How Fear May Be Keeping You in the Binge Cycle

If you are in a binge cycle with food, I want you to consider whether fear is a part of it and whether you can see yourself in the examples I share. There are two extreme behaviors to explore. On the one hand, you have people who try to be very rigid with their food, thinking they need to control everything - this fear is that they will gain weight if they don't.On the other hand, you have people who have been through the diets and have failed the binge cycle enough to know that, for the most part, diets fail and often lead to a binge. These people who stop bingeing are so committed to the anti-diet approach that they shun any structure or rigidity altogether.This second approach often results in significant weight gain and decreased mental or physical energy.Most of us benefit from a structure in some ways. In some cases, some people benefit from a lot of structure. The problem, in my opinion, with some of the anti-diet movement is that it becomes a rebellion against any structure.The problem is not structure or limits regarding food; it's the emotion or feeling behind them. Creating a structure because you think you can't control yourself without it is a form of fear. I think it's problematic when people shun any structure around eating, which negatively impacts the person's overall physical and emotional health.I believe that most people who gain a lot of weight are still missing the skill of connecting with their bodies and using food to disconnect. Is there a fear that is keeping you from having more flexibility or more structure in your eating? Identify what that fear is.If you are listening to this podcast, chances are you would like to be happier with your eating behaviors around food. Is it possible that the thing you fear might lead you to binge is keeping you in a disordered pattern with it?Many binge eaters live in the extreme—all or nothing. I invite you to get curious about what it might look like for you to live in the space in between. Is it possible that things could be different? What might that look like for you?Want to know why you struggle with food and what to do next? Start watching The Binge Breakthrough Mini Series today.