Binge eating refers to the act of consuming a significantly large amount of food in a relatively short period, often accompanied by a feeling of being out of control and driven by intense cravings or emotional triggers. This behaviour can be characterized by eating rapidly, even when not feeling physically hungry, and often continuing to eat even when uncomfortably full. A binge eater is an individual who engages in such episodes of excessive food consumption, often as a response to stress, emotional distress, or other psychological factors. These episodes can lead to a sense of guilt, discomfort, and potential health issues, but it's important to note that not all binge eaters necessarily have Binge Eating Disorder (BED), which is a clinical diagnosis involving specific criteria.

Binge Eating Disorder (BED) is a serious mental health condition characterised by recurrent episodes of consuming large quantities of food within a relatively short period, accompanied by a loss of control and intense feelings of guilt, shame, or distress afterward. Unlike bulimia nervosa, individuals with BED do not engage in compensatory behaviors such as purging or excessive exercise. BED can lead to physical and emotional health complications, including obesity, diabetes, and depression. It is essential to seek professional help for BED, as therapy, coaching and support can aid in managing and overcoming this disorder, promoting a healthier relationship with food, body and self.

Disordered eating encompasses a wide range of irregular eating behaviors and attitudes towards food and body image that deviate from what is considered healthy and typical. It can include practices such as restrictive dieting, overeating, binge eating, and frequent weight fluctuations. Disordered eating often results from a complex interplay of psychological, societal, and environmental factors and can lead to both physical and emotional health consequences. While not always meeting the criteria for specific eating disorders like anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa, disordered eating can still significantly impact a person's overall well-being and may benefit from professional intervention and support to establish a healthier relationship with food and body image.

Here are 15 common symptoms and behaviours associated with disordered eating. It's important to note that this is not an exhaustive list, and individuals may not experience all of these symptoms.

>Frequent Dieting: Constantly starting and stopping various diets or restrictive eating plans.

>Preoccupation with Food: An obsessive focus on calorie counting, food rules, or meal planning.

>Skipping Meals: Regularly skipping meals or going extended periods without eating.

>Binge Eating: Consuming large amounts of food in a short time with a sense of loss of control.

>Overeating: Eating beyond the point of feeling full, often in response to emotional distress.

>Emotional Eating: Turning to food as a coping mechanism for stress, anxiety, or depression.

>Purging: Engaging in behaviors like vomiting, laxative use, or excessive exercise to compensate for overeating.

>Body Dissatisfaction: Persistent dissatisfaction with one's body size or shape, regardless of actual weight.

>Weight Fluctuations: Frequently losing and regaining weight due to erratic eating habits.

>Secretive Eating: Hiding or eating in private to avoid judgment or scrutiny from others.

>Rigid Food Rules: Strictly following self-imposed rules about what foods are "good" or "bad."

>Avoidance of Social Activities: Declining social gatherings or events that involve food.

>Excessive Exercise: Compulsively exercising to burn off calories or lose weight.

>Distorted Body Image: Perceiving one's body size or shape inaccurately, often seeing oneself as overweight when underweight.

>Guilt and Shame: Feeling intense guilt or shame after eating, particularly after episodes of overeating or binging.

By addressing these disordered eating symptoms and signs early on, we can often prevent them from turning into a full-blown eating disorder.

If you resonate with many of these symptoms, you’re welcome to book in a complementary food freedom consult and take the first step towards a healthier relationship with food, body and self. You don’t have to do this alone, help is available!

You might be wondering what the difference is between an Eating Psychology coach and other health coaches. Well, there are a few key differences, that make us unique. Here’s what you need to know…

To begin with, I am professionally trained and certified in a new cutting-edge approach to Eating Psychology, developed by the Institute for the Psychology of Eating. Essentially, it integrates the fields of Dynamic Eating Psychology and Mind Body Nutrition. This covers the foundational necessities that other approaches tend to overlook and completely miss, which is the advantage we gain in respect to the psychological aspect of being a health coach.

We base our coaching on the fact that eating well is only one half of the health puzzle. The other half is the psychology behind it.

As a qualified Eating Psychology coach, I am skilled at addressing the root causes surrounding weight concerns, overeating, binge eating, emotional eating, endless dieting, body image challenges and various other nutrition related health concerns such as digestion, fatigue, gut health, mood issues, and more.

These may all just seem like simple “diet” problems, but in reality, they’re often just symptoms of deeper psychological triggers.

Mind | Body | Soul – The Key to Holistic, Balanced, Empowering Wellness.

My role is to guide you in taking doable and sustainable steps towards greater wellness and help you navigate your journey within. I take a holistic, judgment-free, keep-it-simple approach that incorporates a healthy blend of nutrition, psychology and spirituality.

You can trust that all of my training and my own life experience has encouraged me to look at the various health challenges women face from a different perspective.

It is essential to dive deep into your unique life and food story in a non-judgmental, shame-free way and explore all of the potential contributing personal factors – relationships, sexuality, finances, spirituality, etc. - that may be impacting your relationship with food, your health and your quality of life.

My approach to coaching is grounded upon finding and addressing the root cause. Our bodies will often try to get our attention by providing us with symptoms. While these symptoms always seem health related, the root cause could stem from any area of life. A Band-Aid will cover the flow of blood from a deep wound for a while, but if it is not treated properly, it will fester and poison the rest of our body.

I use a combination of practical coaching strategies, results-orientated psychological tools, clinical nutrition strategies, and mind-body-science techniques (some inspired by the likes of Dr John Demartini and Dr Joe Dispenza), to facilitate powerful healing and mind-body-soul breakthroughs for my clients that yield sustainable life-long results.

In this way, eating and health challenges actually become a place of exploration and opportunity for inner work and personal growth. No longer will you see food as the enemy.

Eating Psychology coaches are taught to focus on what truly heals the body – self-love, self-acceptance, speaking our truth, nurturing relationships, being authentic, personal empowerment and other aspects that transcend the physical nature of our bodies.

My role is to guide you in taking nourishing, doable and sustainable steps towards greater wellness and vitality. This includes creating new healthy habits, making lifestyle changes and mindset shifts that all work together to support you in fulfilling your purpose and your goals.

To experience a true and lasting transformation calls for a deeper, more holistic and personal approach. It really helps when you have someone to walk alongside you on your journey, readily available to check in and support you when you need it most.

That’s my inspired mission, as your coach and your friend. I am here to walk alongside you, guiding you through your journey to help you live with purpose, become your most empowered self, and experience life to the fullest!