binge eating

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  • smolmaus
    smolmaus Posts: 442 Member
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    avantikaashankar1 wrote: »

    However - this is something I have realised about myself recently - is sometimes I actually actively ENJOY binging (until after the binge of course, which is when I feel like crap). I'll know, for example, that I am going to be home alone one night, and I will specifically go to the grocery store, buy a huge bag of chips and dip and a family pack of ice-cream, and settle myself into the binge, as if it is a treat to myself. I know it's wrong, I know I am going to feel awfully sick by the end of it, but I do it anyway, because there's this voice in my head (not literally) that won't shut up until I give in. And my logic is - if I eat so many chips now that I am sick, or eat so much chocolate now that I disgust myself, I won't feel like eating it again for a long time, so in a way, the binge is actually good for my long-term healthy eating. It's a messed up mental process, I know. I want to know if anyone else experiences this?

    I can absolutely relate to this part. I'm still struggling with binging (three days clean lol) and one day a few weeks ago when I was asking myself the standard question "Why do you do this to yourself?" a new answer popped up "because you enjoy it". Which didn't feel good, as a realisation, because why on earth would anyone enjoy going to bed with a basketball in their stomach and feeling sick? But now I don't think it's the actual binging I enjoy, I think it's tied into general control issues for me (food, alcohol, behaviour in general). It weirdly helped me because I am not really "out of control" I just enjoy feeling like I am, if that makes sense? I haven't developed this whole new eating disorder, it's just the same old issues showing themselves in different ways now that I don't drink so much. It's different for everyone of course but every little "Oh!" moment you have like that gets you a bit closer to knowing what the real problem is, and closer to a solution.

    What helped me feel less shame about it was just telling people what was happening. You're never going to binge in front of them, they never need to see it and you can keep the details vague but just knowing that it's not a secret anymore removed a lot of the shame for me. You need to find the right trusted person to tell of course, who will be sensitive and supportive, for me it was my sister.

    I hope your specialist is able to give you some real solid help soon but I think you are taking the right self-reflective steps to also help yourself
  • neugebauer52
    neugebauer52 Posts: 1,120 Member
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    My binge eating falls into 2 categories: The really nasty one is bread - good quality bread, that is. Fresh out of the (preferably wood fired) oven and crunchy - I can easily eat a loaf - about 1 kg or 2.2 pounds. And it wouldn't end there - all the delicious stuff I can pile onto every single slice: butter, mayonnaise, ham, salami, roast beef, cheese, smoked salmon, sardines - you name it, I can pile it up high. So bread as my worst trigger food is out; I just replace it with lots of different salads and vegetables and than I can control my portions easily. I also used to binge eat when I had not eaten a certain food item for some time. I have changed to a balanced meal plan (WITHOUT THE BREAD...) 5 months ago and don't miss anything - no more urge to binge there.
  • bernadettenz
    bernadettenz Posts: 252 Member
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    avantikaashankar1 wrote: »
    However - this is something I have realised about myself recently - is sometimes I actually actively ENJOY binging (until after the binge of course, which is when I feel like crap). I'll know, for example, that I am going to be home alone one night, and I will specifically go to the grocery store, buy a huge bag of chips and dip and a family pack of ice-cream, and settle myself into the binge, as if it is a treat to myself. I know it's wrong, I know I am going to feel awfully sick by the end of it, but I do it anyway, because there's this voice in my head (not literally) that won't shut up until I give in.
    This is exactly me. I'll be heading home after work, and then I'll stop at the supermarket, buy my favourite dip and a box of crackers, a family sized bar of chocolate or a packet of biscuits, and something to wash it all down with and away I go. Thoroughly enjoy myself. Until the next day when I have a food hangover and I can't poop properly 😒 But I know I'll do it all again in the near future. It gets tiring to be honest.
  • MichelleWithMoxie
    MichelleWithMoxie Posts: 1,819 Member
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    avantikaashankar1 wrote: »
    Thank you for this thread.

    I have a severe problem with binge-eating as well. I recently started to see a specialist about the issue, but I think she is hesitant to diagnose me with a full-fledged disorder. I am unsure whether this is because my symptoms are too mild (although they feel pretty uncontrollable to me at times), or whether this is because I am not overweight. I know that in India, which is where I am from, psychiatrists and specialists are a lot less likely to offer a straight-up diagnosis than they are in the US (I know of people being diagnosed with mental health issues by the end of the first session itself, in the US; conversely I know of people who suffer for years in India before a doctor takes their symptoms seriously).

    The point to my ramble is this - I think the tips on this thread to curtail a binge-episode are really useful, and the next time I feel an impulse I will certainly give them a try. Measuring portions would certainly stop me from eating too much, or at least slow me down enough that I don't eat myself to the "catastrophe" stage where I feel so guilty and so helpless that I spend the rest of the day eating junk cause "what's the point now, anyway."

    However - this is something I have realised about myself recently - is sometimes I actually actively ENJOY binging (until after the binge of course, which is when I feel like crap). I'll know, for example, that I am going to be home alone one night, and I will specifically go to the grocery store, buy a huge bag of chips and dip and a family pack of ice-cream, and settle myself into the binge, as if it is a treat to myself. I know it's wrong, I know I am going to feel awfully sick by the end of it, but I do it anyway, because there's this voice in my head (not literally) that won't shut up until I give in. And my logic is - if I eat so many chips now that I am sick, or eat so much chocolate now that I disgust myself, I won't feel like eating it again for a long time, so in a way, the binge is actually good for my long-term healthy eating. It's a messed up mental process, I know. I want to know if anyone else experiences this?

    Also, shame-eating: During the peak of my binge-eating issues, I used to find it very difficult to eat in front of other people, and a good indication that I am entering a binge-eating phase again is that I am trying to eat alone more and more; even sometimes hiding food from people. Can anyone relate?

    Girl, yes.
  • tar2323
    tar2323 Posts: 141 Member
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    Never Binge Again by Glenn Livingston is free on Amazon to download. It may not be for everyone, but that book is having a huge impact on my binge/overeating behaviour. Did I mention it's free?!
  • CarvedTones
    CarvedTones Posts: 2,340 Member
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    MichSmish wrote: »
    Rebecca0224 wrote: »
    I have seen many post lately about binge eating and want to share how I deal with it. Today I had a binge eating episode and ate 660 calories in about 30 minutes. I did what my dietician calls a controlled binge, measure out one serving on what the food is put the container away, if I want more I measure out one serving of some other food, and continue. Today I had one serving each of frito scoops, sour cream and onion chips, cookie cereal, then I was done. My dietician said this can help control the binge because I can track it and it takes longer to weigh/measure the food so I will eat less until the compulsion to binge passes. The most important thing is to not dwell on it. Good luck everyone.

    That is not a binge.

    I probably haven't had a true binge by your definition (which I infer from your statement) in a year. Actually almost exactly a year as it was September 1st of last year that I finally started a loss that I stuck to long enough to get down to a BMI below 25. Now what scares me is binge mentality even if I am able to curb it before it does real damage. "I want this and I don't care about the consequences." The worst I have done recently is in the 1500 calorie range. My old binges usually stared with alcohol; nasty stuff sometimes like the 24 ounce cans of high sugar 14% alcohol that were close to 1000 calories. Then I would make a huge portion of cheese melted over chips and while it was cooking I would have some Oreos and a big bowl of chocolate moose tracks ice cream. I would get a handful of raisins and sprinkle chocolate chips and peanuts in for a quick bit of "healthy" trail mix. Maybe a frozen nutella uncrustable or two to take back upstairs with me to watch a movie.
  • MichelleWithMoxie
    MichelleWithMoxie Posts: 1,819 Member
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    CarvedTones wrote: »
    MichSmish wrote: »
    Rebecca0224 wrote: »
    I have seen many post lately about binge eating and want to share how I deal with it. Today I had a binge eating episode and ate 660 calories in about 30 minutes. I did what my dietician calls a controlled binge, measure out one serving on what the food is put the container away, if I want more I measure out one serving of some other food, and continue. Today I had one serving each of frito scoops, sour cream and onion chips, cookie cereal, then I was done. My dietician said this can help control the binge because I can track it and it takes longer to weigh/measure the food so I will eat less until the compulsion to binge passes. The most important thing is to not dwell on it. Good luck everyone.

    That is not a binge.

    I probably haven't had a true binge by your definition (which I infer from your statement) in a year. Actually almost exactly a year as it was September 1st of last year that I finally started a loss that I stuck to long enough to get down to a BMI below 25. Now what scares me is binge mentality even if I am able to curb it before it does real damage. "I want this and I don't care about the consequences." The worst I have done recently is in the 1500 calorie range. My old binges usually stared with alcohol; nasty stuff sometimes like the 24 ounce cans of high sugar 14% alcohol that were close to 1000 calories. Then I would make a huge portion of cheese melted over chips and while it was cooking I would have some Oreos and a big bowl of chocolate moose tracks ice cream. I would get a handful of raisins and sprinkle chocolate chips and peanuts in for a quick bit of "healthy" trail mix. Maybe a frozen nutella uncrustable or two to take back upstairs with me to watch a movie.

    Ok. Thanks for the anecdote?
  • MichelleWithMoxie
    MichelleWithMoxie Posts: 1,819 Member
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    CarvedTones wrote: »
    MichSmish wrote: »
    CarvedTones wrote: »
    MichSmish wrote: »
    Rebecca0224 wrote: »
    I have seen many post lately about binge eating and want to share how I deal with it. Today I had a binge eating episode and ate 660 calories in about 30 minutes. I did what my dietician calls a controlled binge, measure out one serving on what the food is put the container away, if I want more I measure out one serving of some other food, and continue. Today I had one serving each of frito scoops, sour cream and onion chips, cookie cereal, then I was done. My dietician said this can help control the binge because I can track it and it takes longer to weigh/measure the food so I will eat less until the compulsion to binge passes. The most important thing is to not dwell on it. Good luck everyone.

    That is not a binge.

    I probably haven't had a true binge by your definition (which I infer from your statement) in a year. Actually almost exactly a year as it was September 1st of last year that I finally started a loss that I stuck to long enough to get down to a BMI below 25. Now what scares me is binge mentality even if I am able to curb it before it does real damage. "I want this and I don't care about the consequences." The worst I have done recently is in the 1500 calorie range. My old binges usually stared with alcohol; nasty stuff sometimes like the 24 ounce cans of high sugar 14% alcohol that were close to 1000 calories. Then I would make a huge portion of cheese melted over chips and while it was cooking I would have some Oreos and a big bowl of chocolate moose tracks ice cream. I would get a handful of raisins and sprinkle chocolate chips and peanuts in for a quick bit of "healthy" trail mix. Maybe a frozen nutella uncrustable or two to take back upstairs with me to watch a movie.

    Ok. Thanks for the anecdote?

    The point of that was to illustrate that I did have "actual" binges in the past. I am not confusing overeating a little every now and then with a true binge. Now much smaller less frequent overages can seem like binges to me because I took a couple of steps down that all too familiar path. The mindset worries me more than the amount. When I decide ahead of time not to constrain myself at a special occasion and go way over, that doesn't worry me. But when I cut myself a small piece of cake and it is so good that that I eat a couple of additional larger pieces giving in to an urge that is stronger than rational logic, that really worries me. That I managed to gain control and stop this time is encouraging but feeling out of control for a few minutes shakes me up.

    I absolutely understand what you’re saying, but I still don’t think OPs experience described in the OP, nor yours with the cake described above, should be referred to as a binge. It’s simply not. I know the mindset you’re referring to, and it is nerve wrecking to slip into it after feeling “recovered”, but a few extra pieces of cake or some measured and logged snacks still isn’t a binge eating episode.
  • marcyvalerie336
    marcyvalerie336 Posts: 1 Member
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    avantikaashankar1 wrote: »
    Thank you for this thread.

    I have a severe problem with binge-eating as well. I recently started to see a specialist about the issue, but I think she is hesitant to diagnose me with a full-fledged disorder. I am unsure whether this is because my symptoms are too mild (although they feel pretty uncontrollable to me at times), or whether this is because I am not overweight. I know that in India, which is where I am from, psychiatrists and specialists are a lot less likely to offer a straight-up diagnosis than they are in the US (I know of people being diagnosed with mental health issues by the end of the first session itself, in the US; conversely I know of people who suffer for years in India before a doctor takes their symptoms seriously).

    The point to my ramble is this - I think the tips on this thread to curtail a binge-episode are really useful, and the next time I feel an impulse I will certainly give them a try. Measuring portions would certainly stop me from eating too much, or at least slow me down enough that I don't eat myself to the "catastrophe" stage where I feel so guilty and so helpless that I spend the rest of the day eating junk cause "what's the point now, anyway."

    However - this is something I have realised about myself recently - is sometimes I actually actively ENJOY binging (until after the binge of course, which is when I feel like crap). I'll know, for example, that I am going to be home alone one night, and I will specifically go to the grocery store, buy a huge bag of chips and dip and a family pack of ice-cream, and settle myself into the binge, as if it is a treat to myself. I know it's wrong, I know I am going to feel awfully sick by the end of it, but I do it anyway, because there's this voice in my head (not literally) that won't shut up until I give in. And my logic is - if I eat so many chips now that I am sick, or eat so much chocolate now that I disgust myself, I won't feel like eating it again for a long time, so in a way, the binge is actually good for my long-term healthy eating. It's a messed up mental process, I know. I want to know if anyone else experiences this?

    Also, shame-eating: During the peak of my binge-eating issues, I used to find it very difficult to eat in front of other people, and a good indication that I am entering a binge-eating phase again is that I am trying to eat alone more and more; even sometimes hiding food from people. Can anyone relate?

    THIS IS EXACTLY HOW I FEEL!!! whenever i try to talk to someone about these issues they tell me im overreacting or just overeating. I'm not overweight but I am not skinny either and since i'm in that gray area people don't want to believe me when I tell them that I have a problem that makes me feel like crap. hopefully logging food and learning more about what i'm putting into my body will help-we got this, hun.
  • meghcandy
    meghcandy Posts: 1 Member
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    Today I decided to be the day to put a stopper onto my binge eating habit, I gained 4 kilos this year after trying IF and losing 4kg. I always felt hungry and all I was thinking was food. I’m trying all different ways to stop myself binge eating....I think eating out in a restaurant is a good way to do it and keep minimal food at home. So you have to go out to a particular store to get food every time you’re hunger and only buy the single serving one. Even online shopping is great as it stops you from going to shops. If you are going for a walk or the gym, go to a park with no wallet. So you don’t end up buying junk food.

    I’m planning to take a photo of my meal before I consume them and also take a moment to give gratitude to the food that serves my body with nutrition.

    I’m looking for a workout buddy near me (London, UK) to give me motivation! If you want to do this together, I’d love to prepare with one of you to take this journey hand in hand!
  • squidgybunny_276
    squidgybunny_276 Posts: 25 Member
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    Thanks for sharing OP this is actually really useful, will add this to the anti-binge toolbox. Its all about not falling into that spiral.

    p.s totally see where OP is coming from using the term, "binge". Having suffered seriously binge eating and depression in the past I define binges more by the psycological sense as an episode of loss of control, eating when not physically hungry, associated with distress, guilt and shame that leaves me feeling uncomfortable physically and emotionally. Whether that is a result of eating 600 or 3000 calories not the point.
  • ReenieHJ
    ReenieHJ Posts: 9,724 Member
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    I'm a terrible binge eater. :( Always have been and I'm the type to polish off foods while waiting for dinner or right before bed(can we say 2 bowls of ice cream nightly) or make double batches of cookies because I know I'll eat half of them before anybody gets to them. Well, about 6 weeks ago, as I was looking forward to an international trip and was extremely stressed out and nervous about it, I ate a whole box of ritz crackers. When my dh went searching for them, he started picking on me about eating the whole thing and truly made me feel ashamed and embarrassed. (we'd only started living together again after a 12 year separation) He didn't have a clue how he was making me feel but eversince then my mind tells me 'damN him' every time I feel like bingeing or overeating. That shameful moment and this place has kept me highly accountable for my actions. I just cannot allow certain foods in my home anymore. :( No ice cream, cookies, candy, nothing like that. I used to drink Diet Coke by the gallon thinking I was filling my sugar taste buds but I binged anyways. I haven't had a diet coke for almost 3 years, even though he drinks it constantly.

    If I really start craving something I'll chew gum or pop a mint and start planning what's on the menu for my next meal. I also find that eating 6 small meals help me some days. But I have to admit peanut butter is a big trigger for me and I have to be very careful.

    I am truly dreading the sweet-filled holidays approaching. :(
    Yeh, that binge feeling is not good and is terribly hard to counter act.

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