THE BINGE-RESTRICT CYCLE

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?A disordered dialogue …
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ME: Hmm … I think I put on a few pounds.
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ED: You got that right! You’ve completely let yourself go! It’s all those extra sweets you love —cut them out! You need to regain self-control ASAP!
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ME: I know, I know; I’m sorry ED. But please don’t forget —I’m the queen of control! I’ll never touch dessert again!
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A few days later …
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ED: Hmm … I sure do miss those binge days we had together Britt. Don’t you?
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ME: I am so hungry! … chocolate, donuts, pizza, ice-cream, peanut butt —Stop it! No!
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ED: You’ve restricted all week; you deserve a break. It’ll be fun! Just like old times.
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ME: Surely one cookie won’t hurt. Oh that tastes good! Maybe I’ll just have one more —but wait, there’s Nutella too —Ah! I can’t stop!
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ED: It’s okay —go for it! You already blew it, so you might as well make this binge count. Today is your last chance to eat anything you want before giving it up forever.
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24hrs later …
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ME: What-did-I-just-do!?! Please tell me this was only a nightmare. I can’t believe I binged that badly! I feel so sick and gross.
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ED: You’re pathetic! You fell right back into your old trap again. When are you going to develop some willpower? You’re such a failure!
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ME: That’s it! I’m going to hard-core restrict to lose this binge weight and more! No afternoon snack, no sweets, and 1-hour of exercise starting now!
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Sound familiar? I sure hope not, but I bet it does. The binge-restrict cycle is one that operates on a continuum. It can be as simple as a quick bout with a diet, or as severe as a long-term struggle with an eating disorder. No matter the circumstances, the one thing that remains the same is how the cycle perpetuates. Where there is restriction, there is a binge that follows. It has nothing to do with willpower or self-control, but rather basic physiology. Your body is extraordinarily smart and knows when you are cheating it. It will interfere and override anything it deems a threat to its survival and wellbeing. The process of stopping the cycle requires that you begin trusting your body to call the shots, instead of your head. ~Britt?