How do i stop binge eating

You need to talk to your doctor. He or she should be able to refer you to a specialist or treatment center that can help you with your issues.

Treatment is your best option to move forward. While you may find support and advice on the internet, nothing can compare to having a professional guide you.

Good luck on your recovery. :flowerforyou:

Don't keep "packages" of things at home. If you want a cookie, go to a bakery and get just one. Another thing you might try is challenging yourself, just for a short period of time (like 3 days) to only eat in public. Binging is a private act (trust me, I know) and you will be aware of people around you when you eat in public (they are probably not staring at you but you might feel as though they are) and this can help stop a binge.

I notice, when you list your binge foods, they are mostly starchy. Have you tried a lower carb diet? For people very sensitive to carbs, a starchy meal like beans and toast can set up an "I want more!" reaction.

Finally, another thing I have done when I have bad cravings and think I might binge is tell myself "Ok, it is 1:30 right now. I am going to wait twenty minutes and then, if I still want that food, I will have it then." Then I go off and do other things and, often, once I am truly distracted with another activity, I forget the craving.

Hope these ideas help

Also agree with talking to a doctor or specialist. You're not going to stop just because a few people on the message boards of mfp tell you to. Love yourself because you're #1 in your own life. You can do this!!

A therapist who specializes in eating disorders may be able to help you sort this out. They'll help you figure out if you have a problem or not and can help you go through your weight loss journey.

You don't have to do it alone.

You are not alone. I had/have such similar issues and I can very much relate.

Just a suggestion, I have recently read this book: "How to Have Your Cake and Your Skinny Jeans Too: Stop Binge Eating, Overeating and Dieting For Good Get the Naturally Thin Body You Crave From the Inside Out (Binge Eating Solution Book 1) " By Josie Spinardi. I got it on Amazon, read it over a few days, took notes and really let it sink in... The concepts very much clicked with me, I have re-read sections and I feel so, so much better about my relationship with food. A sigh of relief for me, it's opened my eyes SO much about WHAT/ WHEN/ WHY i'm bingeing. Once it really clicked with me, I felt I felt a shift inside and haven't had that urge to eat in that manner. It might not help everyone, but it helped me a lot so I wanted to share.

I second this book. After two decades of binge eating (I started as a kid), this book has been the first thing to help me make significant changes.

First of all, you have made a great first step by admitting that your eating is out of control and is making your life unmanageable. I am proud of you for reaching out for help.

I am in recovery for binge eating disorder. What helped me was narrowing down what foods can send me into a binge and then eliminating them. I'm not talking about eliminating them forever. I'm just talking about not eating them today. You can worry about tomorrow when tomorrow rolls around. The two things that will absolutely trigger a binge for me are sweets and potato chips. Today, I won't eat them. I don't know if I will eat them tomorrow; I can only think about today.

Another thing that has helped me is the concept of H.A.L.T. If I choose to eat outside of regular meals, I take a minute to stop and think about why I'm going to eat. Am I truly hungry?(That's the H.) Is my stomach rumbling? If it's not, I'm probably one of the other three things: Angry, Lonely, or Tired. If I'm angry, what works for me is walking or journaling. If I'm lonely, I try to get out of the house or text a friend. If I'm tired, I nap at the first opportunity (or go to bed, if it's past my bedtime).

I would also suggest looking into Overeaters Anonymous. Meetings are sometimes hard to find (they're not as abundant as AA meetings), but there are online options available. www.oa.org

Friend me if you'd like. I've been there.

I 100% agree with assessing, WHY am i eating ? Hungry? Angry ? Lonely? Tired ? , etc.
It makes you see... that such a huge % of eating is when you are not even hungry. that , in itself, is eye-opening.

However, "good" vs. "bad" foods, and being constantly on a restrictive "diet" are major root causes of binge eating.
In a binge, I could eat 20 things INSTEAD of eating the ONE thing I really wanted because I felt that one thing was "off limits". So competely avoiding foods you love will cause an increased, healthy obsession with dieting and food, all leading to binges.

Again, I'm referencing the book I mentioned ^ above.

As others have said, don't feel alone and don't beat yourself up if you aren't 100% perfect. it won't help.
if you need to talk to someone, seek help. There are ways to see this through, and when you realize that most of the problem is inside your mind , it becomes very much more manageable.

Good luck! Hang in there.

Bethany

It sounds really negative, but I've stopped myself (so far) from gorging by mentally saying any time I want extra "You're too fat to eat that". Then I try to fill up on water. Are you sure you're eating enough, period? If your body's in starvation mode it'll make you want to eat a lot. As for the biscuits, the reality may be to just stop buying "bad" foods and load your kitchen with healthy snacks, fruits and veg. That way when you're in a binge, you have no choice but to guzzle down apples.

This post breaks my heart. It *is* "really negative." How would you feel if your best friend or mother or significant other told you "you're too fat to eat that? How would you feel if a perfect stranger told you that? Certainly you deserve to treat yourself with at least as much dignity and respect as you'd expect from a complete stranger.

If it works for her, why not?

I second the 'not buying too many trigger foods'.

I'll add that I stop see saw eating when I eat properly to maintenance and include small amounts of treats.

I will be tough on myself though, like, nope, you're not going to be able to fit in those jeans, or run fast, if you eat that. Your *kitten* will get fat again. It's true. It will.

However, "good" vs. "bad" foods, and being constantly on a restrictive "diet" are major root causes of binge eating.
In a binge, I could eat 20 things INSTEAD of eating the ONE thing I really wanted because I felt that one thing was "off limits". So competely avoiding foods you love will cause an increased, healthy obsession with dieting and food, all leading to binges.

For you, maybe. And that's great if that works for you. In my case, this would absolutely NOT work. Would you ever tell an alcoholic,
"Well, just drink that beer if that's what you really want" or a drug addict, "Well, just shoot up that heroin if that's what you really want."? Telling someone like me to "just eat it if that's what you want," is exactly like giving an alcoholic a beer or a drug addict a crack pipe. Just like an alcoholic is physically and mentally unable to drink alcohol in moderation, I am physically and mentally unable to eat sweets in moderation. It is an issue of chemical imbalance, not an issue of "willpower." Perhaps for the OP, your method will work. However, please don't pooh-pooh the very REAL issue of being chemically addicted to certain foods.

Nope. You have one opinion. It is not based in fact. You're wrong, sorry.

The worse thing AA NA OA does us take away the power to learn moderation. It can be learned in the absence of physical dependancy. There is no proof at all of a physical dependancy on food.

I'm an ex binger/restrictor. I've learned moderation through eating sufficient calories and massive self control.

I'm not saying all eating disorders can be tamed like this, but mine was.

what can i do to help with this? i've gotten so desperate now. i used to eat 2000 calories a day so easy but i just snapped over night a few months back and i feel helpless.

You mentioned that you suffer from mental health problems. If you are already seeing a therapist, please open up to them about your struggle with this problem. If you are not seeing a therapist, please find one.

At the very least, find a trusted friend or family member to talk about this with. Hiding the shame of binging allows the cycle of emotional eating to continue. There are so many people out there who have been exactly where you are now. You don't have to go through this alone.

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Yes. Agree. ^ as to comparing food binge eating with drugs (alcohol included) --- AA, OA, NA., taking away the concept of moderation is what makes that person "never able to step foot near XYZ" we can't live our lives that way.
Bottom line, I can't rely on 100% willpower 24/ 7 - to give up over-eating., drugs, etc.
Deprivation and saying "off limits" is the very downfall of so many diets/ recoveries.
You have to battle the root cause. if you figure that out, you won't have to rely on saying "no"
... Wouldn't you love to say "no" to over-eating just because you simply DO NOT WANT to over eat ? And NOT because you are mentally/physically FORCING yourself to say "NO" ??

hi, i know where your coming from. i do exactly the same. this morning i went to the local bakery and had a sausage sandwich and a cake. then at lunch i had a pre-packed sandwich, gronola yogurt, a piece of cake and a monster energy drink. i've just had another piece of cake and for my tea i'm having shepherds pie that i will probably have chips and gravy with.
I think i'm going to have to start buying fruit instead of cake but i have such a sweet tooth i find it so hard to say no.
If you find a way forward please let me know

i never bring the package, box or carton of food when i want to eat - i bring a serving only. i found i couldn't stop eating when more food was right in front of me. and i haven't been able to have my favorite ice cream (dryer's slow churned moose tracks, no sugar) in the house, as it calls to me from the freezer

but what's worked for me (and it's been like a miracle) since may 1 is that i decided to let myself obsess about things. i love fitness equipment and cameras, and i read reviews, go see them at stores, i've done tons of comparisons and when i feel like eating just to eat, i have a single square of sees chocolate and sit down to research and read more about my passions. it's the first time i've been able to keep from binging in years.

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