Maybe this sounds almost silly to ask, but I'm wondering, is it better to plan for possible binges or not?

Obviously I can see the good from not planning on it. In my situation, I tend to binge eat when I'm at school, which is far away from my house. So in the morning, if I do things which discourage binges (wearing close-fitting clothes rather than expandable ones, not bringing cash, getting to school right before my classes start without having extra time to sit around, not reserving a private room to binge in, etc.), I have many more reasons and chances to convince myself I don't actually want to binge that day, to at least wait for another time when it'll be more convenient.

But on the other hand, sometimes the feelings of not being able to binge makes me so anxious that I do it anyway! I end up skipping classes, taking money from my savings account, or binge eating in plain sight, and just end up wearing my gym clothes all day. If I at least make efforts so that I know that I can binge if I want to, it makes me feel much safer. Like, having the option there is less scary than thinking that I'll never be able to binge again (even though that is ostensibly my goal...)

Another example, why I thought of this, is that this morning I am feeling very like I want to binge, very anxious that I shouldn't/can't today...so I made a reservation for a study room (where I usually do my binges) for next week. It took a lot of stress out of me, just knowing that at least I'll have a good opportunity to binge in a couple days......but at the same time, I feel like I'm just enabling myself! So I'm seeing some pros and cons to this.

Any advice?

I'm sure many people will tell you that it's better to cut binges out of your life, but I occasionally have planned binges and seem to do fine with them. I limit my binges to exotic, interesting foods at restaurants or other people's houses. The amount can be quite large (3,000 to 4,000 cals in one meal) but the quality is also pretty good. If I do this no more than once a month, I'm able to maintain my weight.

Some people do well with "never again." I don't. For me, life would be less enjoyable if I were NEVER able to let loose with food. We all have to find what works best for each of us.

As for unplanned binges, I think they're a bad idea all around.

F.

Thanks for the reply! Yah, I really wasn't expecting to hear support for the planning side, but it sounds like it works for you! You're right, the problems is definitely the unplanned ones...which unfortunately for me, seem to spring from planned ones, either the day before or after.

Wow I am shocked to see something on binging. I have lost 50lbs and thought feeling good about myself would stopped the binging but it is worse after the low carb diet I have done to loose the weight. To top it off my body now retains like 15lbs of water after a binge and it takes like 4 days to take it off. I am reading a book called binge breaker but ridiculous enough I feel sad when I think of never binging again.....even tho I hate that it controls me and my mood and happiness.

Kelly, I really relate to what you wrote. At the same time I hate that I'm so "addicted" to binging, it's also so difficult to think about giving it up! Like losing a friend or at least a favorite hobby....

Well, I'm totally finding myself already planning for a binge on Tuesday. That's my normal binge day, since I have a very free morning. But....I don't want to do it!! I've only just started having a few seriously good days in a row and feeling better about myself. But somehow, I feel like I will end up anyway, just because the "plan" is there....and the minute I start thinking about deciding not to do it, I get a little panicky. /: What to do? I feel like I am so weird about this, lol.

This is really not a full on binge but every Friday OR Saturday night I go out with my bf and I have 1 binge dinner. I still maintain some control for example I drink water and not a martini, but I look forward to that meal after eating healthy all week. Oh also I eat super clean and healthy earlier and that day as well.

I do try to workout twice that day or have 1 intense workout and I drink tons of water everyday, since my body retains water from sodium like crazy. So yes I do plan my "binge dinner". I feel like if I didn't plan things might get out of hand. LOL

I'm with Freelancemomma, quality or interesting food - enjoy it & move on! Just had some family events & baked & cooked up a storm. And ate, even though I told myself I wouldn't. But I miss baking & enjoyed this, and it was temporary, and I don't feel nearly as guilty as I would have if I'd eaten a ton-size bag of gummi bears from Sams or other junk. More of an expected lapse than a planned binge, with a beginning and an end. And now it's OVER and back to the gym tonight.

i think what you guys are calling a "planned binge" has also been referred to as the "cheat meal"/ "cheat day".

Here is the thing though. Once upon a time I read an article- regarding using the word "cheat" or "binge". Think about those words- they are negative associations. Why? Why would you want to give your EATING STYLE a negative association? Why not just eat in whichever way that works for you? If you associate it with something negative, this will cause guilt, self shaming, and negative feelings which you will subconciously self-punish for.

Freelance- how you eat, is your eating style. you know this. It's not really a binge. It's your preferred method of eating. I don't think you're looking for comfort in that, but rather it is your way of maintaining a balance in your healthy lifestyle.

Sunnyside- same thing as Freelance- your meals our with your BF are your preferred method of eating.

Personally, I have less cheat meals, but I do indulge in uh, alcoholic beverages once every week or so (several beverages). This is how I choose to maintain/ or lose weight, depending on how stringent I am being.

mottanai- having read your post, it seems to me that you are doing exactly what I was doing on saturday night. you feel an actual BINGE coming, and you're trying to prevent it/control it/ but it seems to be based on emotion. Are you boredom eating? Does studying make you anxious? Honestly, if you can keep clean the rest of the week- i believe you said tuesdays are your binge day. Do you know how many calories you consume (even in approximation??) Lets say you binge out on 2000 cals of a random mish-mash of stuff, feel bloated, sick, lethargic, whatever. Why not, book the study room and then limit the binge? You usually eat a 12 inch sub and a lb bad of peanut m&ms, then get a venti pumpkin spice latte? (sorry for the food porn, but that's what i'd totally go for right now, ha ha). but anyways, why not alter the "tradition". instead of all of that, why not get a 6 inch sub, a small bag of the m &ms and a tall nonfat half sweet pumpkin spice latte (maybe even with a bit of whip).

see how you still ATE a bunch of delicious stuff there? but saved like, a 1000 cals? yeah. possible.

Thanks for all the replies, everyone!

stimkovs, you are right on. It's very much an emotion binge, and it's not about the food, it's totally the binge activity itself that I'm "addicted" to. It's about boredom and anxiety mixed with a good amount of just plain habit and comfort. I always binge on the same few very specific things, some healthier snacks like fruit and rice cakes to "warm up" and attempt to start filling up, but then the main focus is always just a bunch of ice cream/frozen yogurt until I can't eat any more. It's been that way since the very beginning. Calorie-wise, I'd say it's usually around 4000-5000. I do try to limit, and I usually can once, when I'm feeling motivated to stay in control. But then the relief of giving in to binging is so great and addicting that I want it even more, and oftentimes I'll end up binging again the next day and maybe the next with less and less restraint, until I get to the point of not caring at all and being like, what the heck, I'll stop after this time, etc. etc. So yah, I can definitely do some damage control. I'm already struggling so hard today that I'm looking forward to a binge tomorrow just to save this day, so I'm probably going to do what you suggest and at least cut down a bit...

i actually have the same issue- but i do it in the house, except the secondary issue, is i sees it, i eats it. if it's there, i WILL eat it.

what type of container do you usually get the froyo/ice cream in? like- take out style, or a pint or what? if you go for the gallon, i'd start maybe trying to get like a ... pint of something low fat/lower cal? or even just a pint, and then eventually start going lower and lower cal?

if it's like a take out- get a smaller size? maybe a "less calorically dense" flavour? i mean... my personal fav. is the ben and jerrys chocolate chip cookie dough, or the peanut butter one, or cherry garcia. i allow myself, once every several months or so - usually bad breakups lol. but i mean, you could feasibly go for like, a sherbert? low fat froyo? maybe even just...strawberry. things like chocolate chip cookie dough are HIGH in calories, like, obscene amounts.

another alternative is- im not sure if you have a yogen fruz around but they have sugar free/fat free froyo, and you add frozen fruits, then they blend it. they can also make smoothies. i swear it's the only reason i ever go to see movies! lol

I feel the exact same way and thought it was a crazy thought..........maybe it is but I am not alone

Jessica,
let's see how we binge on Tuesday
I am going to schedule mine tomorrow as well.

I think the point is that she is trying NOT to binge...

stimkovs - It's always gallons. The bad thing is, I really really feel like I do not want to eat just a pint! If I had a pint or two sitting in front of me, I honestly would not choose to eat it. It's something about the big containers. It's worth a try though!


And yes, the point IS that I'm trying to avoid binging actually, at least this week....