Are you one to think of food non-stop? When you're hungry and when you're not? When you're awake and when you're not? It's such a chore having such a one track mind. And the amount I eat is astronomical and the worst part is that I suffer a slow metabolic rate and I don't exercise. It gets so out of hand sometimes that I'll walk out to the kitchen at 2 am despite my fear of darkness, just to raid the fridge for something to eat, and it's not fruits, usually rice or something heavily carbohydrat-ed. I realised that I have this compulsive need to keep putting things into my mouth to munch. Um... especially one other thing hahaha! God I'm funny...
You know what? I think this is a sickness and I actually googled it to find out how I can curb this atrotious habit. This is what one website said: "Binge-eating disorder (BED) or compulsive overeating is the lesser-known eating disorder, following anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. It is characterized by eating when one is not hungry or by continual eating without regard to physiological cues. Binge eaters typically eat to the point of feeling extreme discomfort or even pain."
You know what? I think this is a sickness and I actually googled it to find out how I can curb this atrotious habit. This is what one website said: "Binge-eating disorder (BED) or compulsive overeating is the lesser-known eating disorder, following anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. It is characterized by eating when one is not hungry or by continual eating without regard to physiological cues. Binge eaters typically eat to the point of feeling extreme discomfort or even pain."
It is also mention two types of binge eating disorders:
* Deprivation-sensitive binge eating arises out of excessive dieting or food restriction; (very very me)
* Addictive or dissociative binge eating is the practice of self-medicating or self-soothing with behaviors that typically evoke feelings of emotional tranquility or numbness. (not so me)
"It is important to understand that not all people with binge-eating disorder are overweight, that not all overeaters are binge eaters, and that being overweight, even to the point of obesity, does not qualify a person as a binge eater."
So do I qualify to be a binge eater?
"It is significant to note that not all binges include large quantities of food. For an anorexic person, eating five grapes may be considered a binge. Remember what characterizes an eating disordered binge is the element of compulsion behind the eating behavior and the emotional outcome that occurs as a result of the eating behavior."
Here's how they describe binge eaters experience which is uncanniy similar to mine:
"Binge eaters report a total preoccupation with food. One of the problems that frequently occur with binge eaters is nighttime eating. Patients describe getting out of bed in the wee hours and walking in their sleep or in a trance-like state into the kitchen where the bingeing happens. Binge eaters sometimes do not know if their binge was a dream or a reality until the next morning when evidence of food wrappers and empty containers will appear in the kitchen (OMG! that's me). Bingers often do their eating in secret, and typically feel most vulnerable to succumbing to these behaviors when they are alone."
It is also reported that the psychological effect it has on patients suffering from this will affect the brain and leave them highly fatigued. No wonder I always feel tired. I'm battling in a losing war!
* Addictive or dissociative binge eating is the practice of self-medicating or self-soothing with behaviors that typically evoke feelings of emotional tranquility or numbness. (not so me)
"It is important to understand that not all people with binge-eating disorder are overweight, that not all overeaters are binge eaters, and that being overweight, even to the point of obesity, does not qualify a person as a binge eater."
So do I qualify to be a binge eater?
"It is significant to note that not all binges include large quantities of food. For an anorexic person, eating five grapes may be considered a binge. Remember what characterizes an eating disordered binge is the element of compulsion behind the eating behavior and the emotional outcome that occurs as a result of the eating behavior."
Here's how they describe binge eaters experience which is uncanniy similar to mine:
"Binge eaters report a total preoccupation with food. One of the problems that frequently occur with binge eaters is nighttime eating. Patients describe getting out of bed in the wee hours and walking in their sleep or in a trance-like state into the kitchen where the bingeing happens. Binge eaters sometimes do not know if their binge was a dream or a reality until the next morning when evidence of food wrappers and empty containers will appear in the kitchen (OMG! that's me). Bingers often do their eating in secret, and typically feel most vulnerable to succumbing to these behaviors when they are alone."
It is also reported that the psychological effect it has on patients suffering from this will affect the brain and leave them highly fatigued. No wonder I always feel tired. I'm battling in a losing war!
Some behavioral remedies for binge eating disorder
Along with psychotherapy, behavioral techniques that allow the individual to avoid temptations are generally effective. Behavioral techniques might include such changes as,
* If bingeing occurs in the car, taking a different route home where the patient will not be confronted with the temptation of fast food restaurant chains.
* Keeping a small cooler in one's car containing one's own nutritionally dense food, prepared and pre-packaged.
* Bringing a passenger along for the ride.
* Wearing an elastic band on one's wrist and snapping it hard to remind oneself not to begin the out of control bingeing process when the urges and temptations present themselves.
* A solution for home bingers might be not to bring unhealthy snack or trigger foods home, though for those who live with family members who like their snacks, eliminating snack foods from the pantry is an idea that is typically does not go over well. This may need to become a family decision made in the context of consensus, compromise, and an action plan.
Binge eaters who have a genetic propensity tendency towards addiction often report a craving and sensitivity to carbohydrates, so that the more they eat, the more they crave. There are some who claim that eliminating sugar from the diet can be an integral part of reducing binge eating episodes. This is a concept that is espoused by the Overeaters Anonymous 12 Step groups and is a treatment method that is very helpful for a great number of binge eaters. The problem that some people run into in using this alternative for healing is that restriction generally breeds greater obsessiveness and compulsions.
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