The Binge Free Formula Framework

An evidence-informed approach to break free from binge eating, BED and bulimia without diet, rules or shame.

How It's born

13 Years of Struggling

For 13 years, I was living with binge eating without knowing. Tried diet after diet, hoping the next one would be different.

The difference it made? More out of control

Dietetic Training

When I was trained as a dietitian, I learned all about the 'healthy eating' and proper nutrition - but I was still struggling.

That's when I realised: This wasn't just about what to eat. It's about healing my relationship with food

Eating Disorder Training

My journey to becoming a Credentialed Eating Disorder Clinician is pretty much my own self-help diary.

As I went through ED training, I uncovered one deeper struggle after another, searching for solution after solution.

After 5 years of diving deep into self-help, I've reached recovery in my own term

Creating BFF

When I started working with clients struggling with binge eating, I knew they didn't need another lecture on "eating healthier." They needed a holistic approach that actually addressed why they were bingeing in the first place.

So I created the Binge Free Formula—a framework that brings together everything I learnt through my own 13-year recovery and years of recovery + ED training into a clear, compassionate roadmap for recovery.

A Different Way forward

The diet & traditional way to appraoch binge eating - it's all about what yout eat - tracking, mcaro, avoid binge food, use willpower, meal plan, earning food with exercise or clean eating, weight loss but never ends never work
The BFF way is to connect with your body signal, make peace with all foods, learn skills to process emotions without food, honour your life and culture, eat to support your body and activity, focus on behaviours that support wellbeing. It's hard to start but easy forever

You've already tried controlling food. Let's try something that actually works - rebuilding trust.

The Foundation - How This Approach Works

Most binge eating 'solutions' fail because they focus on WHAT you eat - meal plan, macros, portion sizes - but ignore the WHY - what's driving the behaviour

The Binge Free Formula is built on principles that actually support healing the "behind the scene" of your eating, not another 12-week nutrition plan that falls apart the moment it ends

#1 Anti Diet

Coming from traditional healthcare training, I used to prescribe meal plans and portion control—until I saw how the rules themselves were the problem.

Anti-diet means letting go of 'good' and 'bad' foods, earning your meals, or using willpower to stay in control. When food loses its moral labels, there's no guilt, no forbidden pull—just freedom to eat and enjoy.

Why it works: You can't heal your relationship with food whilst still trying to control it."

#3 Person-Centred

You're the expert on your life—I'm here to guide

You've probably had professionals tell you exactly what to eat, when to exercise, and how to 'fix' yourself. That approach assumes they know your body better than you do.

Person-centred care flips that: you're the expert on your life, your body, and what works for you. I bring the skills, frameworks, and evidence—but you make the decisions.

This means our work together is:

- Collaborative – we figure things out together, not me prescribing from above

- Compassionate – replacing self-criticism with curiosity and kindness

- Individualised – what works is shaped by your life, culture, preferences, and goals—not a one-size-fits-all protocol

Why it works: Lasting change doesn't come from following someone else's rules. It comes from reconnecting with your own wisdom and building skills that fit your life.

#5 Whole Person Approach

Binge eating isn't just about food—and healing isn't either

Binge eating doesn't happen in a vacuum. It's connected to your emotions, stress, relationships, sleep, life transitions, nervous system—all of it.

A whole-person approach means we don't just focus on what's on your plate. We look at:

- What's happening in your life (work stress, relationship struggles, major transitions)

- How your body is coping (nervous system regulation, sleep, chronic health conditions)

- What you're feeling (emotions that drive the urge to binge)

- Your history (past dieting, trauma, cultural messages about food and bodies)

Why it works: When we address what's actually driving the behaviour—not just the symptom—healing goes deeper and lasts longer.

#2 Weight-Neutral

Your weight, BMI, or body shape don't determine your health, worth, or attractiveness.

Here's what I know: restriction fuels bingeing. And there's no truly non-restrictive way to intentionally lose weight.

Trying to heal your relationship with food whilst focusing on weight loss is like building trust with someone who keeps criticising you—it doesn't work.

Instead, we focus on behavioural changes and mindset shifts—the things that actually improve your health and quality of life—and let your weight settle where your body is most metabolically comfortable.

Why it works: When weight is off the table, you can finally focus on what actually helps—reconnecting with your body's signals and needs."

#4 Inclusive & Trauma-Informed Care

Healing starts with safety and autonomy.

Trauma-informed extend from the trauma leading to a disordered eating pattern. But also the diet trauma. How can you feel safe when your identity is judged? e.g. 

- When your doctor blames everything on your weight.

- When influencers shame you for eating carbs.

- When you grow up never seeing your body type, skin colour, sexuality and gender identity—or culture—being honoured.

- When you don't feel safe in your body, you fight it, rebel, or shut down. That's how food and body struggles take over.

Why it works: In my practice, I create space where all parts of you are welcomed and respected—so you can rebuild trust with food and body on your terms."

#Health At Every Size

Growing evidence shows weight and BMI are poor predictors of health—and that health-promoting behaviours matter more than the number on the scale.

Health At Every Size is built on 5 principles:

1. Weight inclusivity – respecting body diversity

2. Health enhancement – improving access to care for all bodies

3. Respectful care – challenging weight stigma in healthcare

4. Eating for wellbeing – flexible, attuned eating based on hunger and satisfaction

5. Life-enhancing movement – joyful movement, not punishment

Why it works: When weight is no longer the focus, health becomes something you can build with freedom, compassion, and trust.

Phase 1: Build Safety

Help your body step out of survival mode

WHY

When your brain senses scarcity or threat - from dieting, restriction, or triggering moments - it flips into survival mode, driving urgency, cravings, and binges. You can't heal what feels unsafe

WHAT TO FOCUS ON

  • Understanding what's driving your binge eating and identify your triggers

  • Creating physical safety through consistent, adequate nourishment

  • Softening restrictive diet rules and letting go of dieting tools

  • Recognising how diet culture has shaped your relationship with food & body

PUTTING IN PRACTICE

Trace binge origins | Map triggers | Find Binge Function | Find recovery power | Build support network Eat regularly | Ensure adequate nourishment | Name diet rules | Challenge food rules | Stop restriction/purging | Declutter dieting tools | Understand diet culture | Learn weight science | Respond to diet talk

Phase 2: Build Trust

Reconnect with your body's signals and make peace with food

WHY

Just like a baby doesn't stop crying until you meet their needs, your body won't stop sending urgent signals until it trusts you'll listen and respond. Trust is rebuilt through consistent compassionate action, not willpower

WHAT TO FOCUS ON

  • Learn to notice and honour your body's hunger and fullness signals

  • Making peace with all foods through gradual, supported exposure

  • Understanding the difference between physical, emotional needs & habits

  • Developing skills to process emotions and stress without turning to food

PUTTING IN PRACTICE

Practice attunement | Develop self-compassion | Scan body hunger & fullness | Master mindful eating | Honour hunger cues | Respond to binges | Food habituation | Reframe critic thoughts | Abundance mindset | Build satisfying meals | Stop when full | Challenge food fears | Distinguish hunger types | Respond to urges | Understand emotional eating | Build emotion regulation skills | Soothe nervous system | Break automatic eating habits 

Phase 3: Build Confidence

Create sustainable system that support your wellbeing

WHY

Confidence doesn't come from control - it comes from knowing you have the skills, flexibility, and resilience and navigate real life. In this stage, you build health-promoting habits that feel good and fit your lifestyle.

WHAT TO FOCUS ON

  • Shifting from body criticism to body respect & acceptance

  • Exploring gentle nutrition & flexible meal planning without rigid rules

  • Finding movement that feels joyful, not punishing

  • Building resilience to handle setbacks without spiralling

PUTTING IN PRACTICE

Challenge body criticism | Appreciate body function | Navigate triggering moments | Rewire body checking/avoidance behaviours | Body-positive fashion | Joyful movement | Honour rest | Gentle nutrition | Navigate special occasions | Meal planning +  staple meals | Build pantry flexibility | Establish healthy habits | Identify risk situations | Turn lapses into learning | Practice recommitment 

What will happen?

Eating With Ease

From: Walking on eggshells, losing control, and spiralling into guilt

To: Eating what you want without drama or panic - food is just food

Mental Freedom

From: Constant throughts about food, calories and when you'll binge

To: Headspace for your work, relationships and dream - food becomes the background & support

Normal Eating

From: Binge eating feels like your identity forever

To: Eating when hungry, stopping when satisfied, enjoying treats without drama

Confident Choices

From: Panic or overwhelm when cravings hit

To: Knowing exactly what your body need - skills and strategies to honour your body that works

Body Peace

From: Fighting, hiding, or feeling trapped in your body

To: Feeling at ease in your skin - less anxiety, more living

Life wellbeing

From: All-or-nothing cycle - perfect or chos between "good" and relapse

To: Habits that stick because they support how you want to live

Is this right for you?

This is for you if...

You're tired of the binge-restrict cycle and ready to try something different

You want to stop obsessing about food and get your life back

Underneath, you can sense diet culture isn't what works for you and you want to challenge it, even part of you still resist it

You struggle with binge eating, bulimia, emotional eating, or feeling out of control around food

You're ready to do the deeper work - not just follow another meal plan

You want practical skills and support that will work or life, not just willpower or motivation pushes

You're open to rebuilding trust with your body, even if it feels scary

This is likely not for you if...

You're lookign for a quick fix or a structured meal plan to follow

You're primarily focused on weight loss right now

You're happy with how you're eating and just looking for nutrition optimisation or performance goals

The idea of giving up dieting, restriction, or food rules don't makes sense to you right now

You're looking for someone to tell you exactly what to eat

You prefer a control-based or tracking-based approach rather than learning to trust your body's signals

You're currently in acute crisis or need a higher level of medical or psychiatric care

Want to Implement This Approach?

Binge Freee Formula Program

Implement the full framework with all-rounded support

Binge Free Formula program - a 4 month binge eating recovery program mock up
Ultimate binge recovery checklist mock up

Ultimate Binge Recovery Checklist

What recovery looks like step-by-step with this FREE checklist

free 3 steps to end overeating webianr mock up

3 Steps To End Overeating

Learn why you're stuck and how to move forward with this free webinar

Empower roadmap session - food and behaviour report, empowerment plan + video walkthrough and 1-on-1 call mock up

Empower Roadmap Session

Get a personalised BFF roadmap + action plan tailored to your situation

The Nerd Corner

The evidence-based treatment or modalities Binge Free Formula is informed by

RAVES

WHAT IT IS
A structured approach to establish regular eating patterns through five principles: eating Regularly, Adequately, with Variety, Eating Socially, and Spontaneously—creating the foundation for stable, nourishing eating.

IN BFF
Stage 1: building a regular eating pattern, breaking binge-restrict cycle, food habituation, relapse prevention
If we work together, we will also utilise Rules of 3's and Plate-by-Plate model - 2 most widely used meal structuring approach to stop bingeing.

EVIDENCE
Evidence shows regular, adequate eating reduces binge frequency and intensity by preventing the restriction-binge cycle and stabilising blood sugar and hunger hormones.

Non-Diet/HAES

WHAT IT IS
A weight-inclusive framework that shifts focus from weight loss to health-promoting behaviours, body acceptance, and intuitive self-care regardless of body size.

IN BFF
Throughout BFF, especially fighting diet mentality and gentle nutrition

EVIDENCE
Research consistently shows HAES interventions improve eating disorder symptoms, psychological wellbeing, and metabolic wellbeing.

Intuitive Eating

WHAT IT IS
An HAES approach that is built on fighting diet mentality, and rebuild trust with internal hunger-fullness cues and honouring body's needs without external food rules.

IN BFF
Throughout the BFF framework:
- Reject the diet mentality
- Honour your hunger
- Make peace with food
- Challenge the food police
- Discover the satisfaction factor
- Feel your fullness
- Cope with your emotions with kindness
- Respect your body
- Movement - feel the difference
- Honour your health with gentle nutrition

EVIDENCE
Over 200 studies show intuitive eating is associated with reduced binge eating, improved body image, lower psychological distress, and better physical health markers including blood pressure and cholesterol.

Self-Compassion (Kristin Neff)

WHAT IT IS
A practice of treating yourself with kindness during struggle, recognising suffering as part of shared humanity, and responding to yourself as you would a dear friend. (Based on Kristin Neff framework)

IN BFF
Stage 2: self compassion, treat emotion with kindness, post-binge reflection, make peace with food, body peace

EVIDENCE
Research demonstrates self-compassion reduces binge eating, body shame, and eating disorder symptoms whilst improving body appreciation, emotional resilience, and treatment outcomes—often more effectively than self-esteem interventions.

CBT-E

WHAT IT IS
An evidence-based treatment that uses cognitive restructuring and behavioural experiments (like food exposures and habituation) to challenge disorder thoughts and behaviours.

IN BFF
Understanding triggers and pattern, break binge-restrict cycle, food habituation, body image healing, habit building strategies, relapse prevention

EVIDENCE
CBT-E is the most researched treatment modalities for bulimia and binge eating disorder, with ~60-70% of people achieve remission and maintain improvements long-term.

DBT

WHAT IT IS
A skills-based therapy teaching emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and mindfulness to manage intense emotions without turning to destructive behaviours like binge eating.

IN BFF
Understand cravings, practical skills to manage urges and difficult emotions, trigger management

EVIDENCE
Research shows DBT significantly reduces binge eating frequency, emotional eating, and eating disorder psychopathology, particularly for those with emotion regulation difficulties.

ACT

WHAT IT IS
A mindfulness-based approach that teaches "unhooking" from unhelpful thoughts and urges whilst building values-based habits—accepting discomfort rather than fighting it.

IN BFF
Craving awareness, post-binge reflection, emotional regulation skill, build resilience to handle setbacks

EVIDENCE
Research shows that ACT helps reducing dysregulated eating behaviours (e.g. bingeing) and thoughts (body dissatisfaction) by improving psychological flexibility and reducing experiential avoidance around food and emotions

Mindfulness Approach

WHAT IT IS
Practices of present-moment awareness without judgement—noticing thoughts, emotions, body sensations, and urges with curiosity rather than reaction.

IN BFF
Hunger-fullness awareness, mindful eating

EVIDENCE
Meta-analyses show mindfulness-based interventions significantly reduce binge eating frequency, emotional eating, and external eating whilst improving body awareness and eating self-efficacy.

Body Image Healing

WHAT IT IS
Body image healing framework drawn from "More than a body", intuitive eating framework and Developmental Theory of Embodiment by Niva Piran

IN BFF
Body acceptance, criticism, function, avoidance, checking, and body image triggers

EVIDENCE
Research shows body image interventions reduce eating disorder symptoms, body dissatisfaction, and depression whilst improving self-esteem and quality of life—particularly when combined with eating disorder treatment.

Polyvagal Theory

WHAT IT IS
A neuroscience framework explaining how the nervous system responds to threat (fight/flight/freeze) and safety—helping you understand binge eating as a nervous system survival response, not a character flaw.

IN BFF
Building safety and nerve-calming techniques and emotional regulation skills

EVIDENCE
Emerging research shows polyvagal-informed interventions improve emotion regulation, reduce trauma responses, and decrease binge eating by shifting from threat state to safe and social states.

Motivational Invterviewing

(If you work with me 1:1)

WHAT IT IS
A collaborative, person-centred counselling approach that allow us to work through the internal struggle of want to change and want to stay. And it helps draw out your internal motivation to change rather than relying on external push.

IN BFF 
Throughout the 1:1 work. In the framework: setting up safety net, define recovery power

EVIDENCE
Studies show MI largely improve therapeutic relationship - which research shows to be the no. 1 predictor to the treatment success in eating disorder and disordered eating. It also enhances adherence and improves outcomes when combined with other evidence-based approaches.

Medical Nutrition Therapy

(Mainly when we work 1:1)

WHAT IT IS
Evidence-based nutrition management for health conditions (cholesterol, diabetes, PCOS, hypothalamic amenorrhoea, gut symptoms) - what set dietitians apart from all other nutrition and health professionals

IN BFF
Gentle nutrition for different health conditions. Individualised therapy based on your health state if we work 1:1

EVIDENCE
Medical Nutrition Therapy is the most evidence-based approach to nutrition management to any health conditions.

Relapse Prevention

WHAT IT IS
A framework for identifying high-risk situations, developing coping strategies, and responding to setbacks with learning rather than shame—turning lapses into growth rather than full relapse.

IN BFF
Relapse prevention

EVIDENCE
Studies show relapse prevention strategies significantly reduce relapse rates in eating disorder recovery and improve long-term maintenance of recovery gains.

I have another question...

Drop us a message and

we will et back to you asap!

Malcolm is a non-diet binge eating dietitian
Consulting suite at WellSpace Psychology Prahran - Malcolm on site on Wednesdays
Malcolm providing eating disorder nutrition counselling at Prahran WellSpace
Enjoying social eating with variety of food - celebrating no food rule eating
Malcolm is a certified intuitive eating counsellor and body image coach based in Melbourne, Australia, serving international client
Malcolm is a binge eating dietitian - accredited practising dietitian (APD)
Malcolm is a binge eating dietitian and credentialed eaing disorder clinician (CEDC) by ANZ academy for eating disorder
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I acknowledge the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung people of the Kulin Nation as the Traditional Custodians of the land on which I live and work. I pay my deep respects to Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. I’m committed to providing inclusive, respectful care for all bodies, identities, and backgrounds.

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