I think it was jayell who once commented that it's very difficult to binge on water-packed tuna. But most of anything else is fair game. I have, on occasion and when desperate, eaten an entire bowl of white sugar with a teaspoon. And on another occasion (with rather ghastly intestinal results) about 1/2 lb. of salted butter in pats. The Honey Oats look quite benign in comparison bargoo
For me the binge-eating is a form of emotional/stress release. I now have much, much smaller binges but I generally have one per week. Part of it is the not enough sleep/too much caffeine/crash/eat rinse and repeat cycle. And it's also a small rebellion against the constant control that has to be mustered to stay somewhere around my redline weight.
I realize that's rationalizing a non healthy behaviour but it works for me.
And that's what maintaining is about, for me. Doing what works within reason to maintain a consistent weight.
Wondering if eating more 'healthy' calories would stop the binges. I know that sometimes I decide to forgo dinner to cut back on calories. I tell myself I'll have a little something 'sweet' with some tea instead and TA DA....I take in probably close to a half day's caloric allotment in junk, which screws up by blood sugar and leads to a downward spiral.
This week, I've been having soup w/some shredded cheese at the end of the day and I have been satisfied with a lot less junk. I think the warmth of the soup is soothing.
In Eat to Live, Joel Fuhrman talks about 'toxic' hunger, which happens when we are low on micronutrients. It's hunger not due to insufficient calories, but due to insufficient nutrition. Eating lots of veggies ups the nutritional status and lowers 'toxic hunger'....
I guess I'm so fascinated by binges because I've had them and then they've been times when I've been 'bullet proof'. I find that if I'm really eating solid 3 meals a day, with healthy snacks if needed, that I'm better with the binging than when I go off plan.....
IMO, snacks, whether healthy or not, need to be portioned out. I can't eat out of the container, no matter what the container. But if I pull out a serving and put away the container, I am usually content with just that. Granted, I never had any kind of binge disorder.
A few years ago, when I was at my lowest, I had commitments outside the home where I was unable to eat dinner once a week. Generally it was a meeting and food was provided but I found that most of the food wasn't what I would have chosen and most was not healthy. I found that foregoing dinner wasn't difficult and I'd come home and have a portioned snack an hour before going to bed and I was content. Not stuffed, but happy with my choice. I also think that that missed meal once a week really helped me maintain my weight. I don't know, however, if I'm willing to give up a meal a week at this time!
Oh, I can eat healthy food and binge , too , the trouble is then the binge shoves the healthy food aside. I don't know what came over me yesterday, boredom, stress, anxiety. I do have health issues that I am dealing with pretty well , at least on the surface, maybe I am more stressed than I am willing to admit. I just know I am not happy to have done what I did and even unhappier in admitting it. Today I have stayed right on plan. I did pull out the cereal box and read the ingredients when I bought it I just read the calories , 120 for 3/4 of a cup, 160 with 1/2 cup skimmed milk. That is ok calorie wise. Today I took a good look at the ingredients, among other things it contains white sugar,brown sugar and corn syrup, Yikes !
For me, though perhaps not for any of you, the binge behavior is what is alarming. It isn't what I've eaten, it's **how** it's eaten. If I really want to binge, clearing my shelves of particular foods will not prevent it. It's not the presence of those foods that leads to a binge. It's my emotional state, combined with having paid a lot of attention to eating or restricting. I "act out." If I binged on radishes or iceberg lettuce, I'd still be examining myself afterward over what was really the problem. It hasn't got to do with carbs or lack of fat or anything else. It has to do with how I am feeling and how I am coping.
If I learned one thing from going through the he11 of an eating disorder (and I don't use that word lightly), it's that. I've written that before here: For me, it's not really about the food. The rapid, mindless, out-of-control eating is a method of self-expression. It's me telling myself that I am not paying attention, there's something I'm just not getting.
I did binge when my bout with anorexia ended, and that was clearly about food: I had been starving myself and wanted to eat again and had forgotten how to do it calmly and guiltlessly. I had to sneak food past myself.
But later binges and if I get close to doing it now ... it's not about the food anymore.
Got my first sunburn of the year. Nothing critical; but I'll know it's there tonight! GF had a garage sale and we enjoyed the sun a bit too much. I seem to be unable to remember from year to year that I fry in approximately six minutes. Duh!
Also had a visitor to the yard - a healthy adult Massassauga rattlesnake. We took pictures and a video (on FB) before it fled back to the long grass. Ah, the joys of an organic yard. You never know who'll come to visit!
I'm taking all forms of fried potatoes (chips, French fries, home fries, hash browns) off my edibles list. Fat and starch are just more trouble than they're worth. I've tried to make peace with them and learn moderation. And I am tired of failing. Bargoo, you are not alone! I can't ban chips from my house, but I can ban the first bite.
Becky, about the rattlesnake you said it fled , I guarantee I would have fled while he was still thinking about it. Aren't you scared to death of rattlesnakes ?
Becky, about the rattlesnake you said it fled , I guarantee I would have fled while he was still thinking about it. Aren't you scared to death of rattlesnakes ?
Are the Massassauga rattlers endangered? The reason I ask is, if they are not, I'm surprised you guys didn't secure him for the stew pot.
Bargoo, I respect them enormously. Fear, no ... Massassaugas are usually terribly shy, their fangs are short and their venom is geared to small prey. While spiders can make me wet myself in terror, snakes are just cool.
Dagmar, I don't know the status offhand. Endangered or threatened, certainly. For sure in the "no eat" zone. . The topic did come up, though! Try everything once, twice if it's good, and three times to make sure!
Now back to non- snake stuff ... Saef, your description nailed my binge activities perfectly. I may reach for chips first, but not having them won't stop me. A long time ago, I methodically devoured two heads of iceberg lettuce. Using the tools I've learned here at 3FC over the last four years, I am better at figuring out what sets me up for doing that. Unfortunately, it's still as quiet shameful analysis AFTER the event. I don't yet have reliable tools in the box for a predictive and avoidance response. I remain optimistic that I get incrementally closer each time.
Up 1.6 and I know why but stayed OP yesterday, Went for a long walk, went to a pet fair...hmmm I wonder what that means ? Came home and watched the Kenrucky Derby, what an exciting race that was.
Food for thought (pardon the pun). Though I certainly would say I've never had a binge eating disorder I have thought of some episodes as mini binges. The more I think and hear about it, I really just have bouts of uncontrolled boredom eating. If I keep certain foods away from me I can usually stay in control. Things like most cereals (including Honey Bunches of Oats!), ice cream, cookies, cake, I can't have in my house without eating and eating them until they're gone, feeling I have no control. But if they're not there, usually I'm just fine. At work if there's a baked good, I can often resist it if I've been out in the field and kept busy. A few office days, which I find boring + baked good = formula for disaster. Sugar seems to also have a really addictive effect on me as well, but that's a different story. Still, I've never considered eating a lb of butter or a head of lettuce. This conversation helps me understand myself a little better. Thanks.
Speaking of my sugar-frenzy state, I've allowed some sugar to sneak in to my diet the last few days and have been suffering the reflexive sugar cravings. Additionally BF wanted to go out to the bar last night. The usual weekend story, though I managed to curtail the drinking much better this weekend, but I still ate too much and slept in... blah blah blah I will sit down with BF tonight and ask for his support. It's not his fault but his support would help.
I'm falling into the "summer trap" here where everyone goes to the bar Friday & Saturday, because there is nothing else to do besides watch TV or go out to eat. (No movie theaters, no bowling alleys, really). I think I will suggest us trying new things and ask him to commit to me to do them and skip the bar for a few weekends. Maybe a game night? A blanket on the beach to watch the stars? Anyone got any other self-made fun ideas that don't include lots of alcohol or food, besides sitting in front of the boob tube?
Allison, I know you and DH are worried about Chico, but really it sounds like he's doing great. I'd guess trying to get around on his own w/o seeming distressed is a very good sign. Give him more doggie kisses for me!
Becky, I also believe snakes have their place in the world, but it a minimum of 10 ft away from me! I do worry bc Emma is so curious that she will encounter one (lots of venomous types here) and not back down when she should.
Ok, enough Sunday morning ramblings. I might need more coffee. Actually I'm off to grind beans for the pioneer woman iced coffee recipe we talked about a few weeks ago. I think it's gotten warm enough here for me to make the switch to iced. Mmm! Have a good day all.
Megan I bought a Bodum iced coffee maker a couple of weeks ago (the orange one mysteriously was on sale for $20) where you put the coffee and cold water in the fridge overnight, press, and drink.
Today is the first day it was warm enough to even think of cold beverages. I put all the patio stuff out and now have to clean up the BBQ. I always mean to clean it up before winter storage but usually that's November and it's too cold! Planted all my begonias too. The backyard is summer ready!
First BBQ of the season tonite. Ribs - heat and serve (Yeah I cheated). Hope the tank is full enough to do the job. We can never seem to figure out how much fuel we have.
Chico has been getting better, but in some ways that is a bad thing. He thinks he can do things which he really shouldn't do. Case in point: He's jumping onto the bed with ease. So last night, in my best hyper-vigilance during sleep, I realized he had stood up and moved toward the edge of the bed. I immediately sat up and said, "No, Chico!" and DH then sat up and tried to stop him, but he jumped off the bed. He yelped in pain. I felt so bad! But as a human, we know that a move like that would cause pain. Animals aren't so smart like that.
I also feel bad that he has shown no interest at all in any of his toys. That is really strange for him. So today I stopped in Petco and bought him two new toys--the kinds that he should be able to destroy in minutes. He seems to like them, nibbling at them and guarding them from the cats, but he's not playing with them much. But I think they make him feel better as he's really wagging his tail.
Megan, I think you said it--"bouts of uncontrolled boredom eating." I find that the worst time for this is in the afternoon--after work but before I start fixing dinner. I've found what seems to be the best solution for me: put together a small snack that I crave (lately it has been these lovely Rosemary crackers with one slice of Muenster cheese) and take it into the living room and eat it while I read and I do not allow myself to go back for seconds. If I have that with a sparkling water, I am usually satisfied. Back in the day, I'd eat it in the kitchen and allow myself to have the cracker box remain open. No more!
Nuts - lost my first post. I'm growing out my fingernails and I caught a wrong key.
I hope everyone's kicking off the week on a good note. I noticed we're already at 460+ posts - maybe an Independence Day theme for the next thread? Like, "Independence from weight struggles?" How I wish ...
Busy one coming up for me. I checked my calendar and I must have subconsciously realized that TOM is almost upon me, because I managed to forget to check the scale this morning. Given that I was up at 4:40, I'm surprised I remembered to do ANYTHING. The week will be full of choir concert prep, driving, missed dinners, water aerobics, soccer, school testing, scheduling appointments, writing that dang essay (still), and whatever minor crises arise in between.
. The topic did come up, though! Try everything once, twice if it's good, and three times to make sure!
Using the tools I've learned here at 3FC over the last four years, I am better at figuring out what sets me up for doing that. Unfortunately, it's still as quiet shameful analysis AFTER the event. I don't yet have reliable tools in the box for a predictive and avoidance response. I remain optimistic that I get incrementally closer each time.
I will sit down with BF tonight and ask for his support. It's not his fault but his support would help.
enough to even think of cold 
beverages. I put all the patio stuff out and now have to clean up the BBQ. I always mean to clean it up before winter storage but usually that's November and it's too cold! Planted all my begonias too. The backyard is summer ready!
I'm growing out my fingernails and I caught a wrong key.
