Going to bed early just to avoid eating can be a sign of being stuck in a cycle of food rules and guilt. Let’s unpack why this happens and why it’s not truly helpful: 1. It confuses coping with control 2. It reinforces the idea that hunger is “bad” 3. It can backfire physically and emotionally 4. It disconnects you from […]
Using food as a reward for working out may seem harmless at first, but it can actually reinforce some unhelpful patterns around eating and exercise. Here’s why: 1. It ties food to morality (“earned” vs. “unearned”) 2. It can fuel guilt and shame 3. It separates food from its real purpose 4. It can make exercise feel transactional 5. It […]
The phrase “you look healthy” seems positive on the surface, but for someone with a history of body image struggles or disordered eating, it can feel very loaded and sometimes triggering. Here are some reasons why it might trigger a binge response: 1. It can feel like a comment on weight gain. 2. It shifts focus onto appearance. 3. It […]
Ending binge eating often means learning to tolerate discomfort instead of escaping it with food. The “discomfort” can take many forms: Binge eating offers temporary relief from that discomfort, but it reinforces the cycle. Breaking it requires practicing sitting with the urge or feeling and discovering: “I can survive this without binging.” Some ways people build that tolerance: The first […]
Motivation comes and goes, and binge urges often hit at times when willpower or “feeling motivated” is at its lowest (stressful evenings, exhaustion, loneliness, etc.). If recovery depends only on motivation, it can feel like constantly failing. What tends to help more are systems, skills, and self-compassion, things that don’t rely on fluctuating motivation: Think of […]
Binge eating can feel like a battle between what someone wants (to stop) and what their brain and body do in the moment. People often continue binge eating despite wanting to stop because of a mix of biological, psychological, and emotional factors: 1. Biological factors 2. Emotional regulation 3. Habit loops 4. Shame & secrecy ? Healing usually involves […]
People often start new diets repeatedly for a mix of emotional, psychological, and societal reasons. Here’s why we tend to keep starting over:? 1. Hope for a Fresh StartStarting a new diet feels like hitting the reset button.It gives a sense of control and optimism: “This time, it’ll work.”? 2. Previous Diets Were UnsustainableMany diets are too restrictive […]
You need the right kind of help to end emotional and binge eating — here’s why:1. It’s not about willpower — it’s about unmet needsBinge and emotional eating aren’t signs that you’re lazy, broken, or undisciplined.They’re signs that: You’re mentally and physically exhaustedYou’re using food to cope (because you had to)Your body or emotions are […]
You can absolutely crave binge eating, and that can feel confusing or even scary. But it’s actually a very human response to unmet physical, emotional, or psychological needs.? Why You Might Crave Binge Eating1. It Brings Temporary ReliefEven if you know it’s not healthy long-term, binge eating can numb pain, distract from stress, or soothe anxietyin the moment.Your brain starts to associate […]
Dieting can be especially harmful for emotional eaters because it often intensifies the very issues that cause emotional eating in the first place. Here’s why:? Dieting Creates Restriction ? Triggers Emotional EatingEmotional eaters often turn to food for comfort, stress relief, or distraction.Diets typically involve strict rules or cutting out “bad” foods, which can create a sense of deprivation.That deprivation builds pressure, making you […]