A secret binge eater

[hurried]

I am seeking, rather than offering advice. I have to be honest, if I could I would eat all day, and I will often have large amounts of carbs in one sitting. I put my toddler in the car today to drive myself us to a local shop to buy carbs- I have nothing against carbs, I haven't been trying to avoid them, I just started on my child's breakfast biscuits this morning and went into a frenzy, finishing off the whole pack. I was stuffing them as soon as I brought them. I looked in the mirror and saw my child watching me. I felt so ashamed and thought I would be so embarrassed if anyone saw me.

Today was a terrible day. My son has had chicken pox and both been in all week and suddenly it got to me. I can't talk to my GP about this, and I don't have friends that wouldn't judge me for this. So I am seeking support here x

This is great thank you.

Ahh yes the 3000 calories, the above is my "ideal day" I guess I have left out some bits, portion sizes too. Guilty gulp, I often go through a 100g bar of dark choc during the day- it's very dark (over 85% cocoa), snacking to lift my energy- yes, seriously, if I am honest. I have lots of decaff coffee -with lots of hot skimmed milk. I also pick on my son's left overs, to be completely honest, this often means eating an extra half a sandwich, chicken in breadcrumbs, fishcakes and so on. If I am honest, if the bagels are taken home, I'll snack on those too. I often snack to lift my energy levels. Do you think wholegrain bagels would have a negative affect on blood glucose levels.

My evening meals are quite often high calorie or low calorie, usually low fat but I'll often add in avocado, it's odd, I probably have a healthy relationship with food in the evenings, it can vary from being low calorie, reasonably low carb to great big bowls of pasta with tomato sauce.

I did try having a aubergine parmigiana for lunch (that is divine, thank you for that great suggestion) but felt very tired afterwards, but made it for supper (my husband loved it!) and it was perfect, I slept well, despite it being low carb.

That's interesting what you say about fat.... I do generally choose low fat options over full fat, I guess because I know I have a large appetite.

It sounds as if you feel the need to control your food intake during the day so that you can then relax in the evening and enjoy a good meal with DH, because if you've succeeded then you haven't had many calories...I totally get that - but it's not working, you are ending up feeling exhausted, hungry and then eating poor snacks and/or bingeing . You are running around with DC all day, you need to keep your energy levels up and blood sugar even. This has to start with a decent breakfast that includes some protein.

I am reluctant to start telling you things you should or shouldn't eat at the moment, my advice would be to try and just eat as healthily as you can, without worrying about your weight. Then after a few weeks, feel the difference in energy, mood etc and go from there. But I think that 'letting go' that way probably sounds pretty scary . If you really want to low carb, porridge for breakfast, plus bagel at lunch, lots of milky coffee and carbs with dinner isn't going to fit that . Moderately low carb would be to have the carbs with just one meal .

Little steps - this week...ditch the dark chocolate habit, it's just sending your blood sugar right up after which they crash and leave you craving more. Keep two squares per day for when you really want it, other times have a snack that includes a bit of protein. Have just one milky coffee per day - have a full fat one, it is so much more delicious - savour and enjoy it . Do you like any herbal tea, or better still green or white tea? I can't stand green tea but am getting on pretty well with white. Try as much as you can do drink that, or failing that, builders tea with a tiny splash of milk.

Hi hurried I'm not doing so well but I'm reading along.

Very interesting about your sleepiness after carbs for lunch.
I work at home 3 days a week. On those days during the summer I had a big salad, usually chicken and avocado with home made French dressing. No carbs except for the veggies and avocado.
But on my work days, for convenience I just take a chicken or tuna sandwich with perhaps some lettuce or tomato in the sandwich. I find myself wanting to sleep after 45 minutes after eating lunch at work, but when I'm at home I have energy all afternoon.
So I'm trying to come up with some ideas for portable lunches for my work days that don't have starchy carbs in them, it's embarassing for me to be yawning all afternoon after lunch!

sleep I haven't heard of white tea. I do drink some herbal tea at work, and usually have one cup of 'builder's tea' a day. I can't stand green tea either, can you describe the taste of the white? And what brand should I be looking for.

Hi- white tea is not unlike green but has a much less bitter taste. It is rarer than green tea so more expensive but has all the health benefits, if not more, than green tea. I have tried an organic one with elderflower which was lovely, also twinings one with pomegranate is nice. Tea pigs do a great quality unflavoured one called silver tips that is very good but ££.

Ideas for lunches...

• make a vegetable frittata (add a couple of extra egg white to boost protein if you wish), the night before work and take a big slice with maybe tomato and onion (and avocado) salad on the side

• get a bag of merchant gourmet healthy grains (quinoa, bulgur, soya flakes) and throw in some chopped spring onion, mint, parsley, halved cherry tomatoes, a pack of pomegranate seeds and half a pack of cubed feta. Dress with equal parts lemon juice and olive oil, salt and pepper. I love this salad and it keeps well for a couple of days too.

• tin of tuna, some cannellini beans, flat leaf parsley, lemon zest, a few capers (vinegary ones), black olives and cherry tomatoes. French dressing.

• if you have the urge for a bready type lunch, or it's hard to avoid, have a wholegrain bagel but pull the dough out of the middle and fill the crust with, for example, smoked salmon and cream cheese....or any protein based filling you fancy...

Dinner

• bake a large piece of smoked cod or haddock in foil with butter and salt/pepper. Steam a big bag of spring greens and when the fish is cooked pour the buttery juice from foil over the greens, put fish on top and add a soft poached egg - and hollandaise for extra yum.

• make thai hot and sour soup. Chicken stock, a sliced chilli, thumb of finely chopped ginger and 4 minced cloves garlic. Stir in 2tbsps fish sauce, one tbsp each of soy sauce, lime juice, rice vinegar and brown sugar. Add your own selection of chopped veg (or use a ready prepped stir-fry bag from supermarket). Add raw prawns or cooked and shredded chicken, or bake some salmon with chilli flakes and serve with the soup once it's ready. Once veg and protein has had 3-5 mins simmering gently, remove from heat and stir in 2 beaten eggs to thicken. Serve immediately with lime wedges and chopped coriander. I love m&s little thai fish cakes with this but they are very spicy.

• cook a nice steak to your liking and serve with a big portion of roasted Mediterranean type veggies with balsamic drizzled over and some steamed broccoli. Serve a sauce with the steak if you like.

• large seared tuna steak with stir fried veg

• grilled rack of lamb or lamb steakwith aubergine parmigiana and some steamed greens or roast tomatoes

• stuffed chicken breasts with (cream cheese and green beans for example...) and green veg, roasted tomatoes.

• season salmon fillets, wrap in a couple of slices of Parma ham each and bake. Serve with small portion of warm puy lentils mixed with some steamed spinach and pop a dollop of seasoned yoghurt on the lentils. Green veg on side.

Feedback very welcome....

Helloo - anyone still around? How are you getting on?

Sleepwhenidie, I do apologise for not getting back to you earlier. Your menu plan is fantastic and well thought out and it must have taken a long time to think up and write I wonder if any others have been following it?
I had been doing well but the last few days I lost the plot a bit. I haven't felt like doing anything. I thought maybe it was the cerazette (sp?) or maybe just me. I usually make the most of my LO going to nursery this morning I drove myself off some food. I didn't beat myself up about it, but I think I have to take responsibility I could have been doing something much more productive. Sigh.

I think it's moving on from a binge, I have tried not feeling guilty, but it's not that, I've just carried on. I probably should have booked a gym class.... I find them motivating. I'm sorry I am not gleeing with success and I feel guilty with all the support I have received too. We have lost our babysitter at the moment and I'm very spoilt but I am a little bored with tidying up each day and waiting for my husband to get home late :-(

There is my moaning. No justification. What I would say is the menu plan sounds fantastic. I know this sounds ridiculous that I may even be worried about health considering all I can eat in one sitting, but do you try and avoid saturated fat?

Hi Hurried, no problem at all, I am just glad you are ok. I'll say it again - don't beat yourself up about the bingeing. It could be the cerazette, it could be hormones or just plain old tiredness and general lethargy but we all have our up and down days. I do think booking gym classes in advance would be a good idea - if they are arranged then it will be more of a big deal to cancel rather than just not go? Is your DH home a bit more this week? Can you plan some time for you and maybe some time just the two of you?

Can I suggest you start trying something when you binge? Try and examine at the time what is triggering it and how you are feeling whilst bingeing, and also afterwards? So sort of be curious and gentle about the whole process and think about what void it might be trying to fill? So be conscious, not on autopilot/frenzy mode, as much as possible? So no judging, no self admonishment and no guilt, just curiosity and interest? Keep notes about it, write down whatever is occurring to you at the time.

Regarding diet, I avoid transfats and rarely eat deep fried food (although once in a while I love fish and chips!) but I don't avoid saturated fat no. There is no strong evidence to show that if you eat a low carb diet, that saturated fat (in moderation of course) presents health problems. It also plays a big part in helping to make a lower carb diet sustainable, because it stops you feeling deprived .

Hi Hurried and everyone else. I have NCed in honour of this thread - a very timely thread as I have been thinking about this a lot recently.

I'm another long term binge eater and I think it is also tied to low level depression / boredom / loneliness. It started when I was at school and I lived in a different town to my friends. I used to go to the shop every day after school, buy some crisps and sweets and then eat them tucked up in bed. I was in the house on my own and looking back I was lonely so the food was my comfort.

Fast forward to adulthood and I still have problems with this. I have never really admitted this before. I am overweight - a size 16 but a good 3 stone over my healthy BMI. I overeat generally (I just love certain foods, especially unhealthy stuff) but every so often I get into a binge period. This time it has coincided with being at home more during the day and feeling lonely. I have also felt quite lethargic and low which makes me wonder if I am mildly depressed and if the binge periods coincide with this.

My latest binge food is Pringles and I literally ate a whole tube yesterday and most of a tube today. I was in the house on my own and it was grey and miserable outside. I have also been very tired as DC is not sleeping well at the minute and I insist on going to bed too late (usually watching DVDs or MNing ) I feel sick and poisoned tonight. I know how bad Pringles make me feel (even in small amounts) but somehow I love the taste and texture as I eat them. Eating a whole tube in 24-48 hours has become commonplace in the last few weeks, which horrifies me.

I feel like a failure when I binge. I feel like a failure when I overeat. I feel like a failure for being fat. I have never admitted this to a soul, not even DH who could not possibly understand. Everything else in my life looks like a success but I have never managed to get a handle on this. I sometimes feel like because it started as a teen these behaviours are hardwired into my brain now.

I could write pages on this but I feel quite tearful having put this down. So I just wanted to say Hurried, as others have said - you are not alone. Please don't be hard on yourself. We've been using these behaviours for a long, long time. They will not be beaten overnight. I've bought the book recommended upthread about eating disorders and plan to start working through. If my mood doesn't improve I will be going to the GP and saying that I think I may have mild depression. In the meantime I plan to try and get out walking to use the 'exercise antidepressant'.

Thanks to anyone who has read this far and good luck with your own eating issues.

Hi Secret, thanks for posting. I think the knowledge that you are far from alone with compulsive eating is a huge comfort for anyone struggling with this, whether they post or not. It's clearly something that is very difficult, if not impossible, to talk to others in RL about but offloading here can be such a relief and hopefully will set you on a path to working it all out...please hang around and keep reading/posting .

You also must try and stop feeling like a failure, you are most definitely not. Every one of us has coping mechanisms, few are healthy, some are positively dangerous. Ask yourself, would you look at another overweight person, or someone you knew drank a bottle of wine a night because they are unhappy for some reason and think them a 'failure'? I doubt it...so why be such a harsh critic of yourself? Be kinder. Be patient. Be curious about the feelings or aspects of your life that may be prompting the binges and try to understand them (note - don't rush to fix them, or the bingeing, immediately, as you said, there's a bit of hard wiring there. It won't be quick or easy to re-programme but it can be done .)

I binge eat and plain overeat and attend an eating disorders group. I've been going for ages and although my weights the same I think my brain is slowly changing. Its really hard work. I'm learning a lot about eating disorders and so much of it is mental -you could crash diet 6 stone but still have the eating disorder. We've been working on dealing with the issues, alongside picking up techniques to curb binging. The first thing we learn though is its 'not about the food' and talk of food is even banned in the group sessions, only allowed in the one to ones.

Just realised there were more pages. I'll read and catch up -I'm finding it really helpful to read others experiences. Perhaps we could work through things together.

Littlerobots - your comment about your group and the fact that 'it's not about the food' is so right, we definitely need to look at everything else that's going on in our lives (and in our past) that is driving the compulsive behaviour.

It's natural to seek comfort from food, the most natural thing in the world..from a baby breastfeeding, to a loved one preparing your favourite meal, it's so tied up with love and the comforting and enjoyable sensations it brings (if only temporarily). We need to try and understand why we feel we need more of that comfort than our body is really asking for (or would benefit from). Fighting or trying to control compulsions using willpower is a battle we are destined to lose, we need to go deeper than that.

I've caught up now!

Hurried - thankyou so much for starting the thread, I can identify so much with what you say. I know tiredness and stress are "triggers" for me. I really struggle on a day that I wake up tired and low and have to fight the urge to put the tv on for the children, sit and just eat. Its a vicious circle isn't it? When I'm full of beans and not stressed its a lot easier to make better choices.

Sleep - Thanks for all your input on the thread. I like your menu ideas (Half my problem is I dont take the time to properly menu plan or to try cooking things, I'm exhausted by about 3 and then go for whatever is "easy" at 5). It looks a lot like the "clean eating" idea, I like that a lot ideologically but find it hard to stick to as life is so chaotic at the moment.

I really like the idea above about being more in touch with your body - listening to it/ nourishing it. Can't remember your exact words, that's a concept that will help me.

The willl power issue is a big one too isn't it - eveyone (even my dr) just says "eat less and exercise more" but its a much bigger deal than that.

So far this week I've said no to biscuits at toddler groups, not had a pudding when I ate out and feeling more confident in my decisions (I normally have a "fear" of not eating something I want. Its odd). Today I was hungry just after lunch, decided I fancied yoghurt and banana (after reading it further up thread!) thought that would be good and nutritional but I would have it for my afternoon snack. Somehow feels more in control of the decision and ok with thinking about what I'm really wanting/feeling.

I'm very very overweight so its going to be a long journey physically as well as mentally.

I identify with the "failure" thing too. Overall life hasn't turned out as I'd hoped and I have to talk myself out of feeling a failure a lot.

Marking place to read this later as the posts on here look really helpful. Have ADD and disordered eating. According to my ADD book, carbs do indeed give you a 'squirt' of dopamine. Plus reading through the Paleo and low carb threads, it's apparent that sugar and wheat etc are highly addictive and it's hard to eat a small amount of them. Looking forward to reading this thread properly later

I've done relatively ok over the weekend (with a bit of donuts) but now on drugs that increase blood sugar and appetite for a week :-( I'm weighing weekly and a bit anxious about that.

How are you hurried? And anyone else?

Hi Littlerobots, can I ask why you are weighing weekly? Are you trying to diet whilst on these drugs (and trying to address bingeing )? If so, how are you doing it?

Anotherseceretscoffer (:-) like the name), Littlerobots, Badseesaddict, thank for posting. It somehow comforting to know I am not alone.

Have you found anything works for you before?

It's interesting that Sleepwhenidie mentions breastfeeding, I have to say when I'm bingeing I'm in a state of euphoria, I do think part of that is by some physiological mechanism... personally, it's hardly ever a box of chocolates (I could devour them too :-) but when on a real low I seek out sugary cereal, bread....cake..stodge! Carbs. They do lift my mood for a while, then afterwards I am in a state of repulsion sets in and a "who on earth did I do that as I feel even more sluggish and sick". Sleepwhenidie is full of good posts and support as are all the other forum members.

The first week I went on this forum I felt great, it felt for the first time I didn't have to hide anything and I didn't feel judged. There has been some exceptional advice and support.

I had fallen of the wagon and for me it can start first thing, I just want to reach for coffee. I am not sure if this helps, but actually what has stopped me bigeing when I am not feeling mentally great is by booking a gym class- I nenver thought I would be a gym class kind of gal, and I'm not talking a full on cardio class, a Tai Chi type class. I booked one over the weekend and interestingly, all morning I didn't binge (although tired etc) as I knew I had booked it and couldn't get out of it and didn't want to feel sick/too full when going. So others advice on finding something where you can't binge (and this class is great because you can't binge before either - you would just feel ill. I appreciate it won't work every time, but just avoiding binge situations seems to work at the moment.

A terrible confession, I think I used to control bingeing when I was younger because I was concerned about my appearance... probably, hormone..ie boys etc, going out, I was probably too vain to binge all the time. Since then, I no longer really care how I look, and I obviously care how I feel as I seek food for a high/comfort when stressed, bored, frustrated, generally binges follow that tired, really down lethargic feeling but I am not very good at not being impulsive and being mindful, ie "if I eat this bagel and I'm not hungry, I will want more as I'm eating for a different reason to hunger, and will need to carry on because being full won't make any difference"- actually just typing that seemed like a revelation, and common sense but it's not something I think about at the time, so often I think, "this will give me some energy". I know this isn't the same for everyone, but when I was more vain in my youth I obviously found willpower, so it's seeking a different motivation, and obviously my own health isn't good enough!

Well done Littlerobots, for avoiding the biscuits at toddler groups. It's hard isn't it. I find if I don't have one I get lots of comments. I think the other mum's must have decent relationships with food, they are all slim and always eating the cake and biscuits. It is interesting about your ED group, where directed to that through your doctor? Is it overeaters anon?

It's interesting too when Sleepwhenidie says it's not about the food.

Any way I have rambled, and I'm not sure I have been very helpful at all, but I'm just posting to let you know how I am getting on. Having a chat to a friend who is a foodie, says she turned her obsession in food to a healthy one by learning to love to cook (she doesn't have children yet!). She has learnt to love food and she loves "good healthy food" and loves learning new recipes and thinking about what a tasty meal can do for her, not just because of the taste but her and her husband's health. I don't think it's that easy but it did shock me to hear she once said said she went to a number of different shops to buy food, because she would go out of one shop and eat a cake, then go into another (so they didn't recognise her) and eat another and so on. She is slim, beautiful hair and skin and I never suspected or has she admitted she once felt like this. She did say she was lonely at the time.

I started to prepare myself a massive salad, with loads of veg, salmon, cheese, very low carb and I felt so great afterwards... even if I still looked an old hag... Badseedaddict, which book are you reading, does it say to avoid carbs?

A dietitian told me I need to include the complex carbs, and this used to work when I took one wholegrain sandwich to work, but it seems now, if I have access to more, I just keep eating them...

Sleepwhenidie has been a great resource as have others on this forum.

Keep in touch xx

Hi Hurried - don't worry about rambling, post as much as you want! I think its good for you to be able just to talk and probably helpful for others to read and know that there are plenty of other people in the same situation. I'm so pleased you have found a friend to speak to about it in RL too, even better that she looks so slim and beautiful - it just goes to show that you can never tell what demons people have and I do believe that people with a truly healthy, relaxed relationship with food and their body are in the minority. I also think that her approach of making food - good, healthy, delicious food - an interest/hobby sounds like it would work well for you as you are interested in it already.

I'm so glad you did the tai chi class - interesting that you didn't feel the need to binge afterwards. I think often binge eating is a quest for nourishment - but nourishment in the non-food sense. We must all make time to do what nourishes us emotionally/spiritually. Whether that be an exercise class, painting, dancing, music (listening or creating), poetry, walking outside, having sex, playing with children or pets....these things feed our souls and finding the things that you enjoy, that relax you, then doing them regularly, will decrease dependence on the undesirable habits we use to try and replace them. Physical activity is something I am particularly keen on as a way of trying to get back in touch with our bodies too, learning to appreciate (if not love) them for all that they are and can do - rather than feeling locked in battle!

As I've said before, for now I'd try not to get too hung up on what you are eating, especially the carbs/no carbs thing. Personally I minimise carbs because I feel much healthier that way, but can't give them up completely - I simply cannot get my head around life without some bread in the day, so I keep it to one or two slices of granary bread and then the rest of my carbs come from veg/dairy (80-90% of the time ). Everyone is different and we all need to find a healthy, sustainable way of eating that we enjoy and physically thrive on. No one diet - low carb/vegan/paleo is perfect for everyone and there are shades of grey around them that can work - eg some 'vegetarians' eating fish!

Whenever possible if you want carbs then I would recommend making healthier choices - so choose beans, healthy grains, sweet potatoes or lentils for example, rather than anything with white flour as its base (also in preference to potato or rice), but there's no need to cut it out completely. Think first about aiming to feed your body well, enjoying the food you choose and taking care of yourself, not trying to lose weight. By doing the former, the latter will often follow but if necessary you can worry about that later when you are feeling on a more even keel. Did you get an omega-3 supplement?

Littlerobots I just wanted to come back to you on the 'failure' thing - could you try and look at yourself as an outsider might, but as if you were a child (perhaps, your own child) telling you that she considers herself a failure? What would you feel/say to the child? What positive aspects of life would you point out? In this way could you try and be kinder and more sympathetic towards yourself?

Just on the meal plannning thing, why is life crazy? What is your typical day's routine and what would you cook that is 'easy' at 5pm? What food do you and your family enjoy?

This is the first time I have ever done this, stopped a binge - mainly because there isn't much in the house, but I have a day in with my LO, we are together all today and I'm very, very tired, I woke up and just started eating, even polishing off the leftovers of LO's porridge! and realised I'm not hungry. I know if I stay in I am in a "danger" zone, but I feel a complete cop out going out with my LO to completely avoid bingeing (I thought I would take money for a coffee somewhere and maybe take LO out to lunch) but I think that's what I am going to do, despite there being a lot of ironing and washing to do. There is so much guilt, guilt in not doing the housework and guilt for taking LO out just so I don't binge.

I'm working away and haven't had chance to full catch up on the posts, same with the other threads I'm on . As soon as I get chance I'll catch up with everyone.
Just wanted to say to sleep I tried a variation of one of your lunch suggestions the other day. I got the Merchant Gourmet Red & White Quinoa, mixed about a 1/4 of a bag of it with a tuna salad. Normally if I do tuna salad it's just tuna, mayo and a squirt of lemon juice, but I added thinly grated carrot, celery and spring onion to the mix. Then served it all on some romaine lettuce and it was very nice.
This will definitely become a go-to lunch for work. The only problem is that I ended up wasting half the pack of quinoa because I didn't find a way to use it all up. It needs to be used within 3 days of opening so I think I'll have to have the same lunch for 3 consecutive days and have a third of a bag each time. I'm wondering if it can be frozen but I'm a bit wary to do so as it doesn't mention it on the pack.
Anyway, it was delicious and so convenient, whenever I've tried to cook quinoa myself it ended up a slushy inedible mess!

How funny Herdy I tried a new recipe with quinoa last night (I am trying to find as many ways as I can of making it enjoyable ), cod fillets flash fried in oven proof pan with a splash of olive oil and pesto butter (came with the fish at Sainsbury's) for a few mins then threw in a pack of fresh plum tomatoes and roasted for 5 mins, added in a bag of Waitrose quinoa and lentils for another 5 mins of cooking. Stirred a bag of steamed spinach in with the lentils et voila. It was really nice - and so quick and easy. Could you use your left over quinoa to combine with a bag of lentils with something like that for dinner? Stuff some peppers or mushrooms with that and some chopped veg and/or minced beef? Add it to a soup maybe? Otherwise I think it will be fine to keep in the fridge for 2 or 3 days....your salad sounds delicious, I will try it myself.

Hurried well done on stopping mid-binge! Its a great sign that you can take a bit of a step back and be mindful, if only for a moment when that impulse takes hold . The more you can do that, the closer you will get to understanding why it is happening and facing the feelings you are blocking or any issues in your life that you don't feel able to acknowledge and/or address. Don't feel guilty for getting out if it lifts your mood and you feel better generally for it, that's good for everyone. There will always be ironing/housework to do - like death and taxes .

Having said all that, I would still be wary of feeling like you are fighting the urge to binge by going out, it sounds counter-intuitive but the impulse to binge is not your enemy, the more you can examine it, question it or even just be with it the more its power over you should decrease and you can more easily find a way through. Does that make any sense, having taken that step back you did earlier?

Hi all, another name changer here. I've never really put a name to my eating habits, but after reading this thread I have to admit I am a binge eater too. I am a little overweight (size 14 jeans, BMI 26) so I guess I have got away with it. But the thing that has triggered it for me within the last year is my youngest child starting nursery - after 7 years of being a SAHM with young children (I have 3 DC), I now have my mornings to myself and it feels like I 'deserve' a treat! I guess I need to work on finding non-food-related treats.

I am fit and healthy (I ran a half marathon earlier this year) and I am definitely not depressed - in fact I am really content with my life at the moment. It's hard for me to see the reasons for what I do. But it's interesting to hear some of you talking about your childhood. I remember once baking and eating an entire full size cake when I was around 12 or 13 - that's not normal is it? I can manage without bingeing for weeks on end - but then I'll suddenly do it three times in one week.

Planning to buy Brain Over Binge and have a read. It has helped me to read this thread (although in a rather uncomfortable way), so thank you OP and everyone who has contributed.

Hi metoo thanks for posting. What do you tend to binge on? Do you have particular 'trigger' foods? What about your usual diet, what is that like? Tell me to get lost if I'm being too nosy , it's all interesting and helpful stuff though. Do you run for exercise regularly now? Do you enjoy it?