I'm a binge eater... how do I stop?

What helps me, is exercising in the morning. By getting my workout out of the way, when I feel like cheating or binging out I think to myself: "Do I really want to completely undo everything I did this morning? what the hell did I bust my *kitten* for anyway?"
Or, I do things like look at a dress I'd like to wear for my birthday in 2 months, that I wouldn't dare try to wear now, and then realize that that cookie isn't friggin worth it, turning heads in that dress is worth all the hard work!

That usually is enough motivation for me to stay on track.

whose the arthur for the book "Think and Grow Thin"

I struggle with this too.. infact ive gained 4lbs this week just from binging! it seems when i start eating i cant stop i neither feel hungry or full i just wanna stuff my face! Its very annoying and i feel so guilty at my weight gain but yet even today i was grazing on sweets! Some tips i use that do work unless im on a serious rampage.. green tea or water! Painting my nails, going for a walk, or stick on a dvd in a room with no food to munch on!

I can be amazing at eating well for so long. Weeks of healthy balanced eating.

Then one teenie tiny slip up, like a handful of doritos at lunch can send me into a downward spiral.

I don't know how to prevent this from happening. I have always struggled with binge eating and I have yet to find a way to stop. Anyone do this? Or have advice for me?

I have struggled with binge eating too - it falls into two categories for me 1) I binge because my diet is too restrictive 2) There is some emotion that I am uncomfortable with, and I try to comfort myself/block it out with food.

The answer to 1) has been to make sure I am eating enough, frequently enough. A nutritionist recommended I eat every 4 hours while I am awake and to be careful around foods that are too easily swallowed. It takes about 20 mins for the message to get back to your brain that you're full. So, I have foods I like, say macaroni and cheese, but I will add broccoli or something else that requires more chewing, so that I naturally slow down. A handful of Doritos will not impact your weight loss efforts - why not find a way to incorporate the things you like into your meal plans? I myself just had a fluffernutter for breakfast, because I have been craving it. I bought some bread that comes in small slices to help keep the calories down.

The answer to 2) has been more elusive and I continue to work on that. There is a workbook called Food and Feelings that I think is great. http://www.amazon.com/The-Food-Feelings-Workbook-Emotional/dp/0936077204 I also like books by Geneen Roth who writes about emotional eating.

A therapist recommended planning out some activity that I will consciously turn to when I feel distressed - it could be a walk, playing/pounding clay, getting out my Dover coloring books and colored pencils, anything. We make our lives very flat when we use food to solve all our problems.

I also try to learn from a binge - just be curious "Gee, I notice I am not eating mindfully...I wonder why?" Sometimes I can trace back to where I started feeling distressed. Making a mistake is not the end of the world - it really is an opportunity to learn about yourself and what is going on in your head and heart.

:happy:

I do this too....some reason once i have a handful of something bad my brain thinks it's okay to keep eating more ¬.¬

Could you say a bit more about what you mean by bingeing? It means such different things to different people.

For me personally I define binge eating as times when you do things like grab those economy size - big bag of hershey kisses or bag of cookies at the store. When you get home you start with just a few and by the end of the evening you have finished off the entire bag. Same thing with cupcakes, ice cream, or caramels.

For some people it is the entire bag of chips. Or entire large pizzas. It is kind of like the mind shuts off the part that says you are full.
The only thing that works for me is to write down everything I eat and limit myself to the total calories recommended on MFP or exercise to get additional calories allowed.

I plan to have at least one sweet splurge during the week- such a scoop of custard at Culvers.

But once again limit the amount and access to the items that trigger me to go to excess.

Some things I have just had to keep out of the house even though other family members like them. Things such as cupcakes or doughnuts. Because one is never enough.

Hello, fellow binger here. Just reading a few posts thru and thought i should chime in.

IMO, sometimes binging happens, and that is why alot of us here are here in the first place. It is very hard to break long standing habits, so don't beat yourself up if you do happen to binge.

My advice is just to try and start a new day fresh, don't weigh yourself for a few days after, and get back to the good habits that you are trying to establish.

Good luck everyone