Thought process during a binge

funkygas · March 2014

Yesterday I binged for the first time in ages. I don't know why - I had a great day in terms of emotions and eating - granola and Greek yoghurt for breakfast, 1.5 sushi rolls for lunch, peach and carrots and celery for snacks. I had a reasonable dinner (egg and veggie muffins), with some leftover cheesecake and cookies for dessert - all within a reasonable calorie allowance. And then I wanted to make some cookie dough with some leftover peanut butter and raisins (thanks to a recipe from Chocolate Covered Katie). The whole recipe as written is about 500 calories, so eating it all wouldn't have been great, but not a train-smash. But then I decided to make more than one batch as I had too many leftover raisins, but I was totally planning on making them into little balls and putting them in the fridge for later.

But then, I realised that there were some pits in the mixture that hadn't been removed prior to the sale of the dried fruit mixture I was using. I thought that if I was to share these cookie dough balls and someone got some of these shell fragments, they could do serious damage. So I started poking around with my spoon, eating some and trying to find the other fragments. I got to a point where I started to feel crook, but thought there was only a few more spoonfuls left, so I might as well finish it all.

And then I got a migraine and my stomach felt pretty terrible. The cookie dough was actually not too bad in terms of nutrition - just peanut butter, dried fruit, a little cocoa and vanilla (until I added some peanut butter chips), but no added sugar. It was just way too much for me. I slept terribly during the night, and my stomach basically rejected most of it this morning (sorry if TMI!).

I still have a migraine, but will forge through the day today. I thought it was interesting how I tried to rationalise my eating during the binge moments - looking back I realise I was stupid and could have made so many different choices.

I'd love to hear your thoughts on your experiences, and this experience for me as well!

SezxyStef · March 2014

to me that wasn't a binge...that was a purposeful conscious choice to eat what you did...

IMHO opinion you are using binging as your excuse when in fact it's more about knowing what your doing, knowing your doing it, knowing how to prevent it and choosing not to.

This seems to be a pattern for you...you say you know how to stop it...ie call your husband...or have your kids come help you but you don't want to do what you need to do...you want the cookie dough to yourself...

And this may sound harsh...grow up and stop making excuses for your eating. You sound like a teenager who wants instant gratification and knows what they are doing wrong but doesn't care...and will deal with the known consequences later.

Jkn921 · March 2014

I rarely ever binge but when I think I eat/drink lots of junk food (fast food, sweets, chocolate, drinks etc), I don't feel bad as it usually motivates me to eat cleaner the rest of the week as I only eat when I crave them which has reduced a lot compared to earlier times. I usually get cravings at certain times and honestly just fulfill them. They don't do much damage unless it's continuous which hasn't been the case for me so far, I can't stomach much junk food as I could before, makes my body feel terrible.

As for your situation, forgive yourself and move on

gypsy_spirit · March 2014

Yes, I have followed your recent posts, too. Not sure this would be considered a binge when you make the decision to eat the cookie dough, etc. for whatever reasons.

It would seem, in just what you have posted recently, that you bake a lot and then tend to eat a lot of what you bake - whether raw or cooked. Perhaps, for a while, you should curtail your baking. At least until you are strong enough to make the decision to not overeat.

Multiple posts about the same kinds of incidents means you are not listening or trying to implement any of the strategies. It's ALL about the choices YOU make.

funkygas · March 2014

Ok, so maybe I shouldn't have called it a binge. It was definitely eating more than I needed to ... let's leave it at that.

I guess I just found it interesting to recall my thought processes during the time - most advice I've read recommends looking at the emotions and feelings during such a time (binging, overeating, whatever) and see if you can identify what's going on. Maybe I just like cookie dough and say 'to heck with the consequences'? Maybe I just don't want to lose those last few kg (I'm 58kg this morning, I would like to be just below 57kg).

Maybe I just don't care enough and trying to label it or justify it is my way of ignoring the fact that losing and maintaining weight is just plain and simple hard work ...

SonicDeathMonkey80 · March 2014

Sounds like you ate what you wanted. To me, a true binge is where one would black out and just utterly destroy food without any remorse and then go back for more. Stuff happens. It's how you recover that matters.

PhearlessPhreaks · March 2014

It would seem, in just what you have posted recently, that you bake a lot and then tend to eat a lot of what you bake - whether raw or cooked. Perhaps, for a while, you should curtail your baking. At least until you are strong enough to make the decision to not overeat.

This, OP. I have a similar problem- I love to bake, and I daresay I'm damn good at it. But, I also eat a lot of what I make- too much, in fact. So, even though I have a few delicious recipe ideas to try, I'm holding off. It's frustrating, but it's worh it.

funkygas · March 2014

This, OP. I have a similar problem- I love to bake, and I daresay I'm damn good at it. But, I also eat a lot of what I make- too much, in fact. So, even though I have a few delicious recipe ideas to try, I'm holding off. It's frustrating, but it's worh it.

Yep, I find that baking helps to relax me. I realise that I need to find something else to do that doesn't involve food ... I'm going to try to not bake anything for the rest of this week, and go back to logging (I took a month or so off recently), and see how I go.

mamahannick · March 2014

Come up with strategies to prevent overeating or binging. Literally write them down on paper. Know the things that trigger you, and either avoid them like the plague or find a way to conquer them.

If being alone triggers you, spend time with family during those times.

If baking triggers you, cut bake on baking. Or chew gum while you do it. Things taste funny if you eat them directly after something with a strong minty flavor.

If certain foods trigger you, either don't bring them in the house in the first place or portion them out into individual servings and only have one serving.

Etc, etc. Be proactive and brainstorm how you can prevent these things from happening. I constantly have to remind myself that I am in control of my body, I am in control of making my hands stop picking up the junk food and stuffing it in my mouth. Just last night I took some homemade peanut butter cookies out of the baggy they were in and was thinking about how I could slather them with extra peanut butter, sprinkle on a bunch of chocolate chips, pop in the microwave for a bit, and go to town. The thing is I'd already enjoyed a cookie earlier in the evening and wasn't the slightest bit hungry. So, after staring at the cookies for a few minutes, I made myself put them back in the bag and went to bed. That was HUGE for me, and it's because I have been a broken record recently telling myself I am the only one who can fix this problem I'm struggling with.

SezxyStef · March 2014

It would seem, in just what you have posted recently, that you bake a lot and then tend to eat a lot of what you bake - whether raw or cooked. Perhaps, for a while, you should curtail your baking. At least until you are strong enough to make the decision to not overeat.

This, OP. I have a similar problem- I love to bake, and I daresay I'm damn good at it. But, I also eat a lot of what I make- too much, in fact. So, even though I have a few delicious recipe ideas to try, I'm holding off. It's frustrating, but it's worh it.

I love to bake/cook and I am good at it too.

I make the most decadent desserts, pies, stews etc...all the time...corn bread up the wazoo..

I take the recipes and put in the data base and eat a serving or half a serving when I want it....I stay under my calorie goals as well.

Loving to bake has nothing to do with weight loss...ah look at Gordon Ramsey he's fit and is a great chef.

This is about doing what you want when you want regardless of the consequences....

To the OP you know how to stop eating the cookie dough..you get your kids to help but you say no you don't want to because then you can't eat all you want...so instead of doing a fun family activity you selfishly keep your kids out of the kitchen so you can eat the cookie dough...really??? I stand by my original post.

Instant gratification regardless...

ETA: regardless of your emotions while doing it you admit you do it because you want so that is bogus as well.

funkygas · March 2014

I love to bake/cook and I am good at it too.

I make the most decadent desserts, pies, stews etc...all the time...corn bread up the wazoo..

I take the recipes and put in the data base and eat a serving or half a serving when I want it....I stay under my calorie goals as well.

Loving to bake has nothing to do with weight loss...ah look at Gordon Ramsey he's fit and is a great chef.

This is about doing what you want when you want regardless of the consequences....

To the OP you know how to stop eating the cookie dough..you get your kids to help but you say no you don't want to because then you can't eat all you want...so instead of doing a fun family activity you selfishly keep your kids out of the kitchen so you can eat the cookie dough...really??? I stand by my original post.

Instant gratification regardless...

ETA: regardless of your emotions while doing it you admit you do it because you want so that is bogus as well.

Obviously you have learnt how to do this with self-control. I applaud you and strive to be like you.

By the way, often the kids have helped me in the kitchen, and we have a great time together. Just this weekend I spent a great time with my daughter preparing a nice Sunday lunch together. I know it's all a mental game and I know it's all about instant gratification. I know all this in my head ... I am now committed to working on the actions.

I won't post any more on here about binging or overeating ... hopefully because it won't happen again and I'll get my brain, and body, under control.

getinmabelly · March 2014

I agree that, if this is a regular occurrence, a little self reflection is needed. But that is, of course, easier said than done - especially when reaching for the self-raising after a hard day.

I too bake - but I just had to knock baking cakes and biscuits on the head, as the fella just doesn't eat the resultant cakes quick enough, so I do instead. To get around that, I've started baking bread for me to eat throughout the week. I didn't really know how to make bread until a couple of months ago, but looked up trusted Delia Online for a recipe, and gave it a go. I now get my baking fix every weekend when I make bread for the week ahead. That way, I get my baking fix, which is a nice prolonged baking fix as I have to wait for the proving and rising, but I also know it's not sweet, and it's got to last me the week - so I don't go mad eating it when I'm done.

I'm not saying it's the absolute solution - and we all have our go-to actions when we're a little low on self-discipline - particularly when motivation is ebbing. But it is a suggestion to give you the baking fix, but without the temptation to indulge on the end product (or, indeed, while you're mixing it - bread dough - yugh!)

sue_langley · March 2014

you say it has been a while since you binged, let me guess about 28 days : )
I over eat sweets and carbs every 28 days, for a couple of days, and I know I'm doing it and I really don't seem to care but then my periods start and I'm a clean eater once again and I eat clean again till the next cycle. I've lost weight and that's what matters, a few days a month of overdoing it hasn't hurt me. I started taking supplements to help with that so I'm hoping I will care a little more next cycle.

Thought process during a binge

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