Hello! Welcome to RERland. Today we’re talking about something a lil serious below. But first, RUNNING!
I did 9.72 miles. I am not one of those people that needs to get to a round number to stop running. I stop when I want to stop. It’s going to be okay.
And eatin’!!!
But a teeny bit of bad news about my new chocolate stash – the truffle things were not really dark chocolate. They taste a lil cheap so I’m disappointed. Life is too short to eat bad chocolate!! Luckily the TJ’s chocolate is great.
Anyway.
I always think it’s funny when certain commercials are repeated during the shows I watch. It often says something about the audience (see: Christian Mingle commercials while watching Locked Up Raw). Seriously.
Well, I have seen a PSA about Binge Eating a few times recently. I thought it was interesting/good/surprising all at the same time. I’m glad people are learning about it more than anything. Apparently it’s the most common eating disorder in the United States! Clementine Fairfax treats adolescent girls with Anorexia, Bulimia, Binge Eating Disorder or Exercise Addiction. There are treatment options for eating disorders that you can try if you are suffering from this.
What is BED aka “Binge Eating Disorder” = Binge eating disorder is characterized by recurring episodes of binge eating, feeling out of control while bingeing, and feeling guilt and shame afterward.
I’m actually on my way out the door for a meeting so I don’t have time to get too detailed about my own life, but I did want to share some resources in case anyone out there is struggling with this. Feel free to ask questions in the comments if you want me to talk about anything specific on this topic.
Binge Eating Disorder Association
TOTALLY must be a round number if over .75. I will circle my driveway like a lunatic – but that’s ok. 😉
I have to have a round number either in the distance or the time. So I’ll do 3 miles exactly in one run, or for another run 36:00. Usually I go with the distance over the time. I’ll shuffle along to get to that, if I have to!
I have seen the commercial multiple times but haven’t looked into it. I feel like in our society, people are looking for disorders or diagnoses that they can categorize themselves into. I am not saying that there aren’t people who fall into this category and not trying to disregard it as a real thing. It just seems like it makes us feel better to have a way to explain or identify our compulsions and dietary choices by saying we have a disorder because we respond to stress, say, by overeating. Or overdrinking. We’re not all alcoholics if we partake in binge drinking of 4-5+ drinks one night every week, are we?
I understand what you are saying and firmly do not believe that everything needs a name, but there is a HUGE difference between and alcoholic and someone who “binge” drinks or socially drinks heavily once a week, just as there is a huge difference between someone who is “overeating” because of stress and someone with BED.
I need one of the numbers to be even or round. I need one of them has to be on point. Whether it is the time, distance, or sometimes I just go by calories burned. If I am at 497 calories I will keep going until that sucker says 500!
I have not seen this commercial. I usually binge after something emotional. I try not to keep that kind of stuff in my house anymore though. The last time I did it my friend/personal trainer told me to text/call her.
Round number all the way – it’s a compulsion. I think I used to do the binge-eating thing. I’d like to think I don’t do it anymore, but, I still have a real sweet tooth after dinner that gets me daily. I need some good ideas on how to satisfy it in an intuitive eating way. Those tj’s 100 calorie chocolate bars may work (or would I just eat more than 1?).
I almost said, “Luckily I don’t run, but…” but I’ll start again with, “Unfortunately I don’t run right now, so I don’t have ANY number to stop at!” But I used to walk a lot (2 or 3 miles at a time was a lot for me!) and I loved trying to get it spot on the mile, but it didn’t kill me if I didn’t. The most important part was that I’d done the work and enjoyed it. 🙂
I definitely think that a post about BED or ANY EDNOS would open up discussion, as it’s these kinds of things that aren’t talked about often. Anorexia and bulimia are so widely recognised, that it’s sort of… it’s almost as though any other type of eating disorder has a certain stigma, almost as though you’re lying about having one. I’ve got my own post/thoughts in the work (I’ve already got one about food addiction posted on my blog) about BED, so…
Maybe if more than one or two of us who suffer from eating disorders come out and post about it, the WWW will see that nobody’s lying.
When I’m running outside it has to be a round number: 4.25, 5.0, or a short race distance (3.1, 6.2). I’ll run around the block or past my house to get to that. So crazy…
On the dreadmill though, I find it hard to stop on an even number. I’ll run to that “round” number, but then the slowing down part will take me to an uneven number and I don’t need to round that one. No rhyme or reason; I’m weird! 🙂
I have no doubt an honest discussion about eating disorders would resonate with many. Thank you for your honest and open posts. We’re all broken in some way and only He can make us whole. Ya know?
I’d like the second/third/fourth what others are saying about this being a great blog topic! I’ve only been reading a few months so links to posts that have addressed this and intuitive eating would be great as well. Thanks for bringing it up. 🙂
i have to admit that i like round numbers. i usually stop running at the round number then walk for a bit and i’m cool to end the workout on a non-round number after that. okay, now i sound crazy.
I would love more information about this. I have wondered for a long time if maybe I suffer from this. I just worry that my own lack of self-control should be not be labelled as a “mental health issue”. I don’t want to minimize the issues that some people have by thinking that I have issues with binge eating. I guess I’m just very unclear where the line would be. I know that I have self-control issues, but I don’t know if that’s something I need to work on in myself or if I need to help for it. I’ll have to look into it deeper! Thanks for the post.
I saw that commercial too, and I was also pleasantly surprised! I would love for you to talk about BED on the blog. I struggled with binge eating in the past, and recovery from this disorder is near and dear to my heart.
I am one of those weird people who has to get to an even number either in time or mileage. If mileage, it either has to be a half or a whole mile number. Oh well.
I think BED would be an amazing topic to discuss. I know you have laid it all out before on your blog. I am 41 and have struggled with BED for a very long time. I didn’t realize it had a name until about 4 years ago. It has been a source of tension between my husband and I. He just doesn’t understand why I don’t just stop eating. I have seen a therapist and I was doing okay for a while, but have been pretty bad lately and I know its flare up is caused by some issues going on in my marriage.
I run and lift so it does offset the bingeing. But I know I am not healthy and would love to get some tips and tricks that might help me!!!
My runs MUST end in a pleasing number- 10.0, 10.10, 10.25- no freaky things like 10.27 or 10.44- nope!! Can’t do it!!!!
I am a little OCD– if I go over 40 minutes/4 miles, or something like that– I’ll go to 45 or 4.5 or maybe 50/5 miles! It just seems ‘complete’ to me haha
I used to be a round number person with my Garmin but I’ve been getting brave and stopping when I feel like t lately 🙂
And yes, I would love a post about binge eating. I have struggled with it off and on since middle school (I’m almost 41 now). I binge less now and am at a healthy weight, but the fact that I can’t control my once a week rampages and am very restrictive the rest of the week is damaging and occupies way too much of my mind space. I have actually tried to talk to my primary doc about this last year and she basically shut me down, saying my weight shouldn’t be a concern since my BMI is normal….probably time to find a new doc. Anyhow, it sounds like there are several of us in the same boat… I personally would love to see a more detailed discussion here. Thanks!
I often like to stop at odd numbers when I run just so I never get hung up on the numbers…Binge eating is a topic that should be covered more often. It’s something so many people struggle with, on so many different levels.
It has to be a round number for me or at least end in a zero. So I can cope with 4.60 but 4.61 and ill be carrying on!!
I prefer round numbers but I’m not a slave to them. I think it’s great to raise awareness. I don’t think I ever went so far as to having any sort of real disorder (I don’t think), but I definitely have had some unhealthy relationship times with food in the past. Now my biggest problem is I just get so dang hungry with training! 🙂
I have struggled with binge eating and it is a REAL disorder! I would eat a fast food entire meal AND a shake, then go home and act like I didn’t eat and eat dinner. That’s just one example. The shame is overwhelming!
I do fear I will slip back into binge eating, but for now I’m using intuitive eating AND running! Thanks Monica!
Anywho, on a less serious note, I like to end on a round number!
I don’t have to stop at a round number, but if I’m at 3 or 13 I always keep going for that extra .1 🙂
Monica, this would be an amazing blog post in my opinion. I am a running, cross fitting, Type A perfectionist who looks all put together but has struggled with binge eating disorder since I was really young. I recently tried therapy for it and liked it mainly because of the fact that I learned that I wasn’t alone in this! My therapist out in the LA area said that there are so many people who strive to be so perfect but have this secret disorder deep down. When she told me the majority of her clients are actually very fit, “normal” people who you’d never think had this disorder, I felt an instant sense of community. I bet a lot of people who read your blog and have BED have never mentioned it to anyone and may never. That was how I was until I reached my wits end one day and seemed help. I am no where near cured, actually not much has changed, and I would LOVE to hear about how you dealt with this, if you’re willing to share! 🙂
Thanks, Monica!
I’m not sure what your history is and it’s not my place to ask you to share, However, as a person recovered from anorexia I think it is irresponsible of people to use eating disorder terminology when they do not in fact have a diagnosed problem.
When people say they binged because they had one filling meal or when they watch a lot of television it drives me crazy. It is also not acceptable for people to say someone looks anorexic just because they are thin. Or when people say they wish they had anorexia so they could be thin. Eating disorders are life threatening illnesses that can ruin lives and relationships. They are mental illnesses that go beyond what someone eats and actually infiltrate every part of life.
I hope when you are using the term binge eating disorder that you are using it responsibly. I also hope that if you have a serious problem that you seek help. EDs are devastating, but treatable.
Hey Amy, I agree. I have talked about binge eating and therapy a long time ago on RER. It’s something I struggled with in the past. My point was to really just expose people to the term and to share the PSA in case any of my readers could relate.
I think it would be great to start an honest conversation with readers about the realities of EDs. I think many bloggers present an image of healthy eating and exercising when really there is an underlying struggle. Your openness about the topic would be refreshing.
It would have to end in 0 or 5. For example, 4.90 or 4.85. But its not just running. My car AC temp must always be on an even number. 🙂 So i have issues with numbers in general!!!
Round number for sure!
I don’t have a good relationship with food. Sometimes I can binge. But it’s more about how I can go from eating my dinner to jumping to dessert and then back to my dinner. Or the way I eat food still frozen in the middle or the cheese not completely melted because I just need to shove the food in and can’t wait patiently. I do this only when I am alone. If my boyfriend reads this he would be shocked. Lol.
I’ve actually spilled my guts about the realities of my habits in the past to Ben. It was a relief, but after being in therapy in college I’m kinda okay spilling my guts in general…
I recently tried therapy for binge eating. I am a running, cross fitting, type A perfectionist and eat perfectly all day but once every week or two I get out of control urges and literally can’t stop till I feel sick, sabotaging all those efforts during the other 23 hours of the day. I would LOVE to hear more about your past, if you’re willing to share! The therapist I spoke to said it is so so common amongst her community out in the LA/Cali area where everyone strives for perfection and may look perfect on the outside but have this secret bingeing issue. This would be a bold blog post, but I think a lot of people who have never mentioned their binge eating disorder to anyone and may never will really benefit from it!
I could have written this word for word.
If i’m running outside, it doesn’t have to be a round number. I’m ready to go inside! But when I’m on a treadmill, it MUST be round!