How Can I Overcome Binge Eating

Binge eating quite literally means eating to excess, and is a problem reported by at least one in five women today.

For some women, a binge can be an occasional over-indulgence which has no bearing on their lives, but for others it is a major problem involving loss of control with compulsive over-eating.

Personal accounts of binge eating vary widely both in terms of when and how they occur and in the types of foods eaten. However the similarity with all binge eating is that the underlying problem is one of emotional eating. Binge eating, compulsive over-eating, over-eating, comfort eating and cravings all occur when we are eating in response to how we feel, our emotions, and not because we are hungry.

Dieting broken with episodes of binge eating is a common pattern of eating seen in people who have been struggling to permanently lose weight. You may have tried numerous diets without success and have continued to comfort eat.  Weight loss will be hard to achieve unless the underlying reasons for compulsive eating are dealt with.

To overcome binge eating and compulsive eating it is very important to understand the reasons behind why you are eating in this way. People with a binge eating problem often turn to food for comfort, in order to deal with the problems in other areas of their lives. Work stress, lack of confidence and low self esteem, anxiety, depression, overwhelming sadness, loneliness, low self esteem, loss of control, being overweight and unhappy with their appearance are just some of the emotional triggers.

By turning to food to heal emotional problems, eating becomes a habit which prevents us from learning the skills we need to effectively resolve our emotional distress and improve our mental health.

If you do have a binge eating disorder and feel that it is something you will struggle to overcome on your own then seek help and advice from your doctor. They have experience of helping people in your situation.  There are also many self help books that deal with eating disorders such as bulimia, anorexia and can help with weight management and keeping fit.

Otherwise, you may find that keeping an ‘awareness’ journal is helpful in identifying your eating triggers. Over-eating and binge eating are often mindless activities and so becoming more aware allows you to begin to control your eating habits.

Make sure that you are consuming enough of the right foods on a daily basis. Feeding your body the nutrients it needs to perform at its best, instantly makes you feel better and have more energy.

Develop alternatives to eating. When you feel the need to reach for food, do something different. This way you will begin to break the habit of eating in response to your emotions. A physical activity such as walking or going to the gym will help you to keep fit and keep your mind off food.

Allow yourself to eat your favourite foods but only in moderation. Don’t deprive yourself entirely instead treat yourself but in a controlled way.

Have belief in yourself, like me and come to a positive decision that you will develop a healthy relationship with food and lose weight.

You can learn more by registering your email address for a free copy of 'The Emotional Eater's Guide to Achieving Permanent Weight Loss' on our home page.