Dreaming about binging?

Anyone else have a dream binge? In the last few years depression combined with terrible binge eating has contributed to my gaining over 30lbs. Since the new year I’ve stopped binging and more importantly stopped restricting my diet. I eat all the lovely 1800+ calories mfp suggests for this breastfeeding mama, rediscovered my love of running and have started loosing at a surprising rate. Last night I dreamt I had a huge Oreo binge (my worst trigger food) and I was so disappointed! I woke up so relieved it never happened lol! This is my first post and I just wanted to say hello and see if anyone else has dream binged :)

Replies

  • livingleanlivingclean
    livingleanlivingclean Posts: 11,751 Member
    I used to have food dreams during prep for comps, and wake up so angry at myself because the dream was so real I believed I'd eaten all the food! I'd run to the kitchen to check for empty wrappers/containers :D
  • seltzermint555
    seltzermint555 Posts: 10,740 Member
    edited February 2018
    I have never really considered myself a binge eater, maybe like twice in my teen years I would eat 4 chocolate bars in a row and feel sick...but now in my forties I haven't done that in years. However, since maintaining my 130+ weight loss I rarely feel hungry and I do enjoy sugary/junk foods regularly...but I have dreams at least twice a month that I am binging on buffet food, like cashew chicken and creamy-sauce pasta with shrimp, or cupcakes, pie, etc. I know it is not really the same thing but man I wake up so relieved also... It is strange to me because I do not feel deprived at all and sometimes these dreams happen so randomly, when I have been on a very good track with my diet & fitness. I could understand it a little more if it happened on a night when I'd either overeaten during the day or gone to bed hungry.
  • tibby531
    tibby531 Posts: 717 Member
    I used to have severe binge-related thoughts and dreams when I wasn't consuming enough calories. if you're breastfeeding AND running, try upping your calories to 2300+. 1800 is still a deficit for the standard person (who doesn't run or need extra fuel to provide nourishment for a baby).

    sometimes a dream really IS a wish that your heart makes, and when we're starving ourselves, our brains tell us to grab quick burning, simple carbs. ...which burn off and leave you starving for more, and before you know it, you've eaten all the Oreos...
  • lauramom2
    lauramom2 Posts: 9 Member
    tibby531 wrote: »
    I used to have severe binge-related thoughts and dreams when I wasn't consuming enough calories. if you're breastfeeding AND running, try upping your calories to 2300+. 1800 is still a deficit for the standard person (who doesn't run or need extra fuel to provide nourishment for a baby).

    sometimes a dream really IS a wish that your heart makes, and when we're starving ourselves, our brains tell us to grab quick burning, simple carbs. ...which burn off and leave you starving for more, and before you know it, you've eaten all the Oreos...
    That’s a good point! I do make sure to eat back most if not all my exercise calories on days I run which puts me well over the 2000 mark but I do think I underestimate the amount of calories I’m burning by breastfeeding. I read that I should set my goal to maintain and let breastfeeding make the deficit but it gave me such a shocking amount of calories I set it at lose a half pound a week. But I’ve lost a large amount per week for the last few weeks so I suppose I should actually trust mfp’s estimates. I’d rather do that and lose more slowly than the binge restrict cycle again. Old habits die hard I guess!