I am still a closet eater

  • As a (sort of) recovering binger, I know that a bad sign of it is wanting to eat (binge) in private. I find that I still do it. I've tried to stop being antisocial, and going out to eat with friends and enjoying a cheat meal then (because let's be real, it's not the restaurant food that's ruining my diet, it's what I eat in the privacy of my own home). But I really prefer to have my cheats at home because restaurant food is just not worth it. The other day I had Mexican food, not what I considered a binge, but I was up two pounds the next day because of all the grease and salt! Honestly, I'd rather eat half a jar of peanut butter at home, which would make me gain less. But binging on peanut butter is not a healthy behavior; enjoying a meal out with friends is a healthy, sane thing to do.

    But this is why I often eat a skimpy salad while I'm out, and then binge when I get home. I know...something's not right
  • I like to eat my meals in private-I find that fighting against my nature caused me to gain-I'd eat out to fit in but I actually wanted to eat at home. Now I make healthy meals at home and I almost never eat out. If I do I get the most low cal thing (at a palce with no low cal options) and pretend to take the rest home, but I toss it and then I cook up something at home, something lighter cause I already ate. I'm trying to be more vocal about it now, so that people who invite me out anyways don't mind that I either don't order/don't order much or we have to do something else-I've spent my life being flexible for other people and I feel a lot more happy doing what I like to do, but I won't lie, people can be very annoying about it. But I am someone who likes to socialize and have my alone time, some don't feel comfortable with the idea of eating alone.
    EDIT-I do liked to overeat at home-I dont consider teh PB to be a binge, just overeating-its pretty addictive, but I consider binging hte point where are you clutching your stomach. I just eliminate those foods, theyre made for people like me to keep eating and eating, its not worth the battle (unless you can beat it, but i cannot!)
  • You may want to try a support group like Overeater's Anonymous. They are really focused on binge eating and they help many people overcome that problem.
  • I like to eat at home by myself too - and that's hard to do with a spouse and child. I eat a bunch in small bites when no one is looking, so it's not really a binge but just constant calories going in.

    That's the one big change I"m making this time - I'm keeping a food journal and writing down everything I eat. I told my husband where I'm keeping my journal and that he's welcome to look any time he wants. I know he won't, but just knowing that he COULD and the fact that I have to write down what I eat is making me make better choices.
  • I do understand where you're coming from. My husband likes to go out to eat---breakfasts and dinners. While I can justify spending my calorie budget on some dinners (we go to really good restaurants that make food I would not/could not prepare at home), I cannot justify using up calories on an omelet, especially when I know that they use loads of butter or oil when cooking it. So, lately, when I know we'll be going out to breakfast, I'll eat my planned breakfast at home and just order a fruit cup at the restaurant. With only limited calories, I am not willing to waste them on food that I don't love.