ARE ALL DIETERS MESSED UP IN THE HEAD?

edwardkim85

From one extreme to the other...

That can't be normal.

Something must be off in our heads compared to people that can maintain their whole lives without ever getting too fat, let it be

lack of self control, emotional eating, etc.

A screw's missing, what is it?

fxg20

Our species evolved in times when the availability of food was sporadic and you had to eat all the calorie dense food you could whenever you had the chance. Now the food is everywhere always and we have to fight our instincts. We are more fish out of water than messed up in the head.

martyqueen52

I think it's more of a "I'm bored, so I'll eat thing" or an "emotional eating" problem.

Personally, I'm a junk food junkie. Even if I'm not hungry and something sweet is around... I have to eat it. I bodybuild, have my diet in check, and know what I can and can't do and I still battle with sweets.

I've learned to incorporate a small fix or it by making a majority of my carbs junk food, and yes, I've lost weight AND built and continue to build muscle doing this so don't lecture me on "YOU NEED OATS AND SWEET POTATOES"... I call that mentality B.S.

AlanByam

I think we're just easily convinced that one way or another is the best way.
I try to explain it to people, when they say, "wow what have you done to lose weight?" i know they just want some miracle solution, like, "i took a pill for a week". They never want to hear, I eat better, less, and exercise.

LongShot24

When I was 60 pounds heavier, it was out of ignorance. Ignorance of healthy eating and portion control. I wouldn't say messed up in the head, but I would eat till I was pleasantly stuffed instead of satisfied. I would agree that basic human survival comes into play, my body wanted to store food (fat).

fxg20

Hey, I know a calorie is a calorie but I've heard that if I only eat through my eyes I will lose more weight than if I eat through my mouth? T/F?

somefitsomefat

Our species evolved in times when the availability of food was sporadic and you had to eat all the calorie dense food you could whenever you had the chance. Now the food is everywhere always and we have to fight our instincts. We are more fish out of water than messed up in the head.

This. Plus we're all bored and we're constantly looking for something to do. Even busy people are looking for something to do when they're not busy. Everything seems to involve food. Go out to eat with friends. Go to a movie and get popcorn. Go out for drinks. Have people over for drinks. Having a crappy day so get comfort food. Having a good day get some good food to celebrate. I could go on.

rml_16

From one extreme to the other...

That can't be normal.

Something must be off in our heads compared to people that can maintain their whole lives without ever getting too fat, let it be

lack of self control, emotional eating, etc.

A screw's missing, what is it?

No, not all.

I was thin most of my life. My metabolism changed in my late 20s and since I'd never HAD to think about dieting or what and how much I was eating, it came down to learning it. Then I had issues with birth control. I rarely overeat. I exercise (actually enjoy it) and am not an emotional eater in any way.

I eat when I'm hungry, I stop when I'm not anymore. I don't have a screwed up relationship with food, either. Yet, I'm 40 pounds heavier than I want to be.

DeltaZero

Yes.





But so is everyone with two legs.

tinamariecleg

I agree with the eating from being bored, or just saying you are too busy to pay attention to everything you eat. It will always be a struggle for me, and I have to work at it every day

mccindy72

From one extreme to the other...

That can't be normal.

Something must be off in our heads compared to people that can maintain their whole lives without ever getting too fat, let it be

lack of self control, emotional eating, etc.

A screw's missing, what is it?

As America's and Europe's growing obesity problems prove, there aren't that many people who just maintain their whole lives without ever getting too fat. Those people are the ones who work physical jobs and don't have a lot of free social time. Today's society allows primarily sedentary work with lots of free time to relax, which usually includes snacking.
back in the pioneer days, time not spent working to earn money was spent planting, harvesting and storing food so no one would starve to death in the winter. Those stores had to last all winter, so no one was snacking on extra during that time, they were working on other projects they might not have had time for during summer work-time.

ItsCasey

I wouldn't say "messed up in the head." In my case, I genuinely believe my problem was that I really, really liked good food and did not even pay attention to how much I was eating or how many calories I burned. It sounds silly now to say that I didn't know something as elementary as "(calories in > calories out) x time = fatty" but I really didn't understand what I was doing to myself, and I guess my weight didn't bother me enough to do anything about it until it bothered me enough to do something about it.

Some people stop eating when they are physically satisfied, no matter how good the food is or how much is still on their plates. They don't even have to say to themselves "You're done. Stop eating." It's just their natural response to being full. I have never been one of those people. If the food is good, I eat until it's gone, and then I still want more. The difference between now and when I was fat is that I am now fully aware of how many calories I burn on a typical day, and I'm fully aware that if I eat more than that, I will gain weight. Having that information is enough to overcome my desire to keep eating. It's not easy, but I can do it.

msf74

No, but I think that traditional "dieting" can create psychological issues, especially if it is repeated over and over again ("yo yo dieting".)

You only have to look at what happened to the men who took part in The Minnesota Semi Starvation experiment who were well adjusted prior it to see just how badly restriction of choice, deprivation and dieting can affect people mentally.

bcattoes

There actually aren't many people that never get fat without dieting. it's just that some people diet before they get fat, and others don't start until they are overweight or obese.

IronSmasher

Yes.

SezxyStef

I don't think there is a screw missing

I think people become over weight for various reasons.

Lack of knowledge on the calories in what they are eating
Thinking that they can eat like they did as teenagers/early 20's
Thinking that once they lose weight they can go back to their old habits.
Going on a "diet" and not making it a life change.
Blaming everything else except the food they put in their mouth for the weight gain. Ie "oh I have a slow metabolism" per that youtube video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KA9AdlhB18o
We often celebrate and/or comiserate with food...wedding receptions/snacks after a funeral/celebration dinners for raises/new jobs
Some people eat when bored and never think about what they are eating
Being in denial about what they eat and how much exercise they really do.

I wont say eating when not hungry because hunger does not signify you need more calories neither does lack of hunger indicate you've had enough.

If people make that choice to be accountable to themselves and log accurately (every bit, sip etc weighed) and ate at a deficet they will lose weight...sometimes it is slow due to medical issues...but it still happens.

or eat at maintenance to well maintain we wouldn't have this issue of "diets" and "yo-yos"

TL/DR: no screws loose...just ignorant or in denial or just doesn't care.

sheleen302

I wouldn't say "messed up in the head." In my case, I genuinely believe my problem was that I really, really liked good food and did not even pay attention to how much I was eating or how many calories I burned. It sounds silly now to say that I didn't know something as elementary as "(calories in > calories out) x time = fatty" but I really didn't understand what I was doing to myself, and I guess my weight didn't bother me enough to do anything about it until it bothered me enough to do something about it.

Some people stop eating when they are physically satisfied, no matter how good the food is or how much is still on their plates. They don't even have to say to themselves "You're done. Stop eating." It's just their natural response to being full. I have never been one of those people. If the food is good, I eat until it's gone, and then I still want more. The difference between now and when I was fat is that I am now fully aware of how many calories I burn on a typical day, and I'm fully aware that if I eat more than that, I will gain weight. Having that information is enough to overcome my desire to keep eating. It's not easy, but I can do it.

This totally sums up my experiences with being overweight and relationship to weight reduction and food to a T.

anaisbutterfly7

I have ptsd, but even then I am the adult making the choice whether or not to find healthier coping mechanisms than food.

Ferrous_Female_Dog

I think there are a combination of factors- insecurity, low self esteem, anxiety, hangriness, malnurtrition, stress, depression, just to name a few- that makes the general population of MFP seem mentally unstable.

Francl27

I definitely am :laugh:

sjp_511

I wouldn't say "messed up in the head." In my case, I genuinely believe my problem was that I really, really liked good food and did not even pay attention to how much I was eating or how many calories I burned. It sounds silly now to say that I didn't know something as elementary as "(calories in > calories out) x time = fatty" but I really didn't understand what I was doing to myself, and I guess my weight didn't bother me enough to do anything about it until it bothered me enough to do something about it.

Some people stop eating when they are physically satisfied, no matter how good the food is or how much is still on their plates. They don't even have to say to themselves "You're done. Stop eating." It's just their natural response to being full. I have never been one of those people. If the food is good, I eat until it's gone, and then I still want more. The difference between now and when I was fat is that I am now fully aware of how many calories I burn on a typical day, and I'm fully aware that if I eat more than that, I will gain weight. Having that information is enough to overcome my desire to keep eating. It's not easy, but I can do it.

I agree and I am the same way as you. When I eat something that tastes good I want more, even if I am already full. The feeling of fullness does not make me stop eating. Either will power or lack of availability make me stop eating. I dont know why I am this way, I always have been for as long as I can remember.

My husband, who doesn't struggle with weight, will stop eating when he is full, no matter how much he is enjoying his food. He does not understand my compulsion to want to keep eating after I am full.

waldo56

From one extreme to the other...

That can't be normal.

Something must be off in our heads compared to people that can maintain their whole lives without ever getting too fat, let it be

lack of self control, emotional eating, etc.

A screw's missing, what is it?

Staying active and regularly exercising.

Blokeypoo

Maybe!

I have a different head mess now though. After years of feast/famine I lost 28lbs and have been maintaining for a year. I exercised 3xwk during loss and also mini trampolined and walked hard (have been mountain walking for 17yrs). I now do wt machines 2x wk, mini tramp and walking.

Although I am at top end of my wt range I really don't want to lose any more, I am 46 and already look like a shelled tortoise! However, I am pretty sure I'd be called skinny fat as I still carry wt on my tum - limbs are thin / skinny but muscular.

SO - after years of bad food habits and being overweight I have cracked that bit......only to find a different area where I feel a failure and it's really quite affecting me. Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaargh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

waldo56

There actually aren't many people that never get fat without dieting. it's just that some people diet before they get fat, and others don't start until they are overweight or obese.

And this.

Cutitng back a bit and/or exercising a bit more occasionally to deal with a couple extra pounds that have built up is a pretty normal thing to do for most non-fat people.

Pretty much everyone has a lose a few for swimsuit season. If you're not fat this is relatively painless and easy, and doesn't take but a few weeks.

fitformidlife

Part of it is emotional eating or boredom, but there's nothing to offset that now. I'm sure people overeat in the old days, but back when they were working on farms or at physically demanding factory jobs was the norm. Even though there weren't as many women in the workforce, housework was a lot more physical, too. Also, there were less processed foods available so people ate healthier by default. That means there was a lot more "wiggle room" for those who consumed more calories.

Now we live in a society where we fight or a parking spot by the door at the health club. We're also bombarded by unrealistic media images that make us insecure, whereas once upon a time we wouldn't have worry about not being Barbie Doll thin. Those are just a few factors that I think contribute to the overall messing with our heads.

WinWinGo

Yep. Brain likes glucose. Sugar is often demonized by dieters (And that one dude who started the anti-sugar trend) And thinking about food all day makes you crazy. Just because.

minimalistmom

1. The lack of self-control
2. Some people do emotionally eat
3. We are lazier now than back in the day
4. Our portion sizes are double what they used to be.

Those people who seem to maintain, listen to their body, move throughout the day, and don't follow the current crazies for diets, etc.

PRMinx

There are a lot of reasons to revise a diet that have nothing to do with being "messed up in the head."

1. Life changes - In high school and college we aren't nearly as sedentary as we are at work. So, we have to adjust to sitting at a desk for the majority of our lives and that involves diet and exercise.

2. Moving - I moved from NYC where I walked everywhere to a place where I need to drive everywhere. It's amazing how much this has impacted my activity levels and, subsequently, my daily burn.

3. More responsibility - As we gain more responsibility in our jobs or family life (kids), time gets crunched. It's easy to put off exercising or cooking a healthy meal when so busy.

Does that mean that these should be excuses? No. But, it does explain ways that people gain weight that have nothing to do with an abnormal relationship with food.

in_the_stars

There actually aren't many people that never get fat without dieting. it's just that some people diet before they get fat, and others don't start until they are overweight or obese.

I eat when I'm hungry, I drink when I'm dry...

Never been overweight or dieted for weight loss. Honestly, I really don't think about food that much.

MysteriousMerlin

Overeating to assuage my emotions was my downfall.

Started about age 15. Parents went though a very nasty near-divorce that I wish had actually happened. There's no way a divorce would have been any worse than what they put their family through by staying together.

Hard to get a cap on those anger issues as well, but I've managed well on my own in that. Now it's just the stress relief I'm working on.

rybo

Not all, but a significant amount are.