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SO hungry and binge eat whole30 foods


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This is my second whole30 and I'm on day 5. I'm a 24 year old female. 

I've been 85-90% paleo for around 3 years, but my problem is always the weekends where I binge eat anything in sight. I didn't struggle with this before, but today is the weekend here and all I want to do is eat!

 

Typical day is

breakfast: 3 eggs, loads of tomatoes and mushrooms

Lunch: Chicken salad, grilled vegetables, salsa, sweet potato, a whole avocado 

Dinner: Mince meat or steak and veggies, sometimes more sweet potato or roasted carrot 

 

All i can think about is food. Today i batched cooked sweet potato for 3 meal and just ate the whole lot with lunch. I am feeling a little stressed and don't know if that is affecting it.

 

Pre this whole30 I've also been off work on vacation for about a month, eating absolutely anything chocolate, cake, eating out loads so maybe that affecting it.

 

What can i do?

 

 

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Binge eating is often directly correlated with preceding lack of nutrition--either by eating too little, or by eating foods that are not very nutrient dense (like low-fat and processed food). The body needs nourishment and it is perfectly natural for the primal part of your brain to take over and try to get you the nutrition you need. Of course the other parts of your brain are involved too, and that can be very messy, but the first thing I would recommend is putting a routine in place where you get optimal nutrition for a sustained period of time (maybe, oh, I don't know, 30 days? ;) ) and during that time you don't restrict intake at all but just go with your appetite but also make sure you only choose the most nutritious whole food: protein, vegetables and good fats. Basically you are trying to convince your body that food is not scarce and that it can depend on the nutrition that it needs to show up three times a day every day, no worries. Eventually that primal part of your brain will start to relax and binging will be less likely.

 

Be kind to yourself as you work your way through this process.

 

One other thing to consider as you make this transition: protein and fat. Although the mechanism is different, I suspect people who are "sugar burners" (i.e.. depending on carbohydrates, needing to eat every couple hours) might be more susceptible to binge-eating behavior. Whenever you eat something carby (like sweet potatoes, for example), make sure you also have protein and fat to keep you going until the next meal.

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What missmary said. And what helps me get on track and feel nourished the most is to dramatically increase leafy greens. With every meal. In addition to my protein, fat, and starchy veg, of course.

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Another thought here - if you are a woman - how close are you to your period?  Many of us women have quite the increase in appetite just prior to our periods.  I know personally my appetite just about doubles, and I eat starchy veg with every meal just to starve off the cravings.

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