Expert: Leigh-Anne Persing, PA-C - 12/20/2006

Question
hi, Ms. Persing
   I have been stressed for two months and gained twenty pounds due to binge eating. I am a lacto-vegetarian and have lost weight in the past. Now that I've gained weight I find it so hard for me to do the thing I love most---jogging. Ever since I started binging, I couldn't stop no matter how hard i try. I have serious cravings for carbs. I know it's the carbs because I used to binge 4000-5000 calories a day. I don't know how to quit. I tried water, fruits and vegetables. Nothing works. What advice can you give me? I really want to stop and start losing weight. I feel so terrible. I used to be overweight three years ago but now I can't control my eating. Please help me.

Answer
you need to use moderation. Don't deprive yourself of the one thing that you seem to crave the most. Have some carbs at each meal. You have to have willpower... that's really all the advice I can give you. I could lecture you until I'm blue in the face, and if you don't have the willpower to change your diet habits then it's not going to do any good. Good luck to you... especially during the holiday season.