I can't stop binging!
Always_running_shoes
Posts: 12
Hi!
I know that I have a problem, but I can't find a way to get control. The last week I have been binging almost everyday. In the last week I have gained three (3) pounds, and I am feeling so nervous and upset! I cannot get control and I generally eat about 1800 calories a day (as a way to maintain), but with binging... I am eating close to 2500-3000 calories per day.
Any help would appreciated!
I know that I have a problem, but I can't find a way to get control. The last week I have been binging almost everyday. In the last week I have gained three (3) pounds, and I am feeling so nervous and upset! I cannot get control and I generally eat about 1800 calories a day (as a way to maintain), but with binging... I am eating close to 2500-3000 calories per day.
Any help would appreciated!
0
Replies
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has something changed in your life? are you an emotional eater? what is happening to make you run for the food? if you can find the underlying cause you will be that much closer to controlling it.0
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has something changed in your life? are you an emotional eater? what is happening to make you run for the food? if you can find the underlying cause you will be that much closer to controlling it.
I am having a lot of anxiety about family stuff and school stuff too!0 -
Perhaps, for you, WHAT you eat matters. It did for me. Bingeing is not always psychological, in fact, I'm not sure that it ever is.0
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Change the language. You "won't" stop eating. Own EVERYTHING you put into your mouth as being a choice you made. The moment you think you "can't" stop binging is the moment that binging becomes something out of your control, and thus something that's almost forced on you against your will. That is a lie. It's the kind of lie we tell ourselves to make it easier to be irresponsible about our choices.
You are eating because, on some level, you want to eat.0 -
Dig deep and figure it out.0
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DRINK MORE WATER!!!! Have water before and after your meals and snacks. No sodas! Water water and more water! It is the cure! Honestly, I am a living witness! lol! Just try it for one day and see the results for yourself!0
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I do this as well but it call them mini binges (usually not totaling more than 200-300 calories. I've found that when I start the binge I am consciously starting it and have a hard time stopping it. So now when I start on a binge I ask myself first am I really hungry and if the answer is no, I grab water. If the answer is yes I make a snack and walk away from the kitchen.0
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Thanks for all the comments and suggestions! I am trying to own this behavior and make it clear to myself that I CAN STOP. I will stop, it is just hard because I deal with the all or nothing mentality so much! It is a real problem.0
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DRINK MORE WATER!!!! Have water before and after your meals and snacks. No sodas! Water water and more water! It is the cure! Honestly, I am a living witness! lol! Just try it for one day and see the results for yourself!
True binge eating will not be cured by glasses of water. I speak from experience having suffered both binge eating and bulimia. Most binge eating issues, if not all, stem from emotional or psychological issues and water is not a cure for those.0 -
I noticed that when got off the sugar and flour I don't binge. It's very hrd the first few days but it really works.
Good luck to you.0 -
Change the language. You "won't" stop eating. Own EVERYTHING you put into your mouth as being a choice you made. The moment you think you "can't" stop binging is the moment that binging becomes something out of your control, and thus something that's almost forced on you against your will. That is a lie. It's the kind of lie we tell ourselves to make it easier to be irresponsible about our choices.
You are eating because, on some level, you want to eat.
This.
Also, read the book "Brain over Binge"
It's helpful0 -
To the OP,
Find another way to deal with your stress, whether it be a good extra workout, a hot bath, yoga, talking, writing about it etc.
Also, be sure you are eating enough for your activity level.
I highly doubt those 3 Ibs are genuine fat gain. It is more likely most of it is from glycogen and water, especially if the foods you have been binging on are of the more processed variety. I used to binge on up to 5000 calories. It took me 2 months to gain 14Ibs.
An active person could easily maintain on 2500 to 3000, to put it into perspective.
Nevertheless, explore the source of your splurges and try and develop some mindfulness while you are doing it.0 -
Change the language. You "won't" stop eating. Own EVERYTHING you put into your mouth as being a choice you made. The moment you think you "can't" stop binging is the moment that binging becomes something out of your control, and thus something that's almost forced on you against your will. That is a lie. It's the kind of lie we tell ourselves to make it easier to be irresponsible about our choices.
You are eating because, on some level, you want to eat.
This.
Figuring out why you're bingeing, owning it, and figuring out alternative ways that will work for you to deal with the issues are the key. For example, if it's stress, then give yourself non-food alternatives that can help you manage the stress (watch a TV show you like, write it out, read a book, exercise, whatever). If it's because you are cutting so dramatically back you are always hungry, read the good guides here (like the path to sexypants one and in place of a road map) and get a more realistic calorie goal and eating plan. Etc and so on.
You have control over your life.0 -
We're all just here trying to heal the pain inside.
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DRINK MORE WATER!!!! Have water before and after your meals and snacks. No sodas! Water water and more water! It is the cure! Honestly, I am a living witness! lol! Just try it for one day and see the results for yourself!
True binge eating will not be cured by glasses of water. I speak from experience having suffered both binge eating and bulimia. Most binge eating issues, if not all, stem from emotional or psychological issues and water is not a cure for those.
Correct. You may be simply overeating. True binging, however, is a release method like cutting. It's a form of self-harm and self-medication (I used to binge to make myself pass out). I am in recovery for both BED and bulimia, but they ruled my life for 30+years. If you are just eating too much, I would say listen to the other comments, but if you are binging to ease emotional pain, like a drinker drinks, or a person cuts, then you should explore cognitive and behavioral modifications as this poster suggests. Take your mind off of it by doing something you like for 30-60 minutes and learn to become comfortable with the discomfort of not being able to release emotional pain thru physical expression.
I eat 2500 calories plus every day to maintain. Do you run a lot as your profile pic suggest?0 -
my heart goes out to you because i go through the same thing. I've too suffered from all or nothing attitude. my binges have gone so far out of control that i would keep going daily with bad habbits till within 3 months i've gained a solid 50 lbs. then i would lose it...then a year later go through the same thing...gain 50 n lose it. it was a bad two years. i finally talked to a professional. it didnt take many sessions and i learned so much i felt confident to continue life without the help. My problem is that i focus so much on what i've just done to myself with all the eating and how horrible i feel. the worse i feel, the more i eat. a good way to see things now....is dont focus on what you've already done. its in the past. there is nothing you can do about it. change how you handle your future and go from there. baby steps. after binging the worst you can do is start a fresh day only eating 500 calories or less like some people think will help. you will be back where you started...binging. good luck to you! you're not alone. I'm better with the help i've received, but unfortunatly i will ALWAYS have a battle with binge eating.
and for the lady who said her binging is 200-300 calories...thats not binging. thats a damn cookie. "treating yourself" and "binging" should not be confused.0 -
Change the language. You "won't" stop eating. Own EVERYTHING you put into your mouth as being a choice you made. The moment you think you "can't" stop binging is the moment that binging becomes something out of your control, and thus something that's almost forced on you against your will. That is a lie. It's the kind of lie we tell ourselves to make it easier to be irresponsible about our choices.
You are eating because, on some level, you want to eat.
This.
Also, read the book "Brain over Binge"
It's helpful
I didn't really like Brain Over Binge in the spectrum of books that I've read but it does make a good point that every time you do it, you are hard wiring your brain into the habit.
I would also suggest reading "Intuitive Eating" and "Overcoming Binge Eating." Sometimes counting calories can even trigger more binging. Restriction is often a precursor to the development of Binge Eating Disorder.0 -
You can only control yourself, not what or who is around you. Do the best you can. I find that distraction is an excellent tool. When an urge hits I go do something: walk the dog, clean out a closet, or complete some task I'm probably dreading. Bottom line though is you have to find out what works for you.0
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There is a really great book written by two Harvard psychologists Kegan and Leahy called "Immunity to Change". I would recommend checking it out. It outlines a framework for helping you get un-stuck with lots of things, including disordered eating.
As someone else said, on some level, you want to eat. Probably because in the moment it makes you feel good or you think it helps you manage stress.
You have two (or more) competing priorities - binging on the one hand and all that you think that gives you....and then on the other hand, normalized eating. You want both things but the binging is winning out because you believe it is serving some purpose (stress relief, calmness, satisfaction, companionship, security, whatever it is) that something else can't give you. But if you challenge your thinking about it, there are probably lots of other things that could give you what binging gives you.
Working with a psychologist who can help guide you away from your black and white, perfectionist thinking, would be the best thing, if you can swing it.0 -
and for the lady who said her binging is 200-300 calories...thats not binging. thats a damn cookie. "treating yourself" and "binging" should not be confused.
:laugh: I peed a little laughing at this0 -
Change the language. You "won't" stop eating. Own EVERYTHING you put into your mouth as being a choice you made. The moment you think you "can't" stop binging is the moment that binging becomes something out of your control, and thus something that's almost forced on you against your will. That is a lie. It's the kind of lie we tell ourselves to make it easier to be irresponsible about our choices.
You are eating because, on some level, you want to eat.
This.
Also, read the book "Brain over Binge"
It's helpful
I didn't really like Brain Over Binge in the spectrum of books that I've read but it does make a good point that every time you do it, you are hard wiring your brain into the habit.
I would also suggest reading "Intuitive Eating" and "Overcoming Binge Eating." Sometimes counting calories can even trigger more binging. Restriction is often a precursor to the development of Binge Eating Disorder.
This is the only one I've read on the topic, it was suggested by one of my friends here who has had similar issues.
I found it helpful. As did she (obviously lol).
You're actually the first person I've encountered who didn't like it, if you don't mind PMing me why (so I don't further hijack the thread) I'd like to hear it...0 -
and for the lady who said her binging is 200-300 calories...thats not binging. thats a damn cookie. "treating yourself" and "binging" should not be confused.
<3s for you.
I never use the word "binge" now because people here have determined that a binge = 200-300 calories.
And it's not true and it bothers me. So I just avoid the word.0 -
I have my spells when I do the same thing. I find its easier if I stop focusing on what I wish I was eating and find something else to do. My husband and I recently did a three day juice cleanse. Now it supposed to be nothing but juice for those three days, well for me that's in possible. .So we decided that we would eat a light dinner instead and it worked out perfectly. But the biggest thing I got from the cleanse, was the relization that half the time I'm bored and just eating to be busy. When I would crave something I would find something else to do. So when I felt like sitting down and eating all the cookies in jar, I would go for a walk instead. Most of the time, when you want to binge its because you've been restricting yourself and you're bored. Start writing down what you were doing when you started to binge and that should help pinpoint the triggers
Hope this helps
Jenny0 -
I have been the same way lately.0
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me too!!! :laugh:and for the lady who said her binging is 200-300 calories...thats not binging. thats a damn cookie. "treating yourself" and "binging" should not be confused.
:laugh: I peed a little laughing at this0 -
You might have more of a momentum problem than a binging problem.
Negative momentum = not being able to stop eating when you want (for days on end)
Positive momentum = being able to consistently say "no" when you need to (day after day)
That's how it has worked for me over the past 2.5 years. Right now, I'm on a streak of positive momentum (after a negative streak in which I gained back almost 20 of the 37 pounds I had lost). What changed it for me was killing negative mo and building positive mo. I've lost almost seven of the 20 over the past month with this principle.
Specifically, here are two things I have done:
1. Track EVERYTHING - all of the binging needs to get recorded in MFP so that you can see EXACTLY what you are doing to yourself. This is the best way for me to kill the negative momentum because if I don't track, then I tend to minimize how bad the problem is. Seeing the REAL numbers - that I actually did eat 2700 calories instead of 1500 - is a wake up call, plus I realize that I could cut to 2000 without that much difficulty - which is a step in the right direction.
2. Decide to tough it out for just two or three days. That's your goal - not losing the 20 you gained back. Stay under your (reasonable) calorie goal no matter how hard it gets. This is what builds positive momentum. If you fail (which you will), start again tomorrow. Once I get a few days of "in control" going, it is so much easier to keep the streak going.
Hope this is helpful. Best of luck!0 -
^^^^
First of all, I this so much. I'm going to add that to my arsenal today.
I've had a few things that have helped to strike a chord, maybe they will help someone else with the choice/mindset issue.
Similar to AA, I think it is, is the HALT acronym: Hungry, Angry, Lonely, Tired. Which of these reasons is the reason in the moment that you're choosing to eat.
If you're really hungry, that's fine. But, as another wise person said, "If hunger's not the problem, eating's not the answer."
I've been able to defer a few trigger foods lately with these two thoughts, too: 1) Would I be willing to exercise more to burn the XXX calories of that food choice? Is it that worth it? If so, when will I fit that in today so I can use this treat and eat back calories.
2) If I'm so hungry, I should be wiling to eat some chopped veggies, right? No? Not appealing? Again, maybe hunger's not my problem.0 -
This is excellent advice. For some people, just disrupting the compulsion to eat (or cut, or whatever) for a little while can be really helpful. If 20-30 minutes seems like too much, start with the first minute. Set the timer on your phone for 60 seconds, then just sit and breathe and not binge for a minute. If it's telling you to START RIGHT NOW, tell it you can start when the minute's up. Then set the timer for another minute. Walk into the next room, walk outside, just breathe, whatever works.Correct. You may be simply overeating. True binging, however, is a release method like cutting. It's a form of self-harm and self-medication (I used to binge to make myself pass out). I am in recovery for both BED and bulimia, but they ruled my life for 30+years. If you are just eating too much, I would say listen to the other comments, but if you are binging to ease emotional pain, like a drinker drinks, or a person cuts, then you should explore cognitive and behavioral modifications as this poster suggests. Take your mind off of it by doing something you like for 30-60 minutes and learn to become comfortable with the discomfort of not being able to release emotional pain thru physical expression.0 -
best book i found for emotional eating is beck diet solution. its not a diet its cognitive behavior towards changing your relationship with food.. it deals with emotional eating, not wanting to ex, food pushers.. its just a well rounded mental book towards food and day to day living with issues.
get rid of the word can''t unless your physically unable to do something like because i have ra i CANT do a push up.. it doesnt stop me from trying, im stubborn .. cant doesn't exist in my vocabulary... binging is emotional.. you have to get to the bottom of whats making you binge and slowly make healthy changes.. it wont be easy, but nothing worth while ever is.
first change is believing you can stop because you can. change your mind and the rest will follow.. so much truth in that.0 -
a motto i live by is food= fuel not comfort.. no exceptions.. if your eating because of FLAB frustrated, lonely,angry or, bored.. than you need to stop, think, than chose.. distract yourself . exercise, call a friend.. if your not hungry food is not a solution.. you will only feel worse after you binge.0
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