I am programmed to deprive myself!

HilTri

I had a great revelation that I wasn't eating enough for my life style. Once I started eating properly, I had so much more energy and could crush my spin classes, runs, and weight lifting. Some how it crept back in my mind that I needed to lower my calories again so I did and gradually over the week have been feeling run down and tKing naps and struggling through my workouts. This is crazy. I know I feel and perform better if I eat more. I am at a good weight (134) for my height (5'6") w 16% body fat female, 48 yo. I am just amazed at how hard it is believe that it is ok to properly nourish my body and the default I continue to circle back to is to eat less because it think that is the right thing to do. Anyone else have a tough time adjusting to a maintenance mentality?

sherridavisking

I totally relate..how many calories are you eating when you feel your best?

JeromeBarry1

Me. I'm accustomed to 1730 calories and it's hazardous to attempt 1980 because when I do get enough calories to reach maintenance I don't stop eating.

HilTri

I started to eat 1800 and felt so much better. I have increased my work outs to some two a days and for some reason I keep trying to eat less than 1800. It is like I feel guilty feeling satiated. I don't have an eating disorder, ever since I was a kid I have been concerned w my weight. Thank for your replies.

psuLemon

You may not have a disorder now, but you may be heading down that route. The fact that you also increase exercise since you increased calories is a way of maintaining lower net calories. If this type of mentality doesn't stop, it may be worth seeing a therapist just so you don't develop a disorder. The point of increasing calories from your last thread, wasn't so you could workout more. It was to feed your body adequately.

sijomial

HilTri wrote: »

I started to eat 1800 and felt so much better. I have increased my work outs to some two a days and for some reason I keep trying to eat less than 1800. It is like I feel guilty feeling satiated. I don't have an eating disorder, ever since I was a kid I have been concerned w my weight. Thank for your replies.

It sounds like the increase in exercise is still your food guilt speaking - just expressing it on the CO part of the balance instead of the CI part.

You can reprogram yourself it you understand what is going on and work at it, you can also get help to do that.