A question for all you BINGE eaters

emmiee921
emmiee921 Posts: 224
edited December 17 in Health and Weight Loss
I am a binge eater it occurs around once a week where I'll just let go and eat anything.
In my head I'm thinking since I've started I may as well keep going
And that I'll eat less the next day.. It's all the same everytime.

Frustrating.. And I don't know the cause, it's been occurring from the start of high school and maybe even primary school
And I'm 20 now!

My questions is
What is your reason, or cause of binging ?
How often does it occur?
How many calories over are you?

Thanks, em xx

Replies

  • yesthistime
    yesthistime Posts: 2,051 Member
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/groups/home/726-binge-eating-support-group
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/groups/home/376-binge-eating-support
  • strawberrie_milk
    strawberrie_milk Posts: 381 Member
    Reason: Cravings, boredom, or depression
    How often: Usually 1-2 times per week, but I haven't binged in 2 weeks.. I hope I'm finally making progress :c
    I usually end up eating ~4000 calories on a binge, which is 2500 over my maintenance.
  • BeautyFromPain
    BeautyFromPain Posts: 4,952 Member
    What is your reason, or cause of binging ? Depression, boredom, anxiety.
    Root cause : my mum being a narcissist and never being good enough no matter how hard I try.
    Because my mum has told me for so long i don't deserve happiness that i have started to believe her.


    How often does it occur? 3-4 times a week :/ has not happened for about 2 weeks though

    How many calories over are you?
    Depends really.
  • kirstymarie22
    kirstymarie22 Posts: 4
    I'm exactly the same and I properly started about when I was about 12 I was thinking why do I do it too I don't know there must be a reason !? Ill eat and eat and eat thinking I've eaten this much so what's the point in stopping then after I feel so bad so get into bed thinking why did I just do that ! x
  • coconutbuNZ
    coconutbuNZ Posts: 578 Member
    Desire. I want to please and satisfy my taste buds. Mood and how I think might have something to do with it as well. The wrong thoughts like "I've had a hard day, I deserve a chocolate or something yummy to eat". Or defiance. "I don't want a chicken salad, I feel like a mcDonalds!"
  • lkcuts
    lkcuts Posts: 224
    Two weeks in I was doing great. I had a stressful thing happen to me and became depressed and aggitated. It started with easter ham but then it went to the chocolate which i really didn't crave til I got these feelings. I gave in and ate .my mood lifted after that. I still logged every sinful bite and found after I had added my little bit of exercise, cooking and light house work, plus having my mood lifted, played frisby with my dogs counter acted the negative I had created. I am gonna brush off my boots and start a new day tomorrow, put this behind me.
  • 0lightasair
    0lightasair Posts: 42 Member
    Desire. I want to please and satisfy my taste buds. Mood and how I think might have something to do with it as well. The wrong thoughts like "I've had a hard day, I deserve a chocolate or something yummy to eat". Or defiance. "I don't want a chicken salad, I feel like a mcDonalds!"

    This.

    Sometimes to control my desire and defiance, I go too far in putting off my "reward" foods (or on occasion feel I don't deserve one). This putting off will lead to binging.

    I don't have a tendency to binge frequently anymore because running has showed me how hard it is to burn off those frivolous calories. I equate all my pleasure foods to minutes of running and reevaluate whether I still want to eat them. This does backfire sometimes, which is why I occasionally binge. Like today. D:
  • mischa_12
    mischa_12 Posts: 126 Member
    1. What is your reason, or cause of binging ?

    I think my binging is brought on by stress and sometimes when I'm bored. I have this unbelievable craving for anything sweet (mostly chocolate) and once I start I can't stop, I get such a high from it while I'm doing it and then after I feel deeply depressed.

    2. How often does it occur?

    It's starting to occur 2 - 3 times a week

    3. How many calories over are you?

    ALOT. I wouldn't be able to give you a figure but I guess if I had to it would be 4000 calories or more.
  • mommydearest1974
    mommydearest1974 Posts: 1
    Everytime I binge eat its because I am stressed over something...I almost think every emotion I eat..Happy,Sad,Nervous..I always think to myself I might as well keep going until all the food is gone when I start..It sucks and am not sure what triggers it but I do understand what your going thru..good luck!!
  • mischa_12
    mischa_12 Posts: 126 Member
    Everytime I binge eat its because I am stressed over something...I almost think every emotion I eat..Happy,Sad,Nervous..I always think to myself I might as well keep going until all the food is gone when I start..It sucks and am not sure what triggers it but I do understand what your going thru..good luck!!

    yesss i do that too, it's like i HAVE to keep eating until it's all gone.
  • miko12
    miko12 Posts: 1
    i binge only on fridays, but sometime i balance it out by eating less that night. boardum, a lot of idile time or stress or depression may cause some binging. think about what you do in the course of the day and what you eat. may be you want to change what you eat or osme activities you do during a day. and if you dont engaged in any or not too much activites than maybe you want to do so. walking helps. especially if you drive often. take a break and do some walking
  • harrietlg
    harrietlg Posts: 239
    it started from a very young age, was probably 7. I discovered food majorly after starting work in a supermarket, i then just picked up habits from friends, I thought it was ok to eat a whole tin of pringles in 10 minutes.... I then started uni and thats when the issues started. I rewarded myself with food and I ate when I was stressed out. I gained 3 stone....
    I don't lead a stressful life anymore so i don't feel the need to do it so much. I've gone from 4 days a week to once a month now and when I do I don't enjoy it at all like i used to which is good!
    You can get over it but there will be times when you want to do it, I just let myself because I know my self control is a lot better and I can control it a little more!
  • graelwyn
    graelwyn Posts: 1,340 Member
    What is your reason, or cause of binging ? - boredom, depression, loneliness, staying up too late, not enough hobbies/activities to make me happy in other ways, love of sweet things, tiredness.
    How often does it occur? Currently, 3-4 times a week, and I purge.
    How many calories over are you?
    - Usually go over by about 3000 - 4000.
  • midoswife
    midoswife Posts: 35 Member
    bump
  • kristenlees122
    kristenlees122 Posts: 242
    ahh me too. we should be friends so we can support each other, lol.

    What is your reason, or cause of binging?

    mainly because my emotions are all over the place, and i'm disliking myself or something, so i figure, i'll just binge and hate myself even more. sometimes i'll tell myself i'll just have one of this or that and then i have 10 and i spiral out of control into the fridge. but its mainly because i'm upset about something, normally, and i think food will make me feel better (it NEVER does.. why do i do it?!?).

    How often does it occur?

    at least once a week, sometimes twice.

    How many calories over are you?

    at least 3000. if i drive through chik fil a or mcdonalds and get a milkshake and fries, i'm waaaay over that.
  • purpleface
    purpleface Posts: 21 Member
    It occurs once every two weeks I guess. I think the reason for me is that I love food. I love the taste of it & once I've had a taste of something I love, I just can't stop. I'll stop when there is none of it left! I used to probably go over around 1000-2000 cals but lately I've only done it so that I go over by about 100-200. I just love food!
  • mdj1501
    mdj1501 Posts: 388 Member
    My binge eating seems to occur in the evening.. I get a ridiculously intense craving for something sweet or carbs and look out... once I start I can't stop. I have found eating alot of fruit helps and exercising seems to help too.
  • DebinAZ
    DebinAZ Posts: 30
    I have been trying really hard to figure this out. I tried this - every time I felt like eating something, I asked myself if I was hungry. 99% of the time I was NOT hungry so talked myself down off the cliff. I felt pretty good for about a week. It motivated me.

    Then I stopped asking myself, or i would ask myself, then say "no, I'm not hungry", then go on a binge anyway. I've been binging now for about 10 days. Fast food, ice cream, chips, candy bars. It's crazy.

    I don't understand why I'm doing this. If I'm not hungry, then why do I want to eat? Why is there such a strong craving for junk food when I know that I'm not hungry at all?
  • isweatglitter
    isweatglitter Posts: 134
    What is your reason, or cause of binging ?
    Don't even know. It's emotional, I guess. Or my mouth just likes to move.
    How often does it occur?
    Every single damn day since the past 9-10 months.
    How many calories over are you?
    Goal is 1200, I eat about 4000-5000.
  • bugaboo2503
    bugaboo2503 Posts: 9 Member
    I think alot of people do it out of emotions and just being tired. I like food ALOT as many other do also. I like the taste, I like the feeling of being full to I guess, but never knowing when the Ok I am FULL, an the stop eating mark is. I try not to binge as much by not eating after 7pm and if I am a lil hungry have fruit or a vegie or leave myself enough extra calories I will eat a bowl of bran flakes which is filling. If my kids are in bed I will just go to bed anymore because that's when the urges start for me! :yawn:
  • AnneGwish
    AnneGwish Posts: 1
    >What is your reason, or cause of binging ?
    Bulimia nervosa.
    I restrict my calorie intake a lot, it's either that or binging, no middle point.
    There are certain foods I look at and I know that if I have a bite, I won't stop. Then I can't stop thinking or being around that food, very very tempting. It's not that hard to avoid the first bite, but if I do have it, I let go of my sanity and just binge non-stop for as long as it lasts. Usually two days. My longest one yet has been two weeks.
    >How often does it occur?
    Usually on weekends.
    >How many calories over are you?
    My binges are usually around 4000 kcal, even thought I have reached 6000, and I consider anything over 1000 a binge.
  • theoriginaljayne
    theoriginaljayne Posts: 559 Member
    I think I first binged in October; I quickly got sucked into a starve/binge cycle. Kicked the starving, couldn't kick the bingeing.

    Reason: All-or-nothing mindset. If I slip and eat just a little more than I expected, I'll eat everything. Also, if I begin snacking mindlessly (an apple here, a rice cake there), then it can quickly snowball into a binge (four slices of bread, Nutella, another handful of nuts, two muffins...)
    Frequency: Completely unpredictable. Sometimes there's only a day in between binges; sometimes there's a month.
    Calories: Whenever I binge, my daily calories typically range from 2000-3500.
  • hayley1973
    hayley1973 Posts: 12 Member
    Hi everyone...great to read all the posts and compare...we are all so alike! I have been a binge eater since I was 13 and Im now 38!!!!!!! I have never been "over weight" just uncomfortable in my own skin I guess! The smaller you get, the more you like it, the more you think thats the right size etc and when you gain back weight you just feel rubbish! 2 years ago I went seriously underweight due to calorie controlled healthy eating and obsessive walking, ok I was way too skinny but in my head I thought it was amazin! I messed my body up completely and its never been right since! I have gained back the weight and currently 116lbs and I am 5ft 4...yes...a perfect weight I guess but I am SO not happy with how I look/feel! SO...getting back to the "Binge Monster" ... it just takes over and ruins "everything" for me!

    I seem to have been havin these binge moments about once a week lately, its not horrendous but I do so well, lose 1 lb...then gain 2! Ok its probably water/sodium etc but it just makes me feel rubbish! I can honestly say I never binge because Im sad, fed up, depressed or any of those reasons...Id say its mainly cravings and I just love sweet things! I know everyone will say "its because you deprive yourself that you binge" ok...true...BUT I cant have just ONE litle treat a day to stop restricting it as I CANNOT be trusted!!!! ONE bite leads to a total binge EVERYTIME!!!!!!!!!

    I try to eat around 1400 cals a day when Im controlled and healthy but when a binge sets in I can do anything that brings my total daily intake including my healthy food to anything from 3000-5000 its just disgusting! At the time its just "not a problem" I feel I "wont regret it at all" BUT come the morning Im like "OMG why why why did I do that!!!!!!!!" If I could just go to sleep at 10pm, have my last meal around 7pm...Id be just fine! BUT on certain eves I just dont feel tired, I tend to think "how will I sleep, Im not even a little bit tired" thats when I can tend to snack and get out of control! Please invent a tablet that makes you go instantly to sleep at 10pm lol!

    The main things I binge on EVERYTIME are chocolate and sweets...I grab healthy snacks first as I put off the rubbish food but then I just eat it all anyway...such a waste of all my hard work!

    As for the after effect...it ruins everything! I feel awful, cancel dates, cancel events that Ive lined up, my clothes feels awful as everything I wear is tight fitting, I then go on a healthy blitz for about 6 days and then...the monster is back! The cravings can be SO intense...I think to myself "just that ONE treat" but I know that it WILL lead to more...ohhh its SO hard!

    I am joining up at the gym tomorrow and Im hoping this will help me...good eating, good exercise and hopefully the binges will lessen...I truly doubt I will ever rid of them forever! Well today is day 5 of healthy eating, Im eating around 1200-1500 a day with light exercise and will adjust it when I start working out tomorrow!

    The one thing that has confused me though is this sodium water retention! Last night I had a small pot of low fat cottage cheese and some real low fat healthy worcestor sauce crisps I actually classed those 2 items as a healthy binge as I was not hungry, just wanted to eat! BUT I just have it in my head that anything with lots of flavourings/spices/sodium like these 2 foods etc retains water on me...beleive it or not I feel I ruined yesterday because of it! any advice appreciated ;) a very long post I guess but just had to put it all down lol...its good to compare ;) H x
  • kym117
    kym117 Posts: 315 Member
    I am very much an all or nothing girl, I tend to look for chocolate or ice cream when I am stressed, and although I have not been on my best MFP behaviour latley I have sort of came to a solution for me. If I have milk chocolate eg a galaxy bar it is sooo sweet all I want is more I could not have just a little I would have to have it all, which on a chocolate bar doesn't sound much but on a box of chocolates!! :noway: My way round this is now if I want chocolate is to have a little Milkybar or similar at 69 calories, I find white chocolate too sweet so a little bar is enough to give me a fix but anymore I would feel sick. Same with Dark chocolate I can pace myself with a bournville as I can not eat a lot of it either. My ben & jerry's is swapped for weight watchers belgian eclairs, totally indulgent yet only 80 cals! Carte dor light Vanilla 80 cals for 2 scoops.
    As for the other questions
    How often? A little less now I have subsitutes perhaps once every 2/3 weeks from every 2 days.
    How much over? Can vary on a very bad day I have binged by around 1000 calories over my limit, but more often than not what I think is a great binge is only maybe 200 cals or so over my allowance but I guess that's because I have being doing this so long now.
  • stephen_jones
    stephen_jones Posts: 13
    the only tool that is required when seriously dieting is decision making,before now i have been in the cookie jar,sat down with the cookie,then put it back.decisions is key,more effective than anything
  • DebinAZ
    DebinAZ Posts: 30
    OK, I've been researching. This article lists symptoms, signs, effects, and causes. I think this may be one of my causes: "Children who are exposed to frequent critical comments about their bodies and weight are also vulnerable, as are those who have been sexually abused in childhood."

    I began binge eating in my teen years. I am pretty sure it was around the time I was raped, although things are a bit fuzzy during that time. I felt pretty worthless and useless. I have gone through counseling but we didn't talk about an eating disorder. Perhaps we weren't aware of the problems/effects then.

    If this is the reason for my binging, then my rapist affected me a lot more than I gave him credit for.

    Going to do some more research on this.

    Oh - here's the article I was referring to - http://www.helpguide.org/mental/binge_eating_disorder.htm

    Here's an interesting article from Mayo Clinic that talks about home remedies and alternative medicine - http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/binge-eating-disorder/DS00608
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