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A space to talk openly about weight loss journeys and challenges. Mumsnet hasn't checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. You may wish to speak to a medical professional before starting any diet.

Original poster

Does anyone else binge “treat” foods?

28 replies

Pepperminttea16 · 05/04/2021 19:23

Just wondering if anyone else has this problem and what you do about it?

I should say I am not overweight. I am 5’4” and weigh between 9st2 and 9st7 and am generally pretty good and keeping my weight between those margins through mostly sensible eating, exercise and weighing myself regularly.

However whenever I decide to buy myself a treat I always end up eating the whole thing until I feel sick and then feel really guilty afterwards. Just now I went to eat a little bit of Easter egg, put the rest back in the cupboard and 10 minutes later I found myself eating the entire thing. I always do it. If I buy myself a packet of Kit Kat’s I end up eating all of them, ice cream I munch my way through the whole tub. I always feel so guilty afterwards and I’m starting to think I just shouldn’t buy myself treats because I just have no self control.

Anyone else do this? How do you stop?

OP posts:
flowerycurtain · 05/04/2021 19:40

Me.

And I don't know how to stop. Just bought a book called "stopping overeating" hoping it has some magic answers!!

Daisy829 · 05/04/2021 19:45

Yes. I’m a similar height but currently 11st. I get down to a weight I’m happy with then just binge and put it straight back on. I get so annoyed with myself. Was down to 10.4 2 weeks ago but I’ve been on a spiral of wine, crisps and pizza and it’s gone straight back on. I really need to break the habit. It’s great you maintain a healthy weight. I need to get down to 10st and give myself 4/5lb leeway for weekends.
Start again tomorrow 🙄

Original poster
Pepperminttea16 · 05/04/2021 19:50

@flowerycurtain

Me.

And I don't know how to stop. Just bought a book called "stopping overeating" hoping it has some magic answers!!

Good to know I am not alone! Hopefully it will give you the secret!!
OP posts:
Original poster
Pepperminttea16 · 05/04/2021 19:52

@Daisy829

Yes. I’m a similar height but currently 11st. I get down to a weight I’m happy with then just binge and put it straight back on. I get so annoyed with myself. Was down to 10.4 2 weeks ago but I’ve been on a spiral of wine, crisps and pizza and it’s gone straight back on. I really need to break the habit. It’s great you maintain a healthy weight. I need to get down to 10st and give myself 4/5lb leeway for weekends. Start again tomorrow 🙄
Yes I’ll be starting again tomorrow as well...still have Easter chocolate left in the cupboard though Shock
OP posts:
Daisy829 · 05/04/2021 19:55

I’m okay once I get back in the zone it’s just if I let myself have a few days off I’m doomed. You’d think at age 41 I’d be able to do better. Crisps & wine are my nemesis. I need to start exercise actually as that does help but I’m naturally lazy!

Daisy829 · 05/04/2021 19:57

I’m currently finishing off the half bottle of wine left from yesterday so that I can draw a line for tomorrow!

LondonSE · 05/04/2021 20:07

I've always done this even as a child- eat a whole packet of chocolate Digestives for example or as a teen, whole tub of haagen daz for breakfast. Now, I might eat half a sharing cheesecake in 1 sitting but it's not something I do everyday or every week so I dont see it as a problem

Iamthewombat · 05/04/2021 20:13

Are there people binging broccoli and kale?

Penguin81 · 05/04/2021 20:26

this is me..I dont have an off button once I start..and think I need to eat all the treats and start afresh the next day..its like something takes over!

Sunshineonarainydayy · 05/04/2021 20:26

I always think if I eat it all now I can be good from tomorrow. The only way for me not to do it is to resist buying it in the first place. Absolutely no will power, probably some deep rooted issues with food from my childhood or something. I remember doing it as an early teen too.

freeandfierce · 05/04/2021 20:33

This is me too. My only answer is not to have anything unhealthy in the house or it will be gone on one sitting (including booze). I always binge eat rubbish when drinking so try and avoid it.

buymycurlers · 05/04/2021 20:39

@flowerycurtain

Me.

And I don't know how to stop. Just bought a book called "stopping overeating" hoping it has some magic answers!!

What's the book called? I can't find it
Original poster
Pepperminttea16 · 05/04/2021 21:12

@Penguin81

this is me..I dont have an off button once I start..and think I need to eat all the treats and start afresh the next day..its like something takes over!
Yes exactly, if I eat it all now I won’t have any treats to eat tomorrow so I can have a better eating day! Grin
OP posts:
Original poster
Pepperminttea16 · 05/04/2021 21:13

I’ve got some more chocolate in the cupboard that’s individually wrapped and in a box. While it is in the box it is fine I won’t touch it, as soon as I open the box I will eat all three chocolate bars in one sitting

OP posts:
Tryingtogetitright · 05/04/2021 21:19

That is me too... sealed multipack can sit in the cupboard for weeks. As soon as the outer wrapper is open I devour the lot. No idea why. So annoyed with myself after! It's all or nothing. I just want moderation!

Hotelhelp · 05/04/2021 21:22

I’m terrible.

I can’t stop at 1/2 of anything it has to be everything. Shamefully even things that should go to my husband or kids Blush

I have ADHD and it’s almost certainly related.

MadMadMadamMim · 05/04/2021 21:22

It's the 'fuck it' gene, I think.

I'm fine when I'm eating sensibly. But the minute I eat something like chocolate I think Fuck it. I've blown it for today, might as well enjoy myself.

I'd have gone on to eat two slices of toast and jam, a whole packet of biscuits, three bags of crisps and a sausage roll...

hellolittlebaby · 05/04/2021 21:27

Me!

Lassolarry1980 · 06/04/2021 07:33

@Iamthewombat

Are there people binging broccoli and kale?
I know this sounds odd But me

I eat an amount of steamed veg that you could not get your head around. I love it. I’m sugar free.

I’m underweight and I do not look good at all.

But I genuinely and truly love steamed veg. Massive bowls and perhaps 3 or 4

Lassolarry1980 · 06/04/2021 07:35

My other food that I suppose I binge on that is more “normal” is homemade oat based muesli and oat milk. That is absolutely delicious

Lassolarry1980 · 06/04/2021 07:38

I feel bloated uncomfortable and odd
But no sugar rush or comedown at least

HeronLanyon · 06/04/2021 08:00

I am not overweight and eat pretty healthily. My absolute downfall is crisps - like pp if I have a multipack once that outer sleeve is opened the (tiny) packs just disappear. I laugh inwardly every time I see ‘family pack’ or ‘sharing bag’ on some form of cheesy snack. Certain cheese also have this effect on me.
The ONLY remedy for me is simply not to have them in the house.
I’ve given up berating myself and thinking ‘well that’s crap, come on Heron, you can be adult and restrained’.
I now go weeks sometimes months between crisp purchases for the home.
Seems ridiculous but got to the point I had to accept I wasn’t going to change.
Awful shame as a cheesy wotsit (or a frazzle) is basically like a drug to my addict self !

thenewaveragebear1983 · 06/04/2021 08:01

I do this, I used to do it terribly with anything sugary or carby. I have a tremendously sweet tooth so could easily eat eg a bowl of icing or ten cupcakes.
Then I gave up sugar, cold turkey. So now I don't do it at all. But I still have the binge tendency- if I buy nuts for example I will eat them all, or almond butter, or dried fruit. When I did low carb diets I would do it with cheese (I no longer eat dairy)

I think I don't class it as a binge unless I do it in that uncontrolled, cannot stop eating, way. A binge has a definite 'graph' for me, peaking to a crescendo and its uncontrollable. The food is secondary to the 'high' and then I feel guilt afterwards. I don't really get that even if I do eat a whole bag of pecan nuts or a whole jar of almond butter, because I know it's nutritious.

I have often wondered where the binge tendency comes from. I remember stuffing sweets as a kid, it was never enough. My mum is still very much like it now, with strict diets and then going totally off the rails, so I wonder if it is learned behaviour or genetic? I was the same when I smoked, I would chain smoke practically until they were all gone. I agree with the fuck it mentality, but also I think as a lifelong dieter we are sort of trained to see our diets as a daily tally and not a lifelong balancing act so it's a case of 'I've wrecked one day so might as well eat it all' and then we wipe the slate clean for a fresh new day tomorrow, not thinking that actually what you eat one day affects you for days afterwards.

I have made great strides with my binge behaviour over lockdown and for the last 8/9 months which had involved a lot of soul searching.

WeKnowFrogsGoShaLaLaLaLa · 06/04/2021 08:57

I'm the same. I just don't have the stuff in the house now. I have popcorn instead of crisps for the children as I don't particularly like that. I don't buy chocolate at all. I don't buy nice bread as I'll eat it all as toast in one sitting - we have wraps and sandwich thins instead.

If I want these things I have them out of the house as this doesn't lead to the binge having them at home would do. I'd like to think I could get to a place where I can just have one but I think this may be the way forever now.

BatleyTownswomensGuild · 06/04/2021 15:46

Yep. I have a very unhealthy relationship with sugar and have quit sugary snacks more times that I can say. Longest period of cold Turkey was 3 months.

I want to change but I am really struggling...

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