“Why do I binge eat when I’ve been so good all day?”
It’s one of the most gut-wrenching, common questions I hear—and one you might be asking yourself right now.
In today’s Ideal Body Challenge, we’re exploring the real reason behind binge eating—and spoiler alert: it’s not because you’re broken or lack discipline.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
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Why your binge eating isn’t a willpower issue—it’s a survival response
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How the binge-restrict cycle keeps you trapped in guilt, shame, and rebellion
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What the scarcity mindset around food does to your brain and body
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Why giving yourself permission to eat your “fear foods” is the key to control
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How to create a sense of abundance that rewires how you relate to food
Your Challenge Today: Eat the “Scary” Food
We asked participants to choose a food they normally restrict—or binge on—and give themselves full permission to eat it.
No rules. No tracking. No compensating.
Just curiosity and compassion.
Were they scared? YES.
But fear is a sign of control. And where there’s control, there’s always rebellion.
What happened next? For many, that “trigger food” lost its grip. Because when you’re allowed to have it, you don’t need to fight it.
Why I Binge Eat: The Real Reason
You binge because your brain has been trained to believe food is scarce.
Even if you’re surrounded by it, years of dieting, restriction, and fear-based thinking have programmed your body to grab what it can—before it gets taken away.
It’s not you. It’s the system you’ve been stuck in.
What to Do Instead
Permission-based eating creates a sense of safety. It tells your nervous system:
“You’re not in danger anymore. There’s no need to panic.”
And from that place of safety, food becomes… just food.
You’re Not Broken
If you’ve ever cried after a binge or asked yourself, “Why do I keep doing this?”—you’re not alone. And you’re not failing.
You’re fighting a pattern. And this episode is the first step to breaking it—for good.
Join the Full Challenge
Get the full Ideal Body Challenge experience, with replays, journal prompts, and next steps for food freedom:
👉 idealbodychallenge.com
Listen below:
