Re: Re: From pro dieter to normal overeater: Binges vs. Overeating

[Guest guest]

wow, i LOVE that suggestion, of refusing to " tune out " when wanting to overeat/eat when not hungry. that's awesome.i'm going to try that and see how it goes! 

right now i am working on a similar challenge, just to be conscious while eating... to really only eat while not doing anything else. it's hardest to not daydream, though! 

 

Hi : The " Appetite Awareness Workbook " can answer your question better than I can. However, I'll try to summarize what that book says.

The author uses the term 'getting stuffed' to described binge eating, because bingeing can be so personal and subjective. Some people use the term 'binge', when they eat a 'forbidden' food. Others use 'binge' to mean any eating episode when you feel out of control. However, loss of control is also very subjective. For many people bingeing involves 'tuning out' while 'getting stuffed'.

The AAW author says that some eating episodes are particularly distressing because we have conflicting feelings about eating. We intensely desire to overeat certain foods, while we also want to resist eating to lose or avoid gaining weight. So we resolve that conflict by 'tuning out' conscious awareness of 'don't eat' or 'stop eating' thoughts. AAW author calls all variations of 'tuning out' the " OH WHAT THE HECK " response.

My binges almost always involve 'tuning out' or telling myself 'oh what the heck' when I find myself overeating, but don't want to stop. So I liked what AAW suggested to eliminate binges: " use conscious decisions to eat to counteract your tendency to dissociate (tune out) parts of your awareness. Instead of pushing away your urge to eat/binge, you must give yourself conscious permissioin to eat the type of food you really want. You can eat a small amount, a moderate amount or even a substantial amount. You just don't give yourself permission to get uncomfortably full or stuffed ... That conscious decision undermines any sense of loss of control ... At first, you are likely to overeat to some extent, but gradually you will become more able to stop before you feel uncomfortably, then ultimately before you even feel completely full. "

The AAW author continues to define a binge as a 'temper tantrum', which include (1) 'deprivation binges' (when we want specific foods we won't allow ourselves to eat outside of binges), (2) frustration binges (when we don't have control over getting what we want and feel powerless or helpless); and (3) leftover binges (when we put off bingeing for some time, while we cope with emotions without bingeing, until built up stress or even traumatic events finally influence us to cope with feelings with a binge).

Above all, the author reassures us: " When you make a conscious decision to eat, or even overeat, you are not bingeing. You have not lost or given up control; you are able to stay aware and watch what the food is doing or not doing for you. "

I hope that helps you understand how binges can differ from conscious overeating. Nevertheless, I encourage you to read 'Appetite Awareness Training' by Craighead.

SUE

PS After practicing IE for almost 8 years, I eventually began to think about food only when I felt hungry, needed to grocery shop or plan a special holiday meal or 'treats'. Although I previously feared cooking and baking, because I often binged, I now enjoy baking and preparing gourmet dishes. However, I prefer to do food projects when I'm not hungry (after a satisfying meal).

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> hi, my name is . It may sound like a silly question but what is the difference between a binge and overeating? I'll definately check out appetite awareness book. Even though I am not overeating, I notice that if I eat from mouth hunger I feel as if I am breaking a rule so maybe to have a guideline that doesn't provoke guilt. I look forward to when I am not thinking about food or weight.Are others who have been doing IE finding that they aren't thinking about food?

>

>

>

>

-- Abigail C. Wolfson, RN, MS, CPNPLICH School Based Health CenterBrooklyn New School & Brooklyn School for Collaborative Studies610 Henry Street, Room 209

Brooklyn, NY 11231 (fax)