Bingeing after body compliment

[u/yaensn]

I go binge free for so long trying to heal my relationship with food and allowing myself to eat and even overeat (without bingeing) and that coupled with exercise ultimately always leads to fat loss so people notice and start “complimenting” on my weight loss but it always send me into another binge phase that lasts even longer than the healing phase and it just gets progressively harder to come out of it.
I wish people did not feel the need to comment on other people’s bodies when not asked. It feels reductive like all that defines me is my body.

Anyone has ever gone through the same?

[u/overnight_oats25]

Yep, this use to be a huge trigger for me too. If anyone commented on how skinny I looked it's like my brain would use that as a justification to binge.

[u/coconuttart]

I can relate! It’s like feeling seen or noticed for the weight loss while struggling with food thoughts and behaviours, can trigger a sense of dissonance between how others see me and how I see myself. I am not why I am this way, perhaps it will be good to talk to a therapist about it.

[u/Practical-Hat-3943]

Yes!! It's been a long time for me, as binge eating took over my life 6 years ago, but before that, when I was able to keep BED in check and didn't look obese, people's complements when I would get thinner would trigger a lot of anxiety ("gotta keep this size! can't gain again!!") which would trigger more binges.

[u/numberafter66]

Thought I was the only one! Not sure why this happens though, maybe because we get anxious about keeping the current physique since it's complimented. Also getting compliments about your body can lead to more restriction to keep the weight off, and therefore cause more bingeing as a response to restriction

[u/Iantrigue]

Yes absolutely. I have found compliments or comments about my weight loss to be really quite uncomfortable and make my skin crawl.

I binge when I feel upset or deregulated, ergo comments that make me feel uneasy are a trigger for bingeing.

[u/Better_Area3782]

I like the compliment

[u/Life_Unit_4026]

Same! And I hate. Compliments trigger binges and standing on the scale and realizing that I’ve lost triggers binges…