I am going to highlight for you what binge eating disorder is and a personal anecdote about it. Let’s begin with the basics. What is binge eating disorder?

Binge Eating Disorder is when you eat a large amount of food, way past the point of fullness, followed by feelings of guilt or depression. Binge eating is different from Bulimia, because there are no acts of purging or fasting. A lot of times this will occur after a diet. You seem to lose the ability to control what you’re eating and most of the time people who binge eat will seem to have normal eating habits around others and binge in private. If you want more information about the specifics of Binge Eating Disorder, check out Help Guide.

I have titled this article as behind the binge. So, I am going to move past the technical, definition-like stuff and bring you into my world, or what was my world. I suffered from binge eating disorder for around five years of my life, so I hope to share some insight with you.

It all started in 2011 when I was eighteen years old. I had recently moved to Ottawa, Ontario for University. This was my first time living alone and being away from my friends and family. I was scared, lonely, and sad. That is why I turned to food. It made me feel better; it gave me something to do and it made me feel happier, for a moment that is.

This year of my life is probably what I would call the worst year of my life. I would binge then starve myself and that cycle went on for the full year.

The year ended and I came home. I was able to re-adjust and the binge eating stopped. Not right away of course, and not completely, but within a year of being home I was “cured.”

Come January 2015, I was leaving for Ottawa again to take a holistic nutrition program. We can call this round two of the binge eating disorder. I was again lonely and sad at times. I found myself binge eating again for a solid four-month period. I was consumed by this issue. It made me feel better for a moment in time. The food made me feel complete and happy. But, I felt guilty right after my binge was over and I was left feeling even more lonely and sad than before. Due to my past experience, I knew I couldn’t do this for long and I knew the only person who could truly help me, was me.

That is what I did. I took action. I began spending time with friends more often and if I was feeling lonely, I would call up a friend and we would go for a run. I wasn’t afraid to call my sister or my mom and just talk for a bit to reduce the loneliness. Most importantly, I learned how to deal with my loneliness without needing other people all the time. I discovered that I can keep myself company once in a while, by enjoying walks on my own or immersing myself in my writing.

Not only did I discover these things, but I also discovered that I am not alone. A good friend of mine dealt with the same issue, and I didn’t even know it. You don’t have to share your personal issues with the world, but don’t fear sharing them with the people who love you.

There you have it my friends. A personal and honest story, from me to you, about my struggle with binge eating disorder. I hope this opens your eyes to this form of eating disorder or shows you that you are not alone.

I am here, not to tell you exactly what you should be doing, but to guide you towards healthy habits you can customize to achieve the happiest life possible.

Let me break it down for you into ten main practises and habits to ensure a healthy and happy life.

Eat breakfast

There is nothing more important to a happy life than starting your morning off right. Eating a nutrient dense breakfast before you start your day will help ensure the rest of your day is full of happiness, productivity, and balance.

Eating breakfast is known to enhance memory, improve cognitive ability, and increase attention span. For all you bloggers, students, teachers, police officers, lawyers, stay at home moms, it doesn’t matter what you are, a healthy mind is the base for a happy life.

Exercise

Find a form (or forms) of exercise that are right for you so consistency will not be an issue. Let’s face it, if you hate doing something, you will not do it for long. Whether it be yoga, pilates, kickboxing, weight lifting or running, any form of physical activity that gets your body moving is beneficial.

Physically, exercise strengthens the bones and muscles, and is a factor in weight control. It also plays a role in mental health. Regular physical activity contributes to an overall better mood and better sleep.

Sleep

We live in a society where most of us are trying to juggle work, exercise, friendships, relationships and numerous other responsibilities. We tend to negate how important sleep is for our overall health and well-being. Sleep is the body and mind’s chance to rebuild and recharge for the day ahead. Without adequate sleep your overall happiness levels will decrease, because you simply did not give your body enough time to recharge. Four hours a night will not cut it. Think 7-9 hours of sleep depending on your circumstances and your own biological needs.

Create a schedule

Organization and more specifically, a schedule, is necessary to lead the happiest life possible. This is especially important if you work for yourself, because you do not have a boss or supervisor telling you what and when to do a task.

If you choose to forgo a schedule, you are left feeling flighty and unfocused. I recommended sitting down on Sunday night with your calendar and planning out your week. For you bloggers, plan the days you will be posting, what these posts will be, the days you will be writing, the days you will be doing photography, and so on.

Read fiction novels (particularly something that is not on a screen)

Reading can be so therapeutic. It takes us out of our reality and catapults us into an alternate world or reality. It allows us to connect with and learn from characters within the novel to make us better, more understanding people. It is noted by BBC that reading works of fiction sharpens our analytical thinking and uplifts our mood. Try to read each weekday night before bed instead of looking at your phone or laptop.

Take breaks

Breaks are essential, whether you are a blogger, work a 9-5 job or are a student. Don’t fear taking a 20 minute break every couple of hours or so. Find a break schedule that works for you and keeps you feeling motivated and energized. Science Daily shares that breaks increase focus, help us to retain information and re-connect us to our lives. This re-connection allows us to think more deeply about the task at hand.

Stay hydrated

This is a boring factor in regard to a happy life, but a true one. Water is the main component to human health and without physical health it is difficult to have true happiness. Water removes harmful toxins from the body, helps transport nutrients and lubricates all parts and systems of the body. Drink your water.

Make time for friends/family

Your relationships are important. Don’t get too carried away in your work, to the point where you forget to nurture these relationships. In order to lead a happy life you need to have your health. Connecting with other human beings, is just as important as eating right and exercising.

Get outside

Typical human life has changed. We are no longer beings who spend most of our days outdoors. We have even evolved to the point where our children no longer seek the outdoors, as much as they do a tablet or iphone.

But, nature is crucial to our species overall happiness. It is known to improve our health and happiness by brining us a sense of connectedness to our world. This blog post by Psychology Today discusses more about how nature makes us happy.

Take the time to go for a hike, a swim or simply sit in the fresh air daily

Do more of what you love

So simple, but so forgotten. Take the time (or make the time) to do the things you love doing. Whether it be exercising, cooking, reading, playing the piano, or any hobby you can dream of. These are the things that bring true joy to your life.