I have had a real problem with binging. I just cannot help it. I was in real trouble with it but I have finally managed to control it (I think).

Exercise is key. It really reduces my appitite. It doesn't happen immediately. In fact the first couple of sessions saw me eating more than normal but after the third session my appitite just completely dropped.

I am not sure why this is but I am sure it is chemical related. As long as I exercise I can stay in control but the minute I slack the calories increase too.

I've noticed this too, that exercising changes your eating for the better. But I still have trouble motivating myself to really exercise. I'm not a gym type girl. I'd need to play some kind of sport, but getting started...ugh.

What type of exercise are you doing and what keeps you motivated?
I love that you found something that really works for you. Go Claire Go!!!

LOL, thanks Mabela! I still often find actually doing the exercise quite hard at times, well the thought it worse than the activity. But I seem to have got myself into a mindset where I think if I don't exercise my appitite will come back and that is enough to keep me exercising. I am a gym person. I wasn't always but I learned to love it.

I wonder if it is a chemical thing. I have a problem where my husband works until 6:30 or so, whereas I work until 5pm and am home by quarter after or so. Waiting for him to come home to have dinner drives me nuts. I'm alone, so I end up gorging myself on whatever is in sight, then throwing up before he comes home. Then my evening is normal.

This year I began gardening, but because my yard is so small I bought a plot (allotment for you UK folks) in the county park. I take advantage of the hour between work and dinner by going there on non-rainy days to water the plants. It usually takes 30 minutes and I get home right around the time my husband does.

Gardening is hard work, much more than I'd ever dream, and it's quite a workout to haul all the water to my plot. I find I'm exercising and keeping my mind busy. By the time I get home, I'm suddenly not even hungry and it ends up my husband becomes the one to suggest dinner plans!

So maybe it's chemical.. maybe it's being busy. Either way, it's good!

Hi Ladyjane, I definitely believe it is chemical. When we exercise we release feel-good hormones into our system (seretonin, adrenaline, and others that I can't remember right now) and some of these hormones/chemicals affect the appitite (or the part of us that controls the appitite) so it is quite acceptable to believe that by exercising our appitites are surpressed.

Gardening is definitely exercise. I avoid gardening at all costs but I did once do some and I was dead in the water for 2 days, absolutely shattered. I have heard that you burn more calories gardening than you do the gym!

It's been crazy, clairec. Just weeding, which I thought would be a fairly easy thing to do winds me after an hour or so. And even if I feel ok that night, two days later I can't bend over or fully stretch out my legs. It's great!