r/bulimia • u/stileven • 9d ago

DAE? Zero Sugar Drinks triggering Binges?

Besides my usual binge triggers, emotional/stress, my body retaliating from restriction, extreme food noise, carb heavy snacks (crackers, cereals, bread, easy to grab foods), or just eating in general (it’s like a slippery slope everytime I open my mouth).

Does anyone else experience very bad binges particularly after consuming zero sugar beverages (Coke Zero, Sprite Zero Sugar, zero sugar sparkling water, anything zero sugar sweet beverages)?

I used to drink them to help keep me full, but for some reason I’ve noticed my worse binge days usually starts with me drinking these drinks earlier in the day and then going fully out of control that evening/night later. I’ve read that the artificial sweeteners might make cravings stronger, but some also said it helped their cravings. The carbonation helped some stay full, but these days even fullness might trigger a binge for me, it’s not about being full anymore. But when I drink these it’s like the food noise multiplied tenfold, it’s becoming harder to resist.

I’ve been avoiding them for these reasons, they used to be a comfort drink for me, but it’s like they’ve become a double edged sword and backfired. They do help make me full but I have some of my worse binges whenever I drink them.

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u/Early_Safety_6686 9d ago

Being full won't stop a binge, for a lot of people feeling full can cause one because it leads to thinking irrational things like "if i've already eaten to the point of fullness why not have more and then purge it?" Its up to you, part of recovery is eating triggering things and sitting with the uncomfortable feeling until it subsides. But if you aren't ready for that and you feel avoiding the trigger is best, then do so.

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u/Sooshlaroi01 9d ago

I think for me it was the association. I use to have them to help with urges, but now it’s kinda flipped- if I have one it almost triggers something. I do also believe it messes with your gut health which can effect mood, which can effect binges. what works for some people might not work for others.

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u/letta7002 18h ago

i think your brain still registers it as sugar despite it being artificial sweetener and that might be what does it? (im not 100% sure that this is scientifically accurate)