In counseling, we teach patients and clients about reinforcement for behavior change

Positive reinforcement is utilized through the addition of a positive stimulus as well as an increase in the frequency of the behavior being reinforced

Negative reinforcement can be tricky to understand. The word reinforcement describes supporting a behavior in continuing while negative asserts that a stimulus is being removed. So a negative reinforcement is when you remove something and it leads to the behavior continuing

In the case of binge eating, a positive reinforcement would be ADDING more cardio. A negative reinforcement would be REMOVING food intake from the day or days to come. 

SO WHEN YOU DO EITHER OF THESE THINGS YOU ARE ENCOURAGING/CONTRIBUTING TO A HIGHER LIKELIHOOD OF REPEATING BINGE EATING

The problem is, so many people USE these tactics to 'make up for' the binging or overeating but it ends up having the OPPOSITE outcome because in essence you are telling yourself IT IS OK TO BINGE because you can make up for it or justify it with a reinforcement

It would be better to engage in and reinforce behaviors that you want to perpetuate over binging

For example: if you binge eat when feeling emotional, you would start engaging in a healthier coping skill instead of eating and then celebrate engaging in that emotional coping skill by reinforcing it with something like buying a new blanket that comforts you or hiring a massage therapist to give you a massage and take away stress...both of which REINFORCE THE BEHAVIOR OF HEALTHY COPING

I know it can be tricky to grasp because you THINK restriction or more cardio will make up for the calories you overate and erase it all but long term it leads to higher likelihood of continuing the very behavior you're trying to change 

If you want to break the cycle, sign up for my free food relationship coaching series at: www.celestial.fit/foodseries or apply to work with me 1:1 at www.celestial.fit/foodfreedom