To gorge or not to gorge... that is the question!!

papadelta2124

I've been really good with food lately and only eaten around or less than 1800 calories a day, but sometimes I just feel like eating crap and pigging out...

sijomial

Maybe if you didn't have the idea that low calories is "good" and certain foods are "crap" then you may find the urge to gorge fades?

Alluminati

Incorporating treats into your calorie goal might help with that urge or at least reduce it. Please don't eat fecal matter.

_Terrapin_

I'm not quite sure road apples have the nutritional value you seek. In terms of labeling foods a good/bad/evil it may help to focus on incorporating a snack either daily or with frequency.

Francl27

When I feel like just gorging myself, I think of what I actually want to eat. Most of the time I can't even think of anything I'd really want to eat that I couldn't make for half the calories so I pretty much always end up telling myself that there's just no point, lol. But if there's a seasonal dish or something that I really want, I just make room for it, and if I'm a bit over, well, that's why I keep a deficit when I can. But usually I'll go have that big meal at lunch time and I'm not very hungry for dinner and end up under maintenance anyway... Saving calories for dinner just never happens for me.

In the end, the real pigs out only happen on Holidays, special occasions, and during PMS (but for the latter, it mostly involves bread and it's just not satisfying AT ALL).

Pawsforme

Dieting and then gorging is never a good idea. It can start you down the path to an eating disorder. Not to mention that gorging can make you very uncomfortable in the short term.

Instead I'd suggest allowing yourself the flexibility to have more calories now and then. Many people plan a weekly cheat meal or cheat day. I don't know that thinking of "cheats" is a mentally healthy approach, either. But allowing yourself some flexibility? Yeah, that's a good thing IMO.

lavrn03

Francl27 wrote: »

When I feel like just gorging myself, I think of what I actually want to eat. Most of the time I can't even think of anything I'd really want to eat that I couldn't make for half the calories so I pretty much always end up telling myself that there's just no point, lol. But if there's a seasonal dish or something that I really want, I just make room for it, and if I'm a bit over, well, that's why I keep a deficit when I can. But usually I'll go have that big meal at lunch time and I'm not very hungry for dinner and end up under maintenance anyway... Saving calories for dinner just never happens for me.

In the end, the real pigs out only happen on Holidays, special occasions, and during PMS (but for the latter, it mostly involves bread and it's just not satisfying AT ALL).

I agree!! If I want to treat myself to a delicious "fun" meal, I try to eat it at lunch. I'm usually full for awhile that I eat a healthy snack for dinner.
Other point I have is lately I've had a few special occasions and trips that I've allowed myself to indulge more. I find that it makes me feel so bloated and gross. I'm starting to not enjoy them.
I miss my daily salads I make and healthy snacks. I always feel good at the end of the day.

elisa123gal

I like reading advice from all of you who have made it to maintenance. As I am in the losing phase.. If find "cheat days" pig out fests… a huge red flag. It bothers me that it has to be all or nothing with many "dieters" and it is sad to see that few achieve true balance that will work for the long haul. Also very few that gain control over food.. As food dominates their every move and thought. It is like they struggle no matter if they're in the losing or maintaining phase.. It is tiring to witness.
My biggest fear is that this is just the way it has to be.

cwolfman13

I've been maintaining for over 2.5 years...I occasionally over indulge, but I don't "gorge", even on feast days...I don't like feeling like I'm going to pop, it's just not enjoyable.

bclarke1990

Eating at a big deficit is going to cause a lot of mental and physical triggers in your brain; especially if you restrict foods too.

I think it's fairly natural to a lot of people

papadelta2124

Thanks for the advice all

AbsoluteTara79

Eat at maintenance for a day or two or three instead of "gorging".

ghostly_pet

my limit is 1800, and normally only go to 1400 with what foods I actually 'need'. that leaves 400 for small snacks, but I'm hoping to stop all snacks soon. but a small snack every so often won't hurt (i don't think...?).

If your a athlete, or want to become one, I would suggest trying to cut all 'crap snacks' out of your diet.

BikeTourer

ghostly_pet wrote: »

my limit is 1800, and normally only go to 1400 with what foods I actually 'need'. that leaves 400 for small snacks, but I'm hoping to stop all snacks soon. but a small snack every so often won't hurt (i don't think...?).

If your a athlete, or want to become one, I would suggest trying to cut all 'crap snacks' out of your diet.

There is nothing wrong with snacks. I lost and now maintain with three meals and 2 snacks. Snack doesn't have to equal crap. Processed food equals crap.

rhtexasgal

I recently made some tiramisu, just because, and I truly wanted to gorge on it - eat the whole friggin pan! However, I did not tell myself no. Instead, I had a serving and put the rest away, telling myself I can have more in 30 minutes if I felt like it. Then I got busy and forgot all about it. I use diversions often and don't tell myself no. Those times I tell myself no? I start to obsess about that particular food and then I will gorge on it and feel ashamed later. Therefore, there is no food I will refrain from eating ... I just attach a few conditions on it in order to eat it. Yeah, it's a weird approach but it works for me.

Yisrael1981

There is nothing wrong with every now and then eating something unhealthy , just from my experience there is no such thing as getting it out of your system. If I eat cake and ice cream today to satisfy a craving, I will still want it in a few days from now

kellyjellybellyjelly

sijomial wrote: »

Maybe if you didn't have the idea that low calories is "good" and certain foods are "crap" then you may find the urge to gorge fades?

This.

jennifer_417

I hear ya. Sometimes I just really want a large volume of food. That's why I like intermittent fasting so much.

wendymoira

When just I want a lot of food -- and occasionally I do -- I tend to go for meals that are heavy on veggies. I can eat half a cabbage sauteed with onions, apples, and a smidge of olive oil, but I am super full afterwards. Same goes for a chopped salad. Add in some lean protein, and I'm set.

homeschoolhrartmom

I'm a binge eater, so I know what it feels like. What I did was change the foods I binge out on. I changed from donuts and chips to carrot sticks and raw cauliflower and other raw vegies. I also do binge out on popcorn without the butter. These are filling foods that don't add a lot of calories unless you add dips and dressings to them. When I first started doing this 10 years ago, I dropped 40 pounds really fast.

Also, try changing the time of day you eat your big meal of the day. I changed mine from 6-7 p.m. to 2-3 p.m. I did it so the food would be digested before I laid down for the night and it was fantastic.

Yisrael1981

To me the equivalent of 'gorging' is eating a nice meal without counting calories like going to a restaurant and ordering something I like even though it's not too healthy or will probably put me over my calories. Real gorging on the other hand (like eating an entire cheesecake in one sitting as I may have done once..) I would not recommend .it can start you down a really bad path of bingeing and dieting away your binge

MsTeaLady

Gorge. Then make sure to note how your body feels. I'll stuff my face here and there (especially on pizza or seafood), but then the discomfort makes me not want to do it again for a while...Until I forget, then eat one slice too many again. (I can't handle 3 but I always try.)

VeryKatie

Pawsforme wrote: »

Dieting and then gorging is never a good idea. It can start you down the path to an eating disorder. Not to mention that gorging can make you very uncomfortable in the short term.

Instead I'd suggest allowing yourself the flexibility to have more calories now and then. Many people plan a weekly cheat meal or cheat day. I don't know that thinking of "cheats" is a mentally healthy approach, either. But allowing yourself some flexibility? Yeah, that's a good thing IMO.

A maintenance day is good too. That way you don't undo any of your hard work.

ilovesweeties

rhtexasgal wrote: »

... I had a serving and put the rest away, telling myself I can have more in 30 minutes if I felt like it...
Therefore, there is no food I will refrain from eating ... I just attach a few conditions on it in order to eat it

I really like this! I struggle with the desire to eat more than one Double Decker at a time and the desire often wins. I know what it will do to me, I know I won't be happy the next day, but there is some petulant part of me that says I am an adult, I reached a healthy weight and I can eat what I want. Next time, I am going to try to attach some conditions and see if that helps. Thanks!

neldabg

rhtexasgal wrote: »

I recently made some tiramisu, just because, and I truly wanted to gorge on it - eat the whole friggin pan! However, I did not tell myself no. Instead, I had a serving and put the rest away, telling myself I can have more in 30 minutes if I felt like it. Then I got busy and forgot all about it. I use diversions often and don't tell myself no. Those times I tell myself no? I start to obsess about that particular food and then I will gorge on it and feel ashamed later. Therefore, there is no food I will refrain from eating ... I just attach a few conditions on it in order to eat it. Yeah, it's a weird approach but it works for me.

Nice! I do the same thing! It so empowering to realize the power of word choice and the power of the brain. I realized that I used to eat as though it was the last time I'd ever get the chance to eat whatever it was I wanted. In telling myself that I can have a serving or two over the next couple days or weeks, and actually fitting in those servings into my daily meal plans, I no longer feel the need to eat multiple servings at once. Adding conditions to food truly has been a successful weight control strategy.