Bingers! Why can't you just stop?!?!

That is a question I frequently get asked. (okay, so don't flame me here)

And I am wondering how you reply....
cause I am at a loss of words to explain it sometimes. (I'm not sure why I even pick up soggy pieces of banana bread out of the sink during one of my binges. Yes, its disgusting and I know I have a problem. I'm not one who indulges on a box of cookies and whines/feels guilty and than calls herself a binger. Its actually not in my control when I binge.)

What most frequently causes binges is emotions. Binge eaters will eat enormous quantities of food without even appreciating any of it, even though it's often tasty and rich, simply because it's their way of COPING. You know that you're not hungry, yet you still want to eat and never stop until you are about to throw up, because you're trying to respond to an emotional distress, which can't be solved with cookies or bananas.

The bad part is that this is subconscious. Anyone with a good common sense knows that stuffing down cake won't solve anything. In order to stop the bingeing-guilt cycle, you have to develop some skills. You have to be able to determine how you are feeling, what is making you feel this way, how you can solve that problem, etc. 

Even if I don't feel that upset when I start to binge, i find that often, I realize what was really going on only AFTER it's over. I can feel the binge coming, but it's like I'm only seeing the food. I can't think straight anymore. My psy tells me it's really common with people who have an eating disorder. 

And after I ate thousands of extra calories, the guilt kicks in and i'll attempt to throw up, go do a super intense workout for an hour or two or take a ridiculous amount of lax. I know, I have an eating disorder. Don't worry, I'm getting treatment. 

I just wanted to point out that Binge Eating is also an eating disorder. Although you might not purge like you would in bulimia, the bingeing part is quite similar. I hope you aren't being as unhealthy as I am, and I think that if you really want to get better, you will need some professionnal advice. It might help you get better a lot quicker and prevent a realpse.

Hope that helps a little!! Sry I write so much!!

I have friends I was ip with coe,bed,bulimia,anorexia and all the ed have the similar reasons behind them. Whether it be to not face emotions,depression,anxiety what ever and that is that persons way of coping or not with it. I think when one works on the underlying issues and has a recovery mp the combination can aid in healthy mind/body. Can you get into therapy? Can you identify some issues in life you are struggling with?

double post

Major Edit: oops. never mind. i wrote from the perspective of binging and obesity, then read your profile, but i think my basic perspective still holds: 

i think its about mindfulness, self worth, self love, self compassion, and skills identifying and managing emotions. 

if you have a solid plan but dont stick with it, what are the things that are interrupting your goals? what gets in the way? developing some solid skills in self reflection and self acceptance, compassion, are really helpful and make it much easier to make new choices. 

if binging is a problem, its probably because it feels like the most viable coping strategy in the moment. find out what your responding to, interrupting the process early, and developing new strategies are key. 

good luck. 

Ultimately, it is in your control.   I think that's important.   It may not be once you get to the stage of picking banana bread out of the sink... you're probably well into the binge behaviour by then.  But before you get to that stage there are practical measures you can take to avoid a binge starting in the first place. 

Things like not having a house full of food...  Alcoholics can avoid their trigger 100% if they wish.  Overeaters still have to eat.   So one measure can be to only buy enough food for the day's meals.  If food isn't accessible and something happens that would normally trigger a binge, you're not going to be able to do as much damage.  If you binge because you get over-hungry another practical measure is to choose more filling foods and eat more regularly.

You'll get a lot of advice about controlling emotions and self-examination but I think it's often more constructive to accept that you're going to get angry, sad, upset, stressed.... as an ongoing part of life.  Emotions are always with us.  You may not be able to control how you feel  but you can choose how you respond.  And you may not be able to control the behaviour once it starts but you can control many other things to make it more difficult to start.  If you do this for long enough it can break the habit and disrupt the cycle... 

Good luck

I guess it is in our own control, as gi-jane said. But I personally, cannot "control" myself to not eat that disgusting pb sandwich from the trash can (done that MANY of times). I wish I had enough willpower to stop myself from binging. I know for myself, I binge because of emotional problems I encounter daily. I have loads of issues to deal with, so I believe food is the only comforting thing for me (though 'tis untrue).

i believe that for many people who binge, it triggers a mild (or not so mild) state of dissociation.  maybe you start eating because you're stressed, angry, upset, etc., but once you start, you enter an altered state of being.  in a sense, you are no longer present in your body, which explains the ability to consume so much more food than is normal.

and for some of these people, purging allows them to reconnect; it relieves the dissociation.

while this may explain the problem, for some people, it's not a very helpful explanation.  i think the key to "just stopping" is not to start; you have to know yourself well enough to not allow the process to begin in the first place.  that doesn't mean "don't eat" - it just means recognize your emotions for what they are and try to be conscious of how you're responding. 

Original Post by strawberry-dolly:

I guess it is in our own control, as gi-jane said. But I personally, cannot "control" myself to not eat that disgusting pb sandwich from the trash can (done that MANY of times). I wish I had enough willpower to stop myself from binging. I know for myself, I binge because of emotional problems I encounter daily. I have loads of issues to deal with, so I believe food is the only comforting thing for me (though 'tis untrue).

If you are conscious of what causes the binges, that is already a HUGE step. In order to stop bingeing, you'll have to be able to see what is causing that emotional distress and to adress it. 

I would VERY strongly recommend that you consult a psychologist if you can. It will help you soo much!! (It works for me ... at least lol)

Don't give up, you can seriously get better! If you knew all the discuisting bingeing things I've done... whew

People are bingers for the same reasons other people are alcoholics, drug addicts, workaholics, sex addicts, compulsive gamblers, compulsive shoppers. Dealing with unpleasant things the best way they can right now.

I have learned that a binge is the body's way of getting the nutrients that it needs. If the body is lacking a certain vitamin or mineral it will consume everything in sight in hopes that it will get what it needs. Feed your body nutrient filled foods and make sure that you are consuming all of your allowed calories according to your target calories. No more than a 500 calorie deficit until you are no longer a binger.
Allow yourself a few treats, denying yourself will only make you want it more. Forget about the weight loss until you have the binging under control. One or two good habits at a time. The best way to start is to add to your new lifestyle. Add an extra fruit and veggie. Add an extra block or two to your daily walk. Add an extra glass of water or cup of tea.

im also a binge eater i can do it up 2 3 times a day i do it especiial when im alone but thn i stop and realise what i av done and run for the toilet, no one knows this but on a few occasions ive been asked if i av been sick and i jus say no. so now i wait until everyone as gone out binge nd throw up, i dont have a problem its jus wa i do. thts wa i thought anyway

now after almost every meal i throw up and its making me reli tired.

i realy am trying to stop it but im finding not picking the biscuit tin up or reaching for chocolate a big issue.

I think they are many, many reasons why people binge. I agree with spoiled candy (good advise). Not eating enough or a balanced diet. I recently discovered that I can burn over 3000 calories with my life schedule. Yet, for the last year, I've been trying to stick to a 1500 calories diet and developed a binge issue. Wonder why?? Now I am keeping a food journal AND a activity journal to make sure I eat enough. I've developed a very bad relationship with food.

Also, I think there is a body reaction to food. Most people will binge on carbs or sugar. I've recently read that your brain gets hooked on the chemical sugar surge just like with any other drug or "high". That will just leave you wanting more and more and more. This is also my issue. I try not to eat carbs or sugar unless it is paired with plenty of protein. That way, my insulin levels will stay stable.