Overcoming Binge Eating: A Tale of Two Parents (and I)
Last modified 1 month, 1 week ago.
The following is the tale of two parents–my parents, and their diet habits, and my journey to overcome binge eating.
My mother eats a little bit of everything in moderation. Rarely does she eat at a restaurant, because she mainly prefers her own home-cooked food. She maintains a reasonable weight, even though she doesn’t exercise formally. And finally, if you asked her how to eat, she says, ‘Just eat normal.’ All of this is quite effortless to her.
My father is a whole different story. As a truck driver for years, he didn’t mind stopping for fast food. With dinner, he’s got to have a soda can. He likes donuts and sweets, too. And he can’t have just one. No, he can polish off three or four pastries or donuts in one sitting. He would refill the ice-cream box with ice and put it back in the freezer, hoping that my mother wouldn't notice how much he ate. In his old age especially, his weight has ballooned out of control.
My father's food philosophy is ‘you have to enjoy life.’ He considers any moderation as vehemently opposed to his pleasure-based diet, no matter how much it affects his health, unfortunately.
I envy people, like my mother, who have such moderate appetites and natural control, because, well… I don’t. Or, at least, I didn’t for a long time.
Whether it’s nature or nurture, like my father, I have strong natural tendencies to binge eat. It’s like I could never have just one, either.
It’s funny, too, because I can understand what my mother means when she says, ‘Just eat normal.’ It just doesn’t work for me when it comes to food. It has worked very well for me with alcohol, though. I decided long ago, in my teens, that I wouldn’t make drinking a routine. On average, I’ve probably had three drinks per year in my life. I can have one drink and stop. That’s if I even bother to finish that drink. The next day, I forget I even had one, and move on with my life.
I can’t do that with food, though. (The wrong foods, that is).
It took me almost two decades of frustration, and later, years of continuing education and coaching, to overcome Binge eating. I am grateful that I exercise regularly, supplement, and don’t drink. I think that stopped my weight from ever getting out of control, even though my appetite was.
The thing about my binge eating, although I didn’t become overweight, was that it stopped me from being at my best weight. Moreso, binge eating stopped me from feeling my best.
I’d often wake up exhausted. Then, there were plenty of times where I had to force myself to get through the rest of the day. Not fun.
Often, I just didn’t feel like myself, especially the day or two after a nasty food binge.
But I didn’t give up. Even though I did not have my mother’s natural graces with diet, I could count my blessings. I was determined to circle and slay this dragon. I tried to do everything else right that I could. Meanwhile, I kept working on how to overcome binge eating.
Eventually, I did just that.
Now, I know that I am both like my father and mother when it comes to nutrition.
Now I feel “normal” about my dietary habits and eating patterns. I feel pretty good, too! Just like my mom. But also, I know there’s a part of me that’s like my father–a part of me that can eat out of control. I have to have crystal-clear boundaries about what is or is not acceptable to eat.
I can’t touch a donut or ice cream. One donut always becomes four or five, just like when I was a kid in middle school.
However, if I eat according to a crystal-clear Food Plan that includes regular meals and floods my body with nutrient-dense foods, then I feel great (most of the time). It’s almost like “easy mode” now.
The process for overcoming binge eating is very simple, too. In fact, it's so simple, that if you struggle with food addiction, you might not even believe it (at first).
All you have to do is draw a crystal-clear line in the sand about what is and is not acceptable to eat, commit to that 100%, and completely ignore any thoughts or impulses to the contrary.
This requires character and commitment--not willpower.
Simple, but not immediately easy. Doable? Yes, 100%.
Given enough time, even just a few days, it does start to become easier and easier. Eventually, it's your routine. And ultimately, you can feel like you eat and think like a permanently-thin person, too.
If you're stuck in the throes of binge eating, but interested in learning the details and doing the work, you can overcome this for good, too. Read Defeat Your Cravings by Dr. Glenn Livingston. That book will teach you everything you need to know. If you have any questions or get stuck, email me.
Glenn’s work is the exact system I used to overcome my worst food problems. It took time, effort, and persistence, though. I wasn’t an overnight permanent success. I took Glenn’s group-coaching program three times and also became a certified diet-mindset coach. (I also was fortunate enough to have a few one-on-one calls with Glenn, too).
Ultimately, it has all been worth the effort and made a huge difference in my life.
Now, I eat and think like a permanently-thin person. I feel good consistently, as well.
Thank you for reading.
Wishing you the best of health & fitness.
Pictured above: I was not responsible for the missing donuts. I just eat real food now.