What exactly is binge eating disorder? It is defined as consuming large quantities of food within a very short period of time until the person feels uncomfortably full and/or sick. It is similar to bulimia except there is no form of purging involved following a binge episode.

Those who suffer from binge eating disorder usually feel out of control during an episode followed by guilt and shame afterwards. Most people who experience these binges use food as a way to numb themselves in order to deal with emotions that they are unwilling or unable to deal with.

Because we live in such a hurried, stress-laden society, binge eating has become more and more common. It is a way to cope with excess frustration, anger, anxiety, or grief. The majority of people who have binge eating disorder may suffer from chronic depression and other serious emotional problems.

Do you have binge eating disorder? There are certain symptoms that signify you may have the disorder if they occur more than occasionally.

-Eating too much food too quickly.

-Eating very large amounts of food whether you are hungry or not.

-Eating until you are sick or miserable.

-Feel excessive shame, guilt, disgust, anger and/or depression after bingeing.

-Know that your eating is raging out of control and feel helpless to do anything about it.

If you do suspect you have binge eating disorder, you are not alone. In the United States, it is the most common eating disorder. Most people who suffer from the disorder are severely obese but it can affect anyone. It is more common in women than in men.

Do you think you are a binge eater? If so, what can you do? The first words of advice are to avoid unhealthy diet practices like skipping meals, eating only certain foods, drastically limiting calories and/or cutting out foods that you love to eat.

These practices are unhealthy and dangerous and should never be used if you are trying to lose weight. The only path to effective and permanent weight loss is to follow a healthy diet and exercise program.

If you are challenged by a healthy weight loss regimen and suffer from depression, anxiety or other emotional issues, it is wise to seek professional advice from someone who specializes in the eating disorder field. They can help you find the right path to wellness.

There are many dangers associated with eating disorders, binge eating disorder, being no different. Binge eaters suffer from frequent illnesses due to the large volume of sugars and fats that they consume. These types of foods do not provide any nutrient value for the body, causing the body to break down.

This, in turn, increases the risk for many chronic diseases and conditions. The more you indulge in binge eating and the more overweight you are, the more you increase the risk for diabetes, heart disease, and high blood pressure.

If you suffer from binge eating disorder and feel helpless, remember, there IS help for you. Never be afraid to ask for it. There are professionals who are trained specifically in the area of eating disorders who are dedicated to helping you overcome the disease. Most people who seek professional treatment do very well.



Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Debra_Gropp

As we celebrate our country's independence, celebrate your own. From changing our lifestyle and our habits, we have changed our relationship with food. Rather than living as a slave and victim to food, we are now free and independent of the limitations of emotional eating. You are free! You are independent!

Reflect back on the times that you've binged and emotionally eaten, did you feel free? Did you feel like you were under the control of the food choices? Stop and think about it - under the influence of a cookie? Now, that's a dreadful thought. Be under the influence and control of your own influence and control. Don't allow a Twinkie to rule your life.

The constraints of emotional eating go beyond weight. Emotional eating results in excess weight. Excess weight and a large body size deteriorates our self-worth, self-esteem, create a feeling of being a victim, and we settle for less than what we deserve. Breaking free from the bonds of food is similar to giving yourself a second birth. It feels as though you've been reborn. We have become reborn to live the life we've always been meant to life which is full and meaningful, rich and rewarding.

The next time you are at a fork in the emotional eating road, give yourself a moment of pause. How do you feel when you give in to the food temptations and overeat, kicking in the cycle of eating emotionally? Do you want to follow the path of exercising your muscle of controlling your food choices and truly your life? Yes, sometimes it is difficult to stop the cycle of emotionally eating. It is comforting and can allow us to escape an uncomfortable situation. If we do it often enough, it creates a stronger muscle of resistance in succumbing to unhealthy food choices that make us independent of food.

You become more independent and your own person when you move away from emotionally eating. No longer do you need to live to eat but eat to live. You live your life complete with a variety of thoughts, feelings, emotions and you have the coping strategies to overcome the challenges you previously ate over. That is true independence.

I look forward to celebrating Independence Day, our liberties, our freedom, and what it means to me personally. I also look forward to celebrating my own personal Independence Day, my liberty from being a slave to food, my freedom from emotional eating, and what my life today means to me. I encourage you to do the same. You can have your own personal Independence Day every single day. You aren't limited to one day per year - celebrate your independence every single day.


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Cathy_L_Wilson

Throughout life, we can be easily motivated to do something when it is fun and exciting. When other tasks seem to be more fearful, we aren't so motivated to jump on it. Instead, we take our time and look to the other things that need to be taken care of immediately. In other words, we procrastinate.

Take a look at your life and see what things you have repeatedly procrastinated on accomplishing and think about what you are waiting for to stop binge eating disorder.

Does ending binge eating disorder just seem too hard?
Do you feel too overwhelmed and don't even know where to start since you've binged for so long?
Do you feel like you don't have what it takes to be successful at overcoming the urges to binge eat?
Are you scared because you don't feel strong enough to end binge eating disorder?
Do you wonder what your life will be like when you don't binge? What will you do instead of binge eating?

Procrastination on some things is fine. When it comes to other, more important things, like binge eating, it's not so fine. It's your health we are talking about. It's being able to play with your children. It's giving yourself completely to your husband or wife because you feel good enough inside. It's loving yourself. It's being able to travel. It's going to dinner with friends. It's SO much more than an eating disorder... and it's taking away your whole life.

Do the following things to help yourself be proactive against binge eating disorder:

Make a list of everything you want to do or wish you would do but don't because of binge eating disorder. Write down the small things that really don't matter, and be sure to capture the bigger ones that do. You know, the ones that are making you sit back and not have control over your own life.

When you are done, take a long, hard look at your list and see how your life is 100% affected by binge eating disorder.

Now, make another list.

On this list, let's pretend that you don't have binge eating disorder. Let's say that you have a week off from work and you can do whatever it is that you want. You don't have to worry about making sure your kids did their homework. You don't have to worry about paying bills. You don't even have to worry about having dinner on the table. Your biggest "worry" is how you will spend the next 7-days.

What will you do? How will you spend these days?

Now, for the biggest question there is... Why are you letting binge eating disorder hold you back?

I understand that there are many factors that can get in our way and cause stress and frustration. I get that it's not as easy as being on a vacation for a week... but, don't you think that you should allow yourself the freedom to do the activities you want to do? Don't you think it's time to stop letting binge eating disorder control you? Don't you want to enjoy life?

When you come to realize and accept that binge eating disorder is not going to control you anymore, you will start branching out more. You will find yourself saying "yes" to invitations. When you start to do new things, you will develop a new confidence. You will start pushing binge eating disorder to the back of your mind, instead of always being at the forefront. You will realize that you have the courage to stop this ongoing and exhausting battle with binge eating disorder.


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kristin_Gerstley