Binge eating!!! Any advice

I just have to keep the trigger foods out of the house...cookies, candy, ice cream, chips. Out of sight, out of mind....mostly. I feel keeping the junk food out of the house has weened me off my sugar addiction.

I now work out when I feel like bored eating which used to be after work. Now after work I get on the treadmill and crank up the music and the urges to eat are gone.

What about a hobby of some sort in place of when you'd binge? I got into painting last year and it kept me busy and my mind off eating.

Maybe look into OverEaters Annonymous.

Binge eating is a disorder! I have a dear friend who also suffers from this. The first step is getting help from a professional to help deal with the issues that are causing you to binge. The second thing I would suggest is to find healthy alternative snack ideas for the night time. Fresh Veggies, veggie chips, rice crackers with almond butter etc. But remember too much of the healthy stuff isn't great for you either. MFP has great support group, find one for the binge eating. Understand you are not the only one who suffers from this disorder. See if you can get in to see a nutritionist and they will help you understand the food pyramid and give you the tools to make better choices. We eat to survive, not live to eat! Hope this helps! Good Luck. ~Brooke~

Hi! I've had trouble with this too, especially at night! One thing I've found is that if I allow myself to have what I want during the day I won't binge at night. That doesn't mean I eat a whole cake but If I have a nasty craving for chocolate I might allow myself one small slice and that will curb my cravings later. I found that if I deny myself my cravings all day then they become "uncontrollable" by night time but if I indulge a little - moderation, right?!- then I'll be muuuuuch less likely to binge at night because ive allowed myself to have a treat. I also try to keep myself a bit busier on rough days. I paint my nails, haha I know that sounds dumb, but I paint my nails because i cant binge with wet nails and if by the time my nails are dry I still want to have something I'll give myself a small - medium portion, but usually by the time they'r dry my cravings are curbed!
Good luck to you and way to go on starting this journey!

I struggle with this too but you can get a handle on it. First of all, figure out why you are binging (emotional , bored etc) and do something about it. Occupy yourself with other solutions (go for a walk, read, anything to keep you busy). Don't buy food that triggers binges. Have all your food at the table (not in front of the tv) and portioned out. If you really want more you need to get up and measure it out. Ask yourself if you really want this. For me, I need to stay out of the kitchen after dinner. Just being in there, I am compelled to open cabinets etc and eat. Post reminders in cabinets of your goals. Think of all the steps that it takes to binge (for example you buy cookies, you are bored, you grab bag in front of tv, you mindlessly eat the whole package) You can break that cycle at any one of those steps. Keeping healthy snacks is great but remember you can over indulge in them too.

My advice for binge eating is just don't do it. No, seriously.....

1) Figure out your triggers: boredom? stress? emotions? Seriously consider talking with a counselor to help you figure this out. It does help to be able to say to yourself "This is the kind of thing that would normally send me into a binge. What can I do instead?"

2) Calculate a reasonable calorie goal for YOU. Try the MFP setting, but remember that most people are only satisfied with that + a reasonable workout every day. Getting lots of nutritious food throughout the day will ensure that binge tendencies are emotional/mental, not your body trying to get proper nutrients.

3) I have to do a week or two of "rehab" when I start over again. For that time, my diet is entirely proteins and veggies. No grains and no fruits. (I follow phase one of South Beach, but the Mediterranean DIet and the Sonoma Diet have similar principles.) This can be miserable for the first few days if I have really been hitting the fries and pies. When they headaches stop and I start feeling better, I slowly add back occasional whole grains and fruit. Soon, I am also able to incorporate sweets by taking out a serving (or even a half serving) and sitting down to enjoy that. I am satisfied with that one serving and can trust myself not to go back again and again. If I slip, I log it. If I eat the whole thing, I don't buy that food again.

4) I have certain external triggers that I avoid like the plague, namely Wendy's and McDonald's. Just pulling up to one of those means that I am falling back into old habits. No matter how hungry I am, there are better choices around. Even I eat the same food someplace else, it doesn't have the same effect on me as those places. I have never put on substantial weight without being a frequent visitor of those establishments. Sure, I make other mistakes once I start down that path, like eating a whole pie in a day or two, but well, to each there own.