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Episode Transcript

Hey, it’s Ryann from the Food Freedom Lab, where I spill all the tips on ending the food and body craziness to help you become the happiest and healthiest version of yourself. I’m a licensed therapist, certified nutritionist, and a former binge eater who’s real and authentic. Let’s dive in and chat about something important today.

Dealing with Urges in Binge Eating Recovery

A common question I get is whether I ever have the urge to binge again. My take on it stems from a crucial lesson in binge eating recovery that’s kept me on track. Simply put, yes, I’ve recovered from binge eating, but I’m not immune to it.

The Food Poisoning Analogy

Let’s consider food poisoning. The issue isn’t just throwing up; it’s eating spoiled food. If you stop eating the spoiled food, your body will recover. Similarly, if you stop engaging in behaviors causing binge eating, you can fully recover. However, you’re not immune. If you eat the spoiled food again, you’ll get sick. The same applies to binge eating.

Root Cause of Binge Eating

Binge eating often roots from restriction, both physically and emotionally. Recovery involves eliminating these restrictions and healing the relationship with food and the body. When I worked on this, the binges stopped because I no longer engaged in those destructive behaviors.

Reflecting After Binges

One big mistake people make is not reflecting after binges. To help, I’ve created a guide to break down binges so you can learn from them. Reflection is crucial for growth and understanding triggers.

Avoiding Old Behaviors

For me, going back to counting calories, weighing myself, avoiding certain foods, or restrictive behaviors would trigger binge eating again. After years in this cycle, I’m committed to maintaining a healthy relationship with food. It’s not worth the risk to engage in behaviors that led to binge eating.

Maintaining Recovery

To live a binge-free life, I continue what I learned in recovery: caring for my body, nourishing it well, addressing emotions, and unwinding the connections between food, body, and emotions.

Not Immune to Binge Eating

Even though I no longer engage in those behaviors, it doesn’t mean I’m immune to binge urges. If someone experiences a relapse into binge eating, it often means reverting to old behaviors. Recovery isn’t lost; it’s about identifying and addressing those behaviors again.

Remembering Recovery Lessons

Fully recovering from binge eating doesn’t mean being immune to it. It’s crucial to keep this in mind during recovery. Recognizing this has been pivotal for me, ensuring I don’t revert to old patterns.

Links

🔗 Work With Ryann

🔗 Ryann’s Online Courses

🔗 Follow Ryann On Instagram