Binge

kshama2001

How about you eat at maintenance for the next week? This can include eating out, unless that's a big trigger for you. When I eat out, I split my entree in two and bring half home for later, which gives me a better serving size for my needs.

Is the psychiatrist someone who will work out an eating plan with you? Seems like all they do is prescribe pills these days. Maybe there is a referral to a dietician in your future as well.

mccindy72

sarsather wrote: »

Thank you so much everyone. My appointment is over and I a home now. She drew alot of labs and is concerned that my kidneys may be overly stressed from the majorly high protein intake from always going insane on quest bars and such. She said that inpatient therapy isn't the best bet for me and that she may start me on Prozac. I was referred now to a psychiatrist who specializes in eating disorders and I I see her next Wedndsday. Until then, I have some questions and hope for some sdvice.

I have a week to wait to see her, so how should I approach my eating? Today so far I am still awaiting my body to clear out my quest bar binge and just feel bloated. I started the day with oatmeal with frozen berries in it.
My boyfriend wants to take me to noodles and company from dinner tonight. This week should I just eat with much less restrictions, or should I try very hard to eat heslthy and normal without eating out?

How should I prevent binge episodes for the next 7 days?

Go to dinner with your boyfriend. I'd bet that your bingeing episodes happen when you are alone. Focus on eating in a normal fashion.
As far as bingeing episodes, when you feel one coming on, try to find something else to do. Especially something involving other people.

Raynne413

Unfortunately I have a lot of experience with binging, and people that haven't ever had the issue don't understand how HARD it is to stop or redirect when the urge starts. It's not just a matter of self control.

I started out losing weight by only counting calories when I was 300 lbs, and I was eating 1500 calories a day. Then I moved to only counting calories and eating 1200 calories a day. Then I plateaued and added exercise. Eventually I moved to eating around 1000 calories and working out for around 3 hours a day when I could manage it. I thought, well, if a little exercise is good, more must be better. And if 1200 calories was good, less must be better. On top of that, I was eating very little fat. I was good for about a year, and ended up losing down to around 110. Then, out of nowhere, uncontrollable binges would start. I would go crazy with anything that contained carbs and fat. And then after my binges, I would go crazy again with over restricting and over exercising to "make up" for those binges. I got desperate because I was gaining weight back, and I just couldn't get out of the cycle, so I decided to get help (with the strong urging of several friends).

I ended up seeing a nutritionist that specialized in eating disorders. She taught me several things that were a BIG help. The first thing was that I was sleep deprived because I was getting up at 4 am to work out, but going to bed around midnight (I had just started dating my boyfriend). Being sleep deprived can make you crave carbs. The second was that my body was going crazy craving carbs and fat because I was expending energy like crazy, but never replenishing. I needed to start eating more, and working out less.

It's still hard to find a balance, but as long as I listened to her AND listen to my body, I have very little issues now. The below is what I try to keep in mind, and what I suggest for anyone else having problems:

1) Make sure you get enough sleep
2) Make sure you are eating enough (especially enough fat)
3) Don't over exercise, and make sure you eat enough for you level of activity
4) DON'T try to "make up" for binges.

Nony_Mouse

One thing my therapist had me do when I was recovering from bulimia was keep a journal. When you feel the desire to binge, write it down, and try to examine why you want to eat. What is it that's making you want to stuff your feelings down with food? This is really hard work, but once you start to identify the underlying reasons for your disorder you can begin to work on those things with your therapist and find healthy coping strategies.

As for food, I would not try to restrict in any way - ie try to eat a normal amount and don't put anything off limits. Saying 'I'm not going to eat xyz' is setting yourself up for disaster. One of the most important lessons I learned in ED recovery was that there is no such thing as bad food (ie everything in moderation). If you know you have particular trigger foods you may want to stay away from those for now though.

rerez2015

We can't tell you how much weight you will gain. It would be pure speculation.

alittlelife14

I started off this entire problem at 124. With keto I lost to 110. When carbs came back I was like 117. Today at apppintment since I am bound up from the quest bars and just full of blah, I was 120. This saddens me and just shows I made like no progress even despite all I did and went through and motivates me to get on a heslthy and slow and normal weight loss and maintenence track.

I plan to go to store to buy all new food and heslthy grocery.

What types of things do you guys suggest?

I am going to go to noodles tonight. Boyfriend offered cold stone after and I denied.

mccindy72

sarsather wrote: »

I started off this entire problem at 124. With keto I lost to 110. When carbs came back I was like 117. Today at apppintment since I am bound up from the quest bars and just full of blah, I was 120. This saddens me and just shows I made like no progress even despite all I did and went through and motivates me to get on a heslthy and slow and normal weight loss and maintenence track.

I plan to go to store to buy all new food and heslthy grocery.

What types of things do you guys suggest?

I am going to go to noodles tonight. Boyfriend offered cold stone after and I denied.

Don't get caught up in trying to buy all 'healthy' foods and the like. You'll end up feeling deprived and craving foods you like.
Buy things you like, but if you can, buy single-size portions, or when you cook your meals, only cook enough for one portion.

starwhisperer6

Hoe tall are you? In your pic you look a very healthy weight, I obviously know nothing about you, I'm just wondering if you are trying to lose weight you shouldn't be trying to lose. Well done going to the doctor!

arditarose

Hi OP, hope you're feeling better today. Glad you got help.

As far as eating this week goes...why don't you just eat things you like? Throw in some veggies, meat, a bit of dessert. Any food is healthy within the context of a balanced diet. Enjoy your food this week!

brianpperkins

starwhisperer6 wrote: »

Hoe tall are you? In your pic you look a very healthy weight, I obviously know nothing about you, I'm just wondering if you are trying to lose weight you shouldn't be trying to lose. Well done going to the doctor!

Based on her previous threads she is at a healthy weight and has been throughout her posting.

alittlelife14

Thanks for all the input anyone. I like to keep adding updates on here during this time so I can feel accountable for my actions during these next few days.

So today I ate oatmeal with frozen berries in it, then a fee hours later had a veggie burger with quinoa and tomsto, then later on went to noodles and company and got Indonesian peanut Sautee size regular because we had a coupon. I immediately split it u in half and boxed it up because noodles has small and regular bowls so regular is bigger. This cut it from 800 calories to 400. After eating half I was full for a long time. Now since I am an evening shifter at work, I have troubles falling asleep esrly. I came home and did 45 minutes of csrdio. Came back and read for a long while and was very very painfully hungry now at 4am before bed. I plan to sleep in late tomorrow so I will probably only eat a lunch and dinner so yeah... I tried so hard not to but I opened up freezer and ate other half of noodles. Very upset with myself. When I add in the other half though to my previous day diary, it puts me at 1150 calories otherwise I was going to be at about upper 700. Was this okay? Eating at this time and eating thay just makes me upset and seems like I failed when I worked so so so hard today to be normal. I just know I couldn't fall asleep with the hunger pangs I had since after working out too I hadn't eaten since 7pm making it 8 hours.

mccindy72

sarsather wrote: »

Thanks for all the input anyone. I like to keep adding updates on here during this time so I can feel accountable for my actions during these next few days.

So today I ate oatmeal with frozen berries in it, then a fee hours later had a veggie burger with quinoa and tomsto, then later on went to noodles and company and got Indonesian peanut Sautee size regular because we had a coupon. I immediately split it u in half and boxed it up because noodles has small and regular bowls so regular is bigger. This cut it from 800 calories to 400. After eating half I was full for a long time. Now since I am an evening shifter at work, I have troubles falling asleep esrly. I came home and did 45 minutes of csrdio. Came back and read for a long while and was very very painfully hungry now at 4am before bed. I plan to sleep in late tomorrow so I will probably only eat a lunch and dinner so yeah... I tried so hard not to but I opened up freezer and ate other half of noodles. Very upset with myself. When I add in the other half though to my previous day diary, it puts me at 1150 calories otherwise I was going to be at about upper 700. Was this okay? Eating at this time and eating thay just makes me upset and seems like I failed when I worked so so so hard today to be normal. I just know I couldn't fall asleep with the hunger pangs I had since after working out too I hadn't eaten since 7pm making it 8 hours.

While you are worried about bingeing, be careful that you don't undereat. Letting yourself eat the other half of the noodles when you were actually feeling hungry was good. You weren't just craving and bingeing, you were eating a regular serving because you were hungry.
You would have been way too low on your calories if you hadn't eaten those noodles. You were still a little low, but did well.

kshama2001

sarsather wrote: »

Thanks for all the input anyone. I like to keep adding updates on here during this time so I can feel accountable for my actions during these next few days.

So today I ate oatmeal with frozen berries in it, then a fee hours later had a veggie burger with quinoa and tomsto, then later on went to noodles and company and got Indonesian peanut Sautee size regular because we had a coupon. I immediately split it u in half and boxed it up because noodles has small and regular bowls so regular is bigger. This cut it from 800 calories to 400. After eating half I was full for a long time. Now since I am an evening shifter at work, I have troubles falling asleep esrly. I came home and did 45 minutes of csrdio. Came back and read for a long while and was very very painfully hungry now at 4am before bed. I plan to sleep in late tomorrow so I will probably only eat a lunch and dinner so yeah... I tried so hard not to but I opened up freezer and ate other half of noodles. Very upset with myself. When I add in the other half though to my previous day diary, it puts me at 1150 calories otherwise I was going to be at about upper 700. Was this okay? Eating at this time and eating thay just makes me upset and seems like I failed when I worked so so so hard today to be normal. I just know I couldn't fall asleep with the hunger pangs I had since after working out too I hadn't eaten since 7pm making it 8 hours.

But only eating 700 calories, and working out on top of it, is what's not normal. It was good that you ate. It will be better if you plan to fuel yourself adequately and don't wait until the hunger is painful to eat.

alittlelife14

Thanks for all of the input and encouraging words.

Today went by fairly okay. So I went to Walmart and bought all new food for kitchen. Avoided trigger foods like ice cream or cereals or chips etc. Bought alot of produce and good stuff. Had oatmeal for breakfast which I am unsure if it keeps me full very long. Made a lavash wrap with Deli oven roasted turkey and tuna and veggies with a big bowl of broccoli. Then had a bowl of greek yogurt nonfat plain 1 cup mixed with 1 cup of quaker granola. Did not realize granola was 400 cslories. High fiber but not worth the calories to me.... plus the sweetness made me wanna binge the whole box so I quickly threw rest away to save myself from a potential binge.

Then I stayed up late because I am an evening shifter so I normally work 3 to 1130 and come home and hop on elliptical and then shower so I stay up late and then sleep in since I won't work again til 3pm. So my meals are a little confusing in terms of timing. I tried to exercize and have that be it at 900 cslories, but my body at 4am here as I was failing asleep woke me up and I needed something. Had a greek yogurt and 2 bananas which I am not proud of. Back to bed now. My calories at 1230 for the day then but I was on elliptical for 30 minutes straight going fast.

Before this and my recovery here, I used to eat 800 or so calories a day and be fine. Of course I would binge hard sometime during the week I am sure to compensate but it feels weird being at 1200 and even a little above. Feels like I am going to gain weight and it scares me.

Sued0nim

arditarose wrote: »

Hi OP, hope you're feeling better today. Glad you got help.

As far as eating this week goes...why don't you just eat things you like? Throw in some veggies, meat, a bit of dessert. Any food is healthy within the context of a balanced diet. Enjoy your food this week!

I agree with this

a download week when you aren't thinking about food is beneficial to everyone, particularly when your mind has you tied up in knots

kshama2001

sarsather wrote: »

Thanks for all of the input and encouraging words.

Today went by fairly okay. So I went to Walmart and bought all new food for kitchen. Avoided trigger foods like ice cream or cereals or chips etc. Bought alot of produce and good stuff. Had oatmeal for breakfast which I am unsure if it keeps me full very long. Made a lavash wrap with Deli oven roasted turkey and tuna and veggies with a big bowl of broccoli. Then had a bowl of greek yogurt nonfat plain 1 cup mixed with 1 cup of quaker granola. Did not realize granola was 400 cslories. High fiber but not worth the calories to me.... plus the sweetness made me wanna binge the whole box so I quickly threw rest away to save myself from a potential binge.

Then I stayed up late because I am an evening shifter so I normally work 3 to 1130 and come home and hop on elliptical and then shower so I stay up late and then sleep in since I won't work again til 3pm. So my meals are a little confusing in terms of timing. I tried to exercize and have that be it at 900 cslories, but my body at 4am here as I was failing asleep woke me up and I needed something. Had a greek yogurt and 2 bananas which I am not proud of. Back to bed now. My calories at 1230 for the day then but I was on elliptical for 30 minutes straight going fast.

Before this and my recovery here, I used to eat 800 or so calories a day and be fine. Of course I would binge hard sometime during the week I am sure to compensate but it feels weird being at 1200 and even a little above. Feels like I am going to gain weight and it scares me.

Sounds like you'd benefit by having ED group therapy. You sound like you need reality checks frequently. Maybe discuss this with the psychiatrist next week.

This week, don't wait until 4 AM to get in your 1200 calories. Your body won't let you sleep due to hunger because you are not fueling it adequately.

Raynne413

sarsather wrote: »

Thanks for all of the input and encouraging words.

Today went by fairly okay. So I went to Walmart and bought all new food for kitchen. Avoided trigger foods like ice cream or cereals or chips etc. Bought alot of produce and good stuff. Had oatmeal for breakfast which I am unsure if it keeps me full very long. Made a lavash wrap with Deli oven roasted turkey and tuna and veggies with a big bowl of broccoli. Then had a bowl of greek yogurt nonfat plain 1 cup mixed with 1 cup of quaker granola. Did not realize granola was 400 cslories. High fiber but not worth the calories to me.... plus the sweetness made me wanna binge the whole box so I quickly threw rest away to save myself from a potential binge.

Then I stayed up late because I am an evening shifter so I normally work 3 to 1130 and come home and hop on elliptical and then shower so I stay up late and then sleep in since I won't work again til 3pm. So my meals are a little confusing in terms of timing. I tried to exercize and have that be it at 900 cslories, but my body at 4am here as I was failing asleep woke me up and I needed something. Had a greek yogurt and 2 bananas which I am not proud of. Back to bed now. My calories at 1230 for the day then but I was on elliptical for 30 minutes straight going fast.

Before this and my recovery here, I used to eat 800 or so calories a day and be fine. Of course I would binge hard sometime during the week I am sure to compensate but it feels weird being at 1200 and even a little above. Feels like I am going to gain weight and it scares me.

Seriously, 800 calories is not enough for your body to exist off of. I have been in your shoes, and it wasn't pretty. Please see my previous post and read it all the way through.

mccindy72

You are not eating enough if you are going to exercise as well. 1200 calories per day isn't enough for exercising along with your daily life. You certainly aren't going to gain weight, and a yogurt and a couple of bananas to bring you 1200 calories is not a binge.
The suggestion someone gave to find a BED group is a good one.

alittlelife14

This week I have came close and basically been at 1200 cslories which has been mentally hard but physically better for me I believe. I have stayed off the scale because I am scared to know what it Wil read. Since I was eating around 700 calories per day aside from my Binged I was still losing a decent amount. I just feel bugger and probably do weigh a fee more lbs since I have finally started to eat more and such
Feels weird.

I ate well this week. Today was kind of iffy. Woke up and had a greek yogurt and then later had 1 full egg, 3 egg white and mushroom and veggies mixed in. Then to celebrate the week boyfriend took me out to eat and I got a salmon blt on ciabatta and they had garlic fries and a small dinner salad with it. I came home much later and had a small serving of oatmeal too.

I am starting to think I should stop eating oatmeal due to the high carb levels and it's sweetness with the fruit I add makes me want to eat more sweet foods. Feeling kind of vulnerable and scared and don't want to really cut more foods out but I ju st feel the less sugar the better because m self control is lacking.

I almost think I have diabetes.. the last 3 nights at 4am I have woken up and needed, I mean meeded, to eat something and my body wanted sweet so I had oatmeal with fruit.

Also the one other th I no is that now that I have increased my overall intakes my lower portion of my stomach feels and looks a little bloated in am odd way. Can this be a result of eating at a normal amount and stopping the deficit?

jjhall1990

Well done - I think you are doing great, I know how hard it can be and the cravings that just wont go away. I am in the same boat where I do very well for a period of time and then I just have a mad meal that turns into a day or 2 and then im back to the beginning where I think why the hell did I do that..but then I always do it again.

For me the most important thing is that you always get back on the horse which it sounds like you are doing, when you are eating healthy it is so hard to carry on..I always think what is the point in losing weight I just want to eat yummy food. But after a bad meal or a binge I always (most of the time) think that was stupid and just get back to it tomorrow. So carry on this path it does get easier - I tend to find that when you are 2-3 weeks into your eating pattern that cravings become a lot less frequent as your body has adjusted.

I also struggle with eating below what MFP tells me too, the best I can say on this is to not feel bad for eating the calories it tells you too. If I am under the calories and I have a craving I will eat it and you shouldnt feel bad about it onee bit. 2000 calories is what women should be eating a day to maintain weight generally, so unless you are eating hugely in excess of this each day you are not going to drasticly gain weight.

So dont focus too much on the weight you think you will be putting on by eating carbs or little sweet treat you are doing great and just carry on !!

Good luck