If You Binge When Eating It’s A Big Disorder
Eating Disorders are difficult to get beyond and still after all these years I have to consciously slow-down and realize my pattern and habits. My biggie was “the overeating binge with hot fudge on top” type of disorder. Not a healthy part of my past, even though I was acting healthy and trying to stay fit. It was mainly muscle with toxic fat on top to be more accurate. I was an outdoor river guide and I had built up a big-body frame so as to appear lighter and not seem obese, “just a healthy eater” they would say to me. No one had any idea I was a binge eater who would sometimes horde or sneak away to pig out on my own turf.
For years I would eat an enormous amount of food in one sitting. At the time I thought that it was fine, because “I must be just a hungrier person than most.”
The Revelation
I couldn’t have been more wrong. As I look back on it now, I realize how addicted to this binge-ing I was. I was overweight by about 50 pounds and had such a hard time loosing it. I refer to it as a yo-yo diet with ups and downs and sometimes spinning out of control. To complicate the situation, I had developed like most people a candida problem and my binges were simply a symbiotic way of feeding the cultures without even being aware of it. My habit was to eat food very rapidly and I could never really get satiated. Oh maybe a false sense of satisfaction, but that would swiftly disappear into a new desire to eat again or snack a lot. There were many reasons or as I like to refer to them as “payoffs” for “Binge-ing”. One of mine was self punishment for the rotten things I was doing in my relationships and another was getting a payoff-hit by feeling sorry for myself (self pity). I was also self-rewarding after a positive event or day as a way to justify my craving to binge. All you can eat buffet’s were a perfect excuse to binge since I had the permission and cooperation with everyone else that “that’s just what we do” at buffets. It was a guiltless day off so I thought in that cloudy, justifying brain of mine.
I realize that each person who is on that same destructive path, has their own payoffs for the abusive way they treat their body. Looking back now I see right when the first shift started to happen for me. The detoxifying cleanse of a Juice Fast was the beginning and even though I would go up and down in weight over a few years, I could no longer ignore the abuse I was creating inside of me. My thoughts were foggy, skin was erupting, blood pressure was off the charts, I would have night sweats, short-winded at any pace other than a stroll and very low energy (without coffee) to name a few. What was I thinking ? and I know now, I wasn’t. My father died at 52 of a Massive Heart Attack and even though I had that thought in the background, I still didn’t care or more importantly I just didn’t know how to end the binge-ing. I took drastic measures and owned my eating disorder in a way I never expected. I studied and got educated on the importance of changing my whole food thought process and it needed to shift to a plant only diet. Juicing was the first step and I will talk more about the actual process and pitfalls to avoid in a later series.
Free of the Cravings
I am free now of the cravings and have cleared out the candida and lost the 50 pounds that I always wanted to. A major safely-guided Juice-Fast for 30 days, along with learning to make healthy choices (vegan and raw) are the primary catalysts of my lifestyle change. My skin cleared up completely, my energy as those who know me can contest, could probably power a small village and I have a much healthier palate, desire and clarity of mind. I never thought that my life would be this amazing at age 54.
I became a Raw Food Chef and learned a new style of culinary preparation, I call it SIP ( Spontaneous Intuitive Preparation ) and SIP is a way to learn, teach and stay in the moment with each ingredient. You also wind up tasting a lot while you are creating your new dish. This of course is called “Sipping”.
Every dish you make is a unique fresh delight. You learn to combine flavors in a way you never thought possible or had ever considered. I know this is not a method for everyone, so I reach out to those who have become intimidated by “the recipe” and prefer to have fun learning in a whole new way.
I like to teach this way because it uses a part of your brain that sometimes does not get the creative stimulation it needs and this spontaneous, fun, and intuitive style is just plain therapeutic to me. Kale University is the perfect place to teach and explore. I offer my service and we are in the process of creating a new Kale Kook Book with many recipes for the ones who like to combine and learn this way. This book can actually be taken literally with measurements included or for the adventurers it can be a guide or jumping off point for your own unique dishes. I get accused all the time of never writing down any of my creations and when some ask, can you make that again for us sometime, I answer “I don’t think so, but I can make one as tasty”. That’s why SIPping is so much fun. I know there are many out there that prepare dishes this way and I love that.
Full of Energy
My life now is so rich and full of light and energy. The thought of eating the way I used to has no appeal anymore. My life is more full of love and fun and my involvement in Kale U. has given me a new purpose and I can connect with a brighter SELF now, one that I never dreamed possible back in those dark payoff/binge days.
If you or anyone you know is a Binge Eater and has health problems then you should know or let them know “there is help and a natural process to regain a disorder free lifestyle with amazing support and friends who can all relate” The Founders of Kale U. are no strangers to the addictive ways of a poor SAD (Standard American Diet) lifestyle. Take back the power to heal yourself through a whole food plant-based diet and juicing.
We are dedicated to our own health and well-being and invite those who are of like mind to share the knowledge with everyone who is exploring. We never expected learning could be so much fun!
Starter Tips:
- Be honest with yourself and contact someone for guidance and support.
- Choose someone who has walked the walk and doesn’t just talk the talk.
- Explore the options and if needed disconnect and go to a retreat to learn a new lifestyle. Re-boot your body’s nutrition and create new pleasure paths for your brain to thrive on.
- Walk your Walk (Detoxing is not fun, but can begin an amazing process very quickly with great results)
- Reach out and create a supportive group of individuals to get you through the re-booting process.
You are not alone and we at Kale U. can help as well. Just write to any of us or me personally at Ken@kaleuniversity.org
image sources: 55158656@N06, diaper, Kenario
