The Pendulum Swing Effect

Breaking free from binge eating can feel like being stuck on a pendulum. On one side, there’s overeating—then, in response, you swing to the other extreme: restriction. You cut out foods, tighten the rules, and try to regain control… until the cycle repeats.

True healing happens when we learn to slow the pendulum down, finding balance in the middle—what I call intuitive eating.

Restriction Might Look Like:

• Cutting out entire food groups (like carbs or fats)

• Only allowing yourself to eat “clean” or “healthy” foods

• Jumping from one diet to the next

• Strict portion control or calorie counting

• Avoiding food after a certain time

So, What is Intuitive Eating?

It’s about trusting your body again. Instead of obsessing over rules, you tune into what your body truly needs—honouring hunger, satisfaction, and fullness without guilt. It’s about making peace with food, breaking free from restriction, and finding a way of eating that feels good physically, mentally, and emotionally.

No more swinging from one extreme to the other. Just balance, freedom, and trust.

Bingeing Might Look Like:

• Feeling out of control around food

• Eating past fullness and feeling guilty

• Having “cheat days” where all the rules go out the window