Binge Eating Diet

Is there such thing as a binge eating diet? Or would going on a diet work for a person who has binge eating disorder?

The answer to both these questions is a BIG resounding "NO".

Dieting actually increases the chances of binge eating happening. If you restrict calories too low; your body pushes into overdrive with food cravings. For a binge eater these cravings can turn into an all out food fest.

A lot of it has to do with the emotions connected with depriving yourself of something you want. The minute you tell yourself that you cannot have anymore chocolate; that is exactly what you want.

The last thing you want to do is go on a restrictive diet. You may have temporary results; but without addressing the real reason you binge... the weight will come back.

Just remember that there are differences between healthy eating and dieting. If you are a binge eater you do need to learn how to eat healthy. But never, ever go on a restrictive or fad diet.

The point is that you need to get your focus away from WHAT you are eating to WHY you are eating. There is no such thing as a "binge eating diet".

If there is no Binge Eating Diet; what do you need to do?

1. Learn to listen to your body. When you are used to eating in response to emotional cues; you no longer know how to listen to your hunger cues.

   For me, the idea of actually feeling hungry was very scary. I didn't like that feeling. I wanted to have control all of the time, and feeling hungry didn't feel like an option.

   After some practice and patience, I realized that the feeling of being hungry wasn't bad at all. I had more energy and I actually tasted and enjoyed the food I was eating.

   Now I am NOT talking about starvation! I am talking about following your natural hunger cues to eat.

   There are two things that will help you learn to listen to your body:

   • Wait until you are physically hungry to eat.

   • Eat slowly and enjoy your food.

2. Do not keep your trigger foods readily available.

3. Avoid too much Sugar. Whether we want to admit it or not: refined sugar is addictive. I am not a health food fanatic, but I know that I am still addicted to sugar.

   The best way to reduce your sugar intake is to cut out soda! I know that is scary for some people, but the health benefits you'll gain are outrageous.

   Don't rationalize and start drinking diet soda either. It can be even more debilitating to your health than its sugar counterpart.

   Read labels. You will be amazed at the sugar that is hiding into your favorite snack! Start looking at the nutritional value. If the label reads more than 5 grams; you may want to wean yourself off of it.

   The hardest one for me is milk chocolate. I love it! And I do still eat it; I just can't keep it in my house. I had to get rid of the milk chocolate chips that I kept in my cupboard.

   Just take baby steps, you do not have to cut sugar totally out of your diet. Just slow up a little bit.

4. Keep a journal of what you eat and why. This helps tip #2 along very nicely. It enables you to address the emotional cues by writing in your journal.

There is no such thing as an effective binge eating diet. It all boils down to you addressing your emotions that you have avoided for so long.

You are not alone! I am here to help; please feel free to contact me if you feel the need. I am willing to help you get started on your journey to overcome binge eating.

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