Guest Jenera Healy on Binge Eating
Today I am on the road with Mr. JM. My wonderful friend Jenera of Just Me and Jenera Healy Photography has been kind enough to take over for the day. I couldn’t be leaving my blog in more trusted hands…
According to WebMD, the symptoms of binge eating are as follows:
* Eat way too much in a short period of time (less than 2 hours) on a regular basis.
* Eat when you are not hungry, to ease stress or to comfort yourself.
* Eat for emotional reasons, such as being sad, angry, lonely, or bored.
* Feel like you can’t stop eating.
* Eat faster than normal when you binge.
* Eat so much that you feel painfully full.
* Feel unhappy, upset, guilty, or depressed after you binge.
* Eat alone because you are embarrassed about how much you eat.
I do not think that binge eating or any other eating disorders are anything to be taken lightly. You may be having problems losing weight but it isn’t always going to be the result of a disorder of any type.
However, I was searching the internet trying to find motivation, tips, and support for losing weight. I have been questioning myself on why I just can’t seem to not eat. I don’t feel that there is an emotional void I’m filling though I do admit to eating more when stressed.
While reading through the symptoms or signs of bingeing, I found myself nodding my head. I DO eat when I’m not hungry. I DO eat in secret. I DO eat way past my full level.
My husband is a truck driver and is gone on the week for days at a time. I do more eating while he is gone than when he is home. There have been times I have waited for him to go to work before making a huge pot of pasta and then eating every single bit.
I know this is inhibiting my weight loss. I know that I do not need to eat as much as I do. I try to stay busy and to not dwell on the thought of food. I can do so well all day but come evening time, it’s constant eating for me. I feel terrible afterwards but I still do it.
Does this mean I am a binge eater? Maybe, maybe not. Do I have an unhealthy relationship with food? Probably.
I’m not sure where to go from here. I should talk to my husband about it but even then, what would the next step be? Would I need to take a next step? Or is recognizing the behavior the biggest one?
Have you dealt with a similar situation or other eating disorders in your quest to lose weight?
May 4th, 2009 at 5:53 am
Hey Jenera: I sometimes have problems with binge eating too. It does stem from a rather pathetic upbringing….blah blah blah. I now keep a food diary and it helps me to zero in on when what why where who etc. This past week, for example, was a very difficult one for me and I found myself overeating–luckily when I do overeat it’s still rather healthy food.
Reviewing my food diary I realised that at least for one of the days a pattern was developing where I would go hours and hours without food, and then once my evening exercise class was over I’d be famished! I’ve worked out to carry healthy snacks with me on that particular day so I wouldn’t be so ravenous. Getting into the habit of keeping a food diary is not easy, but I encourage you to give it a go. It may really help you identify what’s really causing the binge eating and may even help you create a solution. Good luck!
May 5th, 2009 at 11:19 pm
Excellent advice - advice I need to take as well. I need to get back into keeping a food diary. After I got mono, it’s just been hard to stick to.
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