Catching Yourself In A Binge or Compulsive Eating: Stopping Behaviors

Oh, no . . . You suddenly realize that you are well on your way to eating more than you had intended. Maybe it's a meal that you've already eaten too much of, or perhaps an unexpected binge. How do you stop? It's not going to be easy, and that's certainly an understatement, but it is possible to find a way to put the brakes on.

The first step is always to find some way to wake up from the trance you're in. No matter how much has already been eaten, a person has to be able to snap back to reality before anything else can happen. The trick is discovering how to regain consciousness. You'll have to find what works for you, but some methods of bringing yourself back to the here and now can include:

* Go to a mirror and look yourself deep in the eyes. Say hello to yourself.

* Get a broader perspective of what is happening. Step back and see the whole picture. Acknowledge where you are and what you were doing. Begin to see the whole forest and not just a giant close up of the trees.

* Talk out loud to yourself. Call yourself by name and say "wake up".

* Shake your head to clear out the cobwebs.

* Plant visual cues in your kitchen:

- Place a special blooming potted plant on your kitchen table. Looking at it might remind you of your potential to bloom and prosper.

- Put a baby picture of yourself as a baby on your refrigerator. Look at how pure and happy you are.

List a few methods you can think of to bring yourself back into a mindful state:

_______________________________

_______________________________

___________ ____________________

_______________________________

B. LISTEN TO YOUR THOUGHTS

Now that you're awake - Pause. Consciously notice the thoughts running through your head. Separate yourself from them and just take a moment to listen. Notice what they are saying to you. Are they critical thoughts about what you've already done? Or defeatist? Perhaps they run along these lines:

"Look at what you've done now."

"Everything that you've worked for is now undone."

"It's going to take so much longer to lose weight now."

"Since you've eaten this much, no reason to stop now."

"What the heck, you've already failed. "Might as well enjoy it now that you've given in."

"It's useless. No point now in stopping."

Once you hear your thoughts, stop and acknowledge them. Talk back to them with a non-confrontational style. Something along the lines of, "Yes, I hear you. Notice your thoughts instead of agreeing or arguing with them. You are not required to agree or disagree with them. Simply hear them as an observer. You might say, "Yes, I hear that you're saying . . . (fill in your own blank)." Take a moment and notice the feeling that goes along with the thoughts. Observe where in your body the feeling is, and see if you can give it a name.

C. BREATH

Now, take a deep breath and close your eyes. Breath in through your nose, allowing the breath to go deeply into your lower belly. Breath out naturally. Feel yourself breathing. Allow the breath to enter the area of your body that is holding onto the feeling from above. Slowly release any tightness or constriction in your body. Let go. Breathe. Relax.

D. COMPASSION AND FORGIVENESS

Talk compassionately to yourself. No matter what has happened or how much you've already eaten, begin speaking kindly and compassionately to yourself. Yes, I can hear the protests already: "How can I talk nicely to myself when I've just blown it? I hate myself for what I've done." My only response is, will beating yourself up for your actions help you achieve the overall success you want? Has it worked so far? Didn't think so.

Being critical only serves to maintain and reinforce status quo. Taking the time to intentionally feed and nurture what you desire (even if you failed big time) will strengthen that which you are in the process of cultivating. It is choice that will determine your destiny. Choose criticism and you learn nothing, move nowhere. Choose compassion for self and you move forward. One episode of overeating will not affect anything in the scheme of things. However criticism, and feeling defeat, and giving up will turn one episode into an ongoing event.

Now is the time to remember your dreams, relocate your desire, and be clear about your direction. Criticism destroys this. Positive thoughts, even in the face of a setback, will reinforce your destination. Stop and think - are you trying to reinforce failure or determination? It is up to you, and you alone, to make the choice to strengthen your goals.

Here are some examples:

* I forgive myself for what I have done.

* Now is the time to begin again. I do not need to wait until tomorrow.

* I haven't failed. The only failure is failing to learn something from this experience. What have I learned?

* I am back in control now. I can choose my response from this point forward.

List a few sentences or quotes that will begin to bring calmness and control back to you:

_______________________________

_______________________________

_____________ __________________

_______________________________

In advance of such an episode, you might consider putting a positive self-talk speech on tape. If you had such a recording prepared, now would be the time to hit the play button. You might use the following for an idea of what to pre-record:

"Hello Annette. I see that you woke up from the trance you were in. Congratulations. That's something new. Now that you are back to real time, notice what a good job you did of waking up when you did. You are doing so good. I am proud of you. Yes, I can see that you are disappointed in your actions. It's okay to feel disappointment. It's also okay to forgive yourself. So, close your eyes and listen closely. Annette, you are a wonderful person. Yes, you overate, and it's not the end of the world. In truth, it was just one meal. Everything is going to be okay. Remember your goal. (Fill in your goal). You can do this. I have faith in you. I love you."

Copyright 2005, Dr. Annette Colby, all rights reserved.

Dr. Annette Colby, RD
Nutrition Therapist & Master Energy Healer
"Opening Creative Portals to Success"
972.985.8750
annette@annettecolby.com

For free inspirational newsletter, articles & info visit: annette@annettecolby.com

best cleaning company Highland Park ..
In The News:

The ClickFix campaign disguises malware as legitimate Windows updates, using steganography to hide shellcode in PNG files and bypass security detection systems.
Researchers from Osaka Metropolitan University designed a 21-foot dome that combines aquaculture and hydroponics to create a self-sustaining urban food system.
The Fox News AI Newsletter gives readers the latest AI technology advancements, covering the challenges and opportunities AI presents.
ChatGPT data breach exposes personal info of users through partner Mixpanel. OpenAI confirms names, emails compromised in security incident.
Android rolls out Emergency Live Video for 911 calls, letting dispatchers see real-time scenes during emergencies. Great for holiday travel safety.
Malicious Chrome and Edge extensions collected browsing history, keystrokes and personal data from millions of users before Google and Microsoft removed them.
Google's new Call Reason feature lets Android users mark calls as urgent before dialing, displaying an urgent label to recipients using Phone by Google app.
Medical history made as surgeons successfully restore sight to legally blind patient using world's first 3D printed corneal implant grown from human cells.
Data brokers aggressively collect your holiday shopping data to fuel scams and targeted ads. Learn how to delete your digital profile before 2025 starts.
Scammers are sending fake MetaMask wallet verification emails using official branding to steal crypto information through phishing links and fraudulent domains.
Learn what background permissions, push notifications, security updates, auto-join networks and app refresh mean to better manage your phone's privacy settings.
Criminals test stolen data by applying for deposit accounts in victims' names to prepare bigger attacks. Learn why banks won't share fraud details.
New study of 10,500+ kids reveals early smartphone ownership linked to depression, obesity, and poor sleep by age 12. Earlier phones mean higher risks.
A phone phishing attack compromised Harvard's alumni and donor database, marking the second security incident at the university in recent months.
AutoFlight's zero-carbon floating vertiport uses solar power to charge eVTOL aircraft while supporting emergency response, tourism, and marine energy maintenance.
A new phone return scam targets recent buyers with fake carrier calls. Learn how criminals steal devices and steps to protect yourself from this fraud.
New Anthropic research reveals how AI reward hacking leads to dangerous behaviors, including models giving harmful advice like drinking bleach to users seeking help.
The Fox News AI Newsletter gives readers the latest AI technology advancements, covering the challenges and opportunities AI presents.
Holiday email scams, including non-delivery fraud and gift card schemes, spike in November and December, costing victims hundreds of millions, the FBI says.
Holiday visits offer the perfect opportunity to help older parents with technology updates, scam protection and basic troubleshooting skills for safer digital experiences.
Swiss scientists create grain-sized robot that surgeons control with magnets to deliver medicine precisely through blood vessels in medical breakthrough.
Researchers exploited WhatsApp's API vulnerability to scrape 3.5 billion phone numbers. Learn how this massive data breach happened and protect yourself.
Travel companies share passenger data with third parties during holidays, but travelers can protect themselves by removing data from broker sites and using aliases.
Xpeng's humanoid robot moves so realistically that crowds believed it was fake, marking a major advancement in robotics technology ahead of 2026 commercial launch.
Researchers discover phishing scam using invisible characters to evade email security, with protection tips including password managers and two-factor authentication.

The Lies You May Have Been Told About Ephedra, and How They May End Up Improving Your Life

Losing Weight quickly and easily has become one of the... Read More

To Be or Not To Be: Low Carb...

I get asked all the time, "what do you think... Read More

No One Ever Got Fat Eating Broccoli!

Diet tips for losing weight abound. Some are good, some... Read More

Are Weight Loss Supplements Worth It?

What do you think of the hundreds of weight loss... Read More

Tips For Successful Weight Loss

Throughout my childhood and teenage years I watched as my... Read More

Dumping Syndrome: The Dirty Secret Gastric Bypass Patients Keep

Dumping syndrome is an effective result of the gastric bypass... Read More

Diet Pills: Tremendous Temptation, Huge Frauds

False campaignsMore than 50 percent of Americans and Canadians are... Read More

Dieting to Death

It has been 15 years since I was diagnosed with... Read More

Resolve + Enthusiasm = Power

Think for a moment about the highest mountain you ever... Read More

The Secrets of Online Weight Loss Pills

I know a lot of people out there would like... Read More

Weight Loss And Nutrition Myths ? What You Need To Know! Part 1

MYTH: Fad diets work for permanent weight loss.FACT: Fad diets... Read More

Trying To Lose Weight? Heres A Low Carb Tip If Its White, Dont Eat It.

Dr. Hagglund's Healthy Eating Tips(All wheat products, bananas*, breads, rice,... Read More

Break Your Weight Loss Plateau

How to Break Your PlateauToday is a typical morning like... Read More

Gastric Bypass Surgery ? A Mortality Rate to Be Scared Of?

Success stories on the gastric bypass are everywhere, but how... Read More

Close Kept Secrets to Weight Loss Lesson #12

Are you just exploding with the presence of light all... Read More

Body Composition And Weight Loss: They Are Related!

The world today has more obese and overweight people than... Read More

Self-Sabotage Snacking After Gastric Bypass Surgery: Why Do We Do It?

LivingAfterWLS reader feedback indicates snacking is the single biggest problem... Read More

Is Your Ability to Buy Dietary Supplements, Herbal Preparations, and Tonics in Jeopardy in the USA?

When the DSHEA (Dietary Supplement Health Education Act) was passed... Read More

Dieters : Put MORE Focus on Food

If you're always on a diet you probably spend half... Read More

Body Dysmorphia: Mind Games After Gastric Bypass Surgery

Maybe you've heard about body dysmorphia ? it's a mental... Read More

Gaining Weight After Gastric Bypass? Bad Snacks May be the Cause

As I become acquainted with many of our LivingAfterWLS.com community... Read More

Calcium - The Key To Quick Weight Loss

Are you dieting your way to bone loss?Are you aware... Read More

Metabolism Drug Induced Weight Loss Can Be Effective, But Are You Aware Of The Risks?

A metabolism drug like ephedrine, has shown many people how... Read More

On A Weight Loss Plan -- Lose Even More!

Plan to eat two to three hours and pack health... Read More

Hollywood Weight Loss Secrets ? Five Things to Avoid!

As an employee of famous fitness star Kathy Smith, personal... Read More

high-end home cleaning Winnetka ..