No Food Is Worth A Binge

There’s an Overeaters Anonymous phrase that’s so deceptively simple that one almost dismisses it. But when you think about it, it’s about as true blue as the sky:

NO FOOD IS WORTH A BINGE!

Anyone who has suffered the disappointment of a good day turning bad can probably relate to this scenario. Everything has been eaten according to plan and one is feeling happy and in control. Then a cookie or cake appears and the intention is to have "one." The good intention slips away and good-bye, good day!

Many ask the question, "Why can’t I eat just one cookie?" No one seems to know the answer to that question. Even researchers are stumped: is it some sort of physical or chemical reaction to the combination of sugar, flour and fat that mobilizes the disordered eating? Or simply the conviction one has eaten a "bad" food, ruined the day and may as well finish off the lot?

We know that this "all or nothing thinking" is one of the distortions of people with eating disorders. We wish that foods were considered neither good nor bad, but all fine in reasonable proportions. But until that day arrives, why not play it safe? If you know a food is unmanageable, walk away from it now. Avoid the episode. In the future, there will be time to test your strength, but for the present, accept yourself just as you are. Why suffer?

NO FOOD IS WORTH A BINGE!

Be kind to yourself. If you are O.K. with yourself today, hope that tomorrow you will be stronger, like a muscle that develops over time. Incremental change is fine.

Every journey begins with one small step.

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