The following quote comes from the bottom of this page: empoweredparents.com/1eatingdisorders/binge.htm (sorry, I had to take out the linkiness, since I haven't been here long enough to link).

"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."

I'm probably just being dense but I'm really unsure what the last sentence means. Do you guys have any thoughts on what they mean by "greater obsessiveness and compulsions"? I have a couple of thoughts about what they might mean, but am curious which of them lines up with your experience and intuition about it.

I'm having great luck with a very low carb diet the last few months and I'm really hoping to make it a long term way of life. It's the first time I have ever been able to lose any weight and feel in control. So, I'd like to be aware of the pitfalls so I can avoid them.

Well, I think it refers to the idea that when many people restrict themselves it sets off more of a desire for it (you know the saying, people always want what they can't have). I'm like that, if I cut something completely from my diet I will eventually start wanting it, mainly because I can't have it or my body will start craving it. I have definitely done the low-carb thing too, but I'm not being as restrictive this time. In the past I've just tried cutting out most carbs and then when I go off plan I end up bingeing on the restricted stuff-lots of sugar-laden foods. Right now I'm keeping my carbs in check and bumping up the protein, but I'm making a point of not cutting them too far down. I agree with you in that the low-carb really helps me lose weight and feel in control. Just be aware that your body may at some point want something sugary or starchy, and that's ok, just keep it in check when it does and you'll get through it!

i whole-heartedly agree with the quote...I myself have been a binge eater and it is only when i eat carbs that i begin cycles of binging..ive been low carbing now for a couple of days and have done so in the past..and even a small amount of carb will trigger cravings and will trigger binge cycles..

As far as the part about restriction.. i think its in the mind to a lot of a degree..i think self control is something that a lot of people lack these days..i think its poorly practiced...and we often just forgo it because people say " just a taste wont kill you " or "go ahead..do it for one night" I think people who suffer from binge eating..do a lot better when there diet is low carb and is routine..

Okay. At first I thought "breeds greater obsessions and compulsiveness" meant that you'd go back to carbs in an even unhealthier way than before. But then I got to thinking, and I can't see how that could be. I mean, there's no way that I'm going to be even *more* obsessive and compulsive about my carb eating than I as before. I could see running back to carbs and face planting in them, but that would just put me back to where I was, kwim? So then I thought maybe they meant you'd be obsessive and compulsive about a whole 'nother thing, ie, avoiding carbs. And maybe this is the eating disordered part of me talking, but that seemed alright to me. lol

Also, they seem to be saying that low carb would be more of a problem than other types of restricted diets, which is surprising to me. If anything, I have felt like other types of dieting were worse. When I'm eating limited carbs I'm much less likely to lose control and go all out. Though there is still the same limitation -- it's not like I could be worse off than I was before.

And then I'm curious, too, about this genetic propensity. I wonder to what extent we are all built this way and to what extent there are people who are really free from it. And is it true that normal people who don't have this propensity do not crave more carbs after eating carbs? From what I've seen of my 7 year old son's behavior I think that might be true. He'll eat half a cupcake and say he's full and go play like a mad man for three hours before he wants more to eat. It's just so hard for me to wrap my mind around that though, that there are people who will eat chocolate cake until they are sated and then not want more food until they are physically hungry. Gah! It's like they won the freaking lottery. lol

When I was on a low-fat, low-cal diet, I binged on carbs and sugar.

When I'm on a low-carb diet, I binge on carbs and sugar.

I think the whole "cutting out carbs makes you want them more" line is a load of baloney. I do PHENOMENALLY when I'm eating low-carb - and I don't even have to be ultra-low to see the benefits (just below 100 or so). I can go weeks without even thinking of binges, when otherwise it becomes a twice-a-week ritual. However, since dietary changes alone don't solve my mental issues, I end up back off plan.

So anyhow, that's my $0.02. Low-carb really helps alleviate my compulsive eating episodes, and I do not feel that it makes my lapses more severe or common.

I agree with all of that (except I need to stay very low carb to see the benefits).

Ack! I just looked at my last post and see that I put a more where I meant less. Oops, will go fix it... So I meant basically the opposite of what I wrote.