Binge Eaters Unite - I need your help!

Before you take that first bite, remember how it made you feel the last time. Also, if you must have a late night snack, keep it light and healthy. Go for a little fruit or some sugar free jello. Always keep your goals in mind. We all fail and have to pick ourselves back up. Losing weight is not easy at all. Also, it doesn't make a huge difference what time of the day you eat. Save some calories for when you get home. It's all about calories in vs. calories out. Another last tip: If you start to get hungry, drink a cold glass of water and the pang will ease. Most people mistake thirst for hunger because they are dehydrated.

I have the same problem, I take a apple with me and then eat it on my way home so I don't eat as soon as I get in.

If you figure this one out... LET ME KNOW!!!

I was a big binge eater. If I opened it I finished it, thank god there are no super sized meals over here.

It takes hard work. Three months to kick any habit according to the experts.

I use to avoid meals and then when I got home eat all night until I went to bed. Just so bad.

What I am currently doing is having 6 smaller meals a day (same calories spread out). Basically 1 fist size of carbs, 1 fist size of Protein each meal and in addition 1 fist of vegies, 2 fruit and 2 dairy a day. I found it hard to get any where near my calories when I started. Now I always feel full. Getting the size right is the hard bit

i have a huge problem with this...yesterday i ate a whole plastic thing of graham crackers in one sitting. talk about empty calories!! today is a a new day, and i am combating over eating using these easy steps:

1) plan your meals beforehand: that way, you wont be reaching in the cupboards after youre done eating a meal. i feel that i am less likely to binge if i have my meal written out already in front of me.
2) eat sitting down and without distractions: this way, you wont be sitting in front of the tv mindlessly nomming on food. also, i find that if i eat standing up, i am less satisfied and i dont feel as full when i am done with my meal.
3) put ALL the food you are going to eat on your plate before you eat it: this gives you a nice visual of ~okay, this is my whole meal right here in front of me, i am going to eat it and be satisfied afterwards. take some time after each meal to think about how satisfied you are!
4) snacks are OK: if you find yourself hungry between meals, then EAT a healthy snack! fruits, veggies (apples are very filling for me) that way you wont overeat a ton on your next meal. BUT be aware of your hunger...is it actual hunger or just boredom/emotional hunger? its important to differentiate between the two!
5) if you are going to binge and you cant control it, MAKE YOURSELF drink 2 glasses of water before you start eating: that way, you have plenty of time to think about whether or not you are really hungry (while filling up your stomach ). if you are still hungry after that, only eat veggies (they fill you up a lot more). AND if you are still hungry after that, (and you are way over your calories, its the end of the day so you cant work it off, etc) then go out for a walk, or do something else that occupies your mind. sometimes it is good to just physically get out of the kitchen.

hope this helps, love! i am going to train myself starting today to stop the binge-eating...its the only pitfall i have to staying actually healthy!!!

Hi, I can't view your diet journal so I can't give you too much sound advice as to what is going on in your particular diet. Sounds like a protein/fiber problem. But it also can be that you're body isn't use to going a long period of time without eating something.

Try these tips,
Eat fiber, which personally I eat a fiber one bar for a snack. Beans are also good as they contain high fiber and protein. Also, switch all of your breads to whole wheat/whole grain bread which has more fiber than white bread (I can get into the whole schismatic of why whole wheat/whole grains is better for you, but for this topic I'm going to assume you've heard this half a dozen times already else).

Protein, this is more tricky because a lot of people like to jump to protein bars. The prior post suggestion about the protein enrich sherbert isn't a bad idea. The problem with protein bars is most can contain up to 55% fat, which isn't great for you at all. I recommend adding more chicken into your diet. Toss some grilled chicken on a salad. For lunch, eat tuna fish salad on whole wheat bread (you're getting fiber and protein and a can of tuna (172g) has 41g of protein!).

Another idea is to have breakfast, then a snack in between breakfast and lunch, then lunch, then a snack in between lunch in dinner, or immediately when you get home, and then dinner.

Also, your body will send hunger signals to your brain when it is thirsty, so drink 8 cups of water a day (if sweating a lot during work out, then drink up to 10 cups of water a day). Good trick is to drink a cup before and after each meal.

Hope this helps! Good luck

I battle this everyday. Planning in advance helps. Not eating my trigger food helps. Not buying naughty food helps. Making my boyfriend count things like bisucuits and treats helps. I always binge when I am alone-never in the company of others. I always have treats at my desk but I know they are my other halfs and not mine. The fact that they are counted means I don't have the chance to eat them because someone will know my secret binge happened.

I don't think this will never not be a part of who I am-I just have to accept that there will always be this demon inside me that I will have to battle. When I do fight the urge, I always feel stronger, better, healthier.

Best of luck-you aren't alone hunny-there are plenty of us around. xx

My husband has this problem - I keep a basket of food stocked in his car. Mostly single serve bags that I have made of plan nuts for when he is hungry and trail mixes for when he craves something sweet. Also there are a few protein bars and some water bottles. It has helped a lot so he no longer enter the house ravenous.

As for binging in general - think of the way you feel right now next time you want to binge. It may help you fight the urge and slowly the binging will be less and less. Best of luck to you.

I was the same last night, so while I was making the food i asked myself, am I really hungry or am I just thirsty or bored....and I realised in the space of time that I made the food that I wasn't actually hungry, made myself a cup of herbal tea and I went to bed a lot happier than I would have if I had had the meal....I will defo do this the next time I go to eat when I am not even hungry...x

I struggle with eating later in the evening too!

I eat well in the day and then a good evening meal with my son around 5.30-6pm. The problem I have is that once he goes to bed and I am alone (I'm a single parent) I just comfort eat and eat due to boredom! From eating my evening meal I have 5 hours to try and resist more food! Eeeek!

I try to plan my meals to account for some snacking in the evening as I cannot go that long without eating something. I eat every 3hours or so as I cannot manage large meals just 3 times a day. Breakfast 7.30am, snack 10.30-11am, Lunch 12.30pm, snack 2.30-3pm then evening meal 5.30-6pm and finally evening snack around 9pm ish.

Its a tricky one thats for sure!

Let me know if you come up with any solutions. Although sometimes we all have a bad day so try to get back on track and start a fresh the next day. Don't beat yourself up too much.