[bucketwithapurpose]

I'm sure mooost of you know this information already, but I think those who don't even those who do will delight in the fact that their struggles with food is not something weird or extremely abnormal.

http://www.salon.com/env/feature/2009/06/18/overeating/

What happens once you start eating?

In people who have a hard time controlling their eating, their brain circuits remain elevated and activated until all the food is gone. Then the next time you get cued, you do it again. Every time you engage in this cycle you strengthen the neural circuits. The anticipation gets strengthened. It's in part because of ambivalence. Do you ever have an internal dialogue? "Boy, that would taste great. No, I shouldn't have it. I really want that. And I shouldn't do it."

That sort of ambivalence increases the reward value of the food. It increases the anxiety, it increases the arousal, it keeps it in working memory. We're wired to focus on the most salient stimuli in our environment. For some people it could be alcohol or illegal drugs or nicotine or sex or gambling. For many of us it's food.

Are you saying if you give in to the craving and eat whatever the desirable food is, it's more likely that you're going to do it again?

It's basic learning. When you get cued, the brain gets activated. There's an arousal. There's increased dopamine. That dopamine focuses your attention. It narrows your focus. Of all the stimuli in the environment, why does that chocolate-chip cookie have such power?

We're wired to focus on the most salient stimuli. What do I mean? If a bear walked in right now, you're going to stop focusing on this interview. It's part of being human. It's what's made us successful as a species. You make food hyper-palatable with fat, sugar and salt. It's very stimulating and it becomes the most salient stimuli for many people.

I think this is an awesome article that everyone, especially bingers, should read. I hope it hasn't been posted already. The information in the article made me more aware of how human I am, even with my 'struggles' with food and binging/compulsive overeating. It makes sense, and backs the dopamine theory that I hold to be so true.

Has anyone checked out David Kessler's book "The End of Overeating"? I'm going to see if my library has it. If it's anything like the interview maybe it'll have new insight that I could benefit from. Hmm..