Binge Eating

[Mike D]

I've been noticing over the last couple of years an increasing tendency to binge eat. It sometimes seems like food is really the only thing in life that I ever look forward to, or that I get any pleasure out of. So at least 2 nights a week I load up on crap - donuts, cookies, snacks, ice cream, etc. And I eat a lot of it, like a bag of cookies, pint of ice cream, along with a normal meal. It's a good thing I don't smoke pot, because if I got the munchies on top of it I don't know what would happen. Does anyone else do this?

 

I am not sure if this is really a problem, because I exercise 7 days a week and when I gain even a couple of pounds I cut back on the food until I am back to my normal weight. But then I go back to the binging. It's a vicious cycle of binge eating and binge exercising that never seems to end.

 

Should I even worry about this? I know everyone has their vices so if this is the worse thing that I do then I guess I should count myself lucky.

 

[flockoff]

In my non-professional opinion … that doesn't sound like a big deal. Lots of health conscious people set aside a 'cheat day' once a week where they just eat whatever they want. Personally, I have to either quit junk food cold turkey or relapse into cheating every day, like I'm doing now. If you're doing it more and more, maybe try setting aside a special time and a calorie limit.

[Margee]

I've been noticing over the last couple of years an increasing tendency to binge eat. It sometimes seems like food is really the only thing in life that I ever look forward to, or that I get any pleasure out of. So at least 2 nights a week I load up on crap - donuts, cookies, snacks, ice cream, etc. And I eat a lot of it, like a bag of cookies, pint of ice cream, along with a normal meal. It's a good thing I don't smoke pot, because if I got the munchies on top of it I don't know what would happen. Does anyone else do this?

 

I am not sure if this is really a problem, because I exercise 7 days a week and when I gain even a couple of pounds I cut back on the food until I am back to my normal weight. But then I go back to the binging. It's a vicious cycle of binge eating and binge exercising that never seems to end.

 

Should I even worry about this? I know everyone has their vices so if this is the worse thing that I do then I guess I should count myself lucky.

 

 

mike ..This sounds very normal to me. You sound fairly balanced to me. Sounds like you have control over this. Plain ole' pleasure eating.

The thing I would watch to see if you begin to binge 3 nights, 4 nights, 5 nights.......that's when the problems start.

 

Check out some articles on binge eating and hypoglycemia......'low blood sugar' if this gets worse for you. You might be the typical 'carb addict' that has to add more protein to your diet if you aren't getting enough. 6-8 little meals a day, help me from binging. ....

 

I think you're good right now.....go ahead and enjoy!

[London]

I'm not judging here, just offering tools.

 

Ask yourself what it is that you are getting out of doing this. Are you sitting in front of the TV blindly stuffing food? Or are you aware of every bite you eat.

 

I know that paying attention to how it tastes, and what you feel like while you are eating, as well as how you feel after you have consumed it, makes a huge difference.

 

Is it "stress" eating? Are you avoiding something else in your life? Are you trying to make yourself "pay" for something.

 

Food is just a tool we use. You can swap it out for drugs, alcohol, gambling, sex.

 

 

It sometimes seems like food is really the only thing in life that I ever look forward to, or that I get any pleasure out of.

 

So my question here is, what's missing? What would give you more satisfaction over "bad" food?

 

I have a suggestion that might help break the cycle, no guarantee though. Take all the food that you consume in those 2 days and spread it out over a 7 day period. Force yourself to consume part of it every single day. Make it a requirement, don't skip it.

Sounds crazy, but it can make you burn out quickly if it becomes a "chore" as opposed to the real reason you are doing it. There is nothing more depressing or unfulfilling than knowing you have to eat a whole bag of chips every single night. And even worse, the same brand and flavor. That may not work for you but I know it has worked for some people. It breaks the cycle up and allows you to see the issue differently.

 

There is nothing wrong with having a junk food fest from time to time. I think you should look at the "why" this is happening and realize the food is just bandaid. The food is not the issue.

 

Hope that helps. And if you think I'm wayyyy off base it's ok to just ignore this post.

[Margee]

I'm not judging here, just offering tools.

 

So my question here is, what's missing? What would give you more satisfaction over "bad" food?

The food is not the issue.

 

Hope that helps. And if you think I'm wayyyy off base it's ok to just ignore this post.

 

These are all really good points London!! I can relate to all of this! Thank you!

[Mike D]

Hmm, good points everyone.

 

As for hypoglycemia, i've actually been diagnosed with it (years ago), so I try to stay away from refined carbs. But a couple days a week I end up binging on sugar.

 

As far as what's missing, it's more a function of just getting some pleasure out of life. Some people like alcohol, some people like drugs, some people like sex. I guess I just like crappy food.

[Zaphod]

Use your favorite search engine to explore connections between fat consumption and dopamine.

 

Sounds like right now you've got the physical aspects of this under control. Keep a written record of your weight so you'll be able to see trends for yourself. I'll say this next bit even though someone who's exercising seven times a week has already heard it, but weigh yourself once a week, same time of day each time, since our weight usually fluctuates a few pounds throughout the course of a single day.

[Mike D]

Keep a written record of your weight so you'll be able to see trends for yourself. I'll say this next bit even though someone who's exercising seven times a week has already heard it, but weigh yourself once a week, same time of day each time, since our weight usually fluctuates a few pounds throughout the course of a single day.

 

I actually don't have to weigh myself anymore because I can tell just by how my clothes fit, and how I look in the mirror. I have a very tight weight range that I have stayed in for about the last 5 years, so my weight only fluctuates by about 5 lbs within the range. At the bottom end of the range I look really lean and cut up, and at the top end of the range is when I start seeing some softness and even a bit of fat start to creep in. At that point I feel like a pig and am back to cutting calories to get back to the bottom end of the range. It's a vicious cycle I tell you.

[Kurari]

I think it's worth examining why you are binge eating. It means you have an area of your life that is really stressing you out and you're having a hard time coping with it. Eating lots of food, especially sugary snacks, changes your brain chemistry and forces it to release stress.

 

Your food and exercise regimen sound fine. Dieting or altering that aspect is unnecessary. Once you figure out why you are stressing hard enough to binge eat for relief, then it should take care of the problem.