I could really use some advice. Tomorrow I begin my abstinence program. I am 21 years old, and overeating has been a problem for me since I was about 9 years old. I'm a little scared about giving something up that has been such a longtime "friend," but it's time for me to move on and open my life up to something better than empty candy wrappers.
My point is, can anyone share with me what they do to avoid a binge, when the urge occurs?
Thank you!

I try to go do something else... go for a walk, chew gum, or even take a nap.

i try to go be in public. i never binge around anyone else...go to starbux, cvs, anything. read a magazine, take a breath, count to 10, smile, think of your happiest memories and loved ones, write, go online and play scrabble, take a bath, anything but eat....

Your 21 and less than 250, **** I would be in front of that mirror window shopping for tomorrow. Heck I even do it at 585, find your mirror and go and look at yourself , ask your self if you are worth the pain, the hunger, seriously no bull crap. If you are not worth it to yourself than what are you doing this for. Not your fam, not your friends, not your lifestyle all of that fades. You are doing it FOR you. You deserve to be thin. BECAUSE you rock. Hmm... also take the problem out of the equation if you are real get rid of the candy, TRASH CAN. If you live with your fam, or with friends and they are supportive gut your fridge. Ever need someone to talk to, I would be HONORED to know you. - X

Welcome.
I read something in the OA For Today book. I can't site it word for word but it helps me avoid binging or even eating foods off of my food plan.
It said something about how this person used to think that eating food was "rewarding" themselves and how people would tell them just one little "treat", but by NOT eating a "reward" or "treat", that she was treating herself or a real reward, a reward in health and clarity in mind. THAT really helps me so much. I used to think I "deserved" a treat, but I think I more deserve to be healthy.

Try working out! I know when I work out I don't want to put back on the calories that I just burned. Good luck!!! : )

Plain and simple, get the triggers out of the house! That's not to say that you can never have ice cream in the house again, but for now, remove the temptation. I can generally keep things in the house now that I would hoover 5 years ago. If you want some ice cream (yes, you can have treats still, just work them into your plan!), go OUT for it, and get a PORTION CONTROLLED serving.

Also, don't deprive yourself too much - when you wrote "Abstinence" program, it sounds (though I may be reading too much into it) like a real deprivation thing. Make sure you get enough to eat, because nothing says "binge" like letting yourself get to the point where you are completely ravenous. It's OK to have treats occasionally - factor them into your calories, points, whatever you use, but for now, try to avoid things that you know will likely set you off on a binge.

I also echo the advice re: working out. But if you're new to exercise, start slow and work up gradually. Half-killing yourself isn't going to make you want to keep exercising long-term, not to mention you don't want to injure yourself. Not only does the exercise build muscle and burn calories, it gets you away from the food. And I find that I eat better when I'm exercising - I don't want to undo the good exercise by making a bad food choice.

Good luck!

post here all the food you wanna eat and then see if you still wanna eat it--sometimes putting some sort of middle step before you hit the food works for me. granted sometimes it doesnt..but still