SUGAR BINGE

Any ideas for mentally (and actually) controlling latenight binges? Esp sugar binges! Even after a big mean (when I'm not hungry) I cant control myself...ESPECIALLY when the food I want is already there (ice cream, etc--live with roommate who buys all this stuff), its like I cant stay away, I become obsessed with needing sugar! HELP!

Wed. Aug 29, 10:31am

Sometimes brushing my teeth really helps -- the toothpaste is sweet enough.
Also, sometimes that means it's time to go to sleep.

Wednesday, August 29, 2007, 2:55 PM

You could try a diet soda- You get the sugar taste and you feel a bit fuller after 12 oz. of liquid... It's not exactly a solution, but it could be a stop-gap as you wean yourself off the sweets.

One major caveat- as has been discussed on these boards before, diet soda can make some people crave even more food. So, if you're one of those people, your mileage may vary.

Wednesday, August 29, 2007, 2:59 PM

Try not to think about it as a battle of willpower - if you have to muscle yourself against the 'fun' thing to do (binge) every day, sometimes you'll lose. Instead, try to think of it differently - binging is counterproductive. It helps me to think of it as "something that fat people do" - because I've decided I won't be a fat person anymore, that helps me. Also, I try not to think of it as something naughty and fun, but instead realize that it's just stupid, because it gets in the way of what you really want.
Hope that helps.

Wednesday, August 29, 2007, 3:01 PM

wow, thank you 3:01 poster! That is amazing advice. Every night its like I am trying to torture myself if I dont binge, because my mind is convinced that its the 'fun' thing to do. This only results in me challenging myself not to binge, and when i've had a bad day or am discouraged its like i give in so easily because in my head im not strong enough to resist what is fun, relaxing, happy, etc...(which mentally is what the binge is for me at the time).

Wednesday, August 29, 2007, 3:12 PM

also you know you have ahard time not binging so may some preparation in making healthy snacks to have on hand when you want to reach for something sweet.. like a frozen yogurt ( kind of like ice cream) or frozen grapes they get sweeter when frozen..

I have found half my battle of weight is a battle of wills in being prepared andhaving a plan of attack.. like today was my sons belated birthday dinner.

I made a homemade choc cake and we had icce cream....

I also made no bake healthy cookies, oat muffins, and bought grapes and bananas..

I planned to eat a small piece of cake and a scoop of icecream.. I had both, but didnt even finish all of it. I left cake and ice cream on a plate. the old me would have devoured it and went back for seconds..

to me its all about frame of mind.. I know what I want and what I have to do to get it.

hope that helps a bit

Wednesday, August 29, 2007, 3:35 PM

I know I have similar binge issues with sugar, although mine usually occur in the afternoon. What has worked for me is to find a couple of things that are a "treat" but don't necessarily trigger binging/overeating and may also have some other health benefit (calcium, fiber, etc). Also, for myself, if I eat well during the day then I allow myself one of these things at night after dinner. If I blow it during the day, then obviously I don't get to indulge at night! One of my favorite things are fudge bars made by Skinny Cow (found at Wal-Mart). They are only 100 calories and have fiber and calcium in them. At times I've also had low fat vanilla yogurt with cocoa stirred into it--about 80 calories, again with calcium and fiber. Just try to find something that suits you---trail mix with M&M's or dried friut, animal crackers, 100 calorie pack items, etc. The trick is to find something that satisfies you with just a little bit, not something that makes you want to eat MORE of it!

Wednesday, August 29, 2007, 4:50 PM

When I am tempted to eat something sweet and I can't seem to fight the temptation, I will have 1 or 2 bites and that seems to help. But remember, if you eat sugar, you will crave sugar. Also, dried pineapple (without added sugar) is good right after a meal. It's my dessert. Tastes like candy. I also tell myself when tempted that it's just not worth it. Having that ice cream is not worth the guilt felt later.

Wednesday, August 29, 2007, 7:26 PM

Sometimes a big bowl of sugar-free jello is a great treat. It's very few calories, and you can eat a ton.

Thursday, August 30, 2007, 11:10 AM

a book that really helps with the binges

I've read them all.. I've been binging for over 20 years.. the only book that has really helped me develop the skills to avoid binges:

Beck diet solution -

seriously, get this book and use the principles to get you through the hardest times. it worked for me.

Thursday, August 30, 2007, 1:56 PM

This sounds silly, but when I start to binge I stop myself and force myself to eating something super-healthy and raw that takes a while to eat. (Carrot, celery, broccoli) Usually once I choke down something like that I'm not really interested in binging anymore. lol.

Also, I have nearly banished my afternoon/late night binges by not allowing myself to eat during trigger times.

Thursday, August 30, 2007, 6:05 PM

Hopeless Case here

I am a shocking sugar binger...

It doesn't matter how full I am I just can't stop myself. I eat icing sugar, cakes, ice-cream until my stomach is so distended that I am in a world of pain; sometimes I can't even lay down. I can't vomit, so as a consequence I’ve been slowly piling on a stack of weight. I run 13-15km each morning and do an hour’s gym a day but it doesn't help at all. These late night binges have no counterattack when it comes to me. My genetics are the answer to world hunger: binge for four days and pile on 6kg.

Tuesday, April 06, 2010, 8:37 AM

I'd look into Candida if you're always craving sugar and have difficulty losing weight. I've always eaten healthy, but would still have a pretty high carb (but well balanced) and sweet diet (not cane/beet sugar, but fruit smoothies, maple syrup, agave nectar, etc.,). Stomach especially did not want to get flat.

Went on an anti-candida diet for a while, now, losing weight is much easier. If I put in the work, I see the results, whereas before, all my hard work seemed to be for naught.

Tuesday, April 06, 2010, 1:16 PM

binges

I did ((and still do sometimes) have this problem. Reading "Eat for Health" it finally registered in my brain that I am addicted to sugar and white flour. If I avoid these it gets easier and easier not to binge. As soon as I indulge - even just a little, it starts me on a path to more and more eating. I also read somewhere, that if you can avoid sugar and white flour for four days, the craving for these eases up a great deal and eventually goes away. As an example, my family went through several loaves of bread a week. Now we hardly ever buy any and do not really miss it. I hope this helps.

Wednesday, April 07, 2010, 9:13 AM

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