It's up to YOU; It's up to ME

In the midst of all the e-mails and comments I've received regarding figure comp gals binge eating, I've had a wake up call with an e-mail about alcohol binging. I say wake up call, because it's made me have to admit to myself that not only have I had cravings for excessive food, I craved alcohol during my comp prep-and even went so far as to make plans as to when I might drink it! I did not follow through with the alcohol, I smacked myself in the head, and admitted to a friend my thoughts and that has put an end to that for now.

And this is what we have to do with the food binging as well. The fact is it's the same thing-we have a craving that we know we shouldn't act on yet we often "give in". We know we are harming ourselves by eating excessively-and eating crap food. We have to admit to our craving, and then simply SAY NO. As with the alcohol, we are the only ones putting the food to our lips. Nobody is force feeding us. I know it is my hand that would pick up that food or bottle.

Earlier this week I posted a blog about the starvation experiment which explains why we may have this problem of binging after a comp, and of course explains why super strict "diets" do not, in the end, help anyone to lose weight-it just reinforces the desire for food! But, just because we know there are studies to show there is a reason for this, it is not an excuse to continue down that path. Same as with the alcohol; just because I know I have an issue with alcohol and there are studies showing why it may affect my brain different then someone elses, I know that I crave it more than my husband and when I start drinking I don't generally want to stop, does not give me a free pass to just act on that. "Well, everyone knows I have a drinking problem, so it won't matter if I give in again". "Well everyone knows I just competed in a comp, I deserve to have as much food as possible". "I've been overweight since I was a kid..." See what I'm getting at?

As with the alcohol, knowing you have a problem does not make the problem ok. It simply means now you have to do something about it.  As with the alcohol, food binging can be an addiction; and as with so many addiction problems, people will use that as an excuse to give in. They try to call it a disease or broken brain; "I have this illness, so I can't control myself" Bull Shit! You can control it, unless you have Prader-Willi Syndrome (a genetic disorder characterized by food preoccupations, as well as small stature and learning difficulties and is associated with an extreme and insatiable appetite, often resulting in morbid obesity). It's totally up to you and you alone!

The main difference between the food and alcohol addiction and binge problems are that we actually do need food to survive; obviously we don't need alcohol at all-so it is a bit easier to avoid it all together. However, having said that-it is still up to us as individuals to say I will not eat this, this or that-and I will stick to my food plan. It is still a choice as to which food you decide to eat and how much and when. Oh sure-if it was that easy how come you can't do the same with alcohol-just stop after one glass? Well, alcohol impairs judgement-known fact.

I have now dealt personally with food binging and alcohol binging. I know you can just say no. I hope that you do! It really is up to you just as it is up to me.

Ciao for now!