Binge Eating Disorder

Read the book "brain over binge." It's all about changing your mindset when it comes to binges. I can't say that I will never binge again, but I feel like I have more control now. Also, you really need to eliminate trigger foods. This will be different for everyone. I have eliminated sugar (except for some fruit) and gluten. This was a very slow progress that I've been working on since January. This past week I've fully given up gluten and sugar (but remember this took 3 months of working).

Also, ask yourself if counting calories triggers binges. If it does, try eating three square meals at the table with no snacking I between. This alone will probably provide a deficit (as long as you don't go crazy). There is also a book for this "the no S diet".

Hope I helped. My journey will not be yours, but along the way I hope you find what works for you.

This could have been me writing this post. I am actually crying as I read and write. I am 47 years old and I've battled my weight my entire life. I've talked to my doctor about binge eating disorder but his response is always, just watch what you eat, get more exercise and try to stick to 1200-1500 calories a day and it'll come off. I had done so well my first 6 weeks of my journey and now I've gained 5 pounds back! I'm sick of hating what I see in the mirror but there are days, or hours, or sometimes even just minutes, that I can't seem to control myself or how much I eat. Please feel free to add me as a friend, and we can face this journey together.

Binge eating is not about willpower. It is not about personal strength. It is a powerful hormonal, biochemical, neurological drive. Our brains are hard-wired to get natural rewards from foods, especially certain kinds of food (like sweet). These natural rewards drive us to repeat behaviors that release dopamine. The problem is that for many people, modern, processed, and "hyperpalatable" foods send that reward system into overdrive (much greater dopamine release). Additionally, overtime, these overly sweet, processed foods actually blunt our reward response, so now the same food doesn't even taste as good... and we have to consume more and more to get the same neurological reward. It's a vicious cycle of addiction.

You have to cut yourself off from these hyperpalatable foods and allow your brain to heal, while at the same time nourishing your body with real food so that it is not deprived and driven to binge.

This book made a huge impression on me, and I think you may find it useful.

https://authoritynutrition.com/vicious-eating/

Work out. That's the only thing that has fixed my serious depression, and when I'm working out I'm MUCH more likely to eat healthier stuff (because for me there's little point in doing one without the other).

It's easier to stick to an eating plan when it's part of a whole healthy lifestyle, rather than just a thing unto itself.

Also, it's impossible to binge on crappy food when there's none available, so I don't keep any in the house (usually) and I don't eat anything at work that I have prepared and brought myself.

Good luck!

endlessfall16 wrote: »

I'm just curious. How does one start binge eating? Is she aware that she's getting foods?

When I first started this caloric restriction diet, I also faced with many instances that I considered as "moment of truth". Basically I was extremely tempted to eat. Alot. But I was never absent minded. I was fully aware of the two choices -- eat and continue down the bad, destructive path or ...NOT. Again, my awareness was with me and I chose not to continue to eat.

aqsylvester wrote: »

Binge eating is not about willpower. It is not about personal strength. It is a powerful hormonal, biochemical, neurological drive. Our brains are hard-wired to get natural rewards from foods, especially certain kinds of food (like sweet). These natural rewards drive us to repeat behaviors that release dopamine. The problem is that for many people, modern, processed, and "hyperpalatable" foods send that reward system into overdrive (much greater dopamine release). Additionally, overtime, these overly sweet, processed foods actually blunt our reward response, so now the same food doesn't even taste as good... and we have to consume more and more to get the same neurological reward. It's a vicious cycle of addiction.

You have to cut yourself off from these hyperpalatable foods and allow your brain to heal, while at the same time nourishing your body with real food so that it is not deprived and driven to binge.

This book made a huge impression on me, and I think you may find it useful.

https://authoritynutrition.com/vicious-eating/

Your first sentence was correct. The rest of it had no relevance to Binge Eating Disorder (and much of is scientifically inaccurate).

I have a terrible sweet tooth. I can't just eat one cookie. I have to eat THE cookies. Sounds silly, but sometimes I mentally talk smack to the food, like it's challenging me. I say things like, "Nice try donuts. Not today. You will not win. I hear you calling me, but I will not listen. I will not eat you!" in my head. I'm really competitive, so it helps me to treat it like a contest. Like the food is self aware and trying to beat me. Just don't do it out loud. People tend to stare... Some research/people say that completely abstaining from something, like sweets, leads to binge eating, but everyone is unique. I have found it works best for me to treat myself like an alcoholic, I can't even have one because I don't know when to stop. Also, I have noticed that the more nutritionally sound my eating habits, the fewer cravings I get. I try to eat whole foods, organic, kale instead of lettuce, stuff like that.

hamburgerthighs wrote: »

I have a terrible sweet tooth. I can't just eat one cookie. I have to eat THE cookies. Sounds silly, but sometimes I mentally talk smack to the food, like it's challenging me. I say things like, "Nice try donuts. Not today. You will not win. I hear you calling me, but I will not listen. I will not eat you!" in my head. I'm really competitive, so it helps me to treat it like a contest. Like the food is self aware and trying to beat me. Just don't do it out loud. People tend to stare... Some research/people say that completely abstaining from something, like sweets, leads to binge eating, but everyone is unique. I have found it works best for me to treat myself like an alcoholic, I can't even have one because I don't know when to stop. Also, I have noticed that the more nutritionally sound my eating habits, the fewer cravings I get. I try to eat whole foods, organic, kale instead of lettuce, stuff like that.

cate320 wrote: »

I've not been diagnosed either, but I can eat HUGE meals if I let myself. I also don't seem to ever get the "fullness" trigger like a normal person, or at least not as quickly.

The only thing that has ever helped me is going very strict low carb. It's much, much more difficult to eat 1000 calories of protein and fat than a carby meal.

I can (and have) eaten entire frozen pizzas in a single sitting (~1500 calories). There is no way I could eat that much if it was just bacon and eggs and cheese.

It also helps with subsequent cravings because you no longer get blood sugar crashes. It's worth trying out, but beware that the first few days are rough.

It also really helps if you just stay away from any of the foods that you normally binge on. I make sure there is nothing even in the house that I might be tempted to eat.

What you two have described are binges. That is not the same as Binge Eating Disorder.

Mentali wrote: »

endlessfall16 wrote: »

I'm just curious. How does one start binge eating? Is she aware that she's getting foods?

When I first started this caloric restriction diet, I also faced with many instances that I considered as "moment of truth". Basically I was extremely tempted to eat. Alot. But I was never absent minded. I was fully aware of the two choices -- eat and continue down the bad, destructive path or ...NOT. Again, my awareness was with me and I chose not to continue to eat.

This is like asking "how does one start self-harming? I've been sad but haven't done it" or "how does one start turning locks 7 times in every room? I've felt unsafe in rooms before but I was aware enough not to do it". Or, on the alternate side, "How does one start starving themselves?"

BED is a psychological disorder like many other things that are hard to understand if you haven't experienced it. It's not about absentmindedly eating more than you intended to.

OK, thanks for your (sort of) explanation. It is indeed hard to understand for those of us who do not have BED.

Woodsmoke wrote: »

I've not been diagnosed, but it's obvious that I have a serious issue with overeating, beyond the normal issues that a diet can solve.

I can't stop snacking or eating huge portions. I can eat healthy for like a day or so but end up just sinking into old habits. It's related to depression and I've been to the doctor but they've not helped, wont send me to get any particular help for this issue.

Any serious binge eaters who have tips for this? It's embarrassing to write this but I need advice from those who've actually EXPERIENCED this.

Can you see a different doctor who will take your concerns more seriously? Or explicitly ask your current doctor for a referral to a therapist who deals with eating disorders?

In the meantime, look for books that deal with binge eating disorder that have a lot of positive reviews. I've heard good things about Brain Over Binge but I have not read it personally. There are also workbooks that help you walk yourself through exercises that increase awareness of the thought patterns and triggers that contribute to binge eating.

I've struggled for a long time with binge eating disorder. I completely and totally understand how hard it is to overcome. Here are a few things that really helped me:

1. NEVER keep the bad stuff in the house. No chips, cookies, cakes, etc. None of it. If you want a bad-for-you-snack, you have to leave the house and go get it. Also, never grocery shop on an empty stomach. When you're full, it's much easier to shop for healthy foods. Your hungry stomach will lie to you and convince you that you can be responsible with chips and cookies in the house, when you know that that's too difficult for you right now.

2. Instead of restricting your diet -- add to it. Add tons of healthy fruits and veggies. So no foods are off limits -- but you are required to eat a cup of broccoli and a cup of cauliflower and a cup of berries every day. If you find these intakes easy, add more healthy options -- spinach, oranges, tomatoes, etc. Making sure that your diet is nutritiously varied and rich will go a long way to cutting down on urges to binge -- and making sure you have a little something in your stomach all the time will also be a big help.

3. When you want to give in to a binge, do this: first, fill a big glass (16 oz) with cold water and drink it all. Then, set a timer for ten minutes. Do anything else during those ten minutes -- read a book, take a short walk, watch some TV, call a friend, whatever. When the ten minutes is up, see if you can resist the binge. If you're feeling strong, good for you! Reward yourself in some non-food way.

4. Find non-food rewards/comforts. For me, my family has always treated food as a celebration and a comfort, starting when I was a little kid. So when I developed depression, my go-to for comfort was lots of really unhealthy foods. You have to rewire your brain to associate non-food things with comfort and fun. I really love reading and crafting, so now my go-to reward/comfort is to get myself a new book or some art supply I've been wanting.

5. When you do binge, see it as a mistake, accept the mistake, and move forward. You fell down, but you can get back up and keep moving forward. Falling down slows your progress, but as long as you keep getting back up and keep moving forward, you will continue to make progress. And the more you work at it, the less you will fall down.

I hope that helps. I understand how incredibly difficult this is. Good luck on your journey!

@thewildair - thanks for the tips you gave to @Woodsmoke above; I printed them out and will keep them with me as a reminder for the times when I feel out of control. THIS is exactly why I joined this group.....the ideas and suggestions of others along with the support of people who understand the struggle.

The DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) 5, is the 5th version of this book, it is how mental illnesses get classified so that psychologists can properly diagnose and treat mental illness. The DSM 5 states :

The key diagnostic features of BED are:
Recurrent and persistent episodes of binge eating
Binge eating episodes are associated with three (or more) of the following:
Eating much more rapidly than normal
Eating until feeling uncomfortably full
Eating large amounts of food when not feeling physically hungry
Eating alone because of being embarrassed by how much one is eating
Feeling disgusted with oneself, depressed, or very guilty after overeating
Marked distress regarding binge eating
Absence of regular compensatory behaviors (such as purging).
BED is the most common eating disorder in the United States. In adults it affects 3.5% of women and 2% of men and up to 1.6% of adolescents [1]. In women it is most common in early adulthood but more common in men at midlife. BED seems to affect blacks and whites equally. Comorbid problems are both physical and psychiatric. Although most people with obesity don’t have BED, up to 2/3 of people with BED are obese and can have the medical difficulties associated with this condition. Compared with normal weight or obese control groups, people with BED have higher levels of anxiety and both current and lifetime major depression.
Effective evidence-based treatments are available for BED. These include specific forms of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and interpersonal therapy (IPT). Some types of medication can be helpful in reducing binge eating. These include certain antidepressants (such as SSRIs) and certain anticonvulsants (such as topiramate, which can also reduce body weight).

So how does one "start" Binge Eating, it can be brought on by a number of different factors, mine began from a combination of heavy stress, depression, undiagnosed ADHD and OCD mixed with anxiety. I would develop these urges, and the only thing I could relate it to was when I was a heavy smoker I would get an "urge" to have a cigarette and the "urge" would go away after having one. It was this feeling in the back of my throat it would become stronger and stronger until I became powerless and it took over. There would be times where the urge would not be there and I would eat healthy and workout, but once things really got bad the urge to binge was an everyday thing, I would buy bags of candy and in the 2 minute drive from the store to my house I would eat the whole thing, I would eat in secret shame and lie about it to everyone. I would take my kids candy or chips, or whatever else I happened to binge on the night before and lie to them about what happened to it, I would lie to my wife about what I ate, I would start a diet and cheat on the diet but lie to everyone about it. This cycle went on for about 3 years, I gained a lot of weight, I was sad and depressed and honestly could not figure out what was wrong, I was out of control, and powerless to stop these binges. I had never heard of Binge Eating, and as a man typically we do not discuss eating or mental illness for it is a sign of weakness. But I finally got help because I knew something was not right and I was in such a bad place I knew I needed to talk to a professional. Which was the best thing I have ever done, because it gave me hope, because I finally knew what was wrong with me.
@Woodsmoke you are not alone, there are many other people going through the same thing you are, some are diagnosed, others are not, but either way there is support and answers out there. That is why I started the Binge Eating Group so people have a place to go for information and support and to ask questions, and talk to people going through similar things.

@gbread2u0169 I'm so glad I could help -- good luck to you!

@aqsylvester yes, I agree! Figuring out 'trigger foods' and avoiding them is a huge help.

I ate 5,300 calories yesterday and never before have I eaten that much. I don't even know what to do.