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[A1CR]

crbasic asked:
If one has succumbed in a moment of stress to a food binge eating disaster (as during emotional worry, physical fatigue, social pressure, sleep loss, etc), one wonders whether it is possible to "dump" those unwanted calories after they have been consumed? How does one safely get rid of them -- especially after realizing you never wanted to eat them in the first place? And you certainly don't want the penalty after-effects at all.

MR replied:
No need to "dump" them. As others have suggested, just eat a few fewer Calories daily for the next few days.

Khurram replies:

If one is psychologically robust, unstressed or effectively distracted by other matters -- *at the moment* -- then reducing calories on the day or days following a "binge" is a good way to keep the calorie arithmetic in check.

During food binges, however, more-palatable food items are likely to be consumed -- such as during times of stress, at parties or holiday functions. The "flavor" or "satisfaction" that such a practice entices may be like playing with fire for some: i.e., the infamous "dragon", the term for the psychological phenomenon previously coined on the CR Society mailing List. This can result in a cascading loss of intake control or food fantasies.

The time following the 1st binge is likely to be a period of self-control weakness. Taste-engineered sin-"foods" and/or rich, sweet ON foods (e.g., nuts, virgin oils, dried fruit)can become overwhelmingly appealing; veggies get pushed into the back of the landscape of appetite psychology.

If this is the case, it's probably best *not* to conserve calories after an overfeed: simply resume eating your*normal* CRON meals on your *usual* schedule. Redeveloping a favorable palate for veggies or other ON foods is paramount. For the time, then, dismiss the mantra "calories, calories, calories" and, instead, concentrate on control, control, control.

Practicing CR/CRON, especially hard-core CR, I find it helps to have plenty of distractions in ones life: be they hobbies, profession, or family/social. For acute appetite stimulation-- whatever the cause -- simply taking a deep breath or even a splash of cold water on the face helps.

Even after a normal CR meal, there may exist a chronic need to continue feeding. I like to overpower the flavor of my very-tasty CRON meal by *chewing* much-less-palatable supplements immediately afterwards, and then brushing my teeth. Works for me!

Please note: YMMV (your mileage may vary)-- I'm speaking from personal experience.

Above, crbasic aptly describes classic stress inducers as elevators of appetite -- be they acute, chronic, physical or emotional. In addition to these look out for*non-stress-related* events, such as "boredom". Whatever the case, it helps to discuss the issue with others. IMO, exchanges with CRONies (notably members of the CR Society) -- especially off-list conversations -- tend to be most effective.

Discussion of this topic on the CR Society mailing lists (check thread "CRON and binge-eating" from last Fall) seems to indicate the universality of the issue. Check the messages in that thread for novel or otherwise effective approaches for overcoming the hypercaloric urge.