How long does it take to beat the craving to binge???

[tuende]

I also get urges to binge, and always thought my trigger was having something delicious-looking available, but I have recently recognized that these urges are sometimes also tied to negative emotions. I've been working on controling it and I learned an interesting strategy from a recovering drug addict (seriously!). She said to wait 10 minutes. Tell yourself you can eat (or use in her case) in 10 minutes if you still really want to, but usually in that 10 minutes the ridiculous craving has passed or you can somehow distract yourself or talk yourself out of it. It doesn't always work for me (sometimes I just won't give it the 10 minutes) but at times it can be helpful in gaining clairty and perspective on what it is that I really want. I also agree with thinkinthin that sometimes for me it just "clicks" and other times I can't seem to get a handle on it.

[ThinkinThin]

Ahhh...I like the 10 minute approach. But, I agree it's not always easy to wait the 10 minutes!!! Emotionally, it's as if I feel insecure that I'll still have the chance to eat of I wait and God forbid that should happen. But, logically, I know there's always plenty of food everywhere all the time. I need to try the 10 minute rule and try to remember that I am an adult and in control and can eat whenever I like. I need to stop acting like a greedy child!