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

beamer0821 wrote: »

good for you! read Breaking Free from Emotional/Compulsive Eating by Geneen Roth. she writes fantastic on the subject. and its a quick read. this book was a game changer for me.

This is an amazing book! It was such a relief to read...I finally realized "okay, I'm not crazy...other people have these issues....and they can be solved!"

This is my biggest issue

This is my first time posting I haven't seen much about binge eating and I'm always embarrassed to talk about it or admiting it. I think it's because in essence it works similar to how an addictions works in the brain. You feel bad one day or something happened that triggered a memory or stress and made you feel not so great and instead of going to drugs or alcohol to relieve your emotions we eat which triggers a huge release of dopamine not found in individuals that do not binge eat. Just the sight or smell of food triggers dopamine in people like us unlike others who do not have the same dopamine release response to food like people who binge eat. It's a long and hard battle but if you can realize your triggers, even be able to seek some counseling which is so helpful, try to catch yourself in the maladaptive thinking that food = pleasure (relief of stress, emotion etc) than it can be managed. I have even went so far to study this in school (I'm doing my PhD in Clinical Psychology) because I think it's something not that well understood especially scientifically even though so many people suffer from it.

Please add me as a friend I really would like to know more people who have similar experiences and support one another!

I'm in. I've gained 7 pounds this past month after working very hard to lose 27. Sometimes I feel like giving up but I really want to get to a healthy weight.

This may be a stupid question: what equals a "binge"? Would eating 5 slices of pizza at one sitting be considered a binge? I am not sure if I "binge" or just consume a lot in one sitting sometimes.
examples: mexican chips with salsa, cheese dip; pizza; sweets.

EAT0023 wrote: »

I have been binging a lot lately, probably because i have been under a lot of stress. I need to stop this, all it does is make me stressed out more, and then i am in a vicious cycle. Blah! I hate what i have done this month!

Boy does that sound like me! I was doing so well for WEEKS, then between work, a trip with a friend, and a death in the family all that hard work has not been working...

Right with you! Added you too
We cant get too hard on ourselves for the binge days - I am learning that very slowly. There is always tomorrow to make up for it - if its cutting calories or working out a little harder. It all adds up

eating very little on the two days in between This has been going on for about a month I know it's really an unhealthy pattern but I've not been able to distract myself once the binge starts I've done really well up until this recent bout of unhelpful eating It's colder here now and it's harder to eat well but I know that is not what it's about I've come so far and I feel like I'm floundering and standing on the edge of a cliff just teetering on falling back into desperation and misery Basically I'm scared Really really scared I need a string of days (greater than two) of healthy positive eating I'm an addict when it comes to wallowing in my fear and food Tomorrow is another day Give me strength.....

First post ever, but this topic spoke to me. I definitely feel like I'm dealing with an addiction. I ate 3 cupcakes the other day - because they were there - but the whole time, I knew it was 200 calories each, it was putting me over my calorie goal, that I already had one, so didn't "need" anymore, and I knew I wasn't hungry. I was thinking "I shouldn't do this", but felt like I had no or very little control over it. If I have junk in the house that triggers, then I eat it too much until it's gone. I can't come up with a real emotional reason for the eating, other than maybe what I'm not reading about the connection between sugar and seratonin and dopamine. I am on an SSRI antidepressant for general anxiety and also medication for underactive thyroid. So, that is all making perfect sense to me. I feel like I sneak the junk at night after the kids are in bed and hubby is in the other room and it's like a "reward" for getting through the day... but life is actually pretty good, so it's not that I have anything to particularly feel stressed over. This has been off and on for me for years. A couple of years ago, I was involved with a great group exercise program and started running and doing health challenging. I started out couch to 5k and eventually ran a half marathon, was eating clean and very healthy and was at a very healthy weight (had lost 40 pounds by tracking). I ended up with piriformis syndrome from running and after a year of PT and gaining all the weight back, decided I will not be a runner and need to find other exercises that work for me. Now, I've got about 40 pounds to lose - AGAIN! and cannot find my motivation. I have reasons, but am struggling to make it happen. I signed up for the weight loss program through my husband's insurance program and have a health coach call scheduled once per week to check in and review my food journals. I'm hoping they say they right things to get me to make some changes. I know what I need to do to lose the weight, but I am still binging!!! I truly feel I need to get all the junk out of the house and substitute with some less sweet, healthier alternatives. Then I think I can begin to enjoy those as a treat again... I need ideas!! Thanks for "listening"...

karensuegill wrote: »

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.

Ideas for the healthy alternatives??? Thanks!

luv2bmerry wrote: »

I'm with you all. I actually have narrowed down most of my binge eating directly correlates with stress. So, for me, acknowledging stressors and being mindful of my stress levels has helped (although I have not mastered overcoming binges). I find that the better prepared I am (e.g. having lots of water and healthy snacks) the less I binge. My husband is very supportive, but doesn't really understand why I binge. My goal is to not have this up and down weight issue my who life. I've been focused on keeping up with regular vigorous exercise and a balanced diet. I'd like to stay in touch with some of you as hearing and sharing similar struggles has helped me stay motivated.

I'm heading to the grocery store soon... Any ideas?