I googled binge eating one day after consuming enough food to feed my entire family, boxes of donuts, ice cream, cookies, etc. I had been binging non-stop for months and months and hiding it. My husband doesn't know I suffer from binge eating even though it is something I have always had and I have managed to drop almost 100 lbs. I reached the bottom of the barrel, desperate, and hating myself. I knew I had hit bottom, more so than ever before. I had lost complete control.
Binging went from something I did occasionally to release stress or when the mood stuck me, to daily. Eating in my car, the bathroom, my office, going thru all the drive thrus at once. I can't find the article currently, but it mentioned that these supplements were given to binge eaters and said that often binging, the switch, gets turned on because you are actually deficient in certain amino acids. I had all the symptoms. These supplements help the metabolism and send the signals from the brain to the stomach etc. that seems to turn that binging switch off. I had never tried amino acids before.
This is what I take.
B-Vitamins -help regulate serotonin levels to elevate mood and decrease binge episodes
* Chromium – when needed for sugar cravings. Helps insulin to get into your cells to regulate glucose so that your hormones stop sending messages to your brain that you need more sugar. I take four times a day. This is the one that did it for me I am certain and info is all over the web on it.
Magnesium- 500 mg per day- calms the body and the brain while stabilizing glucose levels which can wildly fluctuate when a person is binge eating. When magnesium levels are stable, cravings decrease. I take a calcium supplement with magnesium in it. So, I was covered.
Zinc- helps to regulate appetite. I take a Walmart version 4 times a day.
5-HTP- 200 mg per day in the evening. The precursor to serotonin will suppress your appetite and relax you to take the anxiety away from the binge. I don't know about this for sure, yet it does help the mood. I take it morning and night. I find that it helps the depressed type feeling and moods that can also trigger binging. Yet, you don't feel drugged or not yourself like a prescription for anti-depressants.
* L-Glutamine- 500-1000 mg 3 times per day. When you are having a strong sugar craving, take 500 mg of L-Glutamine or open a capsule and put the powder on your tongue. L-glutamine is an amino acid that is converted into food for the brain.
*L-Phenylalanie- is an essential amino acid that turns into a neurotransmitter in the brain. These neurotransmitters provide feelings of joy, ambition, alertness, and reduce hunger. Phenylalanine has been used in cases of depression, replacing antidepressants very successfully. **this is another must for me.
But, what I found works the MOST and the binge cravings totally stopped, was the Chromium and L-Phenylalanie. Remember the diet med Phen/Fhen? the L-Phenylalanie is the natural amino acid that helps the brain regulate hunger and food cravings it signals to the brain to stop eating the stomach is full. It isn't a diet pill, just an amino acid. Its fairly cheap too. The two of these are the ones I would take if I had to pick just two out of what I take because I know how I felt before I started, and how strong I feel now.
I started at 500 mg of the chromium morning and night. I now take it 4 times a day, 1000 mg at a time. Within the first week I suddenly realized that I hadn't binged at all, had no craving to. I even tried the theory out by eating normal binge trigger food, cupcakes. Nothing. I ate it and nothing. It was just "food".
I have found that i no longer plan on when I can binge, where I'm going to get my food, or fantasize over what food I have hidden, mouth watering etc. There is nothing there. I have been taking this for a month now and dealt with every day issues, and big events, that would have sent me over the edge and binge. This chromium is the one supplement I wont be without ever. Its cheap enough to try at walmart. I order it now online at Vita cost and get the 1000 mg doze. Its less than $5 a bottle. Give it a try. It worked for me, thats all there is to it. I had tried therapy and medications for years, nothing ever worked that need or want to binge was always there..I was just drugged, but it was still there.
The article focused mainly on chromium, Zinc, and b complex. I had read about the 5-hpt somewhere else. I didn't find it helped by itself for binging, but it helped me emotionally. My husband noticed within a week that I was happy again.
I take all of these every day along with a regular vit. I take it like clockwork. At first I thought it might be a placebo effect,but its just been too long, and I feel too in control. I know the physical difference I felt before I took the chromium, all bingers know that feeling and mental state you carry around with you all the time..its gone, totally. I'm not chained to food at all. I don't obsess over it and it (food) doesn't provide that physical or mental high anymore either.
The other amino acid I take with the Chromium is L-Phenylalainie. I have yet to find it in a store and order it online as well. It is WAY cheaper online than in GNC or Walgreens. it is an amino acid as well. It seems as if the chromium and l-phenylalanine work well together. I wont be without the ones I put a * by. I heard that the zinc also helps process these. If you google them you will find that they are recommend for eating disorders and thats what full blown binge eating is.
Hope you're doing well too!!
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