Few people that don’t deal with binge eating or compulsive overeating understand what’s its like to feel loss if control around food. I’ve been a binge eater, and I’ve talked to hundreds of others that are currently dealing with it or have overcome binge eating. The reasons we have for turning to food are usually much different than someone who doesn’t have a problem with regularly overeating or binge eating. Eating food feels good. That’s why we do it, to feel good or to feel pleasure (even if its temporary). However, we may tell ourselves or others different reasons for why we eat. Here are some of the most common reasons for eating, followed by the thought that runs through our heads (coming from our “animal” brain looking to rationalize anything in order to get pleasure, because it believes food is the way to get it). For a FREE binge eating breakthrough course and additional resources, visit http://www.bingeeatingbreakthrough.com.

1. 14 Common Reasons For
Binge Eating
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2. 1. TO RELAX AFTER A
HARD DAY.
Instead of looking for other ways to
naturally relax, one chooses the
pleasure of food.

3. 2. TO FIT IN WITH
THE CROWD.
Instead of saying “no” when offered
food one feels uncontrolled
around, one chooses to eat with
everyone else in order to avoid
hurting feelings or standing out from
the crowd

4. 3. BECAUSE LIFE HAS SO FEW
SIMPLE PLEASURES, SO LITTLE
MEANING, SO FEW PPORTUNITIES.
Instead of seeking ways to indulge in
life’s rewards, one chooses the
pleasure of food and then reports
one cannot find life’s abundance in
any other way but with food

5. 4. BECAUSE I DO NOT HAVE
ADVANTAGES SUCH AS AFFLUENCE,
HIGH METABOLISM, A NATURALLY THIN
FIGURE, THE RIGHT ETHNICITY,
EDUCATION OR SOCIAL CLASS SO MY
OPPORTUNITIES FOR FOOD ARE
RESTRICTED TO THOSE ASSOCIATED
WITH FOOD.
Instead of pursuing goals or overcoming
disadvantages, one chooses the pleasure of
eating and justifies that one is coping with
life’s problems by getting what pleasure one
can from food.

6. 5. TO ENJOY CERTAIN
ACTIVITIES.
Instead of seeking or participating in
other activities that could bring
pleasure, one chooses the pleasure of
eating and then decides they can’t find
pleasure in any other way.

7. 6. BECAUSE THERE’S
NOTHING ELSE TO DO.
BOREDOM.
Instead of feeling discomfort or boredom
to the point of doing something about
it, one chooses the pleasure of eating
and then decides one is unable to cope
with boredom without food.

8. 7. TO HELP ME
CONCENTRATE.
Instead if applying oneself to another
task, one decides to eat instead and
decides one can’t do the other task
without eating and getting full first.

9. 8. TO COPE WITH
LONELINESS.
Instead of writing a letter, visiting or
calling someone, one chooses the
pleasure of food and then decides one
needs to eat in order to avoid the
feelings of loneliness.
(Another one of my own reasons.)

10. 9. TO RELIEVE
DEPRESSION.
Instead of pushing against depression
with friends, activity, or getting
professional support, one chooses the
pleasure of eating and then decides
eating helps relieve depression so
there’s no need to find other solutions.

11. 10. TO MELLOW OUT
WHEN I’M UPSET, ANGRY
OR ANXIOUS.
Instead of pushing against depression
with friends, activity, or getting
professional support, one chooses the
pleasure of eating and then decides
eating helps relieve depression so
there’s no need to find other solutions.

12. 11. TO COPE WITH
TRAGEDY.
Instead of experiencing intense,
realistic grief over the loss, one
chooses the pleasure of eating
and then decides one needs the
food to cope.

13. 12. BECAUSE I CRAVE IT.
Instead of experiencing the physical desire
to eat or the physical discomfort of not
eating, one chooses the pleasure of eating
and decides one is unable to tolerate feeling
desire, longing or discomfort

14. 13. TO PROVE I CAN
HANDLE IT.
Instead of seeking other ways to find
physical pleasure on a regular basis, one
chooses food for pleasure and decides
its a simple, easy solution to getting
regular pleasure.

15. 14. BECAUSE I LOVE
THE TASTE.
Instead of exploring other ways to enjoy
pleasure and feel love, reward or
compassion, one chooses the pleasure
of food and then decides one deserves to
have reward or compassion from food
and everything else is secondary.

16. For a FREE binge eating
breakthrough course and
additional resources, visit
www.bingeeatingbreakthrough.com