constant binges

I'm 18, 106lbs and 5'9.

I have been anorexic for about 5 months and a month ago decided that I needed to start dealing with the problem. In the last couple of weeks I've been having enormous binges - probably 2000 cals+ each time at least. What happens is that I eat something and then a voice pops into my head telling me to eat more seeing as I have to gain weight. However, I keep eating everything in sight until I can barely stand up for the pain of having eaten way too much.

Has anyone else experienced these freak outs which lead to a binge? I'm hoping it will fade but it scares me so much because I completley lose control. Any tips as to how to stop this? I'm extremley anxious the whole time worrying about whether I will suddenly crave a binge - I know I need to gain weight but surely stuffing myself with masses of food after dinner almost every other day is not healthy.

I would hugely appreciate some advice as the issue is really worrying me.

When I was at a very low weight in the beginning of recovery I had this problem too. I think it's because you are starved and your body NEEDS food. While binging may not be the healthiest pattern, it may be occuring because you are not giving it enough food to start with. How many calories do you eat each day? At 5'9" and 106, you need to gain weight to be healthy. I am the same height as you, and am now up to ~120, and am still underweight.

Now that I'm getting to a healthier weight, and giving my body enough food, I no longer have the urge to binge and haven't in quite some time.

While you are very underweight it's common to binge eat; it's your body's way of trying to restore nutrient levels. You need to be eating regular meals and snacks in order to replenish nutrients and gain weight. You also need to stop compensating for binges if you are doing so by restricting or over-exercising afterward. Compensating in any way just sets you up for another binge.

Binging often stops after a while once you have been eating decent amounts of food. The best way to avoid physical binges (when you binge because you are hungry or craving) is to eat regularly, often and enough. It also helps to incorporate fear foods or craving foods back into your diet, so that no foods are off limits. Some people find it helpful to try and stick to a meal plan so you know what you should be eating, and when.

To stop emotional binges (when you binge because you are using food as a coping mechanism for unwanted feelings) you need to find alternative coping mechanisms: finding different relaxing activities to do, taking yourself away from triggering situations, talking to someone, and working out what you are really feeling and how to deal with the situation more positively.

As a female the usual recommended starting point for weight gain is 2500+ calories daily, and as a recovering anorexia sufferer it's recommended you gain up to a BMI of at least 20.

Good luck!

I have had this as well. It takes time from what I have been told for your brain and body to catch up. A few things to look at though are you on a healthy and adequate mp? That means full meals and snacks. No saving calories and with all the nutrients like carbs/fat/protein. Are you getting too hungry? Are you exercising where you are burning too much off? Binging aside on a daily basis what are your calories?If all in check then give your body and mind time but if not getting those items in order can assist

the girls have said it all , you are not alone , this wont always be the only way to get over this is to keeo increasing your calories 2500 plus and be consistant .gradually as you become less starved this will go. i know its horrible there have been times when i have had this felt like a ravenous bull lol :) at one point i was drinking so much milk i thought i was going to need a cow in the back garden :) no joking apart just stick with it and dont let yourself get hungry thinking of you h x

Binge eating may be a natural thing your body is trying to get you to do, there are other ways you can get enough calories in WITHOUT BINGE EATING.


Like merylwhite1  suggested,  if you eat  often, and eat enough each time, your body will be constantly getting enough calories, and will therefore stop trying to tell you to binge.


Unfortunately, there is still a chance that even if you constantly give your body a decent amount of food - as in - even if you eat enough every 2 - 3 hours, you may even STILL feel the compulsion to binge;  I have not been severely underweight for a long time so I do not know if this could happen to you.

But, over time, you are much better off constantly eating -  every 2  hours or so - because the SOONER you body realizes that you are not going to starve it, THE BETTER.

And so it makes sense that the sooner  you start to feed your body often, the sooner it will stop feeling the need to tell you to binge.  

I hope that if you feed yourself often, that the urge to binge will eventually dissipate.

Even if you do feel the urge to binge on 2000 or more calories in one sitting, I still think you are better off NOT eating that much in  one sitting - I think you should try to stay strong and avoid the urge to consume most of your calories in one go….

And instead, wait it out -  keep feeding yourself regularly instead of giving in to the urge to binge.


Although if the urge to binge is VERY VERY strong -even though you are constantly feeding yourself plenty every 2 hours -   than binging is okay occasionally -  as long as you do not do it for every meal

And when you binge, you MUST continue to eat normally - you need to gain weight any way remember , so after a binge, just consider it much needed calories,  and know that you have to continue to feed yourself normally.

So the next  meal after a binge should be normal. And the one after that and etc.