In order to change your eating patterns, you have to have a conversation with the part of yourself that is criticizing you for the way you eat. — F. Diane Barth L.C.S.W.
Being in love is marvelous, isn’t it? Words are optional between you and your partner since your eyes and body language can do the talking. You have someone to share your ups and downs with as well, and loneliness becomes the least of your worries. Furthermore, you suddenly turn into a very understanding person – more accepting than you have ever been – to the point that you concentrate on their good side and pay zero attention to their bad habits.
Of all the fantastic things mentioned above, there is just one idea that might become an issue later in the relationship: your decision to overlook your beloved’s weird mannerisms. That is especially true if the person secretly has a binge-eating disorder, and yet you chalk up their unusual behavior around food to personal preference instead of asking about it. Thus, you may not be able to help your significant other in getting rid of the illness.
To cancel that possibility, check out the signs that say that your partner is a closet binge-eater.
When you push your body to produce without giving it the fuel it needs to make that happen, it’s like demanding your car go 100 miles on an empty tank of gas. — Lisa Ferentz LCSW-C, DAPA
- She Goes On A Diet But Never Loses The Extra Weight
How many times have you heard your better half claim that he or she will curb the food temptations already to flush out the unwanted fats?
Hopefully, the number that comes to mind is equivalent to the instances in which they genuinely shed off the extra pounds. In case your partner has been dieting for as long as you have known him or her – but to no avail – that may be an indication of an eating disorder.
- You Found Her Secret Stash Of Food
Binge-eaters have a habit of hoarding sweets, chips, bread, or any foodstuff they like. It is either they are afraid of not having enough treats to munch on or they merely want to avoid sharing food with others.
Once you find the hiding place, your beloved may try to lie regarding the matter and tell you that it is for everyone in the house. However, you should know better than to believe that, primarily if the stash happens to be under a floorboard or in a locked cabinet.
- The Individual Often Eats Large Portions Of Her Meals
Someone with this kind of disorder solely thinks of getting as much food as possible in their mouth and down the digestive tract. For that reason, you may notice that the person only chews a large bite once or twice before swallowing it. Worse, they might finish an entire meal without even tasting it.
You will generally see this behavior from a fellow who hasn’t had food for days. Considering your significant other can eat three to four times daily but still wolfs down their nourishment like a famished individual, then that is another sign that you have a binge-eater on your hands.
- Your Partner Tries To Hide The Evidence From You
The deal with folks who have an eating problem is that they are both aware and ashamed of what they do. So it is not infrequent to find these people stowing away empty containers and wrappers at the weirdest spots where you might not search, e.g., shoe racks, flower pots, toolboxes, et cetera.
The fact that an individual has the determination to go through such troubles displays that your beloved is not okay. When you confront your partner about the indications above, though, the chances of getting an immediate confirmation from them are slim. That can be because 1) the person fears you will reject him or her due to the disorder, or 2) they are in denial themselves.
Remind yourself that you are not saying that you must give up bingeing forever. — Jennifer Rollin MSW, LCSW-C
If you still feel strongly for your better half after the revelation, you have to help them overcome binge-eating. Your patience and willingness to guide your significant other towards the recovery path, nevertheless, is among the greatest acts of love you can demonstrate.