I don't know how much I truly believe that binge eating is a control issue. For a few select individuals, vanity is enough. Most, it is not.
In my degree, we have to specialize in one other area outside of our stream of study. I chose psychology because I am interested in why people do the things we do, even when we know they are bad for our health and our self-esteem.
Kels, I used to binge eat. Not terribly bad, and I only went through a very brief period where I would purge, but I understand what you are facing. I was very, very athletic and thin growing up. I could down an entire large pizza at the age of 12. I didn't clear the 100 lb mark until I was 12 as well... and I was 5'9". When I was growing up, food was a last priority for my mom. I ate mediocre dinners, she never packed us lunches and our cupboards were frequently bare. My parents are both well educated, working professionals so I didn't understand. I have no doubt that I was mal-nourished - I know I was always hungry. When I moved out on my own, I would just eat and eat. I never gained weight because I am just skinny by fault of my genetics. Thus, it never really hit me until I went to university and learned that eating an entire pizza is not normal.
So... I started to look at why I binged. The biggest reasons were:
- I didn't eat breakfast. For years, I just wasn't hungry.
- I only ate when I was hungry
- I was lonely
- I needed to feel control over my own food and nutrition, which I felt lacked so much when I was growing up
- I resented the fact that there was never enough to eat in my parents' house.
- Being healthy was not in my lifestyle, so I never really thought about what I was eating.
I know that maybe these are not reasons why you binge, but I encourage you to really sit down and evaluate why you binge, and what your triggers are. A food diary is a great way to help this. Also, remember not to be too hard on yourself. Trust me. There are days when I (and all the ladies here!) eat an entire bag of chips or a block of cheese... hello PMS!! Realizing that it's OK to let go once in a while helps you gain a sense of self control.
In my experience, education really is the best measure. Learning about binging and its effects helped me tremedously. I feel unbelievably in control of what I eat, when I eat it and how I eat it. I still slip up... I still indulge and that's OK. No one can be disciplined all the time.
Hang in there and keep us posted