Food Addiction Support Group

An individual suffering from a food addiction disorder frequently experiences episodes of uncontrolled eating, or binging, during which they may feel frenzied or out of control. They will eat much more quickly than is normal, and continue to eat even past the point of being uncomfortably full. Binging in this way is generally followed by a period of intense guilt feelings...

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/ Food Addiction Support Group

am i still a binge eater?

Spirit13
Spirit13
Hi,

I used to be a fully blown binge eater. Used to go at it for full sessions with the real deal buffet's but now it's only once a week, I'll grab a large packet of chocolates and go at it to destress and relax, often because I'm upset and need some quality time of enjoyment.

Is this still binge eating?

I realise it's playing with fire because of my old bad habits around food and being a past binge eater and even for a short while binge/purger.
But I don't purge and haven't for ages, nor do I binge obsessively or ongoing apart from this once a week time off.

Am I just kidding myself about it not being a binge session or is it ok? I realise it's not helping the weight any though.
deleted_user
deleted_user
Let me ask you do you feel guilty eating the chocolate? Are you able to control yourself if you maybe allowed yourself to have abit instead of alot?

I think its the same as me, if I am doing well allday, eating healthy working out etc. Then I eat something unhealthy or more then I should I consider it as a binge but really I just need to give myself permission to say its okay or else I feel guilty.
deleted_user
deleted_user
In my opinion...we never are "recovered" from our binge eating or food addiction. I believe we go into a state similar to remission myself. I know that even though I'm entering a binge eating disorder treatment program that I'll never be "cured" or "recovered" fully from it. The bite of one wrong food can send me into a binge all over again. In my opinion, you still battle this if you're consistently doing it once a week. Progress sounds as though its been made in that you don't do it every day all the time though, and that alone is fantastic! Just my two cents. I'm here if you need me. :)
deleted_user
deleted_user
hi, Spirit,
i would say yes ecause byou are still overeating. you said you "go at" a large packet of chocolates to destress. this is classic food addiction. using food for a reason other than nourishment. it's also classic food addiction to believe that a little success means you are now cured. I would say reach out for help whether that's through therapy or a group like Overeaters Anonymous or whatever.
deleted_user
deleted_user
Obviously, I am a binge-eater too; but one of the things that my support system has been helping me with is "learning to redefine a binge." When I call it a binge I'm more likely to just go for it, but if I can recognize that sometimes people overeat and that this doesn't make me "sick" or "disordered" or "f-ed up" then sometimes I am able to see the situation more clearly.

For example, if there are donuts in the house, my Dad might eat 4 or 5 of them before lunch, but he doesn't obsess over it or feel guilty about it or change his subsequent eating because of it. I guess what I'm saying is that "normal" varies a lot from person to person, but it's really about how you feel; about your relationship with food, that is what matters.

I don't know if this makes any sense or helps at all.