Question about binge eating.

by Neera
(NY)

Hi,

I recently became aware of the fact that I binge eat. I was anorexic in my second year of medical school. I got stressed with school work and continued to exercise. I did not realize that my body was starving. I am now at a healthier weight, but I have found that I binge eat at night. I will exercise excessively the next day and fast because of the guilt. I have gained more of an understanding of binge eating. I think I do it out of boredom. I really just want to go back to eating 3 normal meals/day. I will go 7-10 days without binge eating, but then I will binge eat.

Any advice would be helpful. Thanks! How do I fight the urge to eat late at night?

Neera



ANSWER

The first thing I'd like to address is fasting the next day after a binge. Although this may make "sense"; it can actually initiate another binge. There is a cycle between binging and restricting. And it sounds like you may be experiencing this. A person can yo-yo back and forth between the two; they feed into each other.

The first thing I would recommend you do is to begin keeping a food log. This will enable you to know how much you're eating and if you are getting enough on your normal days. If you find that you are not; that may be contributing to your binges. Your body may still be in a caloric deficit and asking for you to eat more; therefore the push for the binges. If that is the case; balancing out your food intake will help reduce the frequency of those binges.

It also sounds like there is an emotional element for you as well. Your food log can help you with this too. You can track your emotions along with the foods you eat. If you are hungry; then eat.
If you are stressed and all of sudden feel the need for a binge; you will know that it's emotional hunger. You can then address the stress that triggered the "need" to eat and come up with a proactive action plan to deal with the stress.

Just remember that no amount of food will ever fill emotional hunger.

In regards to binge eating at night....

This is usually a hard time of the day for most people. It's easy to want to drowned ourselves in comfort food to forget about the day. Or eat because there is nothing else to do.

If you eat because of boredom; then do something. I know that sounds simple. But solutions usually are. I believe that people eat late at night because it does give a person a temporary feeling of comfort and security. You may want to try journal writing, taking a walk, doing your favorite hobby, or anything that fills you up emotionally.

Overcoming binge eating is about learning new coping skills. It is about taking care of yourself and loving who you are. It is about living the life you truly deserve.

All my Best,

Stefanie