Tag Archive for: compulsive eating

What is Binge Eating Disorder and How is it Treated?

According to the National Eating Disorder Association (NEDA), Binge eating disorder (BED) is a severe, life-threatening, and treatable eating disorder characterized by:

  • Recurrent episodes of eating large quantities of food in a short period, while also feeling a loss of control during the binge.
  • Experiencing shame, distress, or guilt after a binge.
  • Not using unhealthy compensatory measures (e.g., purging) to counter the binge eating (if someone binges and purges, that is bulimia).

Why Does BED Develop and Who is at Risk?

While there is not one specific cause for BED, there are a few risk factors that make some people more susceptible:

  • Chronic Dieting: Binge Eating Disorder is one of the many negative consequences of restrictive dieting. The younger someone starts “dieting,” the higher their chance of developing BED. Restricting calories (aka dieting), can trigger a binge, especially in those who have symptoms of depression. (If you need help to stop dieting, scroll to the bottom of this page and join the Break the Spell of Diets in 3 Days online experience – for free!)

 

  • Negative Body Image: Feelings of negative self-worth can increase the risk for a binge, which is often triggered by stress, feelings of sadness, or emotional distress.

 

  • Family History: There is a genetic link between family history and all eating disorders.

 

  • BED is more common in women: In the US, 3.6% of women experience BED at some point in their lives, compared to 2.0% of men.

 

  • Emotional Trauma: Abuse, death, family separation, bullying, or other stressful life events can increase risk factors for BED.

While BED can develop at any age, it most commonly begins in late teens and early ’20s. With an increased focus on diet trends and picture-perfect social media profiles, teens are more susceptible to using food as a coping mechanism to manage emotions. The sooner one receives support, the sooner they will be on the road to recovery.

Health Risks of Binge Eating Disorder

Binge eating can be related to a variety of physical, emotional, and social issues. Chronic health conditions, such as heart disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure, are strongly linked to being overweight and obese. BED can also impact one’s mental and emotional health, resulting in higher rates of insomnia, anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues. Finally, BED can interfere with social relationships and engagements.

Signs and Symptoms of BED

  • Going through large amounts of food in short periods of time
  • Stashes of empty wrappers and containers
  • Appears or feels uncomfortable eating around others
  • Avoidance of eating in public or with others
  • Hoards food in odd places
  • Carves out time in the schedule for a binge session
  • Withdraws from usual friends and activities
  • Always appears to be on a diet and has an extreme interest with body weight and shape
  • Feelings of shame, embarrassment, depression, or guilt after overeating
  • Never feeling satisfied, no matter how much food is consumed
  • Extreme fluctuations in weight, both up and down
  • Stomach cramps or other non-specific gastrointestinal complaints

Treatment

Treatment for Binge Eating Disorder is a multidimensional approach with a treatment team that includes a physician, registered dietitian, and therapist trained in BED.

If you are suffering with BED, or you know someone who is, please reach out for support. Recovery is possible.

 

Article sourced from my newsletter, Radiant Health.

 

 

Food Deprivation Leads to Binge Eating

Overindulging in a food item that you restrict is common if you are a chronic dieter. This is called deprivation backlash-rebound eating.

 

Here’s a common scenario: you deprive yourself of a certain food, such as your beloved chocolate because you are on a diet and you are not allowed to have chocolate, right? Well an old-time friend comes to visit and brings you a box of chocolates. You put it away vowing you will not open it. A family member spots the chocolate, opens the box and enjoys a piece. Now what do you do?

 

You think to yourself, “I’m not going to have any, I’m on a diet and I’m doing so well”. You walk away.

 

A few minutes later, you think to yourself, “Hmmm, I’ll just have one, really only one.” You eat one. It was yummy.

 

A few minutes later, “I’ll just have one more”. And then…”Oh shucks, I blew it. I might as well finish the box, there are only 4 more. I promise I will start my diet again tomorrow, and I won’t eat chocolate again!”

 

Sound familiar?

 

You probably truly believe that you won’t eat chocolate again, or do you? You now feel guilty and as a punishment you skip dinner only to find yourself bingeing into the evening.

 

The above example is only one example of the backlash that happens when you deprive yourself of a food you love. You rebound by eating, and overeating.

 

There are many different forms of rebound eating.

 

Have you ever engaged in The Last Supper eating? I have had many clients tell me that the night before their first appointment with me they ate all the foods that they thought I would tell them they can no longer eat…. the foods that they thought would be off limits. Boy, were they surprised when I didn’t tell them that at all.

 

Listen, eating shouldn’t be this difficult. It’s time for you to make peace with food so you can once and for all stop the dieting cycle.

 

Need help? Click here to schedule a time to chat.

 

 

Your turn to take action: Tell me about a time that you engaged in rebound eating or The Last Supper. Share your stories in the comments section below.

 

How Do I Stop Eating Impulsively?

To someone just hearing about intuitive eating, it sounds glorious, almost too good to be true.

 

“You mean I can eat all those foods I’ve deprived myself of all those years? And still lose weight? Where has this been all my life?”

 

So, before I delve too deeply into the topic for today (which I’ll reveal in a moment), let me be sure that I am clear about something very important regarding intuitive eating.

 

Intuitive eating is not about losing weight. It’s about changing your relationship to food, your mind and your body.

 

If someone is telling you that they will teach you intuitive eating as a way to lose weight, please run the other way. I’m not saying that some people don’t release excess weight eventually. Some do, some don’t. It’s not the point.

 

More on this topic here!

 

Okay, now that I got that out of the way, let’s address today’s topic which is impulsive eating.

 

The definition of the word impulsive means “actions based on sudden desires or inclinations rather than careful thought; actions based on emotional impulses; acting under stress of emotion.”

 

When acting impulsively, you are acting quickly or acting without fully examining the consequences.

 

So for example, when you impulsively grab for the cookie when you walk in from work because it was sitting on the counter, or you impulsively reach for the ice cream in the freezer after you have an argument with your partner. These are examples of when you act without fully examining the consequences. And it’s only after you finish the cookie(s) or the pint of chocolate fudge ice cream that you stop and wonder “why did I do that again?”

 

Does this resonate with you?

 

Do you suddenly find yourself eating without having even thought about it first?

 

Then you feel guilty for “what I have just done…again” and start to criticize yourself for “not wanting it bad enough”?

 

Impulsive eating can be an emotional roller coaster with triggers at almost every meal that can lead you to overindulge.

 

And more often than not, there is some emotional reason behind that impulsive decision to eat. It’s just that sometimes it’s not so easy for you to figure it out. But, you have the power within you to identify the WHY behind your impulsive eating. You must first become aware in order to have change.

 

I’m going to show you how to start this process in my FREE 5-Day Challenge called ‘How to Triumph Over Emotional Eating’. This challenge will help you begin to break your pattern of emotional eating. Together we’ll find YOUR power.

Register for Free HERE!

 

During the 5 days, you’ll learn my “6 P’s to Success” in changing your relationship to food, so food no longer has power over you.  Each day you’ll receive an email with training and a quick assignment to complete. Then later that day we will meet in our Facebook group for a Facebook Live training to dig deeper into that day’s lesson. You’ll also be able to can ask questions and get my personal help.

 

This challenge will help you triumph over emotional eating and give you the tools you need to succeed.

 

As a bonus, you will have a chance to win prizes just for participating in the challenge!  You will also get access to all 5 videos after the challenge is over.

 

What are you waiting for?  Head over to http://dietfreeradiantme.com/howtotriumphchallenge and sign up today to secure your spot!

 

Powerful Strategies to Conquer Overeating – The Final 3!

Have you been following my series Powerful Strategies to Conquer Overeating on The Diet Free Zone Show?

Last month I shared with you the first 3 strategies to conquer overeating and today I will share the final 3. But before I do, let me remind you what the first 3 strategies are.

Strategy #1: Be patient!

Forget about quick fixes. It can take 3-6 months to replace bad habits with healthy ones. You want these new habits to last a lifetime, don’t you? Then what’s your rush. Give yourself plenty of time to change, and don’t focus on perfection. If you set an impossible deadline for yourself, you will become discouraged and throw in the towel. Patience is a virtue!

 

Strategy #2: Talk to yourself!

Positive self-talk is crucial to deal with those inner voices that discourage you from making change. Remind yourself why you want to change, for example “I’ll feel better if I lose weight’. Speak out loud to yourself so you hear your positive voice, rather than just “speaking in your head”.

 

Strategy #3: Make new friends!

Do you have friends that sabotage your efforts? Or, are the friends you hang out with always interested in going out to eat? If so, find people who will support your efforts, and who are interested in going for a hike on a Sunday rather than a movie. Take a good look at who you hang out with and their influence on your eating and exercise habits. And, if needed, make a change!

 

Now, on to the next 3 strategies to conquer overeating.

 

The videos for these strategies can be found by clicking each of the images below:
Strategy #4: Forget About Willpower

Powerful strategy 4

 

 

 

 

 

Strategy #5: Set up a Positive Home Environment

Powerful strategy 5

 

 

 

 

 

Strategy #6: Cheer Yourself On

Powerful strategy 6

 

 

 

 

 

After watching the entire series, let me know which strategies are working for you!