Hi. I'm a born binger. Show me a full plate of cookies, come back in ten minutes, and I'll show you an empty plate. A little while ago I discovered a method to break my binges and I want to share it with you. Caveat: This method works for me, I can't say it will work for you, but it's easy to try.
I love pita chips. At night I will put some in a small dish, go back to the computer, then munch and browse. When the dish is empty the urge to head back to the kitchen for a refill is overwhelming (they are good). My newly found binge breaker is simple: instead of heading back to the kitchen for a refill, I chew a stick gum (sugar free of course). Chewing the gum erases the residual chip taste in my mouth, and the urge for a refill is gone. Works for cookies, cake, and chocolate too.
It is not essential that gum is used. A mint will do the same thing. But don't use anything that has calories because the binge breaker might start a micro binge of its own.
My layman theory is that once we start eating something good, a mini addiction starts. We finish eating a piece of chocolate, but the the taste and scent remain in out mouth and brains. For the time being we are hooked, and our pleasure center says MORE!!! MORE!!!. The gum erases the tastes and scents, thus killing the mini addiction. Not medical science, just my own theory.
As I have said, it may not work for you but its very easy to experiment. Try this. Take a few pieces of your favorite indulgences (cookies, chips, candy.....) and line them up on your table. Say you have five pieces, put a stick of gum (or mint) in between the send and third pieces in the line. Start eating from left to right and see if the gum chew kills the desire to finish off the rest of the line.
If you do try it, I'd like to know the results.
I love pita chips. At night I will put some in a small dish, go back to the computer, then munch and browse. When the dish is empty the urge to head back to the kitchen for a refill is overwhelming (they are good). My newly found binge breaker is simple: instead of heading back to the kitchen for a refill, I chew a stick gum (sugar free of course). Chewing the gum erases the residual chip taste in my mouth, and the urge for a refill is gone. Works for cookies, cake, and chocolate too.
It is not essential that gum is used. A mint will do the same thing. But don't use anything that has calories because the binge breaker might start a micro binge of its own.
My layman theory is that once we start eating something good, a mini addiction starts. We finish eating a piece of chocolate, but the the taste and scent remain in out mouth and brains. For the time being we are hooked, and our pleasure center says MORE!!! MORE!!!. The gum erases the tastes and scents, thus killing the mini addiction. Not medical science, just my own theory.
As I have said, it may not work for you but its very easy to experiment. Try this. Take a few pieces of your favorite indulgences (cookies, chips, candy.....) and line them up on your table. Say you have five pieces, put a stick of gum (or mint) in between the send and third pieces in the line. Start eating from left to right and see if the gum chew kills the desire to finish off the rest of the line.
If you do try it, I'd like to know the results.
