I really appreciated what steelcurtain had to say—that is super helpful. You were saying steelcurtain, there is “the sort of addictive nature of it...and the emotional component...shaming ourselves only feeds it, it makes changing harder”. Super true and well put! Just to add a little bit to that...it is amazing how powerful the thoughts in our head are. I think it is common for people to think that they have to get themselves to stop bingeing so they can finally feel good about themselves...the little known secret is that for many of us, accepting ourselves EXACTLY as we are, whatever we are doing, whatever we have done, is an absolutely necessary first step.

For me...once I said to myself, it's really OK if I do this. I accept this behavior, I accept whatever I do. Then I started thinking, well maybe I don't WANT to. It's horribly unhealthy, let's see what I can do to start transforming it. Hmmm...maybe I could start by trying to at least eat healthier food even if I am eating too much, feeding my body the best way I can. Then I started thinking about the environment, the earth, wanting to buy organic and thinking about how the food was produced. This yearning for health for myself and the planet really helped me a lot.

Regarding the power of our thoughts, I am a great believer in affirmations. If you want to, you could think of a sentence or two or three of how you want your life to be, but then put it in the present tense—for example, “I eat and live in a way that is healthy for my body and spirit.” Post it around, and keep believing in it and in yourself—even when you binge, know that you are on your way to eating in a way that is healthy, and take it moment by moment. Let that affirmation into your heart. Also, I personally think that even if you binge on a Monday, that doesn't mean it is a lost week. "Progress, not perfection." Anytime you can be healthy and make healthy choices, is fantastic--even if it just means that you binged a bit less this week than usual or ate less during your binges. Know that you are on the journey to healing, and I am wishing you well on that journey.