so today, i ate a LOT (about 2800 calories) - primary chocolate and cake

I am usually pretty comfortable at my calorie level (1200 calories) and don't have issues controlling myself. In fact, in the past year and a half, I've never unwillingly gone off plan.

But the last week, every day has been a struggle to stay under! I'm either eating or thinking about food every waking minute! I've been feeling like a prisoner struggling against my restraints and have really contemplated pausing and switching to maintenance for a while.

Today started out the same way and by around 6, I said screw it and let myself eat whatever because I really needed to focus and get a paper done...and I just realized, my mind felt soooo free. I was not thinking about food a lot because I just gave into my impulse immediately - so I was able to focus on other things.

Anyway, not sure what my point is - I just wanted to get it out there since this is a new experience for me.
Hopefully, I'm just PMSing, but if I feel the same way the next couple days, I am going to increase my calories for a bit...

Have you guys felt this way ever? What did you do?

Sparklegirl - what you're feeling is a result of you developing a reasonable relationship with food. When you fight, fight, fight an urge to eat something that you really want then you relinquish the power to the food. By allowing yourself to eat what you really wanted to eat, you took back that power.

Notice that I said that you allowed yourself to eat it. What I didn't say was that you "failed to exercise willpower," that you "blew it" or any of the other negative thoughts and phrases we hear/think when we eat something that is not "on plan." This is how we begin to label foods and/or actions as "good" or "bad" and hence the guilt that inevitably ensues when we eat a "bad" food or engage in a "bad" behavior.

Also, you said that once you ate it, you could then concentrate and move on to something else. I don't think people realize how important this is. I mean, look at your weight loss - it's fantastic! One day of extra calories just isn't going to derail you.

The guilt that so many people feel when they've done something like this is what makes them go completely nuts with food - not the food itself. I wish more people understood that, but it's taken me a long time to understand it myself, so I shouldn't really be surprised.

It sounds as if you instinctively understand that you really needed to eat that food yesterday, and now that you have, you can continue on.

Congratulations on your successful weight loss, and good luck as you continue on your journey of self-discovery!

PS - There's another thread here with a similar theme - some people went "off plan" and were surprised they didn't feel more guilty. You might want to read that. it's encouraging to see people understanding that no one is perfect and that we're all going to do that from time to time. It's how we react to it that is critical.

Southernmaven, you really put things in perspective! I did let myself eat that food and while I thought briefly that I should work it off tomorrow I didn't feel guilty about it.

I was just surprised at this new need for more calories and a bit worried that I didn't want it to repeat...


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Hey SparkleGirl--the danger is that you can undo in one 2800 calorie day what it took 8 days to accomplish.

Next time you're feeling binge-y, look at low-cal foods like carrots, celery, pickles, chewing gum, tea, diet soda, Crystal Lite, Walden Farms, sugar-free Jell-O, etc.

sparklegirl07, I have a confession.

I had spray cheese (you know, the cheese in the can) last night. I normally don't eat the stuff, but it has been staring me down for the last two days. Darn spray cheese! So, I put a little on my finger, ate it, and was done with it.

Sometimes you just have to eat the foods that haunt you the most so you can move on.

That's not a "binge" - that's a "refeed" or an "indulgence!" Seriously if you stopped when you were done and don't have tons of shame and guilt and "out of control" feelings, no harm has been done.

We're simply not designed to be hungry and on a steep deficit all the time. Also I hate nitpicking at what works for other people but why do you feel you need to eat 1200? I'm 5'5 and maintain at just under 125 eating at least 2,000 a day (I do lift weights and exercise 5-6 days a week). Upping your calories to 1400 might take the edge off the food thoughts and offer respite from hunger.

krampus, that is true - I think I really just needed the extra cals that day, esp. with TOM around the corner - just wish I had realized beforehand and had healthier things.

about the 1200 - I started at 1200, figuring I could go up if it was too little. Then, I just settled there because I didn't have any difficulty sticking to it. It's only been the past week or so that my brain has been going crazy, so I have been taking it up to 1400-1500 these days.