The worst (and perhaps most valuable) part about a binge
Binging, overeating, and emotional eating can really take a toll on both your mind and your body. But possibly the worst part about binging is that moment right after you binge, and you ask yourself, “what was I thinking? Why did I do that? What was the point?”
Many people who binge will feel the guilt and self-loathing coming on afterward with those reproachful inner questions, but unfortunately very few people will explore the answers to those questions. And that’s where the questions become very valuable: by taking the time to really think about why you chose to binge, you can get to the root of the issue and help yourself work out your issues one step at a time.
Answering these questions after a binge doesn’t necessarily mean that you’ll never binge again. But answering these questions every time you binge-eat can greatly increase your understanding of yourself and your thought process, and it can help postpone or prevent binges on occasion – with the goal of eventually reaching the point where you answer those questions before you’ve even binged, and thus dramatically reduce (or completely eliminate) binge episodes over time.
I strongly encourage you to be kind to yourself if you binge eat, overeat, or eat emotionally. Listen to what your body and your mind are telling you. Observe your patterns, and really think about why you feel that eating is going to solve xyz (or even talk it through with someone – like a Certified Holistic Nutritionist).
You might begin with the realization that you binge when you are procrastinating or feeling overwhelmed, but by continuing to probe, you might be able to get further to understand that you’re binging because you’re procrastinating because you’re doing something that doesn’t fit with your values, and that’s the thing that needs to change. Or you’re binging because you’re overwhelmed because you feel like you can’t handle juggling everything that you’ve taken on.
There are many overlapping steps and stages for why we might turn to food, and every time we answer the questions of why we’re binging or what brought it on, we can get that much closer to understanding the root cause and being able to change what’s at the root of it to then change our habits and behaviours.
Is binge eating, overeating, or eating emotionally an issue that you face? How do you handle it? Do you try to answer the questions? Have you been able to get to the root of it? Share in the comments section below!
If you struggle with binging, consider having a nutrition session to discuss what’s going on and to learn what might be at the root of it. Check out my Nutrition Consulting webpage for more info.
I often binge out of fear of change. I will be going along feeling good about my efforts and as soon as I start to feel that confidence that I can succeed I will binge. Then I am wondering what went wrong.
Definitely a major factor!
This is such a complex topic. Another underlying circumstance can be alcohol. Alcohol, especially on an empty stomach, can mess with insulin levels. This in turn can create a profound hunger which is near insatiable. I thought for a long time that I was binging for some combination of these reasons stated, or other perhaps. A funny thing happened when I quit drinking — I quit binge eating, almost simultaneously.
Just one more aspect of this phenomenon to be considered…
That’s a great point! Alcohol can make a really big difference.
I do agree that binge eating does not all the time affects your diet instead having a peace of mind that you have give yourself a break.
Wonderful and useful post, Sagan!
I will definitely remember your words of wisdom the next time I binge or a friend tells me she has binged!!! And try and learn from it.