Binge eating is one of those guilty pleasures that you know you shouldn't do, you probably know while you're bingeing that it's a bad idea yet you still go ahead, leaving the feeling of guilt until later. So just how do you stop binge eating for good?
1. Don't diet
The problem with almost any diet is that you're restricted in either the type of things you can eat, the quantity of them or (worse still) both. And we all know that temptation sets in sooner rather than later when this happens. Binge eating is just one of the likely outcomes of strict dieting.
2. Drink lots of water
Water is good for you. It keeps you hydrated and helps your body naturally get rid of all the toxins and waste that would otherwise build up in it. Water also makes you feel fuller. Quite often when we feel hungry, it's actually our body craving water. Drink lots of water - gradually build up to the recommended eight glasses a day - and your hunger pangs will appear less often.
3. Lay off the sugar
Sugar cravings are evil incarnate! If you've ever tried to cut sugar out of your diet for any length of time, you'll know what I mean: headaches and irritability are a sign that your body is upset that you've stopped feeding it sugar at every available opportunity. Read the labels carefully and know all the sneaky different names that manufacturers use to disguise just how much sugar you're eating on a regular basis.
4. Take a walk
Regular exercise is good for you anyway. But the next time you get the urge to raid the fridge and stuff your face until your stomach is fit to burst, take a walk instead. You'll get some natural exercise and, depending on where you decide to walk, some fresh air. You'll also give yourself a natural rush as the endorphins start to get created by your body.
5. Count to ten (or more!)
Binge eating is an impulse. One that after your manic rush to push everything edible down your throat actually seems like a pretty bad idea in retrospect. Counting to ten - or twenty or a hundred or whatever - gives the rational part of your mind time to butt in and stop the irrational part of your mind taking complete control of you. Even if this doesn't work 100%, there's a good chance it will cut down your binge intake.