Why does a bad weigh-in lead to more eating!?

lmanzi219

Hey everyone! Sooo I'm wondering your thoughts on this.... Why is it that when you weigh yourself expecting a loss and its the same number or more, our minds switch to, "screw it! What's the unhealthiest thing I can eat right now!" Instead of, "ok time to buckle down and work harder". So frustrated right now! Last week I started insanity only to put on 2 lbs the first week. Not knowing this is common, I gave up temporarily only to read that it happens to a lot of people so I started up again after 5 days off... I am in desparate need of some motivation! Any ideas???

EricJonrosh

Your weight can fluctuate up to 5% any time. Why do you eat more? I don't know. Try cutting out any simple carbs. I've had very low munchies/cravings/whatever since Feb. 7 when I started eating only complex carbs.

dawny78

whats complex carbs ??? I'd like low munchies please

ybba12490

Don't be discouraged! Just because you have a bad weigh-in doesn't mean to give up and indulge on something. I used to be a "I did terrible so I'm going to eat a brownie... or 5!" person until one day I said "The weight isn't just going to fall off itself, I have to do the work whether I like it or not" so now I don't complain about bad weigh-ins, don't indulge.. its weird, because I used to have no self control, literally. You just have to have confidence in yourself and know that you ARE doing the right thing. Imagine what your body will look like when you reach your first mini goal.. or even your ultimate goal? We think these things aren't a reality but just look at all the inspirational people on this site with success stories who've lost 50.. 70.. 100 lbs! Proof that it is possible. And those people had bad weigh-ins, and made mistakes, and ate bad calories. You can do this!! We are all in the same boat

ahsongbird

b/c we are self destructive by nature hahaha if a bad weigh in does that to your confidence, dont weigh in often, a lot of ppl only weigh in once a month. Just do what you know to be right and ignore the scale for a while

k_wills

I guess that's one of the reasons we're over weight in the first place...using food as an emotional crutch.
Reward...Comfort....Fear...Anger..doesn't matter!
Half the battle is acknowledging the problem...then the hard work is looking at why the self sabotage occurs in the first place... No easy answers and you have to do the head work...A lot of the time it's to do with how we really feel about ourselves...but ultimately you have to convince yourself that eating more as an emotional response to anything, is self abuse.

hemlock2010

Yes, so true. But you CAN change this, and when you do, you'll find that nearly all your food cravings melt away. The hormonal ones might still be there, but the emotional triggers just won't have the power that they used to.

I guess that's one of the reasons we're over weight in the first place...using food as an emotional crutch.
Reward...Comfort....Fear...Anger..doesn't matter!
Half the battle is acknowledging the problem...then the hard work is looking at why the self sabotage occurs in the first place... No easy answers and you have to do the head work...A lot of the time it's to do with how we really feel about ourselves...but ultimately you have to convince yourself that eating more as an emotional response to anything, is self abuse.

lacroyx

it doesn't happen to me. when I go a week or more without weight loss I don't stress over it. I think about how I've lost inches everywhere, how my moobies are getting smaller and how I feel when I go out walking and jogging.

Atlantique

It's an unhealthy sort of black and white thinking, and perfectionism. If things aren't 100% perfect, they're AWFUL!

Unfortunately, most of life is grey.

hemlock2010

it doesn't happen to me. when I go a week or more without weight loss I don't stress over it. I think about how I've lost inches everywhere, how my moobies are getting smaller and how I feel when I go out walking and jogging.

Trying to find my moobies. (looks in mirror) Moobies? Where are you? :huh:

downtome

I got like that last week. I take pictures at the end of every 4 weeks to compare with the pictures from when I started and I went to compare the ones from last Friday and didn't really notice any difference in the way that I looked, even after losing 53lbs and what did I do? I went out to the nearest Panda Express and ate, then I came home and later that evening I did more damage, talk about getting emotional! It's funny because its obvious that my clothes are getting loser and I am losing inches and the scale is going down BUT sometimes I feel as though the weight is never going to come off or it's going to take FOREVER! I know I shouldn't feel that way but sometimes I do and yes it's hard and I do have my bad days but I have learned that all is not lost from it and it takes guts to get back up and contine on. I want this more than anything and I still have 101lbs to lose so I also need to learn that it's ok to slip up but the key is getting back to it and letting by gones be by gones and NOT giving up! I am starting to belive in myself more and more, that yes, I can really do this, the question is, how bad do I want it? I'm only human and I'm going to make mistakes but I can pick myself back up and keep moving forward, and so can you! Don't let a bad weigh in be a disappointment, yes, I know, it's hard not to, but we have to learn to give our bodies time to adjust, it's all a part of the process! Here's to our success! Go us!

nokittyno

Very inspiring

fteale

Because you have got used to using food as an emotional crutch, so when you are upset or disappointed, you want to eat to make yourself feel better. Only it doesn't, and in this case, it's counterproductive.

You get the same kick out of exercise, so try to do that whenever you feel disappointed instead!

glcarr65

I had the same thing happen this morning...... I usually only weigh myself once a week (Fridays)...
I have been eating good, exercising only to stay the same this week. I know I must be loosing inches because my clothes are fitting better. I know I should not be obsessed with a number but it does get you down.

I was tempted this morning to eat whatever, but I did not.. I am really trying to look at the big picture but it is hard...

Trying very hard today not to give up!!!

angela828

I'm the opposite! Today I weighed in after 1 week and lost half a pound. glad for the loss, but disappointed it's not more. I didn't think, oh well eff it I'll go have a pop tart for breakfast. I always think, "GOTTA WORK HARDER!" and really observe what I am eating and my sodium. I'm scared if I go and eat something bad I'll keep at it and all my 13 lbs lost will find me.

good luck - it is tough when the scale gives us numbers we do not want to see!