Calories totally different from day to day!

VeniceQueen89

I've so far gone from 231lbs to 149lbs with mfp over the last two years (my goal is around 135, for reference I'm female and just shy of 5'8) Admittedly I didn't do it too healthily, I've gone by the CICO method because I'm just not satisfied eating small amounts of good stuff through the day.. I would rather starve all day and then eat something I really enjoy (my daily avg was always 1000-1200, I'm set at 1200) This has worked for me until now but recently my appetite has gone through the floor due to personal issues and I'm having to force myself to eat. Sometimes I don't eat at all and my average a lot of the time comes out around 400 which I know is bad and I'm consciously trying to up it. I do like a drink at the weekend and this kick starts my appetite without fail.. my question is, is EXTREME zigzagging really bad? I mean keeping my weekly average of 1200 while basically fasting for at least three days a week. I can easily clear 4000 cals with alcohol and food while socialising so I'm just curious to know if I really can 'save' this many calories and use them all in one go. I am consistently losing at a slower pace but I don't want to harm my body, I just find this is the only way I can feel satisfied at the moment and meet my weekly goal which I know is already pretty low. Serious answers please, I know it's not ideal but reading up on the weekly vs daily debate, I haven't found anyone that varies as much as I do and I want to know if short term it's ok. Thanks

DeguelloTex

I'm going to say that eating 400 calories a day and bumping your average up with alcohol is probably a poor plan.

VeniceQueen89

I'm not bumping it up with alcohol, I drink probably twice a week and this is the only time I seem to have an appetite. The bumping up is mostly from actual food!

mitch16

Seems a bit disordered. Have you considered seeking out a therapist to talk about what's going on in your life?

VeniceQueen89

I'm seriously considering seeing my GP about it, but I already suffer with anxiety and am treated for it. The current problems are family related, I can't do anything about them and it just seems to have really messed with my head. I'm usually really into my food so it's a shock that it just doesn't interest me anymore.

VeniceQueen89

KrissSaysHi wrote: »

socializing may seem like a good distraction from any family issues, but i think the days leading up to it, like not eating for 3 days and then going insane with food and alcohol in one night may be really mentally draining in the end leading you to eventually just feeling worse about yourself and the issues in your life and i think you deserve better then that.

You're totally right. I just can't seem to get the balance. I'm all over the place. I guess I've kind of made excuses that I can just go crazy over the weekend because I have so many calories left over from not eating in the week. Calorie zigzagging to this extreme is probably no good for my mental health but my judgement is a bit clouded at the moment! Thanks for the answers guys I think it's something I should really address if it's gonna continue (I was hoping it would pass but it's been over a month)

VeniceQueen89

shell1005 wrote: »

VeniceQueen89 wrote: »

I'm seriously considering seeing my GP about it, but I already suffer with anxiety and am treated for it. The current problems are family related, I can't do anything about them and it just seems to have really messed with my head. I'm usually really into my food so it's a shock that it just doesn't interest me anymore.

It's not a shock to me. It's a classic sign of depression. It's great that you are already in treatment, but given your new symptoms it looks like you may need something else. And just because you can't do something about the external problems, doesn't mean you can't do something about the internal response.

Continuing to starve yourself and compensating with drinking and over eating isn't the long term solution. This isn't just about losing weight either, it is about your overall health. Additionally, I do wonder if the anxiety meds you are on have any issues with being mixed with alcohol.

I hope you do see your GP. I feel for you and your situation.

Thank you, luckily my GP is really helpful and understanding but I can't help but be quite embarrassed by it. My normal antidepressants don't seem to have a reaction with alcohol and I've been on them for years... The anxiety medication (diazepam) I only take when absolutely necessary and I stay well clear of alcohol when i do xx

skiersey618

I know counseling can get a bad rap sometimes, but as someone with family issues, meeting with a counselor/therapist once a week really helped me work through my involvement in those issues and my interpersonal skills in dealing with my family members constructively. So, maybe if you see your GP, ask about a referral to a counselor, too. I don't know your age, but if you're in school, most schools have on-campus counselors, too (that's where I went, plus it's free).

Hugs!

J_Squared_77

As someone who has both anxiety and depression, and is on daily medication for them, my experience is that eating very little (or nothing) increases anxiety and depression. I don't know if this is because the meds don't absorb right or because the lack of nutrition exacerbates the issues, but for what it's worth, I would say force yourself to eat nutritiously and at least 1,000 calories for 2-3 days in a row and see if you don't start to feel a little better.
Also, for talking to your GP, if you are anything like me it was super challenging to tell them you had anxiety issues the first time, right? And it turned out ok. This will be the same. There's nothing strange or weird about having dietary issues when you have anxiety and depression. It's actually quite common. There's nothing to be embarrassed about and definitely your GP has heard stranger things.

VeniceQueen89

Thanks guys, I've tried counselling before and it helped slightly but it's really difficult to get that sort of treatment where I live.by the time you get to the top of the waiting list circumstances have changed! Thing is, stuff was going well for a while and I felt a lot better. Then a couple of things happened and it's just pulled me back down again. I've suffered with a&d for ten years (I'm 26 - it seems to be a family thing) but in the past my attitude towards food went the other way hence me reaching over 16 stone! Preparing food and things are really not interesting to me, I'd rather not bother, so when I do eat during the week it's usually something like pre packaged sandwiches. Are things like that ok as long as I'm eating something?? Again not ideal I know xx

slaite1

VeniceQueen89 wrote: »

Thanks guys, I've tried counselling before and it helped slightly but it's really difficult to get that sort of treatment where I live.by the time you get to the top of the waiting list circumstances have changed! Thing is, stuff was going well for a while and I felt a lot better. Then a couple of things happened and it's just pulled me back down again. I've suffered with a&d for ten years (I'm 26 - it seems to be a family thing) but in the past my attitude towards food went the other way hence me reaching over 16 stone! Preparing food and things are really not interesting to me, I'd rather not bother, so when I do eat during the week it's usually something like pre packaged sandwiches. Are things like that ok as long as I'm eating something?? Again not ideal I know xx

As long as you're eating something it's fine. You mentioned you have been on your antidepressants for years, perhaps they are not as effective as they once were and now that you're facing a tough time it's becoming apparent. Also, every depressive episode can be different. Just because you overrate in the past does not mean you will be the same way every time.

Try to eat. Try to get some nutritious food and try to get in some exercise. Absolutely stop the alcohol. Alcohol is a depressant. You are depressed. Just stop.

eDonatti

I agree with all above - it's not good and it may get worse if you don't do something about it.

My advice - speak to your GP, try to eliminate alcohol, and perhaps start munching some healthy snacks, like nuts, dried fruits, pumpkin seeds, etc. even a small portion is nutritious.

Good luck!

VeniceQueen89

Are there any healthy savoury snacks you could suggest? I don't particularly like sweet things. I do eat fruit like apples sometimes I've made myself eat two today, dried fruit is apparently quite high in sugar too so I tend to eat fresh stuff if at all. I'm also a bit clueless about nuts...I'm guessing salted cashews probably aren't the best option?! I really do need to try and eat, it's just the urge for food isn't enough to make the effort to prepare and eat it. I think I'll stock up on things that I can just snack on rather than having to cook. Also a shame - I used to love cooking. Very good point on the alcohol, it's always been very hard for me to completely cut it out as I'm not very confident socially at times but I think it's probably more detrimental than advantageous, even if it does give me an appetite! Thank you all for your comments I'm determined to start looking after myself Xx

kshama2001

shell1005 wrote: »

VeniceQueen89 wrote: »

I'm seriously considering seeing my GP about it, but I already suffer with anxiety and am treated for it. The current problems are family related, I can't do anything about them and it just seems to have really messed with my head. I'm usually really into my food so it's a shock that it just doesn't interest me anymore.

It's not a shock to me. It's a classic sign of depression. It's great that you are already in treatment, but given your new symptoms it looks like you may need something else. And just because you can't do something about the external problems, doesn't mean you can't do something about the internal response.

Continuing to starve yourself and compensating with drinking and over eating isn't the long term solution. This isn't just about losing weight either, it is about your overall health. Additionally, I do wonder if the anxiety meds you are on have any issues with being mixed with alcohol.

I hope you do see your GP. I feel for you and your situation.

Cosigned, especially the bolded.

ndj1979

this sounds like a recipe for yo yo dieting and setting yourself up for an unhealthy relationship with food...

VeniceQueen89

ndj1979 wrote: »

this sounds like a recipe for yo yo dieting and setting yourself up for an unhealthy relationship with food...

This also worries me as I think I have always had some sort of issue with food. I can't let it get any more out of hand and might see if I can see the same person I saw before as talking therapies can be really helpful - I guess I just feel a bit silly but need to address the problem. I'm not getting very far on my own :-s

Timshel_

VeniceQueen89 wrote: »

my question is, is EXTREME zigzagging really bad? I mean keeping my weekly average of 1200 while basically fasting for at least three days a week. I can easily clear 4000 cals with alcohol and food while socialising so I'm just curious to know if I really can 'save' this many calories and use them all in one go.

For me I usually look at the weekly caloric deficit goal and average that over week. I know I need to be stingy during the weekdays because, like you, I can rack up some drink calories on the weekend. It works out for me as long as I track it all and I hit that weekly deficit number.