I let myself have the treats I want and keep to a 1500-1900 calorie a day plan. I was on a medication that made it really easy to binge because I could not feel when i was full and I felt really hungry. I stopped taking it and the overeating stopped. I know that wasn't the whole issue though because I have had this problem since I was younger. I think allowing yourself treats is important to keeping yourself from binging and eating enough calories every day. ( I do not keep treats around on a regular basis and if I do it is not in large quantities. It is more like a serving of ice cream or a candy bar or a small container of cookies. I don't really make cakes or cookies at home.) If you feel hungry all the time you will binge. Make sure you are getting a balanced diet too. You need fiber, fat, fruits and veggies, and protein.
I still sometimes eat more than I should of a treat but I don't consider that binging if I eat normally the rest of the day. I ate about 2/3 of my calories the other day with ice cream. I am not going to have that ice cream regularly though.
If you find that you have a trigger food you can cut it out. Sometimes it is easier to not have it than to have it and control it.0 -
I don't keep those binge-worthy foods around.
I leave notes on and in the fridge and cupboards. "Walk away fatty" "Are you hungry or just bored?" "Walk it off" "You have launry to do" etc...
This is awesome, I love your idea with the notes!0 -
I gave up chocolate about 6 years ago becuase I could eat a giant bar in one sitting (like, 500g to 1kg) and then sick some of it up.
I gave it up using the Paul McKenna "I can make you thin" method. Basically its self-hypnosis. Google it. You could also consider seeing a hypnotherapist.
I will admit that I have still sometimes binged on other things, but chocolate was the main issue. I agree with not keeping other trigger foods in the house. I also find it helpful to "allow" myself in the evenings (also my binge time) to stick to the rule that if I am hungry, genuinly hungry, then I may eat something. Since I am genuinly hungry I tend to go for things like peanut butter and toast, porridge etc rather than sweets and crisps (which I don't have in the house anyway!)0 -
I don't know whether this is due to actual physical effect or whether it's psychosomatic, but I managed to break my carb-craving cycle (which is what I think drove me to binge for pretty much most of my life) when I started switching to protein based snacks (such as sweet chilli chicken pieces, etc) under the basis that protein makes you feel fuller for longer.
Like I said, it could all be in my head, but I no longer feel the need to binge (sometimes I still want to, but it's not an all-out craving, thankfully!). Also, I don't restrict myself too rigidly - if I want to eat something that means I'll go over my calories, I will, and I just accept the hit that sometimes (but, strangely enough, not always!) comes with it. Or else I'll plan to eat less so that I can fit that bit of chocolate in or whatever.
I agree with this poster and I also try to keep "trigger" foods out of my house....I know that if I eat a Ritz Cracker or a Brownie it is all over for me and I will binge the rest of the day. Sometimes it is also out of habit like eating at 9:30pm even though I am full and that just comes down to willpower and finding something else to do like a crossword or something.0 -
I wish Binge Eating were so simple but it really isn't unfortunately. Everyone has a variety of reasons why they engage in these behaviors, myself included. I'm more guilty of binge eating carbs and grease instead of sweets and as such the drive-thru places are on my no-no list. I haven't had McDonalds or anything like that for 6 months now.
Regarding just having a small piece - It is very hard to explain to someone who does not compulsively eat that sometimes binge eating is like a haze. You come out of it as you take a last bite, struggling to breathe because you're about to be sick and you look around at empty food wrappers and your kitchen disaster area or whatever and think "What have I done?". There were times I'd go to get fast food and stuff and I wouldn't remember ordering it was like.. mechanical. I'd just eat these things without tasting them. So keeping foods around that trigger these behaviors can be harmful especially in the start of the journey. A few things I can have in the company of others though (Pizza,for example, where there are lots of people and I know I will share the pie and only have a certain portion).
I take my small victories. I open takeout menus like pizza hut and close them. I put in my order, and stop myself. I have become more mindful of my actions and I think that was a big key for me - be mindful of what I am doing and do things with diligence. When eating slow down and be mindful of the food in your mouth and the action of chewing, the complex layers of flavor, textures etc.
I haven't had an actual binge in about a month now. It's been a long road though and I've battled this for a while throughout my childhood and early adulthood (I'm 25 now). I've had cheat days and splurge days but I haven't BINGED on anything.
I wish you good luck, OP!0 -
I've always had problems binge eating. I weighed 310 lbs. at my heaviest, and and got down to 165 at my lowest. This morning I was at about 178 lbs. I've taken up running and was feeling pretty good about myself, but I just went on a huge binge eating spree. I do it all the time. I'll do really well all week, and then I'll binge about 5000 calories in one day, and it'll take me all week to lose it again. Why do I do this? If anyone has any advice to help me stop binge eating, I would be so grateful. Is there anyone I can go talk to, like a psychologist, to stop this? I really don't want to gain all of the weight back, but I've slowly been gaining weight for the past two months! I used to have so much will power, but now I feel like I'll never be able to get back to the really determined woman I used to be.
Maybe you're afraid of losing weight because you will face a new life. I've never binged, but 20 years ago I had panic attacks for a 2-week period. This sounds like a form of panic attack.
What are your thoughts and feelings right before you binge?
Can you observe them and write them down?
Separate yourself from your feelings and thoughts and just observe in a non-judgmental way..
You know how bad you feel when you have the flu, but you know it will pass? These thoughts and feelings will pass, too.
Finally, I would try to find a friend I could call at all hours and call them when you think it's going to happen. Do something different i the middle of the panic attack and you will begin to change it.0
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