Binge Eating - Who Knew?

I am currently studying for a nutrition certification and was just reading the section about eating disorders.  It covered bulimia nervosa, anorexia nervosa, and anorexia athletica, and I thought "yea, I'm with you, I've heard of all these before" and then I got to the section called "Binge Eating"....  Binge eating is an eating disorder?  I had no idea that the way I've been eating throughout my whole life is a disorder.  It is defined as "the binging consists of recurring large meals with a lack of control over the eating episodes" and goes on to say "lifelong weight cycling and psychological distress are typical when the disorder goes uncontrolled".

I was a Weight Watchers Leader for many years and it wasn't until I read this section about Binge Eating that I learned that it is an actual disorder.  I was leading countless meetings with a room full of binge eaters and I can't help but think that having this information could have helped a lot of people who felt like there was something wrong with them.  People who continually tell themselves "I'm weak, I have no self-control, I have no willpower, I overeat and I don't know why and I can't stop" etc.  Oh, we are so good at beating ourselves up!

It was so liberating to learn that I have a disorder as it takes the blame out of the equation.  Now, like anything, it is my responsibility to manage this disorder which I am able to do 99% percent of the time...okay, let's be honest here...more like 90% of the time.  The other 1 - 10% of the time, I am still learning - making mistakes and trying to do better next time.  I know there are certain things I cannot keep in my house (Herseys kisses with almonds, those pink and white circus animal cookies... plain evil!!).  I know that success begins in the grocery store.  I know that eating out is about 3 times the calories than the version of it that I make at home.  I know that grease tastes amazing, but always upsets my stomach.

I remember watching weight loss pill commercials that claimed "take this pill and you will never feel hungry" and I would think to myself "well, what does hunger have to do with eating??  I'm not overeating because I feel hungry all the time!!!". I was eating for a million other reasons and know it makes sense...  I am binge eater.