Let's support each other and stop binge eating...

I have decided that certain foods are trigger foods for me that can send me into a binge. I try to avoid them altogether because I'm tired of being held captive by food. I've decided I want to be in control. There is actual science that talks about the addictiveness of sugar, foods high in carbs, and foods high in fat. They actually cause a chemical reaction in the brain that blocks leptin, which is the hormone that tells us we are full. So we keep eating these foods until we are sick. For me foods that are high in sugar, starchy vegetables, and high simple carb foods are triggers for me. I have learned to enjoy foods that are good for me and rich in nutrients and I really don't miss the junk food that much anymore. It's a decision you have to make and find alternatives to eat when you are eating out or at a party where junk food may be the only choices. I bring my own healthy food to the party. I look at the menus ahead of time before going out to eat and decide what I'm going to order. Chocolate candy is a huge trigger for me, as are cake, pie and cookies. I have found healthy alternatives and they never cause me to binge. (I'm not talking about sugar free chocolate candy, etc.) I'm talking about something sweet that has loads of nutrients in it. When you give your body what it needs, you eventually won't miss the junk.

I'm up for the challenge I'm the classic binger same as you eat till it hurts just get angry at myself and night time is the worst for me!!

Thanks for this group, I really needed some help with binge eating (and beating myself up over it after).

my one piece of advise which that book will help you to understand. is in order to stop binging you need to understand why you are binging in the first place. and its not because you like food so much.

I'm a binge eater and I'm on day 3 of a binge... This is the worst binge I've had since I started here 5 months ago. I'm 15 kgs or 33 pounds down since starting and feel like I'm about to blow the lot. I'd love to be part of a group that explores this subject. I want to establish my triggers and develop strategies to see a binge coming and divert away from it or if that fails once in the binge have a strategy that works for stopping it or hopping off the cycle. I'm up for any suggestions at this point..

Hello:D I am in too~ I want to get rid of thing binge eating habit once and for all. Have been trying so hard.

beamer0821 wrote: »

my one piece of advise which that book will help you to understand. is in order to stop binging you need to understand why you are binging in the first place. and its not because you like food so much.

That's a great advice! I've been binge free since last September. Reaching out and then taking the time to understand what happened and why really helped me understand my triggers. Taking responsability is the first step. Taking action is the second! I set a few safeguards that became habits to make sure I don't fall prey to binge eating. There are healthier ways to handle my emotions and I feels so much better for it.

I'm in on this, really struggling at the moment so support would be seriously appreciated!

The book is a great recommendation - I'm reading it now. I had a terrible 4-day binge at the end of April (so bad my feet and legs were swollen) and decided I had to make a change. I'm not overweight, but I definitely struggle with the binge/restrict cycle and it's so damaging, both mentally and physically. I haven't had a binge all May so far, and this is huge for me. One of the things that I think has helped is that I stopped weighing myself. I'd see the number on the scale go down and decide for some reason that I should eat ALL the food.

Another thing that helps is that realizing once you eat something that makes you go over your planned calories all is not lost. It's far better to be 100 calories over from eating an extra piece of chocolate than to say "Oh, well I've messed up already. Might as well eat ALL the chocolate before I don't let myself tomorrow"

I disagree though with not allowing yourself to have triggers. That's one of the things she talks about a lot in the book. When you mark a food as not allowed, you sometimes just end up wanting it more. I bought all the foods I typically binge on (in amounts far greater than I can consume in one sitting - also recommended in the book) and it's been so empowering to know that they're available but that I have the willpower to avoid them. When I decide that I want them (and this has to be a conscious choice), I can work them in. Not allowing myself to have them gives the food just as much power over me as when I'm deep in a binge devouring them. Totally understand that this doesn't work for everybody, but it has really helped me.

This isn't about food, it's much deeper than that and therefore harder to beat. It's also hard to talk about, so kudos to all of you trying to make a change and not being afraid to admit there's a problem. Good luck, I'm right there with you!

I'm in!