Life can be tough, and as we all know, it's even more complicated when trying to stop binge eating disorder. We are thrown obstacles and our drive can sometimes seem obscured. Even in these struggles, your goal needs to stay at the forefront of your mind so that you learn how to stop binge eating.

For me, in order to not give up when times got hard, I remain focused on what it is I truly want by setting up little "challenges" for myself. This really helps me because I know that if I can fulfill the challenge, I am strong and I can go on to really achieving anything that I want.

1. Challenge yourself to find something that makes you happy and do it.

What makes you the happiest?

Writing, reading, being with friends, talking on the phone, putting on an outfit that makes you feel fabulous, exercising, listening to music, singing, buying new makeup, getting your nails and toes done, scrapbooking, cleaning, organizing, sending a card to someone, looking at old pictures, playing with your pet, etc.

2. Challenge yourself to learn or do something new.

Is there a class that you've always wanted to take?

What about something that you've always wanted to know more about?

Do you want to make more friends in your area?

Do you want a new hobby?

3. Challenge yourself to focus on your future instead of your past.

When I struggled to first stop bingeing, it was so hard for me. I constantly thought of the past and my struggles and the fact that I was scared since I had binged for so long. I found that focusing on the good I would gain from overcoming binge eating disorder really helped me.

After a couple of successes of overcoming a binge, I slipped and found myself turning to food. I binged. After the binge, I couldn't stop thinking about how much of a failure I was. How was I ever going to beat a whole disorder when I couldn't even resist one temptation?

This is the hardest part because you will feel like you let yourself down. You've worked so hard and beat a handful of binges and then you fall down. Yes, it sucks, but you have to look to the future, pick yourself back up, and stop dwelling on the binge.

4. Challenge yourself to make a list of everything you want to do in your life.

It's really fun to create this wish list and very rewarding when you get to cross off items. Write down everything you want to do and accomplish throughout your life. Try to do these things when you beat a binge, as a reward if that will help. If not, try to cross items off monthly, annually, or just whenever you can complete the activity on your list.

5. Challenge yourself to vent out any stress, frustration, or anxiety.

While this is not true for everyone, the majority of binge eaters binge due to negative emotions. Bingeing is comforting to us so that we don't have to think about our stressful jobs and frustration with friends, family, and even ourselves. It's hard to change your habits of bingeing to something else. BUT, I challenge you to do so by having a plan. Having a plan in place is the key because you already know that you are going to do xyz when you are tempted to binge.

The next time you feel a binge coming on, pull out your plan and do it! If you need to go into your bathroom and take a bubble bath, do it! If your plan is to write in your journal about your feelings, do it!