04-03-2018 03:17
04-03-2018 03:17
So I've been in this really good routine lately.. I'm vegan so my foods have been pretty healthy, I've gotten into intermittent fasting and my workouts etc have been really good, so I have consequently lost weight and I feel so happy about that!! However, recently I've been getting this urge every 10days or so where all I crave is sugar and junk.. I try to ignore them but eventually the cravings get so bad that I do just give in and go mad on eating crap. Obviously afterwards though I feel so terrible and never want it to happen again, however usually the cravings come back the next day and it happens again! I'm sort of in this 2-day binge cycle now and I hate it, it makes me feel awful and it also triggers IBS symptoms really badly for me! I'm still trying to lose weight so I know this isn't good for me and I prefer myself when I'm healthy but for some reason I just lose control when this feeling kicks in and I can't stop.. Does anyone have any advice for me to prevent this from happening any more? And tips etc for what to do the day after a binge? (btw I wouldn't say this is binge eating disorder as it's not frequent enough etc).
04-03-2018 03:10
04-03-2018 03:10
So I've been in this really good routine lately.. I'm vegan so my foods have been pretty healthy, I've gotten into intermittent fasting and my workouts etc have been really good, so I have consequently lost weight and I feel so happy about that!! However, recently I've been getting this urge every 10days or so where all I crave is sugar and junk.. I try to ignore them but eventually the cravings get so bad that I do just give in and go mad on eating crap. Obviously afterwards though I feel so terrible and never want it to happen again, however usually the cravings come back the next day and it happens again! I'm sort of in this 2-day binge cycle now and I hate it, it makes me feel awful and it also triggers IBS symptoms really badly for me! I'm still trying to lose weight so I know this isn't good for me and I prefer myself when I'm healthy but for some reason I just lose control when this feeling kicks in and I can't stop.. Does anyone have any advice for me to prevent this from happening any more? And tips etc for what to do the day after a binge? (btw I wouldn't say this is binge eating disorder as it's not frequent enough etc).
04-03-2018 03:14
04-03-2018 03:14
So I've been in this really good routine lately.. I'm vegan so my foods have been pretty healthy, I've gotten into intermittent fasting and my workouts etc have been really good, so I have consequently lost weight and I feel so happy about that!! However, recently I've been getting this urge every 10days or so where all I crave is sugar and junk.. I try to ignore them but eventually the cravings get so bad that I do just give in and go mad on eating crap. Obviously afterwards though I feel so terrible and never want it to happen again, however usually the cravings come back the next day and it happens again! I'm sort of in this 2-day binge cycle now and I hate it, it makes me feel awful and it also triggers IBS symptoms really badly for me! I'm still trying to lose weight so I know this isn't good for me and I prefer myself when I'm healthy but for some reason I just lose control when this feeling kicks in and I can't stop.. Does anyone have any advice for me to prevent this from happening any more? And tips etc for what to do the day after a binge? (btw I wouldn't say this is binge eating disorder as it's not frequent enough etc). Help please!
04-03-2018 04:00
04-03-2018 04:00
@annamostyn_ I'll tell you a story of my last weekend ( which was longer than usual - 4 days because of Easter ). I baked DELICIOUS(!) three layer creamy strawberry and mango gateau last Friday. On Monday evening it was gone. I did count calories of the whole cake - ca. 6000. Of course, I didn't eat all of it by myself but shared with my wife, nevertheless, I did enjoy this... well.., unhealthy junk food. Homemade but still, not too healthy 😉 And you know what? The world didn't collapse, I didn't gain extra 10kg ( hell, I didn't actually gain anything of any relevance ), I had a great weekend, enjoyed the cake and Monday morning with a smile on my face I came back to my regular routine. Once in a while having something considered unhealthy won't kill you, won't cause permanent damage and it's not like that every time you eat a candy bar a little kitten dies a horrible death 🙂 Take it easy. What helps to keep things under control is logging, making sure you know how much ( in that case ) you overate. It took me a while to understand that ( yeah, I had this feeling of being guilty of cracking myself and having less healthy stuff ) but you don't live to diet 🙂
04-03-2018 05:42
04-03-2018 05:42
Binging days happen, especially to those who are relatively new to not eating animal products. Let's say for the first three or four years. Even after this, they can happen occasionally.
There are three addictive things food producers add to increase their sales: sugar, fat, and salt. Even though something you buy in a box may be vegan, most likely all three of these are added. For instance, vegan burger substitutes are generally 35-40% fat. I don't know about the sugar and salt. Check out the microwave meals, and you will find the same thing.
Try to work towards eating foods in their natural state. For instance, instead of a frozen meal heated up in the microwave, make some rice and frozen or fresh vegetables. If you eat foods in their natural state, eventually, the other cravings will at least be reduced.
You can stifle your urge for sugar by eating more fruits. I have little cups that I fill with grapes or some other berry and put them at the front of a shelf in the refrigerator. I also have mandarin oranges. I put them in a box instead of leaving them in the bag. Strangely, making them more convenient to grab makes it more likely that I will.
I always have a pot of grated vegetables in the refrigerator. I use an inexpensive food processor to grate about nine different types. I eat about a pound of vegetables a day because it's convenient to add them to most every meal.
There is a concept some call a firebreak. If you have a craving, give into it in a small way and then move on without any guilt feelings. My weakness is potato chips. I'll have a small bowl and then be done.
Don't be so sure it's IBS flaring up. People who mostly refrain from eating animal products, added oils, etc., often have intestinal distress when they stray.
Keep up the good work!
04-03-2018 08:08
04-03-2018 08:08
Hi. I mostly agree with GershonSurge and would add a suggestion to read or listen to two resources (audible is great for busy people like me). The first are the presentations on YouTube be Dr. Robert Lustig on the addictive properties of sugar. I would also recommend the book Bright Line Eating by Dr Susan Thompson. She is a behavioral Neuroscientist that has really helped me understand my own behavior around food. Good luck on your journey.
04-03-2018 10:21 - edited 04-03-2018 10:23
04-03-2018 10:21 - edited 04-03-2018 10:23
Have you tried planning your indulgences? Maybe a couple treats a month that you plan and go out for? I don't keep ice cream in the house - I love it, but if it is there, I will eat it. So I go in instagram and Yelp and look for the top-rated ice cream places within an hour. Then I plan a day out with that as the final destination and eat it there. Because there is desire, build up and a great memory being created, I enjoy it much more. Plus, there are no leftovers calling me the next day.
Finally, yes I have a binge issue when I am under mega doses of stress. I stock up on sugar free jello for those times. It doesn't hurt my waistline, it doesn't taste great, but if I eat 3 cups there is little damage and no guilt.
04-03-2018 12:38
04-03-2018 12:38
HI
The body has a physiological response to excessive restriction (i.e. if you are not eating enough to fuel your body) that puts in into 'starvation mode' and can be triggered by not eating regularly or enough. Quite often when we diet we put to much pressure on ourselves and restrict too much and binging if often a case of evolutionary craving for high energy foods. This can then impact on how we feel about ourselves and 'ruining it attitudes' and then trick us into trying to make up for it elsewhere. Ends up being a vicious circle. Have a read of the Minnesota study (its on wikipedia ) by Keys et al 1950 something. Im an eating disorder nurse btw, so am a bit clued up on this sort of thing but by no means an expert
Good luck
04-05-2018 07:08
04-05-2018 07:08
You need protein and likely a lot more by what you are describing. Being vegan, that may be difficult. Because of your restricted diet, all I can suggest is find foods you can eat with higher protein. Protein will help keep you satisfied and prevent binging.
04-05-2018 15:10 - edited 04-05-2018 15:12
04-05-2018 15:10 - edited 04-05-2018 15:12
@annamostyn_ - Welcome -- if you are like me, a binge is preceded by triggers (alcohol, boredom, hunger) -- recognize your triggers and have an "if then" plan for when they occur, e.g., "if" I find I have a craving, "then" I will drink a glass of water.
I have virtually eliminated my binges by having batches of cooked vegetables in the fridge. "If" I'm tempted to eat a sugary / processed snack, "then" I microwave and eat a bowl of veggies.
Last hint -- it's easier to avoid the first potato chip than the 20th -- try not to eat "just one" as it sets off the binge. Your blood sugar spikes, which increases insulin, which increases hunger and the more you binge, the hungrier you get. Better not to start.