How to deal w/ Overeating 4 days in a row

hwint15

I don't even know how to begin this post. Im so frustrated and angry with myself...I was consistently eating at least 500 cal under my needed calories (including exercise calories I burned) and then my period hit-BAM, I started eating more, but still under my limit. But after my period ended, I have over eaten 4 days in a row! I've been so stressed with high school but mostly figure skating (I am a competitive figure skater), and I'm an emotional eater as well, that I've gotten out if control. I have an ice skating competition in five days and I have a bad feeling that the 2-3 pounds I gained will affect my jumping ability. How should I emotionally and physically get through this? How do I rebound? How do you guys prevent yourself from having "just one more bite"?
Thank you so much.

6ftamazon

I've learned to tell myself that it'll be there tomorrow and that that extra bite will still taste the same as the ones I've just had. However, if you were eating 500 calories UNDER your daily goal, it sounds as if you were under eating and your hunger just took over. Remember calories and food are not the enemy...just learn to find a balance

kjo9692

Don't hate yourself over it, just move on and continue doing what you were doing, don't make a bad day turn into a bad week, then a bad month, etc.

How much are you eating? You said 500 under your daily goal? That's not healthy or sustainable at all, no wonder you felt like you had to eat more!

hwint15

So let's say I could eat up to 1800 cal (1400 cal+400 cal exercise) and I ate 1300 cal. Is that still considered under eating?

muddyevil

DON'T LET IT GET TO YOU!

I used to be the worst at this, I would have one single bite wrong and then BOOM my diet is gone until I feel bad enough about my body to go back on it again. But you just have to think to yourself "Oh well, that was a mistake. Never mind, tomorrow is another day." I am not pretending it's easy, it's one of the hardest things I have done so far on my weight loss journey (and I have been trying to lose weight for about five years now!)

Just realise that we make mistakes, we're human. Just get back on the diet and go go go!

Plus, tomorrow is Monday, new day, new week. Use that as a jump pad to get your diet going again!

Feel free to add me as a friend, and I will make sure to encourage you to keep going!

Lesa_Sass

I don't even know how to begin this post. Im so frustrated and angry with myself...I was consistently eating at least 500 cal under my needed calories (including exercise calories I burned) and then my period hit-BAM, I started eating more, but still under my limit. But after my period ended, I have over eaten 4 days in a row! I've been so stressed with high school but mostly figure skating (I am a competitive figure skater), and I'm an emotional eater as well, that I've gotten out if control. I have an ice skating competition in five days and I have a bad feeling that the 2-3 pounds I gained will affect my jumping ability. How should I emotionally and physically get through this? How do I rebound? How do you guys prevent yourself from having "just one more bite"?
Thank you so much.

Exactly what do you mean by over eating. How many calories are you eating on those days?

giggitygoo

You should be reaching your daily goal, not striving to be as far under it as possible. I'm guessing what you're calling "over-eating" was brought on by depriving yourself.

Plus, jumping with a couple extra pounds will just make you stronger. No worries! We all make mis-steps. Just learn from it and move on.

hwint15

From 500-1000 cal more

kellyskitties

I do this based on goal levels. 1st goal - being under the calorie limit I have set. 2nd goal (if 1st fails) - less than 200 calories over. 3rd goal - under maintenance 4th goal - reboot as quickly as I can.

My monthly visitor also drives me to be an insane out of control food *kitten*. I eat and eat. I've learned to anticipate it. Sometimes I just feed the beast. Last time it took steak and margaritas to shut it up. Once in awhile - eat what you crave and be done with it. I blew my calorie last stop goal of just staying under maintenance OUT of the WATER that day. Then I started reeling it back in. It took me a few days to get back where I wanted to be. The world didn't end, my diet (yes - I'm not PC - diet is just how I eat - my "lifestyle change" involves my diet) continued, I resumed. It didn't just stop there because I couldn't be perfect. I have learned to choose progress over perfection. Perfection will not get me where I'm going, progress will.

Apocalypz

From ABC in America, "The average American female figure skater, for example, is a petite 5'3" and 108 pounds." That's 19.1 BMI. I'd bet you're probably less than this. AND if you practice each morning as I used to when I was going to competitions, then it's mostly muscle, and a couple pounds is no reason to be concerned.

healthygreek

So let's say I could eat up to 1800 cal (1400 cal+400 cal exercise) and I ate 1300 cal. Is that still considered under eating?

If your goal is 1800 and you are eating 1300-YES, you are under eating and you will end up eating too much if you under eat. Eat 1800 and you will be much less likely to overeat or binge.
Especially with skating-you NEED to eat back those exercise calories!!!!
Also if you are under 18 years of age, you can't be on MFP. Try spark teens as they are more geared to a teen body's nutritional requirements.

norseman_44

Try to eat slower. Take more time to eat every bite. Savor your bites.

Don't fixate on your food. Put your plate down or distract yourself between bites. I like to add to my Food Diary as I'm eating. I eat a little, add an entry, eat a little more, read something, eat a little more.

The more time you take, the more your stomach has time to tell your brain that you're satisfied.

I also wonder if your hormones are right. You mentioned menstruation and also the stress of competition. I just wonder if there is something out of whack where your doctor can help.

Most of us have eaten when we're sad, bored, celebratory, or whatever. That is not uncommon. If you are truly an "emotional" eater, then perhaps that, along with stress relief, should be a priority for you. Seek out some guidance from some professional resources that you can access. For example, family doctor or the doctor who is performing your physical, school nurse, guidance counselor, parents or guardians. The internet is also a great resource if you get information from reputable resources.

Don't beat yourself up. It is a process.

Good Luck!

Lesa_Sass

Try to eat slower. Take more time to eat every bite. Savor your bites.

Don't fixate on your food. Put your plate down or distract yourself between bites. I like to add to my Food Diary as I'm eating. I eat a little, add an entry, eat a little more, read something, eat a little more.

The more time you take, the more your stomach has time to tell your brain that you're satisfied.

I also wonder if your hormones are right. You mentioned menstruation and also the stress of competition. I just wonder if there is something out of whack where your doctor can help.

Most of us have eaten when we're sad, bored, celebratory, or whatever. That is not uncommon. If you are truly an "emotional" eater, then perhaps that, along with stress relief, should be a priority for you. Seek out some guidance from some professional resources that you can access. For example, family doctor or the doctor who is performing your physical, school nurse, guidance counselor, parents or guardians. The internet is also a great resource if you get information from reputable resources.

Don't beat yourself up. It is a process.

Good Luck!

Good advice for regular eating but period eating is a whole other animal.

To the OP, you are 18 and a competitive ice skater. You should not be eating a deficit..

How tall are you, how much do you weigh and how much do you want to lose?

hwint15

I'm 5'5". Using the Lose It! app, I started out at 131 lbs and I am now 118. I just started MyFitnessPal and my goal is to be 110 lbs

Lesa_Sass

I'm 5'5". Using the Lose It! app, I started out at 131 lbs and I am now 118. I just started MyFitnessPal and my goal is to be 110 lbs

You are actually perfect for an athletic teenager. Congrats!

110 is to low. Trust me, I am 5.3 and 110 is to low for me, so 116 is probably the lowest you should go.

Alyssawinter1221

The only way I can keep from "just one more bite" is to start doing other things. Like, I literally distract myself, or even get on here and read the forums when I wanna eat badly. Maybe that's weird but it works for me.
I'm only 20, and I too was an athlete my whole life. Until college - I wanted to focus on education and having fun.
I remember the pressure you're under. You are doing great, and I'm willing to bet you look great. don't sweat the small stuff!