Is my eating disordered?

Reinventi0n

Ok, so I have lost weight and I am now trying to learn a way to maintain. However, I am realizing more and more that the way I am eating would probably be considered disordered by most people. Let me try to explain...

I tend to eat lighter during the day and save the bulk of my calories for the evening so I can have a large dinner and treats.

Generally, this is how my calories breakdown:

Breakfast: 200 calories or less
Lunch: 400 calories or less
Dinner: 600-700 calories
Treat(s):600-700 calories

Total: 1750-1900 calories a day

I also have a 'cheat' meal one-two days a week where I eat anything I want and don't usually track it. On days where I know I am going to really be indulging, I tend to eat less than 300 calories during the day in total because the 'cheat' meals I am having tend to be much higher in calories.

I know I probably should be spreading my calories out more evenly throughout the day and I also realize that I am eating way too many empty calories, but this has been working for me so far. I have managed to lose weight and am now trying to maintain doing this. Honestly, I am a little scared to change this because it has been working.

However, I think it is creating an unhealthy relationship with food for me and health wise I know my diet isn't the greatest.

Would you consider my eating to be 'disordered'? Any advice for how I can start to 'clean up' the way I eat and learn a more balanced approach? Open to any and all suggestions.

Thanks so much!

AliceDark

The only thing that would make me think that your eating pattern is disordered is the fact that you're asking whether or not it is. Meal timing, in and of itself, doesn't make a difference. It's okay to spread out your calories however works for you. However...if you think it's an unhealthy pattern FOR YOU, it probably is.

ryanhorn

I'm not a professional, so please see one if you before you take my advice or anyone else from here.

But do you find that you're constantly thinking about food? Does your relationship with food affect the relationships you have with other people? Do you find yourself getting worried or anxious if you're going to go over your calories for the day or if you eat something "unclean"?

If so, I'd suggest reaching out for help. I've dealt with the exact same thing in the past, and reaching out for help helped me tremendously. The biggest realization for me since is that one bite of food will not make or break you. One bite of food won't cause you to gain a ton of weight. One bite of food won't cause you to get cancer or any other medical condition. I also highly recommend checking out the idea of "Intuitive Eating." That helped me out tremendously.

Best of luck!

RodaRose

As to the spreading out of the food during the day: people eat their calories at times that work for them so it does not matter when you eat most of the calories. I skip breakfast entirely and do not eat until a late lunch.
Based on this one post, I cannot see if your pattern is disordered or not.
Try not to think of what you "should" or "should not" be doing. Own it. Ideally, you are making decisions for yourself that make you happy.

CatHunterFit

I don't think there's anything unusual about this at all. A lot of people eat the bulk of their calories in their evening meal, and many save up their cals for a cheat meal. As long as you are eating enough, and not too much overall, then it all sounds fine.

scaryg53

I would start logging your cheat meals also. But if it works for you, it works for you.

ajnb88

As others have said, timing doesn't matter in the grand scheme of things (I. E. Creating a deficit or surplus), however timing (and content) of meals can help or hinder you depending on your lifestyle.

Personally, if I don't have a decent sized breakfast then I struggle with energy, as I work in a shop on my feet all day. However when I was in a n office (or even on days off now) I'd sometimes skip breakfast and eat the missed calories later on, depending on what else I had to do.

If your plan gives you the energy you need when you need it while overall eating what you need to, don't sweat over it.

jgnatca

I don't think you have a disorder, and you have it figured out. You are a light eater in the morning. You indulge in the evening. You lost weight this way. All good.

Maybe bring in the "cheat" days as real days and count it all for a while. It might help you to see everything you eat as real food.

sofaking6

I agree with Ryanhorn - if you're feeling obsessive or if your quality of life is slipping because of the time or effort you put into meals/meal planning/feeling good or bad about meals, then you may want to seek out some help.

That said, it sounds like you're doing IF = Intermittent Fasting, which a lot of people here on MFP do. They have various patterns ranging from only eating during certain hours of the day to alternating super low-cal and super high-cal days. I think a lot of people like having a system so they can plan it all out and make sure the calories are right in the long term, but if you're having success doing the same thing instinctually without having to follow a clock or a calendar, then more power to you.

Check around the food and nutrition forum especially, looks for anything with "IF" or "5:2" in the title and see what others are doing. There's also probably at least one group. I think seeing how others are eating in similar ways should help you out.

jkwolly

I always save most of my calories, over half, for dinner and evenings snacks.

Do what works for you.

corgicake

Sane eating will look a little weird when those around you are doing everything but. If your diet gets your needs met in a way that comes easy to you, keep doing it.

QuilterInVA

When you eat doesn't matter, but what your eat does if you want to get adequate nutrition to be healthy. Slowly cut back on the treats and add some good veggies, fruits, protein, dairy or fat in their place.

Need2Exerc1se

I would only consider eating disordered if it was unhealthy, either physically or psychologically.

Reinventi0n

I really don't think my quality of life is slipping, but I do think I am a little bit too obsessed about food. I tend to spend a good amount of time thinking about when I will eat next, what I will eat, how many calories I will have left, ect. However, I am a little obsessive about anything I am focused so that could be the reason why (and because I do enjoy eating haha!)

I definitely think I could cut down on the amount of calories that come from 'treats' but right now the timing of my meals is working for me. A lot of people see me eating lightly during the day (as well as my weight loss) and have gone so far as to accuse me of having an eating disorder. They just don't get my method of dividing up my calories so I am glad to get some unbiased opinions on here.

Thanks for the insights everyone!

NikiChicken

AliceDark wrote: »

The only thing that would make me think that your eating pattern is disordered is the fact that you're asking whether or not it is. Meal timing, in and of itself, doesn't make a difference. It's okay to spread out your calories however works for you. However...if you think it's an unhealthy pattern FOR YOU, it probably is.

This, exactly. Meal timing really makes no difference and in all honesty, I time the calories of my meals very much like yours: 200-300 for breakfast; 250-550 for lunch and the rest for dinner (I don't have the after dinner treats though). This works for me and allows me to eat a bigger dinner with my family, which I enjoy. If it works for you and isn't causing problems either mentally or physically, then I don't see it being disordered eating.

nickatine

It really does not matter what time you eat. Everybody is different, personally I feel my best when I eat a large breakfast, snack through out the day and have a moderate dinner. Whereas my dad can go all day without eating and consume all his calories at night.

ajnb88

Reinventi0n wrote: »

A lot of people see me eating lightly during the day (as well as my weight loss) and have gone so far as to accuse me of having an eating disorder. They just don't get my method of dividing up my calories so I am glad to get some unbiased opinions on here.

Thanks for the insights everyone!

I get this all the time, and be perfectly frank, it pisses me the hell off. They like to ignore the fact that I'm eating 2-4 meals over my shift, and focus instead on the fact that I'm not stuffing my face with McDonalds like they do.

Reinventi0n

ajnb88 wrote: »

Reinventi0n wrote: »

A lot of people see me eating lightly during the day (as well as my weight loss) and have gone so far as to accuse me of having an eating disorder. They just don't get my method of dividing up my calories so I am glad to get some unbiased opinions on here.

Thanks for the insights everyone!

I get this all the time, and be perfectly frank, it pisses me the hell off. They like to ignore the fact that I'm eating 2-4 meals over my shift, and focus instead on the fact that I'm not stuffing my face with McDonalds like they do.

Exactly! It can be really frustrating after awhile. Ive even showed my MFP log to some of them just to prove to them that I do eat and sometimes that will quell their questioning but not always.

cwilson72180

I don’t really see a problem with your eating pattern. I think it is fine the way it is. Just my opinion.

sofaking6

Google up some "Intermittent Fasting" gurus and name-drop whenever you get flak. People are suckers for online 'authorities'

dbmata

if one has to ask if their approach to food is disordered, they already know there is an issue and should seek a pro consultant.

Foamroller

Maybe you're giving food a bit too much thought. Whatever works for you

I don't start eat until between 2-7 pm. 200-300 kcal meals is like an appetizer...meh...hard to stop. I like to feel full and satisfied. So I basically have 1-2 meals a day. It works very well even with a high volume of exercise.

There are several IF groups here. The 5:2 has a maintenance plan of 1:6 as well.
http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/group/100058-5-2-fasting

Or the UK site thefastdiet.co.uk

There's also leangains.com with a daily IF protocol.

UnicornAmanda

It doesnt sound disordered to me, but usually, if someone is asking if their eating habits are disordered, it usually is! Meal times do not matter! It sounds like you are doing just fine but if you have doubts, you should seek some advice from a nutritionist or dietician!

Ready2Rock206

Seems fine to me, but if you think it is a problem then check with a registered dietitian. And I'm completely jealous you've found 600 calories to spend on snacks. That's my kind of diet!

auddii

AliceDark wrote: »

The only thing that would make me think that your eating pattern is disordered is the fact that you're asking whether or not it is. Meal timing, in and of itself, doesn't make a difference. It's okay to spread out your calories however works for you. However...if you think it's an unhealthy pattern FOR YOU, it probably is.

This. If it is causing anxiety issues or you feel like the counting and accounting take too much time and are driving you crazy, then you may need to reconsider. If you aren't hungry earlier in the day, don't eat then.

Alluminati

Say hi to honeylissabee for me. I miss her rambling posts filled with minutiae of food, cheat meals, times of eating, various excuses, etcetera. Oh, wait.

rasecs

Hey, you aren't going backwards. How you manage your weight is secondary to the fact that you ARE managing your weight. Good for you! Don't sweat the details. Enjoy the journey.

Nony_Mouse

dbmata wrote: »

if one has to ask if their approach to food is disordered, they already know there is an issue and should seek a pro consultant.

Except for the fact most people with an eating disorder are in flat out denial.

Personally, I think the fact you've stopped to evaluate whether your eating pattern is a problem for you is a healthy sign.