If I don't eat enough, will I be very likely to binge?

Superlicious96

I struggle to eat enough most days, I barely eat from when I wake up to 4pm. I eat a regular dinner though so my total intake is like 800kcal most days (not counting calories burned from 40 min daily cardio). I keep reading things online about not eating enough, puts me on the verge of a binge because I'll end up lacking in vital nutrients. I do try to eat quite healthy as in I limit junk food, I'll eat apples, bananas, grapes, nuts or whatever daily. I don't feel like I'm about to binge but I worry I'll feel the cravings soon. What do you think?

I just don't feel like 'adding' anything to my diet because I like the way things are right now so I'd just be forcing myself to eat something I dislike.

QuietBloom

800 calories is too low for anyone, and ventures into ED territory. Are you eating back you exercise calories? All that fruit sounds great, but you need fats and protein as well.

Superlicious96

no I don't eat back my exercise calories, I will somehow try to eat more

DemoraFairy

You don't have to force yourself to eat something you don't like. Just eat more of what you do like. Or even just drinks, you could easily drink 400 calories of orange juice each day.

rocknlotsofrolls

if you don't eat enough filling foods, i.e, protein, you will probably not be full or satified.
Also, for me, if I severely restrict food that I love , it will likely lead to a binge, and has quite often, so I don't retrict food anymore.

njitaliana

If you're only eating 800 calories a day and doing 40 minutes of cardio a day, possible binging is the least of your worries. What you're doing is dangerous. I'd visit a doctor and let your doctor know what you told us. You are showing symptoms of a possible eating disorder.

thatismesammyg

You need to be eating before 4 pm unless you're waking for the day at like 2 pm. Who cares if you're likely to binge. You're more likely to collapse from lack of food intake.

Skarlet13

I have a co-worker who aims to eat 800-1000 calories per day, but guess what? She is always saying how she was "bad" and she "cheated". She weighs 147 lbs and is 5'5. For the amount of calories she aims for, she should be at a much lower weight, but she isn't because she's always binging. So to answer your question, yes, restricting too much can lead to binging. I'm currently 15 lbs heavier than her, but if she keeps it up I'm going to eventually be lower in weight than she is mostly because I'm doing it sensibly. You can aim for higher calories and still lose weight. It doesn't have to be so hard. Be easy on yourself.

wonderwoman234

You will also royally screw up your metabolism eating so little.

Also, your body needs calories from food to function. You sound anorexic. Your heart can go into arrest if you are trying to survive on 800 calories less the calories your burned working out. Read about Karen Carpenter of the Carpenters. She died from lack of eating enough.

I would seek help from a professional.

kbmnurse

Eat.

David_AUS

The psychology of eating is a complex one. For an average person if they "under eat" there is a tendency to binge. For others who have trained their body to survive on a low caloric diet and may have a negative association with food "bad food / good food" etc... then it can be quite difficult to bring yourself to eat more. From my perspective it is about making smarter and informed decisions which MFP helps with.

You may be eating more calories than you think - again this site is great for gaining a "reality check". I suggest you log the foods that you eat (not necessarily forever but enough to gain a true representation of what you are eating". Cravings from the body in my experience are driven from either hormonal imbalances from undesirable eating habits (the old insulin spiking and toughing) and secondly non-nutrient rich foods IE: If your body is looking for iron for instance and you diet has low levels of this what is one way the body can get more iron or other nutrients - one way is for it to eat more of this low density foods - kind of like mining for gold in your local creek is there likely some gold there - probably but how much of the gravel do you have to sift through to get any appreciable amount?

You are looking for answers - it is great to challenge yourself keep doing this - Get the knowing then you can start to make changes as you feel you need to!

lemon629

I wonder if you're actually eating more than you think you are. Most people under-estimate, even when using a calculator? Do you weigh and measure your food?

I think you should confirm your true intake before you start making yourself eat more food than you want. That's an eating disorder, too.

megsmom2

The binge depends on you...not everyone is a binge eater. Personally, yes, that would lead to a binge. In any case...you need to eat more and nourish your poor abused body. You only get one. Treat it right.

Superlicious96

I guess the reason my overall intake is low because I don't eat lunch at all at college so I can get tons of extra work done at the library (exams soon), if I ate lunch I'd probably have a healthier intake of 1200kcal or something. I've been eating like this for a few months now and it HAS led to bingeing around once a week so I'm guessing I must be in the binge/restrict/exercise cycle. I don't really feel weak or anything though because I do eat a lot more to make up for not eating during the day, once I get home from college.

Superlicious96

I have a co-worker who aims to eat 800-1000 calories per day, but guess what? She is always saying how she was "bad" and she "cheated". She weighs 147 lbs and is 5'5. For the amount of calories she aims for, she should be at a much lower weight, but she isn't because she's always binging. So to answer your question, yes, restricting too much can lead to binging. I'm currently 15 lbs heavier than her, but if she keeps it up I'm going to eventually be lower in weight than she is mostly because I'm doing it sensibly. You can aim for higher calories and still lose weight. It doesn't have to be so hard. Be easy on yourself.

yes this is it, I'm like your friend who won't eat much then will binge regularly. But does eating more really help get rid of the cravings? Mine are always sugar cravings so I'm not sure if eating more healthy foods will take care of those, maybe I just need to incorporate some junk into my diet every few days and stay within my calories.

lemon629

Supposedly incorporating whole grain bread (and true whole grain, like Ezekiel bread, not just regular supermarket "whole wheat" bread) helps prevent sugar cravings. Like one slice per day. Adding this would also help your calorie count. By the way, why not take a mini meal that you can eat on your way to class? When I was in college I used to eat an apple on my way to class.

There is also a supplement, L-glutamine, which can help sugar cravings.