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Original poster

to ask how to stop bingeing

342 replies

WaterandSandy · 19/04/2026 13:36

Just eaten half a Victoria sponge, family bag of maltesers and family bag of peanut M&Ms and that’s by lunchtime. It’s like this every day.
Dont say WLI but any other suggestions would be welcome

OP posts:
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Original poster
WaterandSandy · 28/04/2026 00:19

suki1964 · 27/04/2026 20:20

Im another who reaches for greek yoghurt and frozen fruit to feel like Im having a treat.

I dont have a natural sweet tooth, I dont do sweets , puddings, ice cream etc , but biscuits and chocolate, white bread and butter - all bets are off

What I have noticed the longer I keep off the refined sugar, the more I crave and want spicy or very heavily flavoured food - Im at the stage of chilli flakes on scrambled eggs and hot sauce on everything

My tea tonight will sound disgusting to most, but I just love the flavours, dark rye bread, grated beetroot, rocket, cottage cheese, pickled pink onions, mackerel in spicy tomato sauce, with flaked chilli and black pepper

So much sour, sweet and hot on a plate , DH is eating chocolate beside me and Im not interested

Thanks. Just added some natural yoghurt and frozen raspberries to my grocery delivery order.
I lost 1.5kg in my first week, which is encouraging particularly as it has been a very stressful time relationship-wise so I would usually have been bingeing heavily to cope.

OP posts:
suki1964 · 27/04/2026 20:20

Im another who reaches for greek yoghurt and frozen fruit to feel like Im having a treat.

I dont have a natural sweet tooth, I dont do sweets , puddings, ice cream etc , but biscuits and chocolate, white bread and butter - all bets are off

What I have noticed the longer I keep off the refined sugar, the more I crave and want spicy or very heavily flavoured food - Im at the stage of chilli flakes on scrambled eggs and hot sauce on everything

My tea tonight will sound disgusting to most, but I just love the flavours, dark rye bread, grated beetroot, rocket, cottage cheese, pickled pink onions, mackerel in spicy tomato sauce, with flaked chilli and black pepper

So much sour, sweet and hot on a plate , DH is eating chocolate beside me and Im not interested

Original poster
WaterandSandy · 27/04/2026 17:46

WaterandSandy · 26/04/2026 22:19

Good idea. I’m more likely to saviour it in a cafe too rather than scoffing it down mindlessly

Show quote history

Savor not saviour. What an idiot!

OP posts:
Original poster
WaterandSandy · 26/04/2026 22:19

BEDanon · 26/04/2026 22:14

You might find it easier to have a single portion of food out so get it from a cafe or coffee shop rather than buying and getting tempted at the supermsrket
its hard

Show quote history

Good idea. I’m more likely to saviour it in a cafe too rather than scoffing it down mindlessly

OP posts:
BEDanon · 26/04/2026 22:14

WaterandSandy · 26/04/2026 22:06

I’m just too greedy for those to work for me ☹️

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You might find it easier to have a single portion of food out so get it from a cafe or coffee shop rather than buying and getting tempted at the supermsrket
its hard

cupfinalchaos · 26/04/2026 22:13

Whaleofatim · 19/04/2026 18:32

I’ve found some success with buying single portions of things I like. So, previously I’d buy a multipack of crisps (and eat them all in one night) I know I can’t do that and now I buy one packet if I want it that day. It’s more expensive and inconvenient but worth it to gain a bit of control.

I’ve also found some success in not banishing types of food altogether.

still have some days where my brain does a short circuit and I go back. Progress not perfection.

Me too- if I’m in a shop will buy two little Fredos (chocolate) for after dinner. I don’t stock up on them!

greensuitcase · 26/04/2026 22:08

Call Beat x

Original poster
WaterandSandy · 26/04/2026 22:06

BEDanon · 26/04/2026 21:58

Sorry for posting again but the other thing I’ve found helpful is none food treats. Bath bomb, new book, shower gel, lipstick, nice tea etc

I’m just too greedy for those to work for me ☹️

OP posts:
Original poster
WaterandSandy · 26/04/2026 22:06

BEDanon · 26/04/2026 21:38

Maybe find stuff you like that won’t trigger a binge?
one of my favourites is Greek yoghurt with lemon curd and a crushed meringue and raspberries
or yoghurt mixed with peanut butter and apple slices
I’ve swapped from milk chocolate to dark as well

Show quote history

Thanks for those suggestions, I’ll give them a try if I reintroduce some sweet treats in a couple of weeks.

OP posts:
Forthesteps · 26/04/2026 22:00

Don't have the stuff in the house. Only thing that works for me.
If others must have them, they buy and store them out of your way.

BEDanon · 26/04/2026 21:58

Sorry for posting again but the other thing I’ve found helpful is none food treats. Bath bomb, new book, shower gel, lipstick, nice tea etc

Original poster
WaterandSandy · 26/04/2026 21:45

Franpie · 26/04/2026 21:39

But you are having the odd sweet thing aren’t you? I thought you were having normal meals with no restrictions? So the odd can of Coke, or fruit?

It’s only tough and boring at the beginning. Hopefully, once you have spent more time with your therapist working through what makes you binge and your unhappiness, once you have got past the habit of bingeing to try and make yourself feel better, it will become gradually less tough and boring.

Why don’t you give yourself a target? Say, if you make it to 1 month with no binges, you can have a slice of cake in a coffee shop? (Don’t buy anything like that to eat at home). Then maybe by the time you get to the month point, you won’t want to anymore?

Sorry if my suggestions are useless, I dont have experience of bingeing, but I do have experience of giving up other harmful behaviours.

Show quote history

I’m having Diet Coke and I’m not intending to restrict fruit but haven’t actually had very much yet because it didn’t feature much in my binge diet.

Your suggestions have been really helpful. I was thinking of setting the target of 3 weeks before I have a treat (if I still want one) as that will be after my next appointment with my psychiatrist.

OP posts:
Franpie · 26/04/2026 21:39

WaterandSandy · 26/04/2026 21:29

Thanks for the reassurance but surely if it’s tough and boring then it isn’t sustainable long term? I’m not planning on going back to bingeing but maybe having prearranged treats occasionally but normal portion sizes of those.

Show quote history

But you are having the odd sweet thing aren’t you? I thought you were having normal meals with no restrictions? So the odd can of Coke, or fruit?

It’s only tough and boring at the beginning. Hopefully, once you have spent more time with your therapist working through what makes you binge and your unhappiness, once you have got past the habit of bingeing to try and make yourself feel better, it will become gradually less tough and boring.

Why don’t you give yourself a target? Say, if you make it to 1 month with no binges, you can have a slice of cake in a coffee shop? (Don’t buy anything like that to eat at home). Then maybe by the time you get to the month point, you won’t want to anymore?

Sorry if my suggestions are useless, I dont have experience of bingeing, but I do have experience of giving up other harmful behaviours.

BEDanon · 26/04/2026 21:38

WaterandSandy · 26/04/2026 21:29

Thanks for the reassurance but surely if it’s tough and boring then it isn’t sustainable long term? I’m not planning on going back to bingeing but maybe having prearranged treats occasionally but normal portion sizes of those.

Show quote history

Maybe find stuff you like that won’t trigger a binge?
one of my favourites is Greek yoghurt with lemon curd and a crushed meringue and raspberries
or yoghurt mixed with peanut butter and apple slices
I’ve swapped from milk chocolate to dark as well

Original poster
WaterandSandy · 26/04/2026 21:29

Franpie · 26/04/2026 21:25

You are starting to doubt your strength. Don’t give in to it. You can totally do this. You don’t need to binge a loads of sweet junk. You can sustain this. You have proven all week that you can do this!

Keep taking 1 day at a time. If you crave a sweet treat then maybe have some Greek yoghurt with some super ripe fruit or a tiny drizzle of honey. The protein in the Greek yoghurt should satiate you.

I know it’s tough, and boring, but remember how proud of yourself you felt after your first day.

Show quote history

Thanks for the reassurance but surely if it’s tough and boring then it isn’t sustainable long term? I’m not planning on going back to bingeing but maybe having prearranged treats occasionally but normal portion sizes of those.

OP posts:
Original poster
WaterandSandy · 26/04/2026 21:26

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Excuse me?

OP posts:
Franpie · 26/04/2026 21:25

WaterandSandy · 26/04/2026 19:25

7 days without any sweet junk now. Not sure it is sustainable long term to have nothing sweet at all but I’m not sure how long to try to keep it going at the start to get over the cravings?

You are starting to doubt your strength. Don’t give in to it. You can totally do this. You don’t need to binge a loads of sweet junk. You can sustain this. You have proven all week that you can do this!

Keep taking 1 day at a time. If you crave a sweet treat then maybe have some Greek yoghurt with some super ripe fruit or a tiny drizzle of honey. The protein in the Greek yoghurt should satiate you.

I know it’s tough, and boring, but remember how proud of yourself you felt after your first day.

BEDanon · 26/04/2026 21:23

WaterandSandy · 26/04/2026 20:54

It seems to be more common than I realised to graduate from AN to BED. I couldn’t understand for years how I had lost my willpower to starve myself to end up bingeing

Show quote history

I find trying to add to my diet (which is what I’m doing now) is better than thinking about trying to restrict bingeing
so I’m thinking how can I add fibre to this or veg or fruit or more protein. Then I’m on the mindset that I’m eating more somehow. Plus fibre makes me incredibly satiated

Notmycircusnotmyotter · 26/04/2026 21:17

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Original poster
WaterandSandy · 26/04/2026 21:05

ChubbyGroundhog · 26/04/2026 21:01

No worries. I was just saying that swinging from one extreme to another is common because our bodies get tired of extreme restriction so swing the other to compensate for the fatigue. Sorry I didn't make it clearer. Hope you're okay today x I am struggling a bit, too, but that's always the case with me!

Show quote history

Yes, that does make sense to swing from one to the other
Would you feel comfortable sharing what you are struggling with as someone else on the thread may be able to offer suggestions which could help?

OP posts:
ChubbyGroundhog · 26/04/2026 21:01

WaterandSandy · 26/04/2026 21:00

Sorry, I didn’t understand your post.

Show quote history

No worries. I was just saying that swinging from one extreme to another is common because our bodies get tired of extreme restriction so swing the other to compensate for the fatigue. Sorry I didn't make it clearer. Hope you're okay today x I am struggling a bit, too, but that's always the case with me!

Original poster
WaterandSandy · 26/04/2026 21:00

ChubbyGroundhog · 26/04/2026 20:58

Yes, I know.

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Sorry, I didn’t understand your post.

OP posts:
ChubbyGroundhog · 26/04/2026 20:58

WaterandSandy · 26/04/2026 20:58

I meant going from AN to BED

Show quote history

Yes, I know.

Original poster
WaterandSandy · 26/04/2026 20:58

ChubbyGroundhog · 26/04/2026 20:56

Perhaps it's your bodies way of just getting through diet fatigue. I, for one, have lost over 16 stone in my lifetime. Never, until recently, gained a solitary pound back. But, after 20 years of doing this, I'm exhausted and stopped caring for a few months. Sometimes, I just want a chocolate bar without flogging myself, afterwards.

Show quote history

I meant going from AN to BED

OP posts:
ChubbyGroundhog · 26/04/2026 20:56

WaterandSandy · 26/04/2026 20:54

It seems to be more common than I realised to graduate from AN to BED. I couldn’t understand for years how I had lost my willpower to starve myself to end up bingeing

Show quote history

Perhaps it's your bodies way of just getting through diet fatigue. I, for one, have lost over 16 stone in my lifetime. Never, until recently, gained a solitary pound back. But, after 20 years of doing this, I'm exhausted and stopped caring for a few months. Sometimes, I just want a chocolate bar without flogging myself, afterwards.

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