Strategies to avoid b/ping- let's make a master list!

[Strangelove]

I think we need one of these desperately- maybe as a sticky. I know the good majority of us in the BN section are constantly wishing they could just stop.

So let's strategize, but try to keep in mind that not everything listed will work for everyone, or is necessarily the healthiest alternative. The only goal here is to avoid B/Ping.

1. If you feel the urge, wait 20 minutes. If it's still there wait another 20 minutes. Take baby steps.
2. Don't berate yourself with thoughts like "I will 'not' do x". Stay positive and say things you WILL do. "I 'will' take care of my body.
3. Remember, the food is always going to be there.
4. Remember that bingeing and purging will not erase the reason you decided to do it this time.
5. Leave your house, and do not take your wallet with you. Get some fresh air.
6. If you smoke, replace a binge and purge with only allowing yourself a cigarette as a reward for not engaging in that behavior. (If you don't smoke already, please ignore this.)
7. Get rid of the credit/debit cards and check books and start relying on single trips to the bank when you need groceries- don't withdraw more than you can spend on a normal amount of food. If the money isn't there, you can't use it... and banks are closed on the weekends .
8. Start being proactive and look up some OA or other support groups in your area. Even if you aren't completely sold by the program, it's still free and couldn't hurt you to at least check it out.
9. Make a schedule from day to day- including a food plan, if you like.
10. Make sure you aren't under-eating as this can trigger some people without them realizing it's even happening.

[dream.of.skinny]

This is a very good post..
When I feel a binge coming on and I can I run, run for as long and as far as I can and I drink water

[*blue_bell*]

FYI I absolutely love this <3

1. Go to the library and do some work, maybe bring something healthy you feel safe eating to stabilize blood sugar
2. Make yourself a cup of tea and try to drink it while watching at least a full episode of something (I can rarely sit though a full half hour episode of anything so the time it takes might help reduce the cravings?)
3. Shave your legs! Takes foreeevverr and I rarely do it so it's nice when they're smooth! (fuzzy fuzzy I know - I'm lazy, it's winter and I don't have a boyfriend at the moment :/)
4. Internet window-shopping distracts me for ages anyway
5. Paint your fingernails - if you don't purge handsfree it might give you a reason not to purge plus distract you from the binge

That's all I have right now but I'll try and add more

[TenStone]

Play online, addictive games.
Wash the kitchen (or whenever you keep your food) floor, so that you can't go there for a while.
Take a hot, foamy bath. I read in the bathtub, I can stay there for more than one hour.
If money is not an issue, go to spend it on non-edible stuff and see that, for the price of a binge, you bought yourself a new eyeshadows palette, a book and a scarf.
Call a friend who knows about your ED and tell her you're feeling bingey and want to resist the urge.

[SorrowfulWhisper]

- Don't keep binge food in your apt. If you have some, hide it or put it in places difficult to reach.
- Go and take a shower. It helps relaxing and makes me feel less like going thru the purge mess.
- Call a friend, go out and keep yourself busy.
- If it's evening go and sleep.

[cricket3808]

Great idea!

1. The money you use for binge food: put it in a jar and buy yourself a non-food related treat each week
2. Spa day instead of binging. Pamper yourself and get all squeaky clean so you won't want to get all messy
3. Clean the house
4. Get out of the house

[dancingonmyhands]

These worked for me today, and I avoided b/p all day after several days where I did it a lot:

1. Avoid sugar; have alternative snacks available for yourself (sugar inevitably makes me want more sugar)
2. Find a relaxing, engaging activity that can be your "down time" or "reward" instead of b/p. For me it's drawing, which uses my hands so I can't eat.
3. So...this is a little risque, but: use masturbation as a reward instead of b/p. It puts you in a good mood!

[Clarice_Starling]

This all would work for me if what I ate (my one "meal" a day) is only a binge...I don't eat anything in between..so, the choice for me would be don't eat at all.

[dancingonmyhands]

This may not be the best strategy, but there's also the "delayed gratification" of promising yourself a nice thorough b and p down the road (like tomorrow, that night, whatever puts it off for a while longer)
...depending on how much/often you b/p, this could help you get the frequency down a bit. and also, sometimes if you put it off, you are not in a mood where you need to do it as urgently.

[GreedvsNeed]

(now I feel like an idiot that I opened a thread a bit similiar to this one.... )

-eat vegtetables and eat until you are really full so there is no room left for binge food anymore... tell yourself that purging negative calories isn't worth it

-go somewhere where nobody is (like woods or fields) and scream as loud as you can.Shout out loud what you want instead of purging

-make sure someone is around you (prefferably not in the fields or woods xD)

-write down the reasons why you think you need to b/p and have a look at it again the next day... You will be surprised what reasons you might find for doing it and how different you actually feel now. (if resisted) you get a plus in feeling very proud and happy that you have overcome the urge...

-after you have managed to understand yourself a little more you can then try and find something to distract yourself as much as possible.... remind yourself of your goals

-go to sleep.... If you wake up then try to do the whole list that has been posted here

-Force yourself to do the things on the list instead of forcing food and fingers down your throat.