Struggling during August...

xxzenabxx

This month has been the hardest. Most of the month I’ve been eating 2000-3000+ calories. I went to stay at my aunt and uncles, then my grandmas house for a week and I overate on all days. Then this week it was Eid so I overate again. I had 3600 calories one day, then 2800 the next day and I’m only 5’ 4”. Now I’m back at my grandmas house and I’ve already eaten so much. There’s just so much food around me with no activity. Next week I’m off to Europe for a week. It’s an entire month of indulging excessively. I checked my weight and I’ve gained 7lbs. I’m pretty sure I’ve undone some of my hard work. I know that from September 4th I’m back on track but it’s depressing that I’m just going to be re losing the weight. I know everyone is going to tell me it’s all water weight blah blah but I have eaten waaaaay too much. I was doing really well and I’ve let go of the all or nothing mentality. I wish I could indulge in moderation. I can for one or two days of overeating but now this has been going on for weeks and I’m fed up. I miss tracking my food and my exercise routine. Just pissed off with myself really. It’s easier when you’re on holiday and sightseeing because it gets burnt off due to all the walking. But when you’re at relatives houses there’s little activity and too much food.

jemhh

I'm sorry you're having a rough time

One thing that helps me in prolonged situations like this is to stop and think "is this the last time I'm ever going to be offered this food item?" Or is it the last time in a really long time? If yes, I'll have it and maybe a second serving. If no, thinking about it in those terms makes it a bit easier to pass up.

Other than that, is it possible to get out and take a few walks now?

MagnumOpus1

2 things:

1. It sounds like these foods are a big deal to you so you feel compelled to eat them in excess which indicates you're being overly restrictive day to day.
2. It also sounds like you're eating due to boredom

You may need to rejigg your approach to dieting. It shouldn't be a torturous thing. The point is to carve out what works best for you that you can stick to long term, not 1 month or 3 months. Long term. That way when you decide to maintain it's not a revamping. You eat eat foods you like in smaller quantities or simply behave days where you eat at maintenance. Also give yourself license to over eat sometimes but be intentional about bit and not wavering. That's life, sometimes buiu over eat because the food is damn good. That isn't a sin. You wanna create a system that's flexible and easy to adhere to. When you fight not willfully indulging then you never quite give yourself that freedom so you might be eating all the food but in your mind you're bashing yourself. You need to be aligned both thoughts and actions.

Try to not restrict the following day to make up for the previous day, it will end badly. Check your history. Instead move on like nothing happened. You loose weight beyond 7 days too.

Edit: Damn I type too fast. Pardon my butchered spelling.

xxzenabxx

MagnumOpus1 wrote: »

2 things:

1. It sounds like these foods are a big deal to you so you feel compelled to eat them in excess which indicates you're being overly restrictive day to day.
2. It also sounds like you're eating due to boredom

You may need to rejigg your approach to dieting. It shouldn't be a torturous thing. The point is to carve out what works best for you that you can stick to long term, not 1 month or 3 months. Long term. That way when you decide to maintain it's not a revamping. You eat eat foods you like in smaller quantities or simply behave days where you eat at maintenance. Also give yourself license to over eat sometimes but be intentional about bit and not wavering. That's life, sometimes buiu over eat because the food is damn good. That isn't a sin. You wanna create a system that's flexible and easy to adhere to. When you fight not willfully indulging then you never quite give yourself that freedom so you might be eating all the food but in your mind you're bashing yourself. You need to be aligned both thoughts and actions.

Try to not restrict the following day to make up for the previous day, it will end badly. Check your history. Instead move on like nothing happened. You loose weight beyond 7 days too.

That’s the thing. I am NOT restricting myself. In fact I’ve lost weight this year despite two three week holidays but holidays are easy for me. I walk atleast 10000 steps a day. At my relatives house there’s too much food and no movement. I’m eating around 1500-1600 calories during my deficit which is not restriction and I cycle my calories. I was doing just fine before this. I feel like I’ve crossed the barrier and just eating beyond my capacity. I guess boredom eating is more likely to be the reason. I’m also not binging because I’m just eating a lot of food that I’m offered. Binging is out of control and mindless. But you’re right, I should just move on as if nothing happened. Food guilt is the last thing I need.

TavistockToad

Well you can't go back and change the last 24 days of august, so just start eating in a deficit from now on...

Its as simple as you make it

xxzenabxx

jemhh wrote: »

I'm sorry you're having a rough time

One thing that helps me in prolonged situations like this is to stop and think "is this the last time I'm ever going to be offered this food item?" Or is it the last time in a really long time? If yes, I'll have it and maybe a second serving. If no, thinking about it in those terms makes it a bit easier to pass up.

Other than that, is it possible to get out and take a few walks now?

Thanks for listening. I’m going to be more selective with my treats. I just took a walk to get out of the house. All I wanted to do was maintain my weight.

MagnumOpus1

xxzenabxx wrote: »

MagnumOpus1 wrote: »

2 things:

1. It sounds like these foods are a big deal to you so you feel compelled to eat them in excess which indicates you're being overly restrictive day to day.
2. It also sounds like you're eating due to boredom

You may need to rejigg your approach to dieting. It shouldn't be a torturous thing. The point is to carve out what works best for you that you can stick to long term, not 1 month or 3 months. Long term. That way when you decide to maintain it's not a revamping. You eat eat foods you like in smaller quantities or simply behave days where you eat at maintenance. Also give yourself license to over eat sometimes but be intentional about bit and not wavering. That's life, sometimes buiu over eat because the food is damn good. That isn't a sin. You wanna create a system that's flexible and easy to adhere to. When you fight not willfully indulging then you never quite give yourself that freedom so you might be eating all the food but in your mind you're bashing yourself. You need to be aligned both thoughts and actions.

Try to not restrict the following day to make up for the previous day, it will end badly. Check your history. Instead move on like nothing happened. You loose weight beyond 7 days too.

That’s the thing. I am NOT restricting myself. In fact I’ve lost weight this year despite two three week holidays but holidays are easy for me. I walk atleast 10000 steps a day. At my relatives house there’s too much food and no movement. I’m eating around 1500-1600 calories during my deficit which is not restriction and I cycle my calories. I was doing just fine before this. I feel like I’ve crossed the barrier and just eating beyond my capacity. I guess boredom eating is more likely to be the reason. I’m also not binging because I’m just eating a lot of food that I’m offered. Binging is out of control and mindless. But you’re right, I should just move on as if nothing happened. Food guilt is the last thing I need.

What do you mean no movement? Can you no longer exercise? Open park, go for walks, YouTube videos, body weight exercises. You can always move. And also maybe eat larger meals so you don't desire to graze.

kgb6days

I had surgery 3 weeks ago and all I can do is sit around. I am eating way too much as well, and I've gained 5 lbs. I'm finally able to do some things and that helps, but I've started that vicious cycle that is so hard for me to break. Thanks for posting this - it's good to know there are others like me that slip

Seffell

I can relate. I spent three weeks in June visiting my parents who live abroad and the weather was rainy the whole time and I just sat home and ate and ate. I gained 6lbs fat. It took me a year to lose it previously as I'm already mid healthy weight. Now I'm trying to relose it again and it sucks. Big time. Have only lost 0.5lbs since then.

I have no advice or morals here to give. Just saying you're not alone.

xxzenabxx

MagnumOpus1 wrote: »

xxzenabxx wrote: »

MagnumOpus1 wrote: »

2 things:

1. It sounds like these foods are a big deal to you so you feel compelled to eat them in excess which indicates you're being overly restrictive day to day.
2. It also sounds like you're eating due to boredom

You may need to rejigg your approach to dieting. It shouldn't be a torturous thing. The point is to carve out what works best for you that you can stick to long term, not 1 month or 3 months. Long term. That way when you decide to maintain it's not a revamping. You eat eat foods you like in smaller quantities or simply behave days where you eat at maintenance. Also give yourself license to over eat sometimes but be intentional about bit and not wavering. That's life, sometimes buiu over eat because the food is damn good. That isn't a sin. You wanna create a system that's flexible and easy to adhere to. When you fight not willfully indulging then you never quite give yourself that freedom so you might be eating all the food but in your mind you're bashing yourself. You need to be aligned both thoughts and actions.

Try to not restrict the following day to make up for the previous day, it will end badly. Check your history. Instead move on like nothing happened. You loose weight beyond 7 days too.

That’s the thing. I am NOT restricting myself. In fact I’ve lost weight this year despite two three week holidays but holidays are easy for me. I walk atleast 10000 steps a day. At my relatives house there’s too much food and no movement. I’m eating around 1500-1600 calories during my deficit which is not restriction and I cycle my calories. I was doing just fine before this. I feel like I’ve crossed the barrier and just eating beyond my capacity. I guess boredom eating is more likely to be the reason. I’m also not binging because I’m just eating a lot of food that I’m offered. Binging is out of control and mindless. But you’re right, I should just move on as if nothing happened. Food guilt is the last thing I need.

What do you mean no movement? Can you no longer exercise? Open park, go for walks, YouTube videos, body weight exercises. You can always move. And also maybe eat larger meals so you don't desire to graze.

Yes there’s literally not much movement! Easier said than done. When you’re with family it’s not easy to do all those things but I’m working on it. Maybe I let pms get in the way?

xxzenabxx

gebeziseva wrote: »

I can relate. I spent three weeks in June visiting my parents who live abroad and the weather was rainy the whole time and I just sat home and ate and ate. I gained 6lbs fat. It took me a year to lose it previously as I'm already mid healthy weight. Now I'm trying to relose it again and it sucks. Big time. Have only lost 0.5lbs since then.

I have no advice or morals here to give. Just saying you're not alone.

Exactly! This is my situation 100%. I’m hoping when my water weight drops off it’s only 1-2 lbs but it sucks when you have to re lose the weight that took so much effort to take off. It also helps me that I’m not alone.

xxzenabxx

kgb6days wrote: »

I had surgery 3 weeks ago and all I can do is sit around. I am eating way too much as well, and I've gained 5 lbs. I'm finally able to do some things and that helps, but I've started that vicious cycle that is so hard for me to break. Thanks for posting this - it's good to know there are others like me that slip

I hope we can get through this. There’s ups and downs in weight loss and this is one of the downs. I hope you can recover from your surgery. It’s so hard to break the cycle but it’s possible and it helps that we’re not alone!

kshama2001

At family gatherings, there's a few of us who like to walk, and with some effort, we can usually get the herd going. It's nice to walk with people, but if you are surrounded my non-walkers, you'll just have to take yourself for a walk.

kshama2001

The summer is usually my best time for losing weight, but not this year

I struggled with the heat in July and August - I got minimal gardening and walking in. We had some cooler weather earlier this week and it was great to be outside. I've been busy today planning my fall gardening project.

ahoy_m8

kgb6days wrote: »

I had surgery 3 weeks ago and all I can do is sit around. I am eating way too much as well, and I've gained 5 lbs. I'm finally able to do some things and that helps, but I've started that vicious cycle that is so hard for me to break. Thanks for posting this - it's good to know there are others like me that slip

Apologies for taking a tangent on the thread... bodies need more energy than normal to recover from surgery. Tissues need to grow, immune system needs to work a little harder to produce/train Tcells, and all that takes more calories than normal. Recovering from surgery is a GREAT time to take a diet break and eat at maintenance (or a little extra). Also, bodies retain water (swelling) in areas needing tissue repair, so some of that 5 lb you are seeing on the scale is almost certainly inflammation. Take it easy! Follow your doctor's orders, and pick up your deficit once you have completely healed.

OP, I know exactly what you mean. Good habits I think I have rock solid at home can start to dissolve when travelling. Don't be too hard on yourself. Enjoy visiting with those family members, that's the main thing. Looking forward, feel free to pick and choose less frequent treats since you can cross indulging off your list. You've done that and don't feel obligated to keep doing it unless you really want to, and then allow yourself small portions. And once you are in Europe, you will be walking a lot more so nothing to worry about there. Have a marvelous time!

elsie6hickman

Make sure your visits are more about fellowship - being with family- than about the food. If you are able to post here, what is the reason you cannot log your food?
I am of the school of thought that you can eat anything, as long as you eat it in moderation. So I agree with whoever said that if it is a once a year food - go ahead and have it and enjoy it. But for those dishes you will see again in the near future, have a small amount and let that be enough.
Enjoy your trip to Europe! When I was in Europe, I walked a lot of places and came back after a month, 10 lbs lighter.

xxzenabxx

elsie6hickman wrote: »

Make sure your visits are more about fellowship - being with family- than about the food. If you are able to post here, what is the reason you cannot log your food?
I am of the school of thought that you can eat anything, as long as you eat it in moderation. So I agree with whoever said that if it is a once a year food - go ahead and have it and enjoy it. But for those dishes you will see again in the near future, have a small amount and let that be enough.
Enjoy your trip to Europe! When I was in Europe, I walked a lot of places and came back after a month, 10 lbs lighter.

I am logging my food. That's how I know how much food I've been eating. I've been guesstimating.

RoyBeck

TavistockToad wrote: »

Well you can't go back and change the last 24 days of august, so just start eating in a deficit from now on...

Its as simple as you make it

Absolutely. Also, don't wait til 4th September that's just asking for trouble. Take account of your actions today.