Overeating - do over-strict diets make you binge?

[Ali from The Office Diet]

Hey all,

I wrote a post for Diet Blog that went up today about "Why you binge eat - and how to stop"

I eat healthily and exercise Mon-Fri, and try to be reasonably active at the weekends, but I do usually have at least one or two meals at the weekend when I eat till I'm pretty full! I wouldn't call them "binges" as such (I stop before I feel sick or anything) but I definitely eat more than I need... usually all the wrong sorts of food, too!

I wondered -- especially those on vegan/raw food type diets where you cut out large groups of food -- do you ever "binge"? Are you ever tempted to eat things you've forbidden yourself? Or is it the case that, like Steve, you just don't see those things as food?

Thanks in advance for you illuminating responses

Ali

[Angela]

ANY diet makes me binge. I just hear the word "diet" and get a sudden inexplicable craving for dulce de leche ice cream -- a whole pint of it, all four servings!

That's why my new year's resolution this year is: No Diets! (oops, bad LoA, right? better adjust.)

[shiggityjoe]

Diets are only a temporary solution to a permanent problem. It takes a full lifestyle change in order to make permanent physical changes.

[Keith]

One thing you don't seem to have mentioned is that frequency of eating helps a lot. If you're on (say) 1800 calories a day, you're less likely to binge if you have 5 meals of 360 cal a pop than if you have 3 meals of 600 cal a pop (or worse, 2 meals of 900 cal a pop).

If your body gets to a stage of "Need energy now!" you'll crave the most energy-filled (ie. calorific) food you can think of.

Also, I just read an article the other day that suggested your body craves a variety of tastes. So (eg.) if you have a small amount of something sweet in the course of your meal, you won't crave dessert.

[IamBren]

"Overeating - do over-strict diets make you binge?"

Yes absolutely they do. Any diet seems to help push me to a binge eventually.

[Bodhi]

In her book "The Right Bite", Stephanie Dalvit-McPhillips, PH.D. Explains the many triggers that cause people to overeat and binge.

1. Too Few Calories
2. Insufficient nutrients (Malnutrition)
3. Low Hydration
4. Scents and Sights
5. Highly Processed Foods
6. Lack of Exercise
7. Alcohol
8. Frequency and size of meals
9. Lack of Fiber
10. Caffeine
11. Sugary foods
12. Nutritional and Personal Misconceptions


Cure:
1. By Supporting the physiological processes we were born with for maintaining our ideal weight, instead of manipulating them, and thus damaging or impairing them;
2. By eating in a way that corrects our abused metabolism and builds optimal headlth;
3. By choosing wholesome foods that do all of the above while meeting our needs for taste and variety and satisfying fullness.

[Ali from The Office Diet]

Originally Posted by Keith

One thing you don't seem to have mentioned is that frequency of eating helps a lot. If you're on (say) 1800 calories a day, you're less likely to binge if you have 5 meals of 360 cal a pop than if you have 3 meals of 600 cal a pop (or worse, 2 meals of 900 cal a pop).

If your body gets to a stage of "Need energy now!" you'll crave the most energy-filled (ie. calorific) food you can think of.

Also, I just read an article the other day that suggested your body craves a variety of tastes. So (eg.) if you have a small amount of something sweet in the course of your meal, you won't crave dessert.

Thanks Keith, both really good points! I'll definitely include some thoughts on those if I expand on the article in future. (Might well do an extended version for my own blog.)

Best,

Ali

[Ali from The Office Diet]

Originally Posted by Bodhi

In her book "The Right Bite", Stephanie Dalvit-McPhillips, PH.D. Explains the many triggers that cause people to overeat and binge.

1. Too Few Calories
2. Insufficient nutrients (Malnutrition)
3. Low Hydration
4. Scents and Sights
5. Highly Processed Foods
6. Lack of Exercise
7. Alcohol
8. Frequency and size of meals
9. Lack of Fiber
10. Caffeine
11. Sugary foods
12. Nutritional and Personal Misconceptions


Cure:
1. By Supporting the physiological processes we were born with for maintaining our ideal weight, instead of manipulating them, and thus damaging or impairing them;
2. By eating in a way that corrects our abused metabolism and builds optimal headlth;
3. By choosing wholesome foods that do all of the above while meeting our needs for taste and variety and satisfying fullness.

Thanks Bodhi, great list. I'll keep an eye out for that book.

Best,

Ali

[gnitratser]

I wonder if there are any binge-eaters that always eat at quite regular times & while being very calm (after meditation).

I also wonder if there are any bingers who drink this nutritious & filling drink:
-Soak 3-4 dl raw whole oats for 6-9 hours.
-Blend it with banana & cacao.
-Remove the bulk / filter it.

I think binging is impossible if you drink this or any other highly nutritious & filling drink, & eat while being totally relaxed.

[BamBam]

a lack of will power and discipline makes people overeat

everything else is a sorry excuse

[Joeschmoe]

So let me get this straight BamBam. The reason for the fact that 2/3 of Americans are over weight and obese up from 1/3 50 years ago is that there has been a precipitous drop in willpower? What caused such a drop in willpower? How is willpower measured?

[BamBam]

Originally Posted by Joeschmoe

So let me get this straight BamBam. The reason for the fact that 2/3 of Americans are over weight and obese up from 1/3 50 years ago is that there has been a precipitous drop in willpower? What caused such a drop in willpower? How is willpower measured?

Are you feeling okay? You sound like you need someone to talk to. Come over, well talk, ill even give you my shoulder to cry on.



It is OK to break from a diet here and there...on top of just the pure enjoyment factor its actually good to do so because it kicks your metabolism into overdrive while it is processing the junk. You want to throw it out of whack every here, obviously not often about once a week.

[Marco Polo]

You can eat and eat and eat, but you'll never fill that void.