Hey Mike, I was a competitive bodybuilder too. I did a few shows and found the more I restricted the more I would binge and also use Cheatmeals as a pass to binge. It becomes almost an addiction, but believe me it can get better. When I first tried to control it i took the approach of just being mindful of my cheatmeals and promising myself that i wouldnt do it again. That didn’t work. I just couldn’t let go of the idea of eating clean 24/6.. it gave me anxiety to not have that control over my life and my physique, but i knew i had to do it. I decided one day that it was enough, i couldn’t live my life counting and weighing my food to a T. OBVIOUSLY my body was fighting against it.

My first step was to incorporate foods i craved into my daily calorie intake (if it fits your macros). That was a little hard but as soon as i saw that i didn’t gain weight from it… i got over the fear of “bad foods”. I then made sure that my cheatmeals were out with friends and not in secret so i wouldnt go all out and binge. I would try to go to sleep as soon as i got home so anxiety/ urge to binge didn’t kick in. Eventually if got easier.

Most importantly. I TOOK A BREAK OFF COMPETING. i’m still on my break, but my body is still fit. I knew i mentally wasn’t ready to compete and needed to focus on the disorder, as should you. (this includes photoshoots)

You need time to stop focusing so much on how you look and what you need to eat to look or maintain a certain physique. This is all adding to your disorder.

The more that you break these all or nothing habits the easier it gets.

Eventually i stopped counting food all together, and took a break from that. When i found myself in a better place, whenever i wanted to lean out a little i would count, but nothing as obsessive as when prepping for a show. But emphasis on BETTER PLACE. You need to let go of the competing lifestyle to get your life back, as hard as it is. You’ll find you’re happier with yourself and your physique when you find this balance.

Its difficult, and so many competitors go through it. It’s such a paradox when the world sees as as “healthy people” lol. But it happens. You will get through it, it’s a process. I hope this helps.

1. stop competing/photoshoots
2. If it fits your macros
3. cheats with friends
4. stop counting
5. when in better place, short periods of counting to lean out if needed