How To FINALLY Overcome Binge Eating | Tips to Quit Binging

[@ParallelWellness]

What helped you to finally overcome binge eating? Share your tips! ❤️Please note that I am unable to provide clinical recommendations in the comment section. I'm happy to provide a space to share the challenges and triumphs of binge eating recovery here.

[@sunset33533]

The book "30 Days to Stop Overeating" by Harper Daniels takes an interesting mindfulness approach. The mind is so powerful.

[@Kakashi_46]

@@sunset33533 did it really helped?!!

[@goblinofsharksnacks]

I've been struggling with this for years but only just realised what it was recently, its causing my mental health to backtrack, its caused me so much self hate and held me back, I really just want to stop i dont even like the food i binge :/ Evenings at home are the hardest time for me, im fine during the day and at work, I was thinking ill take my dog for a 3rd walk in the evening I used to binge a lot when i was sad or depressed (lot of past traumas) but i managed to stop emotional eating when my depression went, now i think its somewhat linked to Boredom even though i have plenty to do and do it, I'm not usually doing nothing but those things aren't much of a distraction I do want to see a professional but im in the middle of getting my ADD diagnosis and i cant pay out on both at once :/ I wanna at least try at home to start anyways

[@beatrixkiddo7569]

@@goblinofsharksnacks how are you doing now? I see myself in what you write, and have also been wondering about add. Have no concentration. Any updates on your status?

[@goblinofsharksnacks]

@@beatrixkiddo7569 Still struggling somewhat, I've reached a limit to what I can do alone, but I've learned a lot and made progress, I'm seeing a psychiatrist very soon, and then planning to get cbt (cognitive Behavioural therapy) as I realised I need some help working around adhd and building new habits, cbt is also helpful for binge eating disorder, I don't plan to stop trying and I'll keep going til I find what works for me ^^

[@misskeisha4820]

My trigger is one bite of food. I’m okay all day untill i eat something and then i can eat for 4 hours straight untill i feel like throwing up.

[@corabauer6802]

yes omg it’s horrible

[@dianalove539]

I can understand this, you just have to plan it out (the meal you’ll eat) and be strong. Focus on your mentality as well, do you believe that after you start eating a snack you MUST have the whole thing? If so maybe try practicing doing a different way, give yourself PERMISSION to stop eating. I know that’s something a lot of people struggle with. Give yourself permission to enjoy your food. It’ll probably contrast from eating so much food till the point of sickness, I’m guessing you eat fast like I do, and don’t actually enjoy the food? So yeah, just try to be more mindful. What level of hunger are you at when you start eating, what level in between, and in those seconds of thinking, there is a pause, in which you have a choice, a pause in which you can choose whether or not you’ll continue binge eating, or for today, you decide you will not and maybe decide to go off and do something else. Imagine the sense of accomplishment after doing something like that, saying no to the urge. I just want you both to know some key concepts - you have power over this, you have ultimate power over the animal side of your brain Thats wants you to eat and binge - it’s not all or nothing - this acronym: *DEADS* Different ways to cope with a binge urge: D- *DELAY* (the urge, spend some time chilling out about it b4 you act on it) E- *ESCAPE* (escape the triggering environment) A- *Accept* (a form of meditation, notice the urge, accept that it is there, don’t react to it, and let it pass (probably one of the most hardest ones to get used to)) D - *Dispute* (one of my FAVORITE strategies. It’s just to really look at the thoughts your thinking, and really rebuttal at them, shower the not true & negative thoughts in LOGIC. Your brain tricks you into thinking a LOT of things, maybe that it will feel good, or that your not strong enough, but you know that isn’t true, so that’s what this whole strategy is about!) S - *Substitute* this one is pretty self explanatory, examples; when your craving comfort go lay on the couch and watch a movie instead of binging, when you feel tired and want to binge, go to sleep or take a nap, or even just rest by sitting down, when your thirsty go drink water instead of binging, when you really feel like binging go take a walk so you can get out of your head and have something to do, etc

[@misskeisha4820]

@@dianalove539 hi, it’s weird but i am actually a slow eater and i do enjoy my food, but the thing is that i maybe enjoy it so much, that it just gets to the point where i feel sick, but still eat, just because i want SOMETHING to eat... But thank you for all your tips, i have actually discovered that drinking water before and after a meal makes me feel much fuller and i do not have the urge to eat more. If i do feel like i’m starting to binge, i try to drink water and then i get to a point where my mind just says stop! Since i’ve written the comment, i have binged a few times but never to the point of wanting to throw up, but just being full. Which i feel like is a huge improvement for me. And about your suggestion of meal planning, i haven’t even thought of that to be honest, so i may try it :)

[@dianalove539]

@@misskeisha4820 Wow, great job on figuring that water helps and not binging till sickness, I applaud you. And yes having a plan can take away the stress of decision making and wanting to eat everything all at once.

[@misskeisha4820]

@@dianalove539 thank you for taking your time and trying to help :)

[@kiarakostka4814]

I even binge when I'm not hungry. So me reason for binge eating isn't that i'm starving myself or something

[@ParallelWellness]

Hunger can be one trigger, but it's not the only one. Consider all the factors that may be contributing to the scenario that turns into a binge. Are you stressed? Are you tired? Are you feeling emotionally overwhelmed? Do you push yourself each day and feel like this is the one way you can really relax and let go?

[@dianalove539]

It could just be a habit 🤷🏽‍♀️ if it is then the tips most people give won’t work for you. Ie all the questions Meredith asked won’t be relevant, it would just be beating around the bush while thinking you would find an answer, by solving another problem. But maybe you won’t. In that case, I recommend brain over binge by Kathryn Hanson. It has really helped me be stronger in not fighting but maybe beating this binge eating. I have so many tips, and I hope you’ll find your tips as well.

[@danasmlmi6137]

@@dianalove539 hey binging is a habit for me. Can you give me some tips please ??

[@ketreenawilliams9812]

Yeah most of the time it has nothing to do with being stressed or hungry

[@starr6850]

If you like me... I binge eat out of emotions/ anger I binge eat out of being bored I binge eat out of not eating/ starving myself so i think I binge eat because of the lust of the eyes of wanting more I binge eat because of a lack of self-control

[@micaelaparada5529]

it's like a never ending struggle but you can TOTALLY get out of that! what have you been trying to do to solve it already?!

[@sherunswild4391]

I think binging is sometimes a form of self-harm, it's a way to subconsciously hurt yourself because let's be honest most of the time it's really not enjoyable. You're not paying attention to what you eat, you're just thinking about the next thing. It's you, punishing yourself. For me I think I'm triggered by emotions. I tend to automatically bury my emotions and don't really know how to feel them, so I numb myself with food which has become such a habit for me now. I overeat when I'm stressed, anxious, overwhelmed, tired, sad, feel guilty, feel lazy, feel unmotivated and want to procrastinate.

[@sherunswild4391]

@Milica Skenderovic, Mag. Pharm. Thank you! Ill watch :)

[@jangreig6206]

I agree. I've been binge eating for 53 years.

[@natalielove1002]

Yes. I'm only satisfied when I eat so much it hurts. And I have a high tolerance.

[@_nini222]

How are you now?

[@sherunswild4391]

@@_nini222 thank you for asking. At the moment I’m doing a lot better though I still have days where I eat to uncomfortable levels. I’m trying to be a bit more mindful and intuitive with food which I find hard but allows me to be more relaxed around it. I think I’ll always use food to deal with emotions but I’m glad I at least am aware of it. How are you??

[@waffledoddle7575]

Once I eat a single piece of cookie, it's the dead end and there is no point of return. I am suffering from this since last year. I really want to recover quickly so that I can be happier again and live a free and healthy life 😖 I binge 2-3 times a week 💔

[@Kakashi_46]

It’s weird but I use it as a method of comforting myself and even treating myself sometimes ...

[@micaelaparada5529]

it's like a never ending struggle but you can TOTALLY get out of that! what have you been trying to do to solve it already?!

[@juliam1099]

Not weird at all.

[@justbrandi420]

Me too.

[@yugyeomslita2168]

Me too. I’ve always used food as a comfort thing. But then I feel bad later on after the binge and the guilt comes.

[@legendarts5287]

i binge when I ate 1 small unhealthy thing and I think like, now it doesnt matter anyway. its shit.

[@ParallelWellness]

This sounds like a strong diet rebel! Watch my series on intuitive eating to learn more. Start here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aISvY4WCiqd5oas

[@Zoe-xc3up]

Same with me, but we really do need to realize how we won't truly feel guilt the next day for that one little thing, compared to the guilt when we ate all in sight in the kitchen

[@inthehouse1960]

A friend of mine who has worked as a therapist at an eating disorder clinic for anorexia and bulimia for years went into private practice and started seeing BED clients. I was shocked when she said to me, "Binge eating disorder clients are easy. They just have to learn not to eat when they're hungry." She also knows that I have BED. I couldn't believe the level of insensitivity and, frankly, ignorance in this statement. It changed how I feel about her.

[@hamtan2578]

I was told to just control myself and stop eating so much, as if I haven't been trying to do that already.

[@ParallelWellness]

The tough part is that the restriction "stop eating" mentality only makes things worse.

[@dianalove539]

@Joshua Towers: Radio no

[@mihaelap9122]

Same. It’s like telling a depressed person to stop being so depressed and smile more.

[@phyllisweaver8911]

I have dieted and binged in the same days. I have always been told that I need to lose weight and “come on now ! You can do it!” I cant and thats the most embarrassing part. Its not the love of the food but its a COMPULSION. I don’t even recognize what a normal “portion” is.

[@EmbodyYourDivinity]

I used to diet and binge in the same days too! I totally relate to the compulsion to eat, that's how it was for me too for so long.

[@makeupplz]

I stopped seeing my therapist because he was constantly trying to push the keto diet on me. I’ve found diets to never be a helpful thing for me, and often lead me to other disordered eating habits.

[@ParallelWellness]

As therapists, we’re not trained in human physiology and nutrition so it’s not a competency of our practice. While I can comment on the emotional response my clients often experience related to their eating, I’d always refer to a Registered Dietitian for nutrition support as needed. I’m sorry this was your experience, and it sounds like you listened to your intuition on what was right for you!

[@lucybellescott7531]

My girlfriend tells me it's because I'm vegan . . I "need" to eat meat. Other people do not understand & should just listen instead of telling me what to do ... when they have no idea about this.

[@toad9964]

This video made me realize that my issues with food are valid and knowing that honestly made me cry from relief. Thanks for this video, you’ve got a new subscriber 💗

[@LDF1218]

For me, the binge is a compulsion that I don’t have control over. It is usually an emotional stress but sometimes just being hungry will trigger a binge. I worried that I had diabetes because of the extremely low sugar I get sometimes but now that I’ve seen your videos I think it is because of my eating disorder.

[@mihaelap9122]

I hate it when people belittle this issue by saying that you don’t have willpower or you are weak and this is not a mental problem.

[@ParallelWellness]

Absolutely. It’s very difficult to understand binge eating if you haven’t experienced it. It has nothing to do with willpower.

[@valodimopoulou8865]

I have been in and out binge eating for almost 5 years. I have normal weight but for me snacking destroys it.If I start snacking it goes downside..What triggers me the most is boredom or having nothing to do. I try to stay active even when I have no activity. I chew gum if I feel the trigger..

[@yazzy8453]

My abusive mother would tell me to "hold my throat", which, in my first language, translates to "toughen up and have some willpower". It's not about willpower. It's a coping mechanism. and she would constantly tell me to "eat slowly" every single time I ate in front of her. My eating disorder was caused by her abuse. Even though I cut her out of my life, I still struggle with binge eating, and I can't seem to stop. I am hoping this video will help.

[@dianalove539]

I can see a lot of your thinking mentality in your comment... victimizing, and blaming your mother instead of taking responsibility for your actions. Instead of taking action to be better (by eating slower maybe) you’d rather tell yourself it’s a coping mechanism, you have and eating disorder, and you can’t stop... be proactive man. It was never your mothers fault for your binge eating, as you can tell because you STILL binge eat without her in your life!!! I’m sorry to tell you this, but cut the excuses, start small, and really believe in yourself. There is nothing “wrong” with you, you just have to keep trying and be better than b4

[@jons355]

I’ve tried every trick to try and stop bingeing and just eat a normal diet. It doesn’t work. I’m just so full of despair now, I’ve been trapped in this vortex of depression and eating for years now. Also, I don’t even restrict. I just can’t stop eating. When I just say ‘ok, eat wherever you want’ which seems to be a clever trick that lots of people recommend as a way to stop you bingeing, it doesn’t work for me - I literally do eat whatever I want and that literally is a sh*t load of terrible food. I’m so tired of this. It’s exhausting, and I don’t know how I ended up here

[@ParallelWellness]

Thanks for your very honest comment. You don’t need to reply here, but what emotions could eating help you cope with, or what need is it covering up? Beyond a response to restricting, people binge for all kinds of reasons as a response a need that’s not being met.

[@jons355]

Meredith MacKenzie - Parallel Wellness thanks for responding. I’m feeling very professionally and personally unfulfilled and have done for about seven years now, since I left university. Eating is the only thing that brings me joy and that I look forward to now

[@enzogonzales608]

Jon S i resonate with this a lot. I was doing pretty good with my eating habits before covid, but it knocked out my job at a healthy restaurant and my opportunities for my artistic career. Since then food does feel like one of the only bright spots in my life. One of the only ways I can feel joy or euphoria (especially since I stopped smoking and drinking).

[@jons355]

@@enzogonzales608 I feel something similar - I've harboured ambitions to become a scriptwriter/playwright and was planning to join a theatre group, but all this has put paid to that :( so I've just had to stick with my crappy retail job in a shopping centre which is also full of fast food places which I struggle to resist after work. I've been reading about not actively resisting/fighting urges to binge, simply living with them, paying them no attention or mind, and letting them float away naturally. I feel quite positive about that technique and am trying to put it into practice more. The biggest thing I struggle with to be honest is actually, what's the point of eating better, why not just eat what I want when I want if I'm going to die one day anyway? It's a very nihilistic view which has probably been exacerbated by my poor situation in life at the moment, but I don't really know how to handle it :(

[@ParallelWellness]

That’s very honest. Sometimes we can try to fill our emotional needs with food and the comfort of eating. I’m not suggesting it’s easy - could you focus on where you feel unfulfilled?

[@erikab.44]

Worst advice: "You just need more self control" 🙄

[@ParallelWellness]

Right, as if your eating disorder equates to you just not trying hard enough. 💔

[@dianalove539]

Or rather I think the actually thing is we need tools. Tools to have self control you know? You can’t JUST have self control, it really is horrible advice, but if you can get the tools to have self control and the tips that work for you, I do believe it would work.

[@micaelaparada5529]

what have you been trying to do to solve the bingeing already?! 🤔

[@MonicaRodriguez-uj3di]

Oh my God, I have been told that "Just stop bingeing ,it's easy 😞" or I have been told "Well eating that much ,no wonder your gaining " it's not a easy cycle to stop especially if stress keeps appearing in a person's life. What I hate is how awkward and embarrassed it makes me feel, like I don't want to be seen .😣😣😢

[@debbiethompsoncoaching]

Another great video of such thorough info. I totally agree with you that curating our content & filtering out diet culture is KEY. That mindset is at the root of why most of us start bingeing in the first place.

[@ParallelWellness]

Right! We need to conscious of the messages we’re receiving.

[@angelahenry1511]

The trick is to eat early on in the day till you are feeling very full...this will carry you right through till evening without grazing ! The secret is to fill up then let it carry you through the day! You can eat again later but you won't eat as much! Take it from me a food addict ...it works ...I usually eat 3/4 thousand calories a day. Now eating 2500 as I fill up till I'm full in the morning , eating whatever I like! Usually full after 1500 Cal's...leaving 1000 for more later on! Works..try it!

[@tashapatton4699]

Thank you for this video. I keep falling into a cycle of either binge eating or engaging in bulimic purging behaviors. I'm trying now to figure out how to stop dieting and be more compassionate to myself and body. I have some times when I'm able to, and others where I can't.

[@ParallelWellness]

Tasha it's a huge process, as you're aware. I'm sending you supportive thoughts! I'm currently doing some research on binge eating experience and would love your input. If you're free for a call, please book here: calendly.com/parallelwellness/meredith-mackenzie

[@jademusic1211]

I suffered from bulimia with anorexic tendencies for 33 years, stopped purging four years ago come December, but have struggled with binge eating ever since (to clarify, when I stopped purging I became a non-purging bulimic because I still engage in compensatory behaviors like fasting and skipping meals). It's a Hell, and I wish I could get off of this "train". 😭 The problem is, I'm constantly trying to eat healthy, but I keep getting triggered due to my emotions and the perpetual need to be the "perfect" eater for my health. I'm an ethical vegan (for over three years now), but all the plant-based doctors say you have to eat whole foods to be healthy, and so I try and I love it, but then I get bored and want to mix things up with some "junk"..then if I do, I feel guilty for eating it and wind up binging on everything just to get rid of it. I promise to "start fresh" the next day, but quickly enough the "voices" in my head give me an excuse to binge, again, on junk.. and it doesn't always have to be "bad" foods. I've binged on healthy stuff, too. It's a vicious cycle of trying to eat healthy, feeling stressed and deprived and binging because of it (or because I got triggered due to an emotional upset), and eating whatever I want, feeling guilty, then binging to get rid of it so I can try to, *once again* , eat healthy. I hate myself. I haven't completely enjoyed food for *years* . 😥 I went to therapy a few years ago for my bulimia and other things, and it just made things *worse* . My therapist wound up scolding me for not being able to eliminate my behaviors, so I stopped going. 😓 PS: One of the worst pieces of advice from my former therapist: 'If you want the cookies, just put them on the top of a shelf where you can't reach them.' 🙄😑 Thank you, Meredith. I appreciate your advice (and sorry I wrote so much). ♥️

[@ParallelWellness]

Feeling your pain 💛 Wondering if you can work with a therapist who specializes in binge eating and eating disorders. So much of what you mentioned are common eating disorder symptoms and I hope you can be kind to yourself in recognizing that these challenges aren't your fault. I'm currently doing some research on binge eating experience and would love your input. If you're interested in getting on a call, you can book here: calendly.com/parallelwellness/meredith-mackenzie

[@changliu853]

Omg it seems im reading myself, i feel sorry for you/us, i hope you/us can slowly overcome this food perfection in our head and feel better soon, don’t give up 💓

[@jademusic1211]

@@changliu853 Thank you, honey. 😘 I hope you can heal and find peace, too. ♥️

[@starr6850]

Actually when my family critize me about my weight, it actually motivates me. when I see beautiful women when nice bodies. even tho it saddens me, it also motivates me..

[@dianalove539]

Sometimes that’s how It works for me too. You can’t control what others will say but you can choose what to do with it, I choose to use some of it as fuel to be better lol!!

[@hyeronymus]

Kinda feel u

[@Angel-mx7jj]

watching this video bc I'm tired of throwing up after I binge idk if that's considered bulimia but if it is, then my laziness just cured two eating disorders with one stone.

[@MonzonMedia]

I admit I’m terrible at binge eating and usually at night. Fortunately it’s not all the time but when it happens I can gear through a whole bag of large chips and more. Never thought of planning my eating habits and document it. Very good tips.

[@ParallelWellness]

When the day is done and our brains can finally take a break, is a common time for binge eating to happen. I'm planning a video on night eating specifically!

[@VonniDe]

You are truly a wonderful therapist!. I binge eat and need professional help. My comes from childhood mental abuse, and constantly being told from my parents that Iam fat . But I was to eat everything on my plate. I really need to learn again how to eat.

[@ParallelWellness]

Thank you Ronni! ❤️ You have a rewarding journey ahead of you if you choose to work on your trauma and relationship with food!

[@aquaregium2523]

The worst advice I ever got was when I went to my doctor and asked for a referral to a dietician or some sort of help for my binge eating and explained that one of my problems is that I have a lack of appetite (and difficulty recognising when I'm actually hungry) because of the guilt of eating and my weight gain. His ''advice'' was to say that he cant refer me to a dietician because "being obese isn't a real medical problem" and that the best he could offer me was *APPETITE SURPRESSANTS* and telling me to eat more carrots :/ I stopped going to him after this and a couple other things he did that really showed just how little he respected me and my health. I'm seeing a really good doctor now, and have a great therapist helping me learn to have a good relationship with food :) (still got a long way to go, but im finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel and starting to feel less guilt surrounding eating).

[@ParallelWellness]

I'm so glad you listened to your intuition on this and found a group of professionals who have been more supportive of you and your recovery!

[@ParallelWellness]

I'm doing a live stream tomorrow evening and am wondering if you might have any questions about managing over the holidays that you think would be helpful to have answered?

[@ditchthebun9453]

Sometimes I wonder how people get a medical license. Seriously that is bad. So happy you started seeing someone else.

[@snarkyandsane]

Worst stop binge eating ‘advice’ that made me feel terrible about myself was a nutrition counselor telling me, “You’re binge eating to numb yourself.” And that was it. While that’s true, it left me feeling like a failure cuz I clearly couldn’t simply get a grip and let go of the emotions. *cue: tap your feet together three times and say…

[@scottersgirl]

Thank you posting these videos it was the first video that I found that truly describes exactly what I’m going through. I am slowly on the tips you gave.

[@ParallelWellness]

Wow thank you Heidi! I’m so glad you found my channel. Please let me know if there are any topics you’d like clarified or covered!

[@maja__5047]

Today I'll stop binge eating. Seriously. I just binged and when attempting to do my usual dance routine (I'n not overweight, for a binger I'm actually super small), I got so nauseous that I almost threw up. I literally could feel the urge. When I looked at that bathtub and then at my face in the mirror, I saw pain. Pain, despair and helpfulness. I felt such a strong compassion for myself that I've never ever experienced before. I won't do this to myself again, I promise. I just can't. Three meals at the table, that's it.

[@ParallelWellness]

Hi Maja, I can hear how difficult this is for you. Let me suggest not approaching it with an all-or-nothing perspective. Binging is difficult to overcome. Just focus on taking care of yourself today to manage binge urges, be gentle with yourself, and then do the same the next day. If you binge again, it’s not a failure. ❤️

[@maja__5047]

@@ParallelWellness Thank you so much, you're so kind and really helpful! I've actually come a long way already, when I binge I eat way less than I did before, my relationship with food and my relationship with my body have improved tremendously. I've found different coping mechanisms (like dancing and singing) and I try to take better care of myself (a lack of sleep can trigger a binge for me for example), and I think I'm ready to quit for good. Thank you Meredith, you've been of tremendous help to me

[@teraclassen9153]

I have found that when I STOP dieting and take out the pressure of binge vs dieting, this helps a lot.

[@lucybellescott7531]

I overeat when tired. Instead of taking a nap. WHY do I keep repeating this pattern?

[@densedecisions4568]

8:24 "Try not to think about food" Particularly right after making me eat a meal I wasn't hungry for. Also, regular meals. That's just another chore and another food rule.

[@CoushattaL]

Eating anything is my trigger. I go to therapy and the doctor..im on depression meds and everything was okay but now all sudden I am binging badly again and have gained 10lbs... I dont know what to do anymore i am so upset

[@indiasheana]

Worst advice: Eat all day... Eat 3 meals and 3 snacks a day. Eating is actually a trigger for me (even if it's "healthy" food, I still get triggered). I'm more successful with managing my BED when I do intermittent fasting and only eat within a small eating window. Eating ALL day means I never get to eat a satisfying meal. I'll be hungry after every meal. Hunger and trying to live with the fact that I'll be hungry for life is what deters me from the whole "eat 6 meals a day". the whole spill about protein, fiber, etc. none of that works.

[@lucybellescott7531]

Or eat carbs as much as you want .... you can't overeat. Hello .. that's NOT true .. stop saying that!

[@Sarah-nt8ww]

I agree, and the whole process of planning what food to eat in all those meals is just too much.

[@Ashley-cr4ow]

I think I’m the same way I never thought about that.

[@AdrianaGirdler]

Great tips for those that are trying to overcome binge eating. Thanks for sharing, cheers!

[@ParallelWellness]

Thank you for checking out my video!

[@you_are_your_sunshine]

I think what triggers me the most is self image. I can go weeks without binging if I look good in the mirror but the moment I pass by a mirror or turn or a camera and look bad (not the way I would want to) , I'd feel as if all my efforts in regards to recover from BED have failed and therefore I'll binge huge amounts, obviously mindlessly, no amount of food is sufficient. What's even more saddening is that I binge in nights because thats the only time Im alone and by the morning I have to clean up all the mess and even sneak things away. Its become extremely tiring now.

[@hereticsaint100]

Intermittent fasting where I ate at lunch and dinner in a short eating window was helpful. My blood sugar didn't fluctuate then. Not buying the binge-y food helped. Eating nutrient dense home cooked food was key.

[@nightgazer251]

A neurologist once told me to “just stop eating”. Hands down the worst advice in a very long list of unsolicited advice.

[@ParallelWellness]

Bah! That's the solution right?? 🙃 I'm doing a live stream tomorrow evening and am wondering if you might have any questions about managing over the holidays that you think would be helpful to have answered?

[@nightgazer251]

@@ParallelWellness I’m sorry I missed this but I’m not sure I had much that was directly holiday related. Except for the pressure of eating the ‘right’ amount at parties. That would usually lead to a later binge for me (after real or imagined judgement from others).

[@dianalove539]

Lol. But that’s actually really good advice. If he’s a neurologist he sort of knows what he’s saying, the more you “just stop eating”, the more the habit of binging neurons connection get weakened. The more you say no and _stop_ the easier it gets and a new neuron pathway overrides the old binging habit one. Repetition turns into habit, you CAN reverse this! (Well not really but you CAN override it and take control!)

[@purpletreesftw80]

I feel ya Anne. I had an MD tell me it was "better to be anoerxic than fat." Not really helpful. Neither is particularly healthy. He didn't want to help me though, just get me out of his office. Smh

[@avenfae]

I was told that fighting my binge eating, is all about self control and willpower and putting a hard limit on my calorie intake allowance for the day.

[@SallyPie08]

I've always eaten sugary foods but when I gave up cigarettes 10 years ago I replaced the cigarettes with more and more junk food. Im not incredibly heavy but heavy enough, I'm uncomfortable in my body and unable to carry around the weight. But yet I give in time and time again 🙄 I sabotage myself all the time. I've started exercising again and rewarding myself by having a bar 🙄 it's incredibly frustrating 😤

[@jeshieldbarroga6122]

I found that my trigger was talking of losing weight. I wanted to eat secretly and eat as much so that no one can see me eat bad foods. My mother would make it worse for me because she would talk about losing weight so much and I think she doesn’t know that it triggers me so much. I appreciate that she cares but it doesn’t help.. when I found that I liked my body I started eating regularly and wanting to move more hence, I lost weight and my pants size when down. When I told my mother she would talk about my weight in the scale and that’s how it backfired for me. That’s when I decided to stop caring about my body. Because I didn’t think my body was ever good enough and that any progress mattered anymore. I think the best thing to do is to address it to my mother. It’s hard because I feel like she doesn’t understand. I’m actually tired of food and I feel like I’ve over fed it.. but the stress is so much.

[@vanessamclennan1]

Great advice here! Binge Eating is hard to overcome, great tips!

[@sarahboyle1961]

i absolutely love this Meredith

[@ParallelWellness]

Thanks Sarah!! 🥰

[@vibewithhealth]

Very detailed video Meredith about binge eating and very useful tips.

[@ParallelWellness]

Thanks for watching!

[@sunset33533]

The book "30 Days to Stop Overeating" by Harper Daniels takes an interesting mindfulness approach. The mind is so powerful.

[@CafeLu]

I find that I am unconsciously restricting food or types of food when I look back after a binge. I think I am intuitively eating - but really i am still trying to eat less or not eat sugar or carbs or something else because I start wanting to try to control my weight again.

[@baconcat02]

I would say that the worst advice given to me was from a recent doctor when I ended up in the hospital for malnutrition from going a week without food and barely water. I had been having weird symptoms and the doctors weren’t figuring it out. I went to emergency many times during the month and many times prior. They finally caught my nutrient levels not regular and my blood sugar so low they were surprised I wasn’t in a coma. They pumped me back full of sugar and nutrients, then the discharge doctor came in and asked questions which is when I explained what was happening. She said “oh you’re only experiencing these symptoms because you stopped eating this week. just make sure to not starve yourself again!”, then smiled and left. I found out she had discharged me right before walking in to talk to me. 10 months later I had yet to have a doctor give me a reason why the symptoms were happening. BUT I recently had an appointment for another second opinion (more like 10th at this point) and the doctor immediately asked if I’ve ever been evaluated for an eating disorder. I said no, explained I’d always had issues eating since elementary, starving then binging as a cycle, and also mentioned how I’ve notified other doctors and even my therapists in the past about the issues. He then said that I had been experiencing refeeding syndrome when I first went into the hospital, was surprised and upset the doctors didn’t realize nor the therapists do anything, and with how fast they replaced my vitamins due to the dangers and extra symptoms I started getting from too fast of absorption. I’m hoping to have my eating evaluation soon and I’m currently awaiting my consult with a nutritionist.

[@colleenwynia]

Meredith so true we have to toss the “dieting” thought process! Thanku tons !

[@ParallelWellness]

Thanks for watching Colleen!

[@micaelaparada5529]

it's like a never ending struggle but you can TOTALLY get out of that! what have you been trying to do to solve it already?!

[@몰파]

Someone told me " just stop eating nd control your self " woow u saved my life

[@ratondeturatonera8366]

it’s either im bored or i just cant feel full no matter how much i eat i feel deprived of food even now i just had a lot of ice cream and i still feel deprived

[@Ahmed-000-]

I stopped binge eating for one month but it came back again my only happiness in life is to eat while watching cartoons :(

[@IntentionalMarriages]

You're a great resource for helping binge eaters!

[@ParallelWellness]

Thank you Danielle! Carving out that niche 😉

[@pedronicado]

Awesome information, Meredith!!!

[@ParallelWellness]

Thank you!!

[@felichagomez]

Thank you! I've been unable to find a therapist in my area due to covid and in the meantime these videos are very helpful ❤️

[@ParallelWellness]

So glad to hear that! Hope you can connect with a therapist soon.

[@EmbodyYourDivinity]

Thanks for the great points about how to overcome binge eating.

[@lucac2437]

I work Doordash full time and it is the worst trigger for me. Its hard to overcome an eating disorder when food is constantly on my mind for most of the day. Yes, I could work somewhere else but since I am 19, I will be most likely taking a pay cut. I live with roommates and have no family near by so I pay for all my bills. At the moment, I spend a lot more than I make all because of groceries and fast food restaurants for daily binges. Sometimes the day will be going great then I have a sudden urge to want to binge.

[@ParallelWellness]

My thoughts go out to you Luca, that’s a really tough position to be in. I recommend you treat each shift as a “worst case scenario” and plan ahead. I can’t remember which video I covered this strategy in, but it’s helpful in feeling safer in a challenging situation.

[@CelinaBelizan]

So good! Thank for this very insightful information!

[@ParallelWellness]

Glad it was helpful!

[@rheyamichener5953]

If I would even step foot in the kitchen, my mom would make me drink a whole glass of water and wait 5 minutes before I was allowed to have anything to eat cuz I was "probably just dehydrated"...I started hoarding food in my room and even though I'm out of the house, I still hoard food in my bedroom🤦🏼‍♀️

[@rheyamichener5953]

@Joshua Towers: Radio no, I never restricted. I started believing (still kinda do) that food made me a bad person and I started believing that because I like food so much, I must be a bad person. So I kinda just dove in and started binging like crazy to where I would feel sick but refused to let myself throw up because I deserved to feel bad and sick because I was bad.

[@rheyamichener5953]

@Joshua Towers: Radio yah its mostly like carbs tbh. Like yes ice cream and cookies and chips, but also potatoes, rice, corn, fruit (my mom used to also tell me I ate too much fruit and thats y I was gaining weight...🤣🤦🏼‍♀️)

[@rheyamichener5953]

I also have OCD so some "bad" foods don't make sense lol I just think something bad is going to happen if I eat it 🤷🏼‍♀️

[@rheyamichener5953]

@Joshua Towers: Radio i used to not, but I'm starting to come around a tiny bit thanks to a ton of therapy 🤣

[@rheyamichener5953]

@Joshua Towers: Radio thank u so much!!

[@hid4193]

I just go to the refrigerator at 1 am and binge after my friends party where I restrict only for half of a cake I feel terrible

[@msmercy5049]

it’s so hard espically in quarantine I’m doing online school and I’m at home all day I’m scared to go out in public now because I know I’ve gained a lot of weight and I’m scared of people noticing I just wish I could tell my parents but I don’t think they’d take me seriously....

[@suffocute]

thank you so much for this !!!

[@CJ-hu4cs]

The problem is, I have no idea what my trigger is. My situation isn't bad. I just have insane cravings, I guess.

[@hyeronymus]

Actually can not believe that i'm letting food control me. Like, *F O O D* !???

[@juliam1099]

But food is our first source of comfort from birth. Food and being held. I'm older and lonely so I do let food control more than is healthy. I don't like your username - you're not a loser!

[@bizcatch]

I've been told to say out loud why should I eat this food and then go for a walk instead. Which could be reasonable and true looking back at all the videos, articles... provided by "professionals". But it doesn't work for me. I'll tell myself out loud that am not hungry, that I am just angry and yet I'd still eat the food and feel guilty afterwards and blame myself for not restraining in the first place.

[@ParallelWellness]

You’re describing a really important step in overcoming this, and deserve to give yourself credit. You’re pausing, noticing the emotion you’re feeling, and sure you might still binge, but it’s all about building those self-awareness muscles. The next step would be to ask yourself, “when I’m angry what do I need to shift this feeling?” Right now, the most accessible answer is “eat food”, but the more you practice the more you’ll find what works for you. Maybe it’s calling a friend to vent to, or watching a comedy movie to feel an opposite feeling. Experiment. Going for a walk is a generic recommendation because it removes your from the environment you’re feeling the urge in, but it’s okay if that’s not what helps you process your anger.

[@cheeseandsprinklez]

Worst advice is anything related to the book " never binge again". He wants you to refer to yourself as a pig. As well as make a list of foods to restrict yourself with and NEVER fall off plan.

[@ParallelWellness]

Wow, I haven’t read that book (kinda want to borrow it from the library for research on what not to do). I agree, shame, blame and restriction are not the way to find recovery. Thank you for sharing this!

[@ditchthebun9453]

OMG what? I have never heard of this book. How awful! Someone paid that person to write that book. That's just messed up.

[@sarahgore5618]

I found the book ok and it doesn't ask you to refer to yourself as a pig. The main part is treating the voice that wants u to binge as a separate being yes he calls that a pig. That will try to trick us to eat when we dont want to it will say anything to get food.

[@nazl2914]

i feel like the only way to quit this is me being dead lol

[@beautiesofnyc]

not taking me seriously and saying "yea i eat a lot sometimes too", etc. trying to almost argue with me that I do not have a binge eating disorder

[@laurengg09]

Im 3 months into bulimia recovery and I'm still binging in the evenings on junk ☹️

[@ElizabethSampson]

Very informative!

[@ParallelWellness]

Thank you Elizabeth!

[@Welsh-Trials-Enduro]

Worst advice- to restrict carbs and sugar. It just made these foods that much more of a binge food for me.

[@DonnaQC]

Thank you for this!! I am so guilty of binge eating. I find that if I'm ready to eat the whole fridge I just ask myself, are you hungry or are you thirsty? Most of the time, I'm just thirsty!

[@ParallelWellness]

Thanks for watching Donna! It can definitely be a struggle to tune into all the signals our body's give us. Meeting our needs beyond food is important _and_ we can also embrace the comfort of food without guilt.

[@micaelaparada5529]

it's like a never ending struggle but you can TOTALLY get out of that! what have you been trying to do to solve it already?!

[@angeliquexo]

I noticed the worst advice most binge-eaters receive always have to do with either willpower or restriction for some reason. The mentality of "just eat less & exercise more" or "you're just lazy" or "just stop eating junk food". It's rarely about the food itself for me, its about me, my mental health, my emotional state, my starvation mentality. Overcoming the starvation mentality is probably the hardest for me

[@priyankadey8868]

Anyone who needs a friend while in recovery to talk to?

[@YuliaTarbath]

Inspiring tips on quitting binging eating!

[@ParallelWellness]

Thanks for watching!

[@imethan-youtubetips2420]

I binge eat so much. Will try your tips out Meredith.. I'm also a small tuber 😅

[@ParallelWellness]

Hope you find the tips helpful! Please stay tuned for more!

[@ihcuhcalaK]

it's fucking killing me because it took me MOOOOONTHS to get to the body that i was satisfied with. i've gained 3.5 kg in under 3 weeks and my abs are no longer as defined as they were. i ruined a ton of my progress in under 3 weeks and the fact that my family either denies that i have a problem or is just clueless doesn't help. they keep saying i'm normal they keep saying that i need food when i'm not even starving myself i'm starting to hate everyone including me because of it

[@nunyabiz6925]

I hear ya

[@TrulyAGhost]

I eat badly because of loneliness and depression

[@TheJournalGurl]

I love when people who are skinnier and never had trouble with weight say to me. Just quick binge eating. It's all in your mind. Your weak. Like obviously if I could stop I would 🙄

[@MrExtra-ny2ns]

What do you do when your family is your trigger?

[@carolyndelgado8853]

Worst advice “I don’t really think you have binge eating disorder” Made me not want to go back and I knew I did and do. Confirmed through my therapist and psychiatrist.

[@ParallelWellness]

So glad you found support with professionals specialized in the field! I'm doing a live stream tomorrow evening and am wondering if you might have any questions about managing over the holidays that you think would be helpful to have answered?

[@sadakayoutube7661]

I struggle a lot with food😭

[@hasekg39]

I disagree with the frequent eating as it promotes insulin fluctuations which ultimately add to difficulty in managing ghrelin patterns. I’ve dealt with food addiction and binge eating since I was a young kid and I believe healthy intermittent fasting to promote more favorable neurological chemistry, however if you are extremely strict (which none of us ALWAYS are lol) on eating highly nutrient dense food it’s completely suitable to eat as you suggest but in the year 2021 it’s practically a pipe dream

[@ParallelWellness]

I appreciate your perspective and agree that intermittent fasting can work for some people. My audience struggles with disordered eating and eating disorders, and intermittent fasting perpetuates these issues.

[@hasekg39]

@@ParallelWellness nobodies mind is the exact same so we can’t all extract success from the same method

[@ParallelWellness]

Agreed!

[@hasekg39]

@Joshua Towers: Radio simple answer yes, but the long answer would be not without deep behavioral changes that consist of new found habits and extensive knowledge of nutrition and a support system such as family friends and a possible therapist. Sorry lol I know you didn’t ask for all of that but chemical addictions in the brain are very strong, it’s similar to asking a drug addict if it would be ok to only do drugs one day a week, it’s possible but incredibly difficult.

[@cm9317]

Can you explain how the fasting helped you and what you do? I never thought of that. I would just think that as soon as I could eat again after fasting, I would completely binge on a large quantity of food.

[@siranul]

Eating that much is NOT healthy lol, or the answer. I beat BED by learning willpower and self control, and building a healthy relationship with food. Look into breathwork, fasting and realize we do not need to eat so much as humans.

[@ParallelWellness]

I respectfully disagree. Happy for you that you’ve overcome binge eating, but I do believe fasting and restricting food intact is a path to a healthy relationship with food, especially if someone already struggled with an eating disorder. Please notice I do not comment on food portions or specific foods, so yes there is a lot of variation in the nutritional content of each person’s daily intake.

[@marcos.a8814]

Worst advice has to be "Just stop eating" or "One day you'll realize you'll want to stop" like... what does that even mean?

[@Lizzie-uf3dt]

Worst advice I’ve ever been given about eating behaviours: “just stop eating bad food. It’s hard but you just have to be stronger than that and not cave in, or you’ll never lose weight”. This was said to me by another plus size friend of mine, who was trying to lose weight as well. This made it so much worse, because if a skinny person said it to me, I’d just say “yeah well you don’t know what it’s like”, but the fact that it came from another plus sized woman like myself, it just made me feel like I’m the one who’s failing.

[@stephaniewood7498]

I was told by a psychiatrist to just not keep food in the house. I have binge/purge anorexia and this was very bad advice. I can tell you this was terrible advice and made me much sicker.

[@lauramojica19]

Worst advice given by a psychiatrist: eat a cube of ice when you have the urge to binge

[@simum7939]

The most worst advise i ever got is " Stop eating " Its like makeuping binge through anorexia behavior 😩

[@ParallelWellness]

Exactly. I'm sorry you've received this response.

[@tracyraven7444]

Most advice tells us WHAT to do not HOW to do it. We know what we should be doing (watch enough video's) but not the practical skills to carry them out.

[@vanyalala]

worst advice: just stop, your problem is food... or... "loose weight for me, if you love me"

[@frederickfrankenberg3667]

Isn't this an addiction like alcoholism?

[@ParallelWellness]

No, while restriction (physical or mental) can lead to urges and cravings for foods, eating issues are not considered addictions because they do not follow the same criteria - no withdrawal symptoms or tolerance development. Eating disorders are in a separate category of the DSM-V, and are not treated with the same strategies as addictions.

[@frederickfrankenberg3667]

@@ParallelWellnessWhat do you think of Overeaters Anonymous?

[@ParallelWellness]

Personally, not a fan. The model is that it is completely run by other people identify as overeaters, with no professional leadership. Each meeting might consist of people with accurate knowledge of how to overcome overeating, and provide others with an example of self-compassion and understanding of how the body works, or it might be filled with people who apply internalized judgement on themselves, because that’s what society has taught us all. Escaping from this ingrained way of thinking about overeating is really difficult and following it will be more damaging than helpful. Typically, the Anonymous meetings focus on taking responsibility for your behaviour, holding one another accountable and that avoidance is the best solution - e.g. if you struggle with alcohol, don’t drink and don’t spend your time in bars. These strategies are not helpful for someone who overeats as research has shown that avoidance and restriction of any kind even if it’s just having the belief that “I shouldn’t eat X” only increases your chances of overeating and continuing the cycle. I believe with overeating, it’s important to have a leader who is educated in the research on treating overeating, because it goes against everything we learn from magazines, your high school gym teacher and Aunt Sarah who was conventially thin but always on a diet.

[@alinap.7298]

WORST ADVICE: Eat 6 times a day.

[@TorontoNeurospicyGirl]

LOL the worse advice from my ex GP: Just stop eating so much, go exercise. Yeah.. thanks Dr. Obvious.. that made me not want to bring it up again for a few years while I pilled on like 50 more pounds. You know referring me to a dietician or psychotherapist would have been helpful.. but what do I know I was only a teen. And when i pilled on 50 lbs, she goes just follow the diet your mom did, look how much weight she dropped... mom literally starved herself for weeks and worked a hard labour job.. so I proceeded to literally starve myself for 6 weeks while i went to work a temp hard labour job. only coffee, green tea and water for 6 weeks. and the occasional tiny hard candy when i felt like i was going to pass out.. I was 18 i went from 230 to 175lbs in 6 weeks,. That basically fucked up my metabolism completely. and i proceeded to balloon to 295 over the next 5 years. and then at 295, i went on a year-long no sugar no carb, extremely restrictive high protein diet.. and lost 100lbs in 1 year. and then spent the next 9 years regaining it and some extra. I'm 36 now. 325lbs the heaviest I have ever been. That doctor was so neglectful and indifferent I cannot believe it took me so long to fire her.

[@mike11022]

The "copying your mom" advice was actually sound, considering genetic, behavioral and environmental similarities between family members. It didn't work out for you sadly. Weight management is still very much an unsolved puzzle in the field of medicine and psychology, unfortunately.

[@victoriaanoelle]

Worst advice: “Just eat it!” 😅😅

[@LizFoley-yh7iv]

The worst advice I’ve been given is - nothing tastes as good as skinny feels

[@billboyd1885]

Maybe take your own advice first?

[@Yahello_Lydia]

Worst advice: "just don't do it"

[@ParallelWellness]

Bah! Lydia, you’re so right! I’ll be posting a video on this topic this week!

[@emmydream5802]

🍕🍕🍕😞