This is my biggest problem during the weight loss phase. I find that one weekend's worth of binge-eating can result in sabotaging a week's worth of successful weight loss. I eat healthy and exercise 5-6x a week but I tend to binge when I'm around my family over the weekend. They always have desserts around the house and they all at one point were restaurant owners, so they're very big foodies. Plus I come from a culture where they urge you to clean your plate. So I would love some feedback as to how everyone tries to conquer this and to continue with successful weight loss? Thanks!!

Hi.I have the same problem.Sometimes we'll go out to dinner, or when there's a holiday like today,Easter, there's a lot of unhealthy food around.I can't help splurging when there's all that yummy food in front of me!And I know I shouldn't do it all, but I'm usually so good on my diet the rest of the time, that I feel like it's okay to treat myself every once in a while.Then after the event passes, I just remind myself of what I'd like to look like one day, and continue with my diet and exercise the next day. So next time you over-eat on weekends, don't get discouraged.Just remind yourself of what you'd like to look like someday, and tell yourself that it's okay to indulge every once in a while.And just try your best to stay on your weight loss plan. Every day I'm motivated by who I want to be, and that helps keep me from eating bad food.Hope this helps you and good luck!I'm rooting for you!

I have that issue. My birthday was today.. had a cupcake.. making a cake... next weekend my party... I have to be extra good. But other than holidays I find the best solution to my problem is keeping 2 kinds of healthy snacks in the house at all times, Salty and Sweet. So, when I crave chocolate I have some smart food caramel popcorn... and when I crave salty I eat pita crisps and humus. It takes my mind off of all the other stuff in the house and it makes the cravings stop Hope that helps.

Hello... yeah there's a thread around here somewhere for support with that. I'm part of it. So many of us have this problem, there's a lot of advice out there but likely it will never be easy. I'll tell you, I still have days where I eat whatever's sitting around, and usually it's not diet friendly. Here's a few things that might help...
1. try to get away, or not have the bad trigger things around (a tough one when other's aren't helpful)
2. try to have understanding people around you
3. Often people do not binge because they are hungry, tends to go beyond hunger... what is it really? see if you can address that...boredom? Anger? habit? happy or sad moments? (for me unhappiness and boredom top list)
4. try to have healthy alternatives with very little calories but that are filling on hand...some like almonds (a few), things with high fiber, fruit and veggies, etc... anything filling if you find it helps.
5. Exercise... and I'll tell ya, even if you lose it on the binge adding more exercise will probably help you. Basically, find something else to do besides eating.
6. Remember that there will be days that it will happen, it is not failure. Habits are hard to break, personally I think binging never goes away, but yet we learn to do things differently whenever possible, like the addiction it can be, it does creep up sometimes. When this happens, get back up and try again, tomorrow can be better!

yes and foodies.... they do not always believe in diets... common diet killers are found with most foodies, breads, pastries, pasta... potato, candy...fatty meats... all quite the kicker calorie wise. Probably some of these set you off more than others... some people have to cut out some things completely because a little is never enough. That may be for you, or if you think you can control amounts... you can try that. Also, clean your plate methods....maybe make sure you have a really small plate, tell people that you're only filling that plate and that's it. Sometimes smaller plates trick us into thinking we ate enough... but I myself haven't seen that to work out because I'm a go for seconds kind of person naturally... especially at night. Which brings me to another thing... figure out if there might be a time of day that affects you more...mine is evening or night time...dunno why...but my big meal has to be saved for that, no little munching because I'll go overboard at night. Anyway, hope my rambling's been useful! Have a good one!

Thank you all so much for your responses to my post. I figured that a lot of people have this problem especially over special occasions and holidays. As for me, I think my childhood/old wives tales have stuck to me even after 30 years of being alive. LOL Cleaning your plate, being overweight = healthy, weight loss = sickly, etc. Unfortunately, I've grown up being close to my family but they're not very supportive when it comes to weight loss and have already complained that I'm losing too much weight. But it's my body, and it's my belly fat that I see under my clothes. So when I'm surrounded by truckloads of food and family, I guess both factors work against me.

I'm going to try some of the tricks that all of you have mentioned - bringing snacks with me, avoiding junkfood and home-cooked meals that I can never have just a "little" of. And most importantly, picking myself up when I've binged. I think that's the hardest part. I feel guilty and regret what just happened. But I do try to start over, first thing on Mondays. I'm just tired of having that weight (no pun intended) on my shoulders come Monday mornings.

Wish me luck everyone!!!

alright, and hey, look me up if ya want, I'm in most days... I tend not to come in on days that I'm naughty but still will check in and at least fess up after! I'm in a few threads right now, namely the Arbor Day Challenge, the April Challenge... I like setting goals, but never reach them (the monthly ones). I'm often sort of content with getting half way.

If there's anyone in your life who can be helpful support... esp at these family gatherings... sort of a wall against the food battle, might be good to bring em along. Then you're not the only one on the wagon

Hope to see you around!

I hear ya girl, I am sooo gonna regret the frosting I ate today. But tomorrow is a new day, I've already come pretty far and this isn't going to stop me like it has before. That's what I tell myself when I get a little off track

There are challenges on this board? Where are they? I would love to participate in one. Maybe that way, it'll keep me from falling off track and make me more accountable. LOL Where can I find these challenges?

Thanks in advance!!

yeah sure...lemmie c if I can link some that I'm in... I've dropped a few, too many at a time... I get overly ambitious at times...

ok...

The April Weight loss board

http://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/chic...challenge.html

you don't have to report your weight or weight loss if you want you can do other goals like losing a pants size or eating healthy... just healthy plans...
next and almost the same is Arbor Day goals..on last day of April anyway...

http://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/calo...challenge.html

under the Diets category in the forums there are chat areas for all different diets, I'm part of the Alli boards and also there is a category for binging in I think the support area or under challenges. I tend to go to the NEW POSTS tab and see if there's anything interesting that I might want to be part of or add to... like a recipe area, or lately a smoothie discussion.

Also an area about exercise and what people think of this or that equipment or workout video.

If you want to use a key word you can put it into the search box... like say you want to talk to someone about Sizes of jeans you can put Size in, or about extra skin (one of my worries about a lot of weight loss) there's a thread for that, and you can pull it up from the Search area. Also, if you want to check out the threads a person has been part of, you can click on someones name (I think) and see what they've been part of or things they've said. Ok, I've rambled enough for now, have a good day!

Sounds great!! Thank you so much for the links. Best of luck to you on the challenges!!