What the heck is going on with my body/appetite?

Makoce

The past few weeks I have been ravenous, I cannot stop thinking/obsessing over eating / feeling hungry.

I havent changed the way I am eating at all, I have been eating the same way for months now
( Natural foods only, for health reasons .. not weight loss. Lost all my weight on icecream and processed foods....)

I keep binging/craving on fruits all the time now, especially at night after a full dinner - which I ignored to some degree because its fruit.

But then it led onto a full on 5,000+ over maintenance binge of chips, cookies, donuts, candy, cereal, you name it the other night.

Even when I am completely full physically, I still crave eating.

Anyway .. I thought maybe I wasnt eating enough.
I lost 65LBS total so far, and I have been at maintenance for maybe 3 months now so there hasnt been any shift in calories recently.

I have gained back 2 - 3lbs in the past few weeks this has been happening to me .. what is going on?
Is this a sugar issue? My stomach has gotten super bloated recently, too it seems like. The tape measure confirms this.
from the fruit, im assuming?

Diary is public...I even logged that binge from the other night. I dont hide anything .. so feel free to pick it apart and help.
( happened 5/23 and i spent the next few days trying to make up for it .. another was 5/20 )

Super frustrated and afraid to be back at square 1, especially with all Ive accomplished.

My water consumption is ridiculous so its not that.

Makoce

Annnny one?

looseseal

Not being smartassy or anything but are you pregnant? That would be one explanation.

I read your profile page. Are you still doing intermittent fasting? If so, have you tried eating 'normally' for a week or two to see if you notice any changes in appetite? (don't know much about IF, just a suggestion)

You started @168 and lost 60lbs, so you are now around 108? How tall are you? Could your weight be too low for your height and your body is trying to let you know by increasing your appetite?

Makoce

No. I'm not pregnant. I'm currently single.
And on birth control.
But it was a valid thought don't worry.

I've actually lost more. I'm 105 now but I was 102. I'm 5'2
IF works into my schedule because I get up at 5am and work till 1pm.
I don't have time to eat so it just became a thing. I don't like eating first thing in the morning it makes me feel sick.

It's usually after dinner though that I have the most issues.

hill8570

Have you been depressed or serious lacking on sleep / tired (say, on or just after your period?).

Those are the first things I think of when I see someone with a serious carb cravings.

A long shot would be some sort of nutrient deficit, but you seem to be getting a decent variety of foods, so that doesn't seem super likely.

Makoce

I've had depression my whole life. So not a new issue.
But I have had a wonky sleep schedule lately.
But I always get at least 8hrs if not more.

_KitKat_

Were you always a binge eater?

If not see the doctor asap, that extreme of a change could be a symptom of a greater problem.

If you were a binge eater, check your emotional triggers and stress levels.

I am not a binge eater but when I have an insane craving, it is normally caused by a deficient. I will crave a half lb burger if my iron levels drop to borderline.

Vitamin D deficiency if you are in a location that has winter and it can be really bad right now if you are in the northern hemisphere. The government did a study and most people in 4 season locations are deficient. Not sure if it can cause binges but it does a zillion things.

If it is major carb binging, you may need your sugar insulin levels checked. hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) can cause weird carb cravings and you do not have to be larger to have this. My physically fit husband has had it since he was 20.

Aaron_K123

The bloating is likely due to the high sodium content of your binge (especially chips). As for why you are feeling ravenous I'm not sure, perhaps take an honest look at your diet and see if there are any clear gaping holes in your nutrients.

hill8570

I've had depression my whole life. So not a new issue.
But I have had a wonky sleep schedule lately.
But I always get at least 8hrs if not more.

Okay. Assuming your depression is under control (i.e., your serotonin levels are in good shape), that's probably ruled out.

Eight hours + of sleep is pretty reasonable for most folks. Unless you know you require more, we'll rule that out.

How long has the "wonky sleep schedule" been going on? Jerking around with the ol' circadian rhythms can cause all kind of strange symptoms.

Makoce

Yes. Binging is originally why I gained weight.
But I hadn't had issues for awhile not much has changed.

I'm on a vitamin d supplement.

Makoce

A few weeks. From starting a new job. I usually slept till noon. Now I get up at 5.
But I get the same hours of sleep. Kinda goes together huh?

ColeCake292012

Are you on a new birth control? Any antidepressants?

Both are possible to make you ravenous.



...Maybe your weight is a little lower than your body wants it to be?...Not trying to be rude, just an honest thought.

_KitKat_

A few weeks. From starting a new job. I usually slept till noon. Now I get up at 5.
But I get the same hours of sleep. Kinda goes together huh?

New job even if you are excited could be stressing you enough to fall back on old comforts. You did it before, just try your best to conquer your stress. Excise can help a lot for stress. Also didn't say before but Congrats on you loss :flowerforyou:

healthygreek

I notice you're not eating any grains, potato, sweet potato-stuff like that.
Do you have issues with these types of food?
Also, perhaps you just need to up your calories a 100 at a time just to see if that helps stop the binges.
What stopped my binges was eating enough of all kinds of foods and having treats here and there.

ILiftHeavyAcrylics

Are you exercising? If so how much and what kind of exercise?

Makoce

I cant up my calories anymore, as I have a fitbit and I already eat over at the end of the week of what it says I burn .. im slowly gaining as it is, unfortunately.

As far as grains/ potato, I eat sweet potato occasionally.
Like I plan to have sweet potato mash tomorrow, yummy.
I also occasionally have white rice.

Grains just bloat me & high carbs/sugars messes with my blood sugar level I feel like, I get super shakey.

and yes I walk 30 - 60 minutes a day ( sometimes more ), and strength training 2 - 3 times a week for like 40 minutes.

WLG1974

I binge when I'm really super lonely. Are you lonely by any chance????

_KitKat_

If this is the only binge you have had on your weight loss journey (or in a very long time). I say insulin level check and if good then need to control the stress from the recent life changes. You can do it, you have...go walk if you feel a binge coming, start a new lifting program to keep your mind busy, so you are not thinking about food.

Makoce

I binged a lot on my weight loss journey, its always months a part it seems like.
I try to chew gum or drink water, or exercise -- or even go to bed when i feel it coming, but ill turn off all the lights, get ready for bed go to go upstairs and grab food and shove it down my throat.. sometimes I dont make it to the distraction, lol.

_KitKat_

I binged a lot on my weight loss journey, its always months a part it seems like.
I try to chew gum or drink water, or exercise -- or even go to bed when i feel it coming, but ill turn off all the lights, get ready for bed go to go upstairs and grab food and shove it down my throat.. sometimes I dont make it to the distraction, lol.

Have you tried over eaters anonymous? No need to answer but they may be able to help.

Makoce

No I havent, is it free?
Because .. I would have talked to a councilor or something years ago if I didnt have to pay.

ILiftHeavyAcrylics

Have you ever gotten counseling for the binging? (eta I see you answered while I was typing. I believe overeaters anonymous is free)


Honestly if I were eating as little as you are I feel like I'd probably be binging too-- most normal days you're not making it to your goal, which is still what I would consider cutting calories. However I can understand not wanting to increase them given the fact that the binges are bringing up your weekly total.

I'd recommend seeing a doctor. Take your logs with you.

SiempreBella

Maybe it is because you are trying not to think of food. In psychology they had done studies where they would ask participants to not to think of a white bear and they would. Here is a link with some info http://www.apa.org/monitor/2011/10/unwanted-thoughts.aspx. Just my two cents.

MyChocolateDiet

5/20 and 5/23?

is there any chance this could be TOM related?

Makoce

Have you ever gotten counseling for the binging? (eta I see you answered while I was typing. I believe overeaters anonymous is free)


Honestly if I were eating as little as you are I feel like I'd probably be binging too-- most normal days you're not making it to your goal, which is still what I would consider cutting calories. However I can understand not wanting to increase them given the fact that the binges are bringing up your weekly total.

I'd recommend seeing a doctor. Take your logs with you.

My goal is set to a manual number, I have a fitbit so most days I am at goal technically.
But yes, I do try to compensate the week when I binge .. which probably turns it into a cycle.
Its hard to even want to reach goal now as I just want to get back to my goal weight of 102 where I was happy.
Now I feel bloated and chunky, since Im so short and petite. So Im having a hard time getting back into the swing of things.

5/20 and 5/23?

is there any chance this could be TOM related?

Nope! Theres other dates, just didnt want to search em out

hill8570

The past few weeks I have been ravenous, I cannot stop thinking/obsessing over eating / feeling hungry.

A few weeks. From starting a new job. I usually slept till noon. Now I get up at 5.
But I get the same hours of sleep. Kinda goes together huh?

Okay....looks like we have a likely first-level cause. OTOH, you should have adjusted to a 7 or 8 hour time-shift by now (adjustment for jet lag is generally a day per time zone, and you effectively shifted 7 time zones, more or less).

Are you enjoying your job, or do you come home tired as crap (maybe not physically, but mentally strung out). When are you fitting exercise into your schedule?

cheripugh1

SUGAR... the fruit sugar, sounds like it's triggering your glucose or spiking your body sugars which will make you feel like you are starving! (excess fruit, which means excess for YOU will cause bloating also) I am not a Doctor but I know a LOT about blood sugars and since your wt. is about perfect for you ht. (maybe a tad low depends on bone structure) cut back on the fruit, might need to go in and get your sugar tested an A1c done, you can buy the test at most all drugstores for about $10 - $20 if you can't go to the Doctor right away.

ILiftHeavyAcrylics

The sleep issue is a really good point. I'm still concerned there's something else going on too though, since you say you had problems throughout your weight loss with binging.

_KitKat_

No I havent, is it free?
Because .. I would have talked to a councilor or something years ago if I didnt have to pay.

Yes it is like AA


ETA http://www.oa.org/

_KitKat_

I have gained back 2 - 3lbs in the past few weeks this has been happening to me .. what is going on?

2-3 lbs can be fluctuations, i weigh 2 lbs more every night. find a goal range not specific number.

kgeyser

I don't have any advice, as I have also been ravenously hungry lately, but I hope you figure things out. :flowerforyou: