Binging – The Dieter’s Demon
While many people are aware of what food binging is all about, some may not be aware that binge eating is divided into two groups.
1. Binging and Purging (This is where food is consumed followed by self-induced vomiting.)
2. Straight Binging: (no self-induced vomiting)
It is this second type of binging we will be discussing in this article (Binge without purge). With 3% of adults suffering from binging, this problem is more common than many realize.
If you limit your view to only obese adults, the percentages climb to 10% to 15%. Clearly, this is more of a problem for obese people.
A discovery that has turned up in research is that dieting is often the trigger for binging. Binging is one way in which some people try to reduce stress. Dieting certainly qualifies as a stressful event. For some people, binging is a way of self-medicating in an effort to relieve feelings of frustration and anxiety.
When food is used in this way, it becomes a type of addiction. Unfortunately, like most addictions, binging carries the sufferer through a circular nightmare.
We binge because we feel bad, then we feel bad because we binged. The sufferer ends up caught on a treadmill with no off switch. This is a state of affairs that can be truly devastating.
And here we are, caught on the merry-go-round.
If you are a chronic binger or if someone close to you is, it’s important to realize that:
1. This may not be a problem that can be fixed without help.
2. There are several therapy options available today for this type of problem.
However, if you feel that this is something that can be handled alone, consider some of these proven approaches:
1. Stay away from aggressive calorie reduction. Aim for a maximum loss of 1 to 2 pounds per week.
2. DO NOT cut out all of the foods you like. Figure in a couple hundred calories per day of your favorite foods. This helps reduce frustration and can actually help you lose weight.
3. Do not allow yourself to go longer than four hours without food.
4. Keep the food coming! Distribute your daily food intake over four to six meals every day.
5. Structure your eating pattern. Eat on a schedule. The body seems much happier with this arrangement.
Also consider looking into the many relaxation approaches available these days. Remember that binging is a way of coping with stress. Until you can either reframe the stress (view things differently so that they are no longer stressful to you) or find non-food outlets for your stress, (meditation, sports, etc.) you may continue to be walking a tightrope.
