I'm at my highest weight in 2 years, help! (Also I think I finally know why I binge!)

pianoplaya94

I am 5'7 and I went from 145 to 115 in the span of about 8 months between 2013 and 2014. I hovered between 115 and 120 since then. However, I went on vacation in early June. I did okay on vacation with eating. However, it's when I got back where the problem started. I got back over 3 weeks ago and since then, I've been binging and not watching the calories every single day. I just weighed myself this morning... 125! I weighed 120 before the trip. Although that's not bad... I don't think I look great at that weight. So my first question is, do you think that 5 pounds is noticeable?

So I am on a mission to lose 10 pounds before the end of the summer (I'm going on another trip on the first week of September). But that brings me to my second struggle: I binge because I don't think I'll be able to lose the weight. This obviously results in a vicious cycle. I just wish The weight could be lost in a day (don't we all lol) so then when I think that it will take months, I lose hope (I HATE "waiting" for things to happen I like them done immediately) so I binge. So second question: How do I think about this in a whole new light to stop binging? Thanks!

DebSozo

pianoplaya94 wrote: »

I am 5'7 and I went from 145 to 115 in the span of about 8 months between 2013 and 2014. I hovered between 115 and 120 since then. However, I went on vacation in early June. I did okay on vacation with eating. However, it's when I got back where the problem started. I got back over 3 weeks ago and since then, I've been binging and not watching the calories every single day. I just weighed myself this morning... 125! I weighed 120 before the trip. Although that's not bad... I don't think I look great at that weight. So my first question is, do you think that 5 pounds is noticeable?

The 5 extra pounds for me feels different on my body, and whenever I start thinking it isn't a lot I will pick up something in the grocery store that weighs 5 pounds. It may not seem like much, but I feel really bloated and miserable when I suddenly gain 4 or so pounds weight after a vacation.

Your "after vacation" weight gain will quickly subside if you get right back on plan but not if you give up and start eating more on a regular basis. Then you would slowly put fat back on. It takes 3,500 calories to gain a pound. You likely gained some fresh, readily available glycogen fuel stores in the liver and muscles which bond to water therefore causing disproportionate increased temporary weight. All weight gain is not fat. Don't get too hung up on small fluctuations but do nip them in the bud asap.

kissesdahling

Since you've lost 30lbs in only 8 months in the past, it sounds like if you choose to stick to your calorie goals, you will be able to take the 5 extra pounds off very quickly. And that's just it. Logically, you know that you will lose the weight if you stick to your calorie deficit goals. So you have to decide: Will you be patient and for a couple of weeks (or possibly less, depending on factors like exercise, water weight, etc) stick to your calorie goals with the knowledge that this small amount of weight will come off *very soon*, or will you decide to become impatient and not only give up, but eat more food than you need to because you're angry you didn't lose weight immediately. That may sound harsh, but it's the truth.

There are so many reasons people binge. Some of them are very serious and need medical and psychological attention from professionals. Since you know why you binge, and you freely admit you're doing it because you're impatient and don't feel like sticking to relatively short term goals, it sounds like you're having more problems with motivation and self-control. But if you feel like you need some professional help, do talk to your doctor.

I am still 40lbs from my goal and am in the longest plateau I have ever had in my entire life, mainly due to being injured and unable to exercise plus retaining fluid due to a chronic illness and medication for that illness. I could choose to give up, because weight loss isn't happening as quickly as it has in the past, but I don't. Every day, I am under my calorie goal. I've never been a binge eater, but I could certainly choose to stop counting calories, which would inevitably lead to weight gain over time. Every day, I make the conscious choice to log my calories and stay under my goal. I do this because I know what weight I want to be, and I want to get there, and I know I will eventually get there if I keep eating at a calorie deficit.

Because I have a chronic illness, discipline keeps me alive. Literally. I take my meds. I live a healthy lifestyle. I apply this same discipline to weight loss.

Of course, like you, I also get discourage due to lack of progress/plateaus. But what I do in those cases is look at the forums for inspiration. There are so many people who have successfully gotten to and maintained their goals who have said their weight loss wasn't linear and that they had long plateaus and that they eventually got past those hard times and reached their goal. Sometimes just knowing the plateau will end, or in your case being reminded that the weight loss WILL happen, is enough to give you the inspiration to keep pushing forward.

If I sound harsh with you, it's because I *know* you can do this if you apply discipline. I believe in you. There are other people on this forum who will believe in you too. So, please just believe in yourself and trust the process! You will get there if you do. I promise.

kshama2001

pianoplaya94 wrote: »

I am 5'7 and I went from 145 to 115 in the span of about 8 months between 2013 and 2014. I hovered between 115 and 120 since then. However, I went on vacation in early June. I did okay on vacation with eating. However, it's when I got back where the problem started. I got back over 3 weeks ago and since then, I've been binging and not watching the calories every single day. I just weighed myself this morning... 125! I weighed 120 before the trip. Although that's not bad... I don't think I look great at that weight. So my first question is, do you think that 5 pounds is noticeable?

So I am on a mission to lose 10 pounds before the end of the summer (I'm going on another trip on the first week of September). But that brings me to my second struggle: I binge because I don't think I'll be able to lose the weight. This obviously results in a vicious cycle. I just wish The weight could be lost in a day (don't we all lol) so then when I think that it will take months, I lose hope (I HATE "waiting" for things to happen I like them done immediately) so I binge. So second question: How do I think about this in a whole new light to stop binging? Thanks!

I think 10 pounds by the end of the summer is too aggressive. Overly aggressive goals can certainly trigger binges. I think you'd be better off setting your weekly weight loss goal to a sustainable 0.5 pound per week.

I am very much enjoying living a healthier lifestyle. I've turned stress eating into stress exercising. I feel better and sleep better. Weight loss is just a pleasant side effect. Since it doesn't have an emotional charge for me, I don't worry about normal fluctuations or plateaus. For example, I haven't lost any weight in a month. But I realize that's because I'm eating at maintenance, and as soon as I create a calorie deficit, I'll start losing again. No big deal.

It sounds like you have a lot of self esteem wrapped up in your weight and if you are able to let go of that your journey will be more pleasant. I bet negative self talk is an issue for you. If so, here's a great DVD that can help with this: You Can Heal Your Life, the movie, expanded version. It was available in my library system so maybe yours as well.

pianoplaya94

Thanks, guys! This was all really helpful! I'm kind of getting the urge to binge right now because I took a video of myself and hate the way I look in it... but trying to resist.

Negative self talk is definitely an issue for me! I have the lowest self-confidence of anyone I know (and I admit it). I even noticed that I WALK like I have low confidence (I'm kinda slouched over when I walk). Got to fix this part of me... I'll try and find that movie online somewhere (as embarrassing as it may be I've never used a library so don't really know how the whole thing works lol).

Francl27

5'7" and 125 pounds - maybe you should get some help if you're really worried about extra weight there.

kikicooks

Francl27 wrote: »

5'7" and 125 pounds - maybe you should get some help if you're really worried about extra weight there.

I have to agree with this. I know all body types are different but in most people 125 is NOT too much for 5'7"

pianoplaya94

kikicooks wrote: »

Francl27 wrote: »

5'7" and 125 pounds - maybe you should get some help if you're really worried about extra weight there.

I have to agree with this. I know all body types are different but in most people 125 is NOT too much for 5'7"

I know it's not TOO much... I just don't look thin... I looked best at 115 and I am very disappointed I let myself gain 10 pounds

frankiesgirlie

I like myself at the middle minus 5 lbs of most BMI charts, so I understand about wanting to look thinner than maybe weight charts tell you the middle is. It depends on where you carry your weight as to what weight looks best on you.
BUT. I don't believe it is healthy to deviate too far off of those charts.
At 5' 7" your BMI on almost all charts is 18. Which is considered underweight.
I would be very careful of that.
Maybe aim for maintaining between 120-125(125 puts you in the normal range) and then lift weights to recomp?
If your aiming to maintain a weight that is considered underweight for your height you could be setting yourself up for failure.
Plus what are the long term health risks of that?

kshama2001

pianoplaya94 wrote: »

Thanks, guys! This was all really helpful! I'm kind of getting the urge to binge right now because I took a video of myself and hate the way I look in it... but trying to resist.

Negative self talk is definitely an issue for me! I have the lowest self-confidence of anyone I know (and I admit it). I even noticed that I WALK like I have low confidence (I'm kinda slouched over when I walk). Got to fix this part of me... I'll try and find that movie online somewhere (as embarrassing as it may be I've never used a library so don't really know how the whole thing works lol).

I like to mention the library option in case people have very limited budgets. See above for the link to buy it on Amazon

RobD520

pianoplaya94 wrote: »

kikicooks wrote: »

Francl27 wrote: »

5'7" and 125 pounds - maybe you should get some help if you're really worried about extra weight there.

I have to agree with this. I know all body types are different but in most people 125 is NOT too much for 5'7"

I know it's not TOO much... I just don't look thin... I looked best at 115 and I am very disappointed I let myself gain 10 pounds

With a BMI of less than 20? What do other people in your life tell you?

Annamarie3404

If you know why you binge, that's your first step.

kissesdahling

OP, I honestly think you should look into body re-composition as some of the others have mentioned. Before my health got bad and I gained weight, my BMI was also 18. I ate enough calories, but I had a very active life and burned it all off. If I was ever at that weight again, knowing what I know now, I would start lifting to try to gain muscle mass. I had a very tiny waist back then but my arms and legs were plump even though I was technically under weight. My dad tried to tell me I needed to start lifting, but I was 19 and no one wants to listen to parents at that age. The truth is: I would've probably gotten that slim, toned "ideal" (in quotes, because anything that is healthy is ideal IMO) look if I had listened to my dad and put on ten pounds of muscle. Getting into lifting might help your body confidence too because you're empowering yourself AND getting healthier, which people have always said helps your outward appearance too.

jahillegas_51

As far as reframing binge eating goes it depends why you are binge eating to begin with. I understand that you made the remark that you binge because you do not think you will lose the weight. However you have plenty of time to lose 10 pounds in two months.

As far as binging goes there are several possibilities for why you do it. One could be that you believe your diet has to be all or nothing like you have to eat all clean and healthy foods to achieve the results you want. Two it could stem from some sort of emotional coping mechanism like how some people turn to drugs or alcohol to handle stress in their life.

Or it could be some combination of the two