Learn how to gain control over food and overcome binge eating. Develop healthy eating habits to lose weight and better manage stress.
Binge eating is a disorder common among obese adults. Binge eaters feel they can’t stop eating once they start. Often triggered by stress and unwanted emotions, binging is something that can be controlled with the right help and support.
Signs that you are a binge eater:
- Feelings of being out of control
- Frequently eat large portions of food
- Hiding food and eating in private
- Feeling guilty after overeating
- Yo-yo dieting
- Feeling depressed
- Having metabolic syndrome
How to Gain Control Over Binge Eating
- Recognize that you have a binge eating disorder
- Realize that it is normal to have a relapse while overcoming your binge eating
- Enlist support from family, friends and a self-help group
- Learn to eat naturally by eating only when you are hungry and never eating until you are full.
- Eat frequent small meals throughout the day so you don’t get overly hungry and eat absentmindedly.
- Be conscious of the kinds of food you put in your body
- Practice mindful eating
- Eat for health and energy rather than cravings
- Try cognitive-behavior therapy or psychotherapy
- Try an antidepressant
- Find the motivation to exercise daily
- Look for the silver lining – adapt a positive attitude
Benefits of overcoming binge eating:
- Regain control over food
- Lose weight
- Better manage stress
- Stop feeling like you have to hide your eating habits
- Feel better about your body
- Improve you overall health
- Reduce chances of getting a life-threatening disease
- Have more energy
- Increase self-esteem
Talk openly and honestly with your doctor if you have signs of a binge eating disorder. Ask for help and be willing to do what it takes to overcoming binge eating and regain control over food.
It is just as important to avoid dieting as it is to avoid binge eating when trying to overcome this disease. Trying to drastically reduce your calories or omitting food groups while learning to overcome binge eating may send you into a yo-yo dieting pattern where you will gain and lose weight repeatedly, without any benefits to your health.
