When does dieting become too much?

sheaton774

Hi,

Like many I've always struggled a bit with my weight, particularly around how it makes me feel. From September to January I started training for a half marathon, went on a diet and dropped from BMI 25 to 20.5 (2 stone). I've completed the run now, and my weight loss has plateaued but I'm becoming increasingly stressed out by this and have recently started going to the gym twice a day, 5 or 6 days a week totalling about 12 hours. I eat ok - 3 meals a day, 5+ fruit and veg and so on, but have started to get very agitated and angry at myself if I deviate from a list of foods because I still want to lose more. I don't think I've got an eating disorder or anything, but I've started turning down social invitations if they conflict with the gym, and found myself looking up where to get laxatives the other day because I'd had a sandwich for lunch instead of salad. I'm a bit worried it's getting stupid as food and exercise rules my life. Does anyone have any similar concerns/ experience/ advice?

Thanks in advance X

ooBombshellBeautyoo

It can become obsessive but it's a lifestyle not a diet. Slow and steady, it is going to take time to loose the remaining weight. I too have given up social invites and schedule everything around my gym time, but it is important to me so I don't mind. Just watch for calories/macros and be active and it will happen

concordancia

but have started to get very agitated and angry at myself if I deviate from a list of foods

When you start acting like this. What is the point of your food list?

This kind of thinking can lead down a dangerous road; consider getting a couple of sessions if therapy now in hopes of avoiding long term health issues down the line.

middlehaitch

A BMI of 20.5 is at the low end of the scale. Maintaining weight would be more appropriate.
If you find you are over focused on food and exercise,to the detriment of your daily and social life, it may be time to take a step back and reassess your goals. If you can't do this by yourself find someone who can help, a therapist maybe.

Cheers, h.

SarcasmIsMyLoveLanguage

To answer your question, it becomes too much when it's no longer sustainable. That's why fad diets and/ or working out like a fiend do not work.
It sounds to me like you are teetering on the brink of having a problem here. Avoiding social gatherings and investigating laxatives is not normal behavior.

Are you tracking your food? Weighing and measuring everything? What is your daily calorie allotment?

minniemoo1972

When you get angry over a sandwich and look up laxatives.....seriously think about a bit of therapy before thoughts turn into a full blown e.d

_Waffle_

sheaton774 wrote: »

Hi,

Like many I've always struggled a bit with my weight, particularly around how it makes me feel. From September to January I started training for a half marathon, went on a diet and dropped from BMI 25 to 20.5 (2 stone). I've completed the run now, and my weight loss has plateaued but I'm becoming increasingly stressed out by this

This is perfectly normal. You need a bit of a lax time to recover from that cycle of training so, relax. You've done some really good things and you deserve a break. You don't have to gain weight but don't stress about not dropping more at the moment.

How far are you away from your goal weight?

sheaton774 wrote: »

and have recently started going to the gym twice a day, 5 or 6 days a week totalling about 12 hours.

Are you a trainer with lots of clients? If not then back off the gym time. There's nothing wrong with twice a day if it fits in your life but give yourself some slack if that second trip doesn't workout.

sheaton774 wrote: »

found myself looking up where to get laxatives the other day because I'd had a sandwich for lunch instead of salad.

This is the most disturbing part. Up until this I would just say you need to chill. Looking for ways to purge after eating food you deem bad is very unhealthy. Relax and enjoy life. When's the next half marathon race? If that's relaxing for you then do another one. What you're doing now sounds like hell.

cwolfman13

you need to find some balance asap...also probably some more nutritional knowledge because there's absolutely nothing inherently unhealthy about a sandwich...and when you're looking up laxatives to rid yourself of something that is totally fine...well, I think a little therapy is in order at this point. You are well on your way to ED.

sheaton774

Thanks guys - I never actually bought them, I managed to back myself out of that one

I'm currently my original goal weight of 132lb, but now it doesn't feel like enough. I think I'm partly just trying to prove something to myself and I now it's silly but can't get it out of my head

Will think about talking to someone, but just feels like that makes it a much bigger deal!

RoxieDawn

I see that some needed prioritizing is in order here. I was completely ok with everything including the 2 times a day at the gym until you deemed the sandwich over a salad bad and were looking for purging options... Its not the thought that is worrysome, it is the effort you took to actually put that thought into process/action.

I see that have allowed the gym and food rule your life and family/friends and socializing (maybe even work or school) has taken a back seat.. Not good.

You can take a step down and relax now, you seem to be extremely mindful of what is going on here, it is called prioritizing your life and adhering to balance, which you appear to be extremely struggling with. I do hope that the thoughts are going to be behind you now after posting this thread...

slinke2014

sheaton774 wrote: »

Thanks guys - I never actually bought them, I managed to back myself out of that one

I'm currently my original goal weight of 132lb, but now it doesn't feel like enough. I think I'm partly just trying to prove something to myself and I now it's silly but can't get it out of my head

Will think about talking to someone, but just feels like that makes it a much bigger deal!

Giving up on friends and social engagements and thinking about laxatives because you ate a sandwhich is already a big deal. Get some help before you get completely out of control. There is no shame in needing help to get a handle on something. Most people could benefit from a good dose of therapy anyway.

misskarne

List of "approved" foods, ditching friends/social engagements for the gym, thinking about purging when you ate something "non-approved"...you really need to talk to a professional and you need to do it NOW before this starts to spin even further out of control.

Lounmoun

You've crossed the line between reasonable health and fitness and unhealthy obsession/disordered thinking. Time to get professional counseling IMO.