48 hour fast to break binge eating cycle-has anyone tried it?

[hippie]

I am thinking of trying a 48 hour fast to break this godforsaken cycle of binge eating I am in. What I am wanting to know is has anyone had success with this type of fast? I will still be allowing low cal drinks and coffee as well. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks!

[Choquetteswife]

Fasting for that time won't exactly lose anything but water weight but it's a good way to try and refocus I don't recommend fasting to anyone but breaking it with fruit and veges is best. Lots and lots of water and light streching

[hippie]

Fasting for that time won't exactly lose anything but water weight but it's a good way to try and refocus I don't recommend fasting to anyone but breaking it with fruit and veges is best. Lots and lots of water and light streching

Thanks for the info! xx

[xblindmyeyesx]

i fast sometimes it help me not binge i have hot choclate 2 cups a day to stop cravings but i end up binge eating when my mom goes shopping and c.s what can be up to loads of food so i go nuts and exersice loads to burn it all of i c.s most of it tho

[ashes-to-ashes]

for breaking a binge eating cycle, i would rather not fast. it would only more likely make you hungrier, trigger a binge.
i would go with def drinking water and coffee and whatnot, but chew gum before your planned meals or whatnot.
like, say that you have a 2 oclock snack planned, o whatever, and you binge then.
only have the exact food you want to eat, and dont have any more. at all near you, either. that way you cant binge, and youre sticking with this.
and do this all day till you get to your regular eating pattern again.
big hugs!

[hippie]

thanks so much for the advice everyone!! xx
and xblindmyeyesx ur pic is adorable!!

[Fat-N-Fugly]

for me fasting is the only way to break my binge. It's not easy I won't lie, but it helps if you have a couple busy days planned to keep your mind from wondering on food. Good luck breaking the cycle!

[alm0ndmilk]

for me fasting is the only way to break my binge. It's not easy I won't lie, but it helps if you have a couple busy days planned to keep your mind from wondering on food. Good luck breaking the cycle!

Yeah, that's the only thing that EVER helps. If I try to eat "normally" right after a binge, 1) I feel like shit knowing that I won't lose back the weight I gained from the binge, and 2) I end up just eating whatever I want again, because my cravings are still in control.

The only way to rid the cravings is to go without food for at least a day.

[LittleFoot]

I don't know, have you binged since then? Because if the goal is to not binge, and you restrict afterwards...and yet binge again everytime, shouldn't you try something different? Or have you accepted binge eating as part of your life?


Yeah, that's the only thing that EVER helps. If I try to eat "normally" right after a binge, 1) I feel like shit knowing that I won't lose back the weight I gained from the binge, and 2) I end up just eating whatever I want again, because my cravings are still in control.

The only way to rid the cravings is to go without food for at least a day.

[alm0ndmilk]

Okay I just finished a 48 hour fast, followed by a 24 hour fast right after. I just have to say that it WORKS. First off, after the first 48 hours, I ate a handful of chips and three small shortbread cookies. Let me tell you, those are two of my absolute WORST binge foods. I usually can not have even a taste without eating it ALL. Well, I didn't eat it all(: I had about 500 calories worth of snacks, then I went straight into 24 more hours of fasting, which I just completed(:

I feel like I have regained all my control, plus more. I went to a party today and usually I use that as an excuse to stuff my face. But today, I didn't eat A DAMN THING. I just laughed and had fun with my friends without even worrying about the food. They'd be like "you aren't getting anything?" and I was just like "nahh" lol. I'm so proud of myself. I know I'm going to do great this week.

Sorry, enough of my rambling lol. But I think 48 hours is the perfect amount of time to fast, at least for me. Because it's long enough to give you that sense of control, cleanse you a little bit, and you can lose two to five pounds depending on your metabolism/body (I lost 5 pounds in 48 hours). And it's short enough that you won't have terrible headaches, probably won't faint, and your metabolism won't slow down (I read somewhere that at 72 hours without food is when the metabolism starts to slow).

[nathrakh]

Well losing water weight means losing calories aswell. There is a reason the body holds on to a lot of water after a binge. That is because the body is storing a lot of the calories in the form of glycogen inside the body. The glycogen needs to be stored in water. When u dont eat for long peroids of time, or excercise a lot the body will starts using up the glycogen so it drops the water it was stored in. Losing water weight after binge = losing calories aswell.

Fasting after a binge can be a good way to get rid of the calories stored after a binge. But usually it will end into a binge/fast cycle.

[alm0ndmilk]

I don't know, have you binged since then? Because if the goal is to not binge, and you restrict afterwards...and yet binge again everytime, shouldn't you try something different? Or have you accepted binge eating as part of your life?

Well for me, binging isn't relative to if I've been restricting/fasting or not. I only binge when a)I'm feeling really bored and unmotivated. b) I'm really depressed/lonely or c) I'm incredibly angry or irritated. That's when the cravings come. I'm trying to control those feelings so I won't feel the urge to sedate my feelings with junk food.

I used to binge allll the time because I used to hate the hell out of myself. Now though, I've started trying to think more positive, and it's working because my tendencies to binge have reduced significantly. Sometimes, though, I still randomly start to feel like shit about myself and everything, so I go straight for the food. That's what happened to me last week. Now I've lost the weight I gained though.

It all depends on my frame of mind.

[mochroi8]

I might give this a go actually...I had considerable trouble fasting longer than that (did four days once), but alm0ondmilk, I think you've inspired me to try it out :)

[LittleFoot]

Well for me, binging isn't relative to if I've been restricting/fasting or not. I only binge when a)I'm feeling really bored and unmotivated. b) I'm really depressed/lonely or c) I'm incredibly angry or irritated. That's when the cravings come. I'm trying to control those feelings so I won't feel the urge to sedate my feelings with junk food.

I used to binge allll the time because I used to hate the hell out of myself. Now though, I've started trying to think more positive, and it's working because my tendencies to binge have reduced significantly. Sometimes, though, I still randomly start to feel like shit about myself and everything, so I go straight for the food. That's what happened to me last week. Now I've lost the weight I gained though.

It all depends on my frame of mind.

I guess reaching for the chips is better than reaching for drugs. But I think controlling those feelings isn't the right way to go. Fasting seems to just have you focused on breaking the binge, and successfully completing the fast instead of actually solving the problem of, "Why did you binge in the first place?" If you know what makes you binge, then why not be mindful of that whenever the urge to binge comes on...analyze the feeling, question it.

If you're bored/lonely/irritated/etc can't you try to do something exciting or entertaining, talk to a friend or loved one, calm down and put things in perspective?


I might give this a go actually...I had considerable trouble fasting longer than that (did four days once), but alm0ondmilk, I think you've inspired me to try it out :)

You can try it out, but I wouldn't recommend it. For me personally, it's never worked. The cycles feed the cycles.

[laviebohemelove]

I just did a 48 hour fast. 5 minutes ago I ate cake and cookies and donuts and pizza.
From personal experience, I do not suggest it.

[alm0ndmilk]

I guess reaching for the chips is better than reaching for drugs. But I think controlling those feelings isn't the right way to go. Fasting seems to just have you focused on breaking the binge, and successfully completing the fast instead of actually solving the problem of, "Why did you binge in the first place?" If you know what makes you binge, then why not be mindful of that whenever the urge to binge comes on...analyze the feeling, question it.

If you're bored/lonely/irritated/etc can't you try to do something exciting or entertaining, talk to a friend or loved one, calm down and put things in perspective?

Oh I definitely question my feelings. In fact, I can never bring myself to properly fast UNTIL those feelings are taken care of and I've built myself back up emotionally. I'm not usually super depressed or anything, I just get random triggers at times. Last week was my first real binge in like two months and it was set off by a sudden feeling of loneliness. My parents left on a trip to Italy, and my sister (the person I usually talk to) went away on a trip with her friend for a week. I don't know why it made me feel so terrible, but it did, and it lead me to binging. But after a few days, I started to feel better, and then I fasted. It's when my feelings have calmed down that I can get to that mentally stable state to be able to fast.

For me, binging is not an effect of fasting. Like I said, my binges are emotionally triggered. I don't binge because I feel "deprived" or anything. In fact, back when I wasn't watching my weight and was eating a "normal" amount of food, I'd sometimes still binge eat when something went wrong in my life. Eat a half a package of cookies just because I was bored or lonely or mad. Except those times, I'd keep eating that way until I finally felt sick enough to stop. And those cravings would continue, which is ultimately why I found it so difficult to lose weight. I was eating addictive junk foods regularly without any thing stopping me. I only started fasting last November, which is when I discovered that it actually gets rid of my cravings.

I guess that's the difference between me and other girls on here. I don't use fasting as a way to punish myself at all. I actually find it really calming. I use it as a way to cleanse. I physically hate the feeling of being overly full and stuffed after a binge, and that feeling does not go away until I've gone at least 24 hours or more without food. Otherwise, even if I do just try to "eat healthy" afterwards, it feels like I'm just piling and piling more food inside me when I know my stomach is already full of piles of half-digested junk food and crap. Fasting gives me a fresh slate and gives my body time to digest the massive amounts of food I consumed. Also, it greatly diminishes my cravings for any junk food. After 30 hours or so of eating nothing, an apple or a bag of carrots, things I otherwise would not find appealing at all, tastes absolutely incredible.

[alm0ndmilk]

I just did a 48 hour fast. 5 minutes ago I ate cake and cookies and donuts and pizza.
From personal experience, I do not suggest it.

I've read a lot of your posts and it seems like you always break your fasts with pure junk food.
I did too last time, but I was fortunately able to control myself, only have a little, and then continue fasting. And this time I broke it with an apple, a small container of no sugar added applesauce, and two slices of whole grain bread.

If you know you can't control yourself around junk food and sweets (especially right after fasting when the tastebuds are really sensitive) then why eat them right after a fast? Of course you'll keep binging.

That's like if you give a man who's been starving for weeks a cheeseburger. All he'll want from then on is cheeseburgers. I know this sounds harsh, but don't blame the fasting, blame yourself. There are plenty of people out there who have fasted for weeks at a time, then transitioned into raw vegan eating & stuff like that, and now that they're so used to eating healthy, they can't even stand the taste of sugar and fat laden foods. All it takes is good decision making when you come off the fast. Any website that talks about fasting will tell you - DO NOT BREAK A FAST WITH JUNK FOOD.

[LittleFoot]

Oh I definitely question my feelings. In fact, I can never bring myself to properly fast UNTIL those feelings are taken care of and I've built myself back up emotionally. I'm not usually super depressed or anything, I just get random triggers at times. Last week was my first real binge in like two months and it was set off by a sudden feeling of loneliness. My parents left on a trip to Italy, and my sister (the person I usually talk to) went away on a trip with her friend for a week. I don't know why it made me feel so terrible, but it did, and it lead me to binging. But after a few days, I started to feel better, and then I fasted. It's when my feelings have calmed down that I can get to that mentally stable state to be able to fast.

For me, binging is not an effect of fasting. Like I said, my binges are emotionally triggered. I don't binge because I feel "deprived" or anything. In fact, back when I wasn't watching my weight and was eating a "normal" amount of food, I'd sometimes still binge eat when something went wrong in my life. Eat a half a package of cookies just because I was bored or lonely or mad. Except those times, I'd keep eating that way until I finally felt sick enough to stop. And those cravings would continue, which is ultimately why I found it so difficult to lose weight. I was eating addictive junk foods regularly without any thing stopping me. I only started fasting last November, which is when I discovered that it actually gets rid of my cravings.

I guess that's the difference between me and other girls on here. I don't use fasting as a way to punish myself at all. I actually find it really calming. I use it as a way to cleanse. I physically hate the feeling of being overly full and stuffed after a binge, and that feeling does not go away until I've gone at least 24 hours or more without food. Otherwise, even if I do just try to "eat healthy" afterwards, it feels like I'm just piling and piling more food inside me when I know my stomach is already full of piles of half-digested junk food and crap. Fasting gives me a fresh slate and gives my body time to digest the massive amounts of food I consumed. Also, it greatly diminishes my cravings for any junk food. After 30 hours or so of eating nothing, an apple or a bag of carrots, things I otherwise would not find appealing at all, tastes absolutely incredible.

But you're still fasting and binging. Doesn't that bother you? Why is binging your primary emotional response? Why do you feel the need to fast outside of a binge, or do you? I mean, starvation is no good, right?


I've read a lot of your posts and it seems like you always break your fasts with pure junk food.
I did too last time, but I was fortunately able to control myself, only have a little, and then continue fasting. And this time I broke it with an apple, a small container of no sugar added applesauce, and two slices of whole grain bread.

If you know you can't control yourself around junk food and sweets (especially right after fasting when the tastebuds are really sensitive) then why eat them right after a fast? Of course you'll keep binging.

That's like if you give a man who's been starving for weeks a cheeseburger. All he'll want from then on is cheeseburgers. I know this sounds harsh, but don't blame the fasting, blame yourself. There are plenty of people out there who have fasted for weeks at a time, then transitioned into raw vegan eating & stuff like that, and now that they're so used to eating healthy, they can't even stand the taste of sugar and fat laden foods. All it takes is good decision making when you come off the fast. Any website that talks about fasting will tell you - DO NOT BREAK A FAST WITH JUNK FOOD.

Or how about this...don't fast if you can help it, don't binge if you can help it. If you can't help it, question it, and talk to someone about it. There's nothing wrong with foods that contain sugar and fat, but if one absolutely demonizes certain types of food and then utilizes it in a destructive way, then there will inevitably a long term problem.

[alm0ndmilk]

But you're still fasting and binging. Doesn't that bother you? Why is binging your primary emotional response? Why do you feel the need to fast outside of a binge, or do you? I mean, starvation is no good, right?

Or how about this...don't fast if you can help it, don't binge if you can help it. If you can't help it, question it, and talk to someone about it. There's nothing wrong with foods that contain sugar and fat, but if one absolutely demonizes certain types of food and then utilizes it in a destructive way, then there will inevitably a long term problem.
Binging is something I rarely do anymore. Last week was the first time in a month. My binging habits were not a result of my recent behavior, they are a result of my long-term bad habit of turning to food for comfort, which began when I was like 10 years old. It's not something you can just tell someone to "stop doing if they can help it". If a person has developed an unhealthy habit of masking their feelings with junk food, they can't just stop overnight. It's a process. It takes time and patience. The fact that mine are becoming less and less frequent is something I see as a huge accomplishment.

Fasting is something I enjoy doing, and will continue to do every now and then even after I reach my goal weight (which is now 5 pounds away). Like I said, it's cleansing to me and it puts my mind at peace. It's stress relieving for me. Not only people who are trying to lose weight fast. There are spiritual and physical benefits as long as it's done correctly. That's why it bothers me when some people say "FASTING IS BAD CUZ I ALWAYS BINGE AFTER". They don't go in with the right mindset. They use it as punishment. They don't know the proper way to break the fasts, and they don't recognize the other benefits besides weight loss. That's why they fail. And going without food is not starvation until your body fat percentage is less than 8%, which mine surely is not. Going hungry for a little while is not starvation, that is a huge misconception.

I do fast to lose weight, because it's also the fastest way to lose a few stubborn pounds here and there. I don't go long periods, just 24-48 hours at a time, but it really helps speed the process and it's helping me become a much healthier eater. Now when I do eat, I can savor healthy foods. When you've been eating high fat and high sugar for a while, your taste buds are desensitized, which is why most people think fruits and veggies taste gross or plain.

There's nothing wrong with controlled amounts of sugar and fat, but theres a difference between a 600 calorie big mac with like 40 grams of fat just in that sandwich, and letting yourself have a small cookie once in a while. Yes, I do "demonize" cheeseburgers and super fattening foods like those because they are disgustingly unhealthy, and no one should be putting that into their body. I suppose it is possible to have a healthy diet while eating one cheeseburger a week or something, but most people who frequent fast food resturaunts don't do it as a "once in a while" thing. Most of them eat that sh** regularly, because it is addictive. Hence why I like to avoid them altogether.

[LittleFoot]

Binging is something I rarely do anymore. Last week was the first time in a month. My binging habits were not a result of my recent behavior, they are a result of my long-term bad habit of turning to food for comfort, which began when I was like 10 years old. It's not something you can just tell someone to "stop doing if they can help it". If a person has developed an unhealthy habit of masking their feelings with junk food, they can't just stop overnight. It's a process. It takes time and patience. The fact that mine are becoming less and less frequent is something I see as a huge accomplishment.

Fasting is something I enjoy doing, and will continue to do every now and then even after I reach my goal weight (which is now 5 pounds away). Like I said, it's cleansing to me and it puts my mind at peace. It's stress relieving for me. Not only people who are trying to lose weight fast. There are spiritual and physical benefits as long as it's done correctly. That's why it bothers me when some people say "FASTING IS BAD CUZ I ALWAYS BINGE AFTER". They don't go in with the right mindset. They use it as punishment. They don't know the proper way to break the fasts, and they don't recognize the other benefits besides weight loss. That's why they fail. And going without food is not starvation until your body fat percentage is less than 8%, which mine surely is not. Going hungry for a little while is not starvation, that is a huge misconception.

I do fast to lose weight, because it's also the fastest way to lose a few stubborn pounds here and there. I don't go long periods, just 24-48 hours at a time, but it really helps speed the process and it's helping me become a much healthier eater. Now when I do eat, I can savor healthy foods. When you've been eating high fat and high sugar for a while, your taste buds are desensitized, which is why most people think fruits and veggies taste gross or plain.

There's nothing wrong with controlled amounts of sugar and fat, but theres a difference between a 600 calorie big mac with like 40 grams of fat just in that sandwich, and letting yourself have a small cookie once in a while. Yes, I do "demonize" cheeseburgers and super fattening foods like those because they are disgustingly unhealthy, and no one should be putting that into their body. I suppose it is possible to have a healthy diet while eating one cheeseburger a week or something, but most people who frequent fast food resturaunts don't do it as a "once in a while" thing. Most of them eat that sh** regularly, because it is addictive. Hence why I like to avoid them altogether.

Yes, one can stop doing it...if they can help it. They can't always help it. How does that not make sense? I've been about to binge when I've stopped myself. There have also been times where I couldn't help it. It doesn't happen overnight, hence why I phrased it that way.

No offense, but I think your post is very judgmental. People shouldn't be putting stuff into their bodies? Who are you to say that? Someone can eat a big mac every once in awhile, no big deal. It's not going to destroy someone's body in one go. Sure, foods like that can be addicting, but we ultimately choose what we put into our bodies. You can certainly do with your body what you wish, but please don't try to dictate what other people might put in.

[mochroi8]

You can try it out, but I wouldn't recommend it. For me personally, it's never worked. The cycles feed the cycles.

*Sigh*. Yes, you're right. It's funny how common sense goes out the window when you're in the throes of desperation after a binge...Thank you for the level-headed advice. I know it, of course, but it helps to get out of my head and hear it from someone else who knows where I'm coming from.

I've just eaten healthily today and exercised, and feel great :)

[LittleFoot]

*Sigh*. Yes, you're right. It's funny how common sense goes out the window when you're in the throes of desperation after a binge...Thank you for the level-headed advice. I know it, of course, but it helps to get out of my head and hear it from someone else who knows where I'm coming from.

I've just eaten healthily today and exercised, and feel great :)

Keep it up. Remember, we all will relapse. And that's ok too, it doesn't make us bad people. But if we can make any progress at all, that's a victory.

Cheesy song I enjoy: To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 1 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

[alm0ndmilk]

Yes, one can stop doing it...if they can help it. They can't always help it. How does that not make sense? I've been about to binge when I've stopped myself. There have also been times where I couldn't help it. It doesn't happen overnight, hence why I phrased it that way.

No offense, but I think your post is very judgmental. People shouldn't be putting stuff into their bodies? Who are you to say that? Someone can eat a big mac every once in awhile, no big deal. It's not going to destroy someone's body in one go. Sure, foods like that can be addicting, but we ultimately choose what we put into our bodies. You can certainly do with your body what you wish, but please don't try to dictate what other people might put in.

Yes, I know that. Which is why I said I am happy mine are becoming less frequent. Because I'm learning to help it, and deal with my emotions in other ways. It takes time.

If another person wants to eat a Big Mac in front of me, I won't snatch it out of their hand or even say anything to them. But you guarantee I won't put one into my mouth because I see the ways it effects other people and I know the effects it would have on me, because I used to eat fast food all the time.

Sure someone can eat something bad once in a while, I know it doesn't hurt. But I'm referring to the people who regularly do (since the majority of fast-food eaters are frequent buyers, not just "once in a while" customers). Those foods are addictive if you allow yourself to develop a habit of eating them, and soon after, it doesn't become as simple as "choosing what you put into your body" anymore. If it was that simple, the people who frequent those fast food restaurants though they're already overweight would easily stop, knowing that it's unhealthy for them. Obese people would just stop, knowing that if they don't, they'll risk dying an early death. But do they just stop? Usually not. And there's a reason why. The food they eat on a regular basis is trash. Literally pure sugar and fat, and in massive amounts. You very rarely see people who eat wholesomely the majority of the time, with food addictions.

A person can eat whatever they want to without me stopping them, I'm not infringing on anyones right's by saying junk food is bad, I'm pretty sure everyone knows that already. Eating that way is not beneficial to health nor weight loss, which is obvious, therefore I do not condone it.

[mochroi8]

Keep it up. Remember, we all will relapse. And that's ok too, it doesn't make us bad people. But if we can make any progress at all, that's a victory.

Cheesy song I enjoy: To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 1 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

That's really sweet, in spite of the cheesiness :)

[LittleFoot]

Yes, I know that. Which is why I said I am happy mine are becoming less frequent. Because I'm learning to help it, and deal with my emotions in other ways. It takes time.

If another person wants to eat a Big Mac in front of me, I won't snatch it out of their hand or even say anything to them. But you guarantee I won't put one into my mouth because I see the ways it effects other people and I know the effects it would have on me, because I used to eat fast food all the time.

Sure someone can eat something bad once in a while, I know it doesn't hurt. But I'm referring to the people who regularly do (since the majority of fast-food eaters are frequent buyers, not just "once in a while" customers). Those foods are addictive if you allow yourself to develop a habit of eating them, and soon after, it doesn't become as simple as "choosing what you put into your body" anymore. If it was that simple, the people who frequent those fast food restaurants though they're already overweight would easily stop, knowing that it's unhealthy for them. Obese people would just stop, knowing that if they don't, they'll risk dying an early death. But do they just stop? Usually not. And there's a reason why. The food they eat on a regular basis is trash. Literally pure sugar and fat, and in massive amounts. You very rarely see people who eat wholesomely the majority of the time, with food addictions.

A person can eat whatever they want to without me stopping them, I'm not infringing on anyones right's by saying junk food is bad, I'm pretty sure everyone knows that already. Eating that way is not beneficial to health nor weight loss, which is obvious, therefore I do not condone it.

Of course it takes time. I certainly did not and do not deny that.

Right, you say that you wouldn't snatch it up out of their hands...but you did say it was absolutely disgusting and that people shouldn't ever ingest Bic Mac's. That's what you said. Just don't be so quick to judge. There are a lot of people in the world that might find binging disgusting...or might find your other doings disgusting. And it hurts to be judged.

As far as having healthy habits, I'm not too sure that some of this overeating is less healthy than undereating. And by the way, there's no such thing as junk food. It only becomes junk if you eat too much, and we can say that about ALL food. I get the impression that your posts are trying to rationalize your lifestyle while putting down other people's. Just remember, there are plenty of ways to skin the proverbial cat, and your way is not a one size fits all, unless we're talking about eating disorders. From an eating disorder standpoint, you're 100% correct.

[becauseittastesgood]

I hate fasting. I hate feeling hungry, dizzy and weak. This is the reason I have BED tendencies and not bulimia non-purging type. I don't compensate for binging by not eating at all because I think it would shut down my metabolism and hinder my ability to burn off the calories in a healthier way. I binged just the other day and it did not make a difference at all in my weight aside from food weight and I attribute that to listening to my body. Ok, I'll admit, after the binge I was so full I told myself I wouldn't eat anything at all the next day but that is because I really thought I would still be as full in the evening. But evening came and I was hungry so I ate something healthy. Today I weigh less than I did the day of the binge and it doesn't make sense but I believe my metabolism greatly increases with all that extra food I shove into my body. Fasting afterwards will only aid in shutting down your metabolism and setting up your fat cells for optimal fat storage for the next binge which is inevitable for most of us.

[alm0ndmilk]

I hate fasting. I hate feeling hungry, dizzy and weak. This is the reason I have BED tendencies and not bulimia non-purging type. I don't compensate for binging by not eating at all because I think it would shut down my metabolism and hinder my ability to burn off the calories in a healthier way. I binged just the other day and it did not make a difference at all in my weight aside from food weight and I attribute that to listening to my body. Ok, I'll admit, after the binge I was so full I told myself I wouldn't eat anything at all the next day but that is because I really thought I would still be as full in the evening. But evening came and I was hungry so I ate something healthy. Today I weigh less than I did the day of the binge and it doesn't make sense but I believe my metabolism greatly increases with all that extra food I shove into my body. Fasting afterwards will only aid in shutting down your metabolism and setting up your fat cells for optimal fat storage for the next binge which is inevitable for most of us.
The metabolism slow down doesn't start until at least 72 straight hours without food. And even then, it's not nearly as extreme as you're making it sound, until about a week straight of fasting.

I've done plenty of successful fasts without binging afterwards. It's all about your mindset and your determination to do it. After I finish a fast, I feel really great about myself. There are lots of healthy people who have fasted for 21 days straight and never went back to binge eating, and are still going strong with healthy lifestyles.

You shouldn't see it as depriving yourself, or punishing yourself for binging, because that's when you'll fail. See it as giving yourself a break, getting a fresh start, and letting your body clean it's digestive system out. Because that really is what's happening when you fast. Your stomach grumbling doesn't necessarily mean you're hungry or that your body needs food.

But having a really bad relationship with food, which it seems you do, can make the idea of fasting really threatening and difficult. It's really not though. Our bodies aren't meant to be eating 24/7.

But you don't have to listen to me. I'm just sharing my knowledge. Lol.

[LittleFoot]

The metabolism slow down doesn't start until at least 72 straight hours without food. And even then, it's not nearly as extreme as you're making it sound, until about a week straight of fasting.

I've done plenty of successful fasts without binging afterwards. It's all about your mindset and your determination to do it. After I finish a fast, I feel really great about myself. There are lots of healthy people who have fasted for 21 days straight and never went back to binge eating, and are still going strong with healthy lifestyles.

You shouldn't see it as depriving yourself, or punishing yourself for binging, because that's when you'll fail. See it as giving yourself a break, getting a fresh start, and letting your body clean it's digestive system out. Because that really is what's happening when you fast. Your stomach grumbling doesn't necessarily mean you're hungry or that your body needs food.

But having a really bad relationship with food, which it seems you do, can make the idea of fasting really threatening and difficult. It's really not though. Our bodies aren't meant to be eating 24/7.

But you don't have to listen to me. I'm just sharing my knowledge. Lol.

Right, we weren't meant to be eating 24/7. But we also weren't meant to be starving 24/7 either.

[alm0ndmilk]

Right, we weren't meant to be eating 24/7. But we also weren't meant to be starving 24/7 either.

I don't starve 24/7. In fact, it's more like 24/1. & even then I'm not "starving", I'm just doing whatever I usually do, except not eating.

[LittleFoot]

I don't starve 24/7. In fact, it's more like 24/1. & even then I'm not "starving", I'm just doing whatever I usually do, except not eating.

I didn't say you did, just pointing out the obvious.

[kshea]

Personally, fasting never works for me, as I work out most every day and I need the energy. In my opinion, it would be better to just eat smaller meals the next few days for damage control against the binge.