binging

hey,
i'm wondering what everyone here considers binging? i know a lot of people use the term and struggle with this problem, but i'm wondering what you consider a "binge". is it eating a few too many cookies one night or is it more like losing self control and eating like 1000+ calories within a short amount of time...?
thanks!

It is eating a box of crispy cream donuts by yourself! Yes, I have done this!!!! That is a binge!

I consider a binge when you start to eat something and then either 1)lose control or 2)choose to go wild and be damned the consequences. Like if I go to have 2 oreo cookies, and then for whatever reason have 8 more, or the whole package, thats a binge to me. Its more about the lack of control than the actual food consumed.

I agree with MoreBean13... I think the lost of control make it a binge. When im on my diet and I allow myself ONE cookie but i end up eating the whole bag... hating myself the whole time but making excuses for it... THAT is a binge :-(

I equate mindless eating with a binge. Eating simply for the sake of eating and not because you are hungry.

I dont think there is a specific calorie range, I am a binge eater, and I have binged on cucmbers before, which didnt add up to alot of calories, but it was still considered a binge, because I felt out of control, and ate until I was litterally sick to my stomach!

For me, the difference is in the feelings.

Having a large meal or not planning well and going over my calorie goal=overeating.

Out of control eating, eating in secret, feeling bad about eating and wanting to stop but containing to do it anyway, eating to or past the point of pain, feeling guilty or ashamed because of the eating=binging

I used to consider what I did bingeing (like, the eating an entire bag of chips, or eating a cookie and then realizing you just ate the whole box). I've struggled with this for a long time.

A few months ago someone recommended I read the book "Brain over Binge". Since i decided that 2012 is MY year and I'm going to fix my issues with food once and for all, I got it on the Kindle and started reading it that day. The book honestly changed my life. I remember 6 years ago, I was a smoker, I loved smoking... and then I read Allan Carr's "the Easy Way to stop Smoking" book and I quit cold turkey, just like that. Decisively and easily. I thought it was a magical book, the BEST BOOK EVER. That's kind of how i felt when I read Brain over Binge, it was like... the stop smoking book but for my eating habits.

Anyways reading that book made me realize that MY behaviors were not really binges. They were plain overeating. While I was in a way out of control doing it, it was more because at the moment that I was doing it I had decided to not give a crap and that it was worth it because I loved cookies/chips/crap whatever. I was not bulemic, I didn't have binge eating disorder.... because in no way were MY "episodes" anywhere near as horrific or uncontrollable as the ones depicted in that book. And still, I came away with a lot of new tools to fix my behaviors after reading that book, it made me realize and confront a lot of my behaviors and pointed me in the direction I needed to go, and for that I'm extremely grateful!

I usually binge on Sumdays.. It starts with one PBJ, which I'd never eat during Monday to Saturday. Then I lose control, I'll eat about 3 bowls of cereal, uncontrolled Peanut butter out of the jar, Nutella, chocolat, cinnamon rolls, deli meat, actually everything that's on the counter or in the fridge. I'll end up feeling so sick that I can barely stand. Then I'll go to bed and on the next day I'll still feel so sick and won't be able to go to school. I need to stop. I tried to quit bingeing, but it's like some sort of a drug.. I'll gain about 3 pounds and will be back on my "regular" weight by Friday..

This hits home with me. I binged Sunday night. I have lost 82lbs..and am 4-6lbs from my ultimate goal...and now Im struggling with my relationship with food.

scenario: Sunday morning...I ran 5.3 miles. ate very clean all day. Went to my parents to clean their attic. Order mexican for dinner (shrimp chimichanga)...I havent had mexican since June 1st last yr! Earned it..and was in calorie goal. So...then...I ate 2 chocolate chip cookies my sister made (nestle tollhouse). Still under goal by 29 cals. Getting ready to leave my parents, I walk in the kitchen to gather up my purse...everyone else is in another room. I ate a reese cup. Get in the car to drive home. Hubby gets in shower at home...in the 7 minutes hes in the shower...I ate 2 powdered donuts, a cookies n cream pop tart, half a jar of peanut butter and a granola bar. If the water hadnt turned off so quick..I would have ate the box of thin mints and the vanilla ice cream.

Now...after losing 82lbs...I have an issue with food...and hiding it. I hate this. I felt sick..fetal position...but logged everything. Faced the scale the next morning. I was at 132.4....3lbs from goal! Monday morning...I was weighing in at 136.8. Today...Im weighing in at 135.4....im guessing still some water weight...but I got back on track Monday with my calorie goal and am running alot this week.

Was it worth it? NOPE. Will it happen again? Probably....but Im trying really hard!

I need to allow myself more foods so that when I get to maintenance...I can stay there!

Anyone have these scenarios?

You have deprived yourself for so long to meet your goal that sometimes you cut loose and pig out! You eat everything you know is bad because you just can! I think if this is starting to become a habit then you may need to get some therapeutic help. Talk to a counselor or a psychiatric food specialist. But if you have it under control then suck it up and do better the next time!