Muphy is having surgery bright and early tomorrow morning, so the vet’s instructions were not to feed him after midnight. He’s like a Gremlin! 
Murphy is visiting the vet for a routine surgery (neuter), but I am still so worried about my little guy. I hope he’ll be okay! 
Lunch
For lunch today, I had a homemade salad topped with relish and a Larabar Jocalat bar. Lunch tasted delicious, but it left me hungry just a few hours later. Boo! 
When I got home from work, I wolfed down 2 bowls of Raisin Bran. They hit the spot.
“Binge” Versus “Indulgence”
So, guys, there were some interesting and though-provoking comments on this morning’s blog post.
As you might remember, I used the word “binge” in relation to eating a ton of cookies last night. I might not have picked the best choice of words, so I want you to know that I didn’t mean to be insensitive. The situation just felt that way to me and perhaps I don’t understand the true meaning of this word. I do, however, think this is a nice opportunity for an interesting conversation.
What do you think about using words like “binge,” “splurge,” “indulgence,” “overindulgence,” “over-eating”? What do you think is the difference between these words? Can you use them incorrectly?
{ 76 comments… read them below or add one }
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He is too cute!
I don’t know the exact definitions, but for me, it has to do with my mindset. Overindulging is just having too much, but still in a controlled/normal mindset and manner.
Binge (to me) is if I’m having something and feel out of control with it, if I’m sneaking to have more and not eating it in front of other people.
Murphy will do great! I was totally nervous when Frank went through that too and when I picked him up, he acted like nothing had even happened haha. Hope you have a good night girlie
Aww! Poor little Murph. He will be just fine
I feel like maybe a binge is if you’re out of control sort of. Like, you want to stop eating cookies, but you can’t. Maybe it has to do more with emotions.
Overindulgence I think is just having a more than you intended.
I have to say that I have struggled with eating on/off throughout my life, including anorexia, binge-purging, and purging. To me personally, a binge is when I look to food to fill a void. There are totally times where I will eat thousands of calories, and not really want to be eating a crumb of what I am shoving in my mouth. Feelings are associated with the binge – guilt, anxiety, insecurity. Feelings, not hunger, not the pleasure of eating the food, just the action of feeling out of control. I hope this wasn’t too much at explaining what a binge to me is. I kind of see them more as frantic than enjoying food.
Aw, poor puggie.
He’s going to need lots of love and TLC in the next few days — and I’m sure there will be no shortage of that! 
Hi Tina, I love reading your blog. I love healthy eating and being fit too and you give me lots of good ideas, thanks for sharing.I won’t even comment on the whole “binge” thing other than to say some people are just really sensitive, don’t take it to heart. I made pumpkin oatmeal cookies last week and I think I did the same thing. I was trying to monitor my Weight Watcher points with them, but they were so stinkin’ good, I just gave up and enjoyed. The real reason I am writing is my pug, Max, had to be neutered too and I totally understand your worries. Those big puggy eyes are hard to resist. My buddy is 8 years old now but seeing your pics of Murphy bring back memories of Max as a puppy. Pugs are so awesome, just like little people. He will do fine and you will too. Good luck with your book, how exciting!
Oh my gosh, Murphy’s face is precious!
I think the word binge has a very different connotation than binge.. binge brings up a dark place for a number of people, I would imagine.
Hi Tina! I wanted to say I really enjoy reading your blog. I can say it’s the only blog I follow regularly
. As for the use of the word binge I can totally understand what you were trying to say. Like many comments before mine I think the use of words like splurge, binge, indulgence etc all depend on each person and what your regular eating habits are. For me an indulgence for example would be to have dessert on a speciaal occasion, a second serving of dessert would be an overindulgence. As for binges I can relate with what happened with you and those delicious cookies, I would consider having several of them as binging.
That picture of Murphy may be my very favorite one! My vote is it is way more important to be yourself in your writing than worry about the exact words. You do not have any ill intent and that is completely apparent in your blog. A great way to look at it is that there are always new things to learn and it is great that there are so many people out there to educate us. Really it is all subjective because what one word means for one person can mean a completely different thing to another. I love that you are ALWAYS yourself in your blog! Good for you for opening up the discussion, that is the perfect way to deal with the situation. You set a good example for all of us.
I want Murphy! I think he should have children.
Your comments about binge, indulgence etc. are extremely interesting. I currently do research on eating disorders and right now I am focusing on binge eating due to a paper I am writing.
Binge eating is a serious disorder and no a handful of cookies does not classify as a binge persay BUT in terms of a blog and they way you personally feel no matter what word you use I feel it is perfectly fine. Over-eating, overindulgence, indulgence they are all softer words I suppose.
Binge eating is actually extremely common and reasearch shows that majority of college age women have binged at least once. We all treat ourselves to one to many of something on occassion and feel glutonous afterwards but its how the situation is handle which is important. The fact that you can express what you did, how you felt bad, but how today is a new day and all of that doesn’t matter is inspirational. Women all across the United States can learn from experiences that your sharing and realize it is ok! Your word choice should not change the message your getting across. Binge is thrown around just as easily as any word these days. Have a great night and I need to try those cookies ASAP!
Murphy looks like he is concerned about the use of the word binge.
Possibly splurge may be more PC…. but a definition of binge is to indulge to excess. So excess varies by person. Was that an excessive amount for you to eat.
I just ate some left over birthday cake…. I consider that a splurge. It wasn’t a huge piece. Had I eaten half the cake…. I would consider that a binge.
No worries.
omg that pic of murphy!! good luck on his surgery!
i think a binge is when you can’t get yourself to stop. ok, you’ve had 4 cookies— they may be healthy but still– if you keep going back and feel like you can not stop yourself then i feel like it is a binge. whatever word you chose to use was how you felt when you were doing it…. everyone is different!
hope Murphy is doing ok!
I think the word binge means different things to different people – I think so some people it might mean eating a box of cookies and to others it means just having a small slice of cake.
Murphy looks scared, poor baby. I’m sure he will do fine tomorrow
I don’t know about the words, I’m sure I use them all incorrectly. I don’t think you were being insensitive, the way you described what happened with the cookies made sense to me.
I agree with (the other) Laura- your blog is such an inspiration to me. I’ve suffered from an eating disorder for 4 years now and reading a lot of these “healthy living” blogs feels like I am just reading my ED’s rules. IE- watch your calories, exercise every SINGLE day, feel guilty about sweets, etc etc. But your blog is truly helping me realize that being healthy is about SO much more! In fact, I just finished a fairly large snack and starting feeling a little “iffy” about it, but reading this post and all the comments about it makes me feel INCREDIBLE! I just hope you realize that you ARE changing people’s lives- whether you’re aware of it or not.
So thank you Tina. And I hope that you enjoyed every single bite of those cookies- because we ALL deserve a cookie (or many cookies!) whenever we desire.
Murphy has got to be THE cutest puppy ever! Just look at those eyes! I would never be able to refuse him anything. Good luck with the surgery. (I’m sure he’ll be fine.)
It means something different to everyone and although I have and still do suffer from more indulgent binges than you described I would never think you used it in the wrong way!
Glad you are back on track though and praying for Murphy tomorrow morning:)
Thoughts and prayers to Murphy!
Although I have never suffered from BED (binge eating disorder), I can see how people that have might be sensitive to the use of the word “binge,” especially when people use it in a comparatively minor context, as in, “I binged on a bag of carrots today.” No, a binge=several thousand Calories. However, I don’t think your use of the word was really offensive (from an outside perspective). Just my two cents!
Wishing Murphy the best of luck in his surgery tomorrow:)
Murphy’s face is classic!! All these pics make me want a pug really bad and I’m not even a dog person! Best of luck with his surgery :O)
A true binge-eating episode is associated with a loss of control, otherwise it’s overeating. I work with eating disordered patients, so I do think it’s important to distinguish between the two.
binge drinking !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wow…I don’t have much to add to the real convo going on here, but Murphy’s face is the CLASSIC puppy dog look! Hope the little guy is okay after getting snipped!
I love reading your blog and just had to comment on this one. Our puppy Clark was.. um.. fixed earlier this week. I hope your adorable Murphy is recovering well! We live in Southie and love seeing posts about the neighborhood. Thanks for the great content!
I’v been through binge eating disorder … and I can tell you that a few more cookies then you would usually have would be an over indulgence.
A bingge would be..eating all those cookies plus a big mac, fries, onion rings, rolls, icecream..etc..
That…is a binge.
If I had a few cookies…and that was it I don’t think I would class that as a binge.
Hi Tina! I’ve been reading your blog for a while now and agree with most other commenters (especially Laura, #15) in my admiration for your blog and lifestyle. I do not think you used the word, ‘binge’, inappropriately at all! It’s completely subjective.
I love coming to your blog and seeing your truly balanced approach to food and physical well-being. Like Laura commented, I too agree that many other bloggers live under the guise of ‘healthy living’ but have to some degree disordered ways of thinking. Another reason I love your blog is that I am currently recovering from anorexia, and we are the same height (5″4′!) and you have helped me so much in this recovery. I know it seems silly, but often when anorexia tells me I can’t eat something, I think ‘no way! Tina would definitely eat that and I can too!’ You have helped me see what a nourished diet consists of and overcome my fear of gaining weight. Thank you so much and I will continue reading in the future.
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