The Brain over Binge Recovery Guide: A Simple and Personalized Plan for Ending Bulimia and Binge Eating Disorder Paperback – January 11, 2016

This is far and away the most helpful thing I have ever found for my own struggles with disordered eating. I have been binge-eating and purging for almost 15 years (and I was restricting for almost 10 years prior to that), and it has been miserable. Within days of starting this workbook, I began seeing my binge urges in a different way. They lost so much power, so quickly. Although it wasn't easy to dismiss the urges starting out, it rapidly began to feel like second nature. Quite honestly, I feel like the changes I've made have been nothing short of a miracle. I've been binge- and purge-free for almost two weeks, which is the longest I've gone since I developed these behaviors. It may not sound like a long time to some, but to me, it's incredible. I've listed some of the things I've found so helpful below.--The layout of the book makes it very easy to complete. You can do it step-by-step (which makes more sense for some parts of the book), and you can skip around some, too, if needed. Ms. Hansen regularly states that it is ideal if the reader takes only what she or he needs from the book and goes with it, which allows a degree of flexibility. I think it may also be building my confidence, too--that *I* can make decisions about what I do and don't need, instead of a regimented plan of some sort being prescribed to me.--I had believed for years that I was the voice of my urges, and that I had to argue with myself to keep from binge-eating (which often didn't work). Gaining insight into just how different those urges are from who I really am was astounding. When I looked at the words I used to describe myself versus those I used to describe my urges, I couldn't believe it. There it was, in black and white, that the urges AREN'T ME. Who knew? I sure didn't. I really thought that there was something wrong with me, and that I'd developed disordered eating early in life due to my family-of-origin issues and perfectionist tendencies. It was so frustrating that no amount of insight-oriented psychotherapy could help me change my behavior. And now I know why--restrictive dieting. Did restrictive dieting developing due to some of the things going on in my life? Yes, probably at least in part. But those things didn't directly start my binge-eating and purging, and they certainly weren't maintaining those habits all of these years.--I am almost embarrassed at how my mind was blown at the idea of eating adequately. I did have a grasp on the basics of current nutritional recommendations (I think most people w/ED do), but there was information on how much food I actually need per day that was completely new to me. And the idea of eating when I'm hungry to reduce binge urges--you would think a freaking light bulb had exploded over my head! I believe that allowing myself eat adequately over the past two weeks has strongly supported my newly-found ability to dismiss binge urges.--The perspective presented on "food addiction" was extraordinarily helpful. I was just coming out of a "failed" attempt to lose weight through a (fairly expensive and very en vogue) online program aimed at food addicts. [This program provided everyone with the exact same food plan. Given my tendency toward plant-based foods and my particular food tastes, I found that I was coming in around 800-900 calories per day. When I expressed my concern about this to the "coaches" in the program, I was told that, "We don't count calories in XYZ program." I guess not, because if you did, you'd know why you were dropping all of that weight so fast.] Anyway, I loved how Ms. Hansen discussed that, yes, sugar and highly processed foods can be "addictive" in a sense, but that this DOES NOT NEGATE CHOICE. I hesitate to use the word "brainwashed" regarding the aforementioned program, but I was told so many times that I was so highly susceptible to foods containing sugar and flour that I really started to believe that abstinence was my only option. However, I now feel much more confident that I can eat (at least some) of these foods in moderation in the future because I have a CHOICE as to what and how much I eat. I'm not just functioning on a lizard brain here. Related to this area, it's possible that this book saved me from additional years of ongoing struggle and anxiety secondary to overly restrictive program to which I had begun to adhere.--Some of the exercises look simple, but I was amazed at how I had never questioned my thoughts in such a rational way (nor had my therapists over the years). For example, when I first looked at the material on defining my own "binge" definition, I started to balk. I mean, I know what a binge is, right? Do I really need to do this? It turned out that I did need to do it. It was so helpful for me to really pin down what I was going to be targeting, and it made identifying the binge urges easier, too. That being said, I would encourage readers not to skip the introductory exercises. They may be more helpful than you think.--Ms. Hansen's arguments against restrictive dieting make so much sense. Of course I'm going to feel like binge-eating when I restrict my food--I'm legitimately hungry! Upon perusing the information in the book about ways to ensure adequate eating, I decided to call a very reputable nutritionist in my area and set up an appointment to talk about my personal eating plan. She looked so clearly happy when I told her that I was not going to diet anymore (seriously--her eyes lit up), and that just confirmed my decision to trash restrictive eating for good.I have no doubt that I still have a great deal of progress to make in the future with my eating. I definitely still question my food choices, and I have a lot of "shoulds" and "should nots" about food that I'd never even noticed until I was really allowing myself to eat. But I know that if I continue to work on the material in this book and with my nutritionist, I will be able to eventually gain confidence in my choices. I've also actually lost several pounds since I stopped restricting/binge-eating/purging. I never would have imagined that, since I believed that I was "getting rid" of all the binge foods I ate (this was clearly not the case). So, that's a nice side effect, for sure.It's probably pretty obvious that I would recommend this workbook. I did not read the original book, and I don't think you need to in order to benefit from this one. My sincere thanks to Ms. Hansen and her collaborators for writing this--I am deliriously happy with how much progress I've made in such a short amount of time, and I feel so much more peaceful and at ease in my day-to-day life. I am truly grateful.UPDATE: It has now been over 7 months since the last time I binged or purged. I no longer fit criteria for any Eating Disorder. I couldn't be more grateful to Ms. Hansen and the contributors to this workbook, and I still strongly encourage anyone struggling with binge-eating to try this.

This is it. This is THE GUIDE. Don't buy anything else. I have read them all believe me. All the geneen roths intuitive eating josie spinardi and a bunch more to boot. I am a very rational person and this book made so much sense to me-- I feel like it was written about me. I actually LAUGHED OUT LOUD by some sections because the way she explains it, it's like- ohhhhh. Yessssss! Exactly! I giggled bec it was so obvious and so obviously true!! The premise is this: it doesn't matter HOW you got to be a binger. (Don't worry you people who like to know the whys and how's she DOES explain it beautifully.) However you arrived at binging, the treatment is the same, because your brain now has this primal instinct to protect you and thinks if you don't binge you'll die. And to any of my fellow bingers- how true is that!!?? So you get all anxious and you MUST calm that urge down. What I adored was how she explains that the urge to binge does NOT come from being angry lonely tired sad bored etc. every other book I ever read said it MUST be stemming from those emotions or maybe a screwed up childhood etc. but I had a great childhood and even when I have nice pleasant days (I'm a mommy of 5, ages 11 down to 5 month old so my days are cray cray) I still binge. Wtf! So all those other books never rang a bell with me. I would try to figure out why I binged but could never think of a reason. She explains very clearly that that is not it. And also why conventional therapy doesn't help binging. Even cbt therapy which I did try!!! So basically your brain just goes to this place where it's like- binge or die. Her method is learnt to dismiss the urges (because there is that teeny moment between the urge and the 70,000 calories later that you had the chance to STOP using your rational brain). And part two is eat adequately which I haven't read yet but I see there is lots of suggestions. Food planning hunger fullness scale and more. Sooo comprehensive. You don't need any other book after this baby. I love all the places you get to really write the meat of the situation. For example - how would you personally define a binge? The easy way to figure this out, she writes, is:If I never binged again, I would never....:Wow that really got me thinking. She has such a different way of seeing this entire matter. Completely different than any other author therapist etc. so I basically read through first 100 pg or so. I'm still binging because I haven't really got to the part about dismissing urges yet but I can't wait! Fingers crossed! I will hope to update when I've do finished reading. Good luck all u out there. Binging is hell. U wanna kill yourself the next morning.