Feelings of loss of control can be scary. Do you remember eating something and saying to yourself, “I don’t know why I ate that?” Did you keep eating? Did you ever figure out why?
For those experiencing binge eating disorder, food is potentially dangerous, and it can make weight loss impossible. In order to even create weight loss goals, someone with binge eating disorder needs to treat their disorder at the root of its cause. In this article, we’ll explore how to recover from binge eating disorder.
How To Recover from Binge Eating Disorder
Binge eating disorder isn’t as simple as enjoying food too much. It’s a compulsive disorder with psychological motivating factors where a person can’t control their eating habits. It rises from a variety of complex factors in a person’s background and psychology.
I remember when I was a binge eater. For breakfast I would eat 3 large-sized bagels full of cream cheese and jelly on a typical day, and swallow each mouthful with guilt and shame. I felt so bad every time I did this that my only resort was to sleep, as if I’d forget what has just happened that way. But 2 hours later as I woke up, the first thing hitting my mind was food again, not because I was hungry but because I couldn’t control myself. The same event would repeat itself day after day until the day my trip from the U.S. to China totally shifted me away from this pattern. (Read my experience here).
If you’ve had a similar mentally and physically stifling experience with food, you may have developed binge eating disorder.
However, don’t feel defeated yet because there is hope, and you can do something about it.
What is Binge Eating Disorder?
Binge eating disorder is an eating disorder characterized by eating too much food too often. According to the Mayo Clinic, “Binge-eating disorder is a serious eating disorder in which you frequently consume unusually large amounts of food and feel unable to stop eating.” (MayoClinic)
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Service says that, “Unlike other eating disorders, people who have binge eating disorder do not throw up the food or exercise too much.” (OASH) Binge eating can be a serious health problem.
Eating too much happens to us all sometimes. Special occasions make us feel excited about food. Visiting home and eating our nostalgic foods make that second or third plate look pretty attractive. Cheat days aren’t unheard of. In fact, they are completely okay.
For many people, eating too much every now and then isn’t dangerous. Overeating only becomes a problem when it turns into an uncontrollable compulsion. If you find yourself overeating every day, and at frequent intervals throughout the day, then you may be developing an eating disorder.
Binge Eating Disorder Symptoms
The main symptom of binge eating disorder is overeating. But overeating in this case doesn’t simply mean eating a large meal every now and then. Symptoms of binge eating disorder are characterized as…
- Eating too frequently, such as every two hours or even more often.
- Eating portions that are too large.
- Feeling a lack of control around eating.
Binge eating disorder behavior patterns may also include…
- Eating too fast.
- Eating until uncomfortably full, and still eating.
- Grazing even when not hungry.
- Feelings of embarrassment around eating, and subsequently hiding your eating.
(NIH)
Binge Eating Disorder Causes
It’s unclear exactly what causes binge eating disorder. According to The U.S. Department of Health and Human Service, “Researchers are not sure exactly what causes binge eating disorder and other eating disorders.” (OASH) Complicated factors likely contribute to the disorder, some of them genetic and biological. Certain people might show a tendency toward eating disorders.
Many of the factors are behavioral and psychological, however. And these can be treated.
Social factors also might play a role in binge eating disorder. “Studies suggest that people with binge eating disorder may use overeating as a way to deal with anger, sadness, boredom, anxiety, or stress.” (OASH)
Can You Recover from Binge Eating Disorder?
There is hope. People can get help with their binge eating disorder. With support and treatment, most people do recover. It takes time and the right tools. (NHS)
Guided coaching, self-help programs, and behavioral therapy are the best things you can do to help with your binge eating disorder.
Since the causes of binge eating disorder are at least partly psychological, behavioral, and social, relearning your eating habits can help, and even fix, complusive eating habits.
Many of us grew up developing an unhealthy relationship with food, which some studies have suggested contributes to eating disorders. (OASH) Lean Instinct Formula™ is designed to help you relearn rules about eating that have forced limited factors on your food beliefs.
If we can help you fix your relationship with food at a the behavioral and psychological level, we might be able to help you.
Binge Eating Disorder Treatment
You can treat binge eating disorder with a combination of therapies. In some cases, behavioral therapy is all you need. The Lean Instinct Formula™ is designed to help you reorient your relationship with food so that you can seek healthy weight loss and improve your relationship with food on a psychological level.
In more serious cases, people might need to combine behavioral therapy methods, such as Lean Instinct Formula™, with medication. Although the long-term goal would be relearning a healthy relationship with food to promote better health naturally. (MayoClinic)
It may feel like the ultimate loss of control to have a compulsion to eat unhealthy amounts and eat too often. It is possible to retrain your psychology and behaviors away from the food rules that have created your unhealthy relationships with eating. With Lean Instinct Formula™, you can relearn the rules that have contributed to the unhealthy relationship you have with food. When you do, you can start to lose weight in a healthy, fulfilling way, and take pleasure in eating again.
Rise Lean helps you learn how to stop emotional eating. If you want more information on how to recover from binge eating disorder, book a 1:1 call to find out more.
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