For me it has nothing to do with hunger. I know when my body is hungry and when it is not. I love feeling comfortable, not hungry and not full and I am really trying to listen to those cues and only eat when I'm hungry. That is not always easy for me. My bingeing is almost always about wanting to numb myself and not feel feelings...boredom is also a HUGE trigger for me, probably the hardest to deal with for me.

I had been doing well for the past few days and then Wednesday came and it was all over. My company is having major financial problems and they are cutting positions and benefits and it has been stressful not knowing what is going to happen...I didn't want to start eating but there I went, using the stress and uncertainty as an excuse to eat. I have one go-to binge food that once I start eating I can't stop and it leaves me looking for more and other foods to eat....and that started it.

I think, like apesid already said, for me I need to find the root of the problem, take care of that and the food will (usually) take care of itself. But I do know there are foods that are very addictive to me and I won't stop eating until the food runs out and/or I am uncomfortably full (food addiction).

I've heard that it is very difficult to recover from any eating disorder without professional help but I'm still dragging my feet on that. I used to attend 12 step meetings and they can work but I think the reason they do is the comraderie - the support from others who have the same problem...and I can get that from here, as long as I show up and participate (which I haven't been for the past 2 days). So here I am making yet another commitment to show up and post more. I hope you all will join me! I'm so glad to see some new posts and friends here!

I have just read overcoming binge eating by Chris Fairburn and started following the advice in it. It is a brilliant book and so much of what is written makes sense. The first half is all about binge eating disorder and the current research/thinking and the second half is a programme to help you recover.

One of the main points in the book is that the number one cause of binging is strict dieting and going too long without food. On step 2 you eat regular meals throughout the day leaving no longer than 3 to 4 hours between food. Once this pattern has been established you begin to learn when you're actually hungry and when you just want to eat. So far it has been working really well for me. I never want to binge after a meal because I think it's ok I'll get to eat again in a few hours. I have been eating more calories than I usually would but overall less because I haven't binged (yet).

I got the book from the library, of you're in the UK I think most stock it because it is recommended by the NHS. If not you can pick it up off amazon for about £5.

I am still very new to MFP but I am glad to find a group that is probably more about myself than I would have ever thought. I have clinical training in psychology and social work and can easily recognize unsafe lifestyles for other people, but clearly have spent all of these years ignoring my own. I have the often insatiable need for the worst food...fried food...sweets..just junk in general. And I can't just eat a small amount. I have to go all the way until I feel like I am going to burst. I am not afraid to admit that somewhere along the line I developed an actual fear of getting too hungry and there being no food around. I have no idea why that is, because I have never NOT had the means to have food available whenever I need it. But I won't usually leave the house without snacks with me. Part of that right now is because I am watching my calories and want the healthy stuff available so I'm not as tempted to head for the fried food. I've actually been thinking the past few days that I'm not sure I really KNOW what is honestly the hunger and what is "full enough" without being too full. I suppose the moral of the story is to pay more attention to myself. I tend to get in the hustle and bustle of things and just ignore what my body is telling me.