Mfp causing binge eating?

Double post

MFP is not the problem. It sounds like it is time to reflect on your own behaviors.

This question made me examine myself. I would've said that mfp made me more "aware" of my eating and exercise habits. But after self-examination, I believe that I have become "obsessed" since using mfp. I think it's especially those charts...I check my weight graph daily to see the trends. But while "obsessed" I am....I like having this tool keeping me in check with myself. I think if I did not use it, I would not be able to monitor myself properly.

Besides, the encouragement I get from reading various posts is something great. I'd rather use it than go back to where I was before. Binge eating...I can't say that I've experienced that...but I do reward myself for my hard work.

Just to clarify- I'm not saying mfp is the problem! I know it's me, I was wondering if this tool effected other peoples behaviours and thoughts, feelings over food/body/image.

So my straight answer would be: YES

I don't think it's MFP causing your binging. I'm pretty sure it's your very low, borderline unhealthy weight that's causing your binging. Your body is fighting for survival.

I have a separate account for logging but after another binge I feel I want to explore if any one else has found mfp at first a blessing and then a curse?!
I honestly don't remember ever binge eating until I started mfp 3 months ago. I was obsessed with diet before but using mfp has only made me focus on it more! Now I did want and do want to lose a few vanity pounds, my bmi wavers between 18.5-19. When I started mfp got to my goal weight, which was bmi 18.5 and my god I felt fab and looked amazing. But. It was not really sustainable.It was really hard work. Anyway I don't want to ramble on with me me me, I'm wondering if people consider giving up mfp just to get on with their lives more easily.

I totally concur. I had never experienced binges until I joined MFP. However, I'm of the opinion that the problem was down to me setting a target weight that was just too low for me to maintain. Although in theory this new weight band did not push me into under-weight territory, I just felt frequently drained and would often consume huge amounts of sugary foods late in the evening. Recently I have been deliberately gaining some pounds and my maintenance target weight has increased from about 123 to 128lbs. So far this figure has been much easier to stick with and as of today no further binges have occurred.

I feel like not enough attention is being drawn to trying to find out what exactly is the cause of "binge" eating.

We're about the same height (sort of, I'm just shy of 5'4'') yet I weigh 122 lbs and I eat less calories in a day than you do and I also exercise about 4 times a week, but rarely do I ever binge. And to be honest, I wouldn't call what I do binging (really just my bf and I going out and buying a bag of candy or chips on a Saturday night. That's not me going crazy and eating thousands of extra calories, it's just one "free" night).

There's a chance that some people are right. Maybe your body is craving some other nutrient that you're either not giving to it at all, or you're not giving enough. For example, I NEED protein in every meal or else I will be so hungry 2 - 3 hours later.

But at the same time maybe that's not your issue. I've found that MFP has made me realize that I can get a bit OCD about certain things and I become too focused on them, like with tracking my exercise. There are days where I force myself not to exercise because I need to reaffirm that taking a couple rest days is good for my body and that it won't kill me or make me gain weight. It's very hard but I recognize that I have a problem and I am trying my best to be proactive about it.

Perhaps you have a similar issue. Maybe tracking what you eat so rigorously has triggered a more obsessive part of you and you become so focused while you're doing it but then at the same time you feel so guilty about it because you know that you shouldn't be that way so your brain is telling you to "eat more eat more eat more" so you just go and do it.

I never struggled with binge eating until I started using MFP either. Yes, I had times where I would overeat (that's how I got here!) but never before did I deliberately go out of my way to buy thousands of calories worth of food to then eat in one sitting.

I don't know why it happened; maybe it's the 'all or nothing' logic that MFP seems to give us. As soon as you see the red you think "*kitten* it" for the day and try and make the most of it, eating everything you could possibly be craving, before going back to sticking to the green and the deficit.

I'm not logging anymore, and just using MFP for the social side of things.

Perhaps you should have a plan on what do you when you see that red line that is more constructive--like take a walk, or bike, or some other enjoyable exercise. In the long run that would be more conducive to getting into shape and feeling good about yourself.