The Binge Eating Cycle
Let’s talk about the cycle of binge eating.
First, many people think that starving themselves, having surgery, or depriving themselves of food is the answer on how to quit bingeing. I get many emails saying that it has been three weeks with no bingeing and then BOOM… they binged. I asked what they did different during those three weeks and I learn that they took medication to curb their hunger or something of the like. Well, obviously, that isn’t the solution and that is the reason why they gave in and binged.
It’s not rocket science. No one binges because they are just extremely hungry. No one binges because they just love food that much. It’s no surprise that people binge due to a more underlying issue, which is the reason why the “quick” solutions only last for so long.
2 weeks.
3 weeks.
A few days.
I hear it all of the time and it makes me so sad to hear that people just give up on themselves. They figure if they can only last a couple of weeks, then they will never fully beat binge eating disorder… and then the binge eating cycle starts.
After weeks of not bingeing, a full-on binge will occur, which will bring you wayyyyy down. Your self-esteem will be shot and you will think that this disorder is absolutely impossible to conquer. Then you will go a few weeks without bingeing, be on cloud nine, and then another binge will occur, bringing you right back down.
Learn how to manage these ups and downs and how not to feel down on yourself if you give into a binge. Don’t look for a quick solution; instead, know that there is a semi-long road in front of you, but you can win. Don’t starve yourself or do anything else drastic. Stay on the slower path and build a much needed strong foundation so that you can overcome binge eating and stop the binge eating cycle.
Kristin,
I think you make some very good points. I have always had an all-or-nothing frame of mind. Life is either black or white for me. In reality, I know that most of life is “gray”, but this is hard for me to accept. I have lost weight many times in the past and was on cloud nine because of it. However, this euphoria never lasts because life gets in the way. There is always stress and bad times to go through. This would always bring me crashing back to earth and I would start bingeing again. 100% success or 100% failure seemed to be my only options. It is so easy for me to beat myself up. Beating this disorder just seems impossible for me because I can’t remember a time when I didn’t binge. I know I have to believe in myself but I’m not there yet.
Hi Marcia,
Thanks for replying to my post. You are right - You do have to believe in yourself. I know that it is hard, so what if you just started with a small step. For example, the next time you give into a binge, why not try to not beat yourself up. Small steps are the key.