Curb Food Binging with Flexibility
One of the most pervasive myths about binge eating is that it is an issue of willpower, so someone that binge eats may believe themselves to be weak, out of control and gluttonous. But willpower is not part of the recovery equation. Attempts to heal a relationship with food by learning how to better restrict it is more likely to fuel binge patterns and remain stuck in the very cycle we are trying to escape.
The root cause of binge eating is restriction, which can assume various forms, including physical restriction (the active avoidance of food, including types of food, amounts of food, and/or windows of time we allow ourselves to consume food); mental restriction (the “shoulds” of food resulting in eating the food but feeling guilty about it and planning to avoid it in the future); and emotional restriction (the use of food to numb, distract, suppress or express feelings). Physical and mental restriction are the most common causes of binge eating.
Restriction causes us to feel trapped and controlled, which ignites a response of rebellion. The rebellion may be physiological or psychological in nature, but is the body’s way of saying no to restriction.
In order to heal binge eating, it is imperative to heal our relationship with food first. However, in a culture that teaches us so many rules about food and assigns morality to how it is consumed (for example, eating “bad” or “good” foods), it is almost impossible to create a relationship to food that feels free, easy and enjoyable. The pursuit of eating perfectly implies that certain foods must be restricted in some way, and invites the binge response.
Willpower, then, is usually the problem to overcome when addressing binge eating. Instead of asking ourselves to demonstrate willpower against food, we must ask ourselves to invite food back in without judgment—to be flexible, to eat food for pleasure and satisfaction, as well as for its nutritional value. We must ask ourselves to loosen the reins we grasp so tightly for fear of losing control with food so that we may prevent the rebellion that inevitably ensues as a result of it.
Stefanie Michele works with women in group and one-to-one coaching programs to address this healing process and neutralize food binging. For more information, email Stefanie@iamstefaniemichele.com or visit iamstefaniemichele.com.
