Counting calories leads me to binge... I get so stressed out about it for some reason. Like I'll hit 1500 or 2000 calories or whatever, and then I'll think, "Okay, now I can't eat for the rest of the day!" ... which inevitably makes me snap.
So right now I'm focusing on getting through one day at a time, without binging, and once non-binging becomes a habit for me, I'll give counting calories a try. Baby steps...
Personally I think I binge partially because -- this is going to sound weird -- I'm kind of scared of being hungry. I hate the feeling of being hungry and I worry about being somewhere (like at work) and being hungry but not able to eat anything. Sometimes I'll eat when I'm not hungry because I think, "But I might be hungry LATER..." Does anyone else feel that way?
Skyra I totally know what you mean about reaching your calorie limit for the day and then you're like...now what? And I'm right there with you on the part about how calorie counting leads to bingeing. I also need to just focus on NOT bingeing OR overeating every day. I need to really focus when I eat out as well.
Karen - I found your self-analysis really interesting. Thanks for sharing! It's nice to see that you've identified at least part of the problem and can see a way out of it. I lost all of my weight calorie-counting and managed to stay binge free but the sheer determination to lose weight and be the healthiest person I can be was guiding me. If you give yourself a range of calories, it might make things a little more flexible, so you can have higher calorie days and lower calories days and not feel bad if you eat more on a given day. Either way, it's not about "dieting". It's about regaining control over your life and living it to the fullest, whether that entails being thin and hot or healthy and athletic, inspiring those around you to do the same, and obtaining a new sense of self worth. It's worth it!
Skyra - Sometimes I'll eat if I'm not hungry because I don't wanna be hungry later, but I try to stick with a few healthy staples, like turkey and grapes, or light cheese and baby carrots, and it does sometimes help stave off a binge because I'm not starving later in the day. But I do know what you mean and that it seems a little weird!
I'm not sure why I have these binge nights. It's a pretty new thing for me that became a problem after I lost about 20 pounds and have maintained for a few months. I mean, I've always had tendencies to overeat (obviously how I reached my highest weight of 170!), but only recently has it happened every few days and really made me feel like I've lost control. But as you guys have said, let's take it one day at a time. Today is looking good and it's gonna be my 3rd binge free day in a row! I'll check back in before I go to bed to stay accountable. I love having this thread because I know I'll have to post here if I binge and I don't wanna have to do that!
Karen -- Good idea on the food plan, but not counting calories. I'm doing the same thing. Trying to follow the "eat when you're hungry, stop when you're full" rule, and generally trying to make whatever I eat healthy. And avoiding binges, of course!
I love this forum. I feel so supported.
As a side note, I have a white board on my desk I just wrote, "NUMBER OF BINGE-FREE DAYS: 1". For every day I go without binging I'm going to make the number higher. I'm going to see how many days I can go! Last time I made it two days, this time I'm going to try for at least 3!
A food plan is a great idea! It's totally about whatever works for you, as long as you have at least a tiny bit of structure to keep you going. You girls got this!
Skyra - Love the idea of a binge-free day board. Might have to do the same! I wanna see you get to 3!!
Well girls, I'm sad to report that I didn't have a great day. The snack monster took over and those mini twix bars were too tempting to resist. I'm not too far off my calorie target for the day, but it ruined my great binge free streak. I guess tomorrow will be Day 1 again. Any good news from you guys?
Sorry to hear that the snack monster attacked Taking charge! Twix are also one of my favorite candies..but man are they HORRIBLE in the saturated fat department. I'm afraid I'm gonna have a heart attack everytime I eat them :-( I myself have done well today. No binge! :-) I'm really going to try to go binge free for 2 weeks so that I can feel good in my halloween costume :-) Here's to day 1....
TakingCharge -- sorry to hear about your Twix binge. Some days are hard. At least you didn't go too far over your calorie limit! Tomorrow's another day.
Well, today was binge-free day #2 for me. I changed the number on my board. I ate a little more than I wanted to -- really hungry before bed so I caved and ate a Lean Pocket. I should have just gone to sleep and saved myself the 300 calories, but I thought that if I didn't eat, I'd be more likely to snap and have a binge late at night alone in the kitchen ... so I think I probably made the right choice, even if it would have been better for me to eat fruit or something instead.
Today I looked at my arms while I was lifting weights and I thought, "Wow! Is that MUSCLE I can see under the fat???" So that's good news for me! I think the exercising, at least, is starting to pay off a little.
Yes! This is exactly the same story as mine. And I recommitted yesterday. I have only had two binge/cheat/fudge free days! And I am happy to find others struggling one day at a time with me.
Thanks for the support girls! Tomorrow will definitely be a good day! I also went to boot camp today and it kicked my butt, so hopefully that burned off some of those damn mini twix bars!
D - What's your halloween costume? 2 weeks, you can do it!
Skyra - Good job with day 2! It seems like a good idea that you had a snack and didn't feel an urge to binge later in the night. Sounds like you made the right choice!
ajowens - Welcome! We have a nice group forming here. Despite my not so great day today, the past few have been really good thanks to this thread!
haha my halloween costume is sexy cop haha I should be getting it in the mail at the end of this week. Depending on how it fits will depict whether I wear it or not. I payed for $55 for it so I'm REALLY hoping it fits!! So I followed up my binge free day yesterday with an awesome workout this morning...45 minutes weights and 15 minutes of some quick cardio. And now I'm having a having a healthy breakfast of 2 sunny side up eggs on an Albert's sandwhich thin with a glass of milke to follow up my protein shake I had before my workout. The sun's shining once again today so I'm ready to make it another binge free day!!! :-)
[B] But I can already tell that i may have no other choice BUT to count calories because ever since I sort of stopped doing it and just thought I could wing it, I've binged :-(
B]
I hear you on this.
When I stop keeping track, I GO NUTS.
food plan
