I feel like a failure

Most of the time, I do well with my eating, but lately, I've felt like a failure, because I binge. I've never really wanted to think of why I do it, although I'm sure it's for emotional reasons.

Truth be told, I love healthy food! It tastes great, and I love trying new things. But my main issue is the week before my period, when hormones rage, emotions are up and down, and I just don't care, resulting in a binge. My feelings feel all mixed up, making me feel confused, angry, sad, and frustrated.

I'm not really overweight, but I'd love to just be able to develop the habit of eating right
consistently, and not feel like I'm 'depriving' myself because I didn't give in to the binge
treat/s I was craving. My thought is always 'I deserved it' or 'just one piece' or even 'I give up'

I've read some of your journal entries, and your train of thought follows a lot of how I can feel throughout the course of a day. but my question is this:

How can you get out of this terrible habit without feeling like you're 'punishing' yourself by not allowing yourself a treat?

ANSWER

How do you stop binging without feeling like you're punishing yourself?

If you are feeling like you're depriving yourself or punishing yourself by not eating something... then the frame of mind you're in needs to be shifted. You need a different approach or perspective.

Let me explain....
If you put a negative connotation on not binging (like being punished)... then you will rebel and binge.

But if you put a positive connotation on something you could do that would fill up your "emotional bank account"; then that is what you'll do. My point is that we do what we focus on.

Our thoughts always proceed our actions. So if you focus on NOT binging: you are thinking about binging... hence it comes into your actions. But if you focus on what you love to do and what makes you feel fulfilled; then that is what you are going to do.

But its not just about 'positive thinking'. Binge eating can also become a habit. Something that we have to phase out and replace with something else.

Its kind of like someone who is has quit smoking and suddenly begins gaining weight. Is it because of the absence of smoking? No! It is because they replace the action of smoking with eating. They switched their "addiction" or habit.

Essentially we want to switch our 'addiction' from binging to something else. YOU can choose what that 'addiction' is. It could be ANYTHING that fulfills you and supports your health and well being. Yoga, running, reading, meditation, writing... whatever sustains you.

I hope this gives you some good ideas to help get out of that binging mode. YOU can do this!

All my Best,

Stefanie