Serious eating issues, Please HELP!!!

blueyeb

If allowing yourself 'one treat' is producing a binge, chances are you're being over-restrictive to start with. Getting healthy is about learning to be kind to yourself, in a positive, healthy way.

Well stated :-)

awilson2010

I didn't read any other replies so I apologize if I'm repeating a lot of what was said, however the problem to me seems like you are trying to eliminate certain things in your "diet" (i use that term loosely cause I hate it lol) completely.

For me, eating habits are very much in my head. I succumb to head hunger WAY too often and that is my downfall. I tried cutting out carbs entirely, cold turkey, 100% and lost a few pounds fast as well, but because of that I gave in much easier. It didn't take much to fall off the wagon & I kept failing & failing.

I don't cut these things out completely, I allow myself to have them in moderation. I eat bread, but its always whole wheat or flax seed. I eat pasta, but its always whole wheat pasta in 1c servings once per week.

I haven't even cut out fast food entirely. If I want Taco Bell, I get Taco Bell as my treat for that week. I get one taco as a snack. However, in the days where I tried to tell myself 10000% no way would I ever eat it ever again, I was eating a full meal within a few days.

I also noticed that when I tried to say that I can only eat 5 times a day - 3 meals, and two snacks, thats it! - I would fail. I pack a grocery bag with indi bags of raw veggies, fruit, cottage cheese & sugar free jello and keep it in the fridge at work, and if I want a snack I go get one.

dolphin9803

I go through this alot as I'm a junk food junkie...lol BUT I have learned what workes for MEand that is I do the 30 min extra and have that snack that I want however I only allow myself to eat what it says and save the rest for another day . And like someone said earlier I stick to a Eat Healthy for 6 days and on the 7th I allow myself to splurge but I also make sure that the work out I did that mornin was longer then normal and make sure I drink all 8 glasses of water. Fridays are my splurge day because thats our pizza and movie night with the kids. Because in the past like you have cut everything out that I shouldn't be eating and then fail more often then not. Personally my way works well for me and I have yet to fail and have doing it since the middle of July granted I might not have lost as much weight as some but I have learned that I can't take everything away or it leads to a serious binge and complete failure.

kheavin0928

I definitely agree with what everyone else has been saying. Don't cut out everything completely, or you're going to want it more. For example, yesterday I decided that I wanted a candy bar. I initially picked up one that had 180 calories per serving (there were roughly two servings), but got the Hershey's Dark Chocolate candy bar instead which was 180 calories total, which was a win in my book! I got my chocolate without too many calories and I didn't feel deprived of feeding into my sweet tooth! Little things like that can make a big difference in your diet. Feel free to friend me if you would like, we all need support once in awhile! You got this!

SoDamnHungry

My best advice would be to not giving anything up. Just go to a calorie limit. And remember that if you mess up, you don't have to give up on the whole day. As soon as you realize what's happening, steer yourself back on track. And eat veggies with each meal so you feel like you're eating more.

Troll

i had the same problem. What worked for me was to quit cold turkey until the cravings totally went away. It worked with caffiene, then salt, then sugar. Dont keep them around. i didnt have cheat days, period, for about 3 months. When it dawned on me that i could be around ice cream, cake, coffee, etc without instantly turning into one of my dogs (if it smells good i HAVE TO EAT IT NOW) i allowed myself some. I bit my lip through birthdays with cookie cake, family meals with gravy, fried potatos, and fudge ice cream, mall visits right past starbucks...for 3 months. I wanted them, i almost got in a fist fight for my fiances gelato, and i dreaded family gatherings. But now i can say that i had a frozen coffee on saturday and it was so sweet i couldnt finish it. And i have a tub of ice cream in the freezer that i have barely touched. Now, a slice of cake isnt the beginning of a week long cake fest. I simply dont want caffiene or salt or sugar anymore. Personally i think you have to earn cheat days. you shouldnt just get them. If i miss workouts or eat poorly all week i did not earn a soda or gelato. Also, i think food rewards for weight loss efforts is bogus anyway.

vold94

I want to thank everybody for their words of advice. I am going to re-evaluate what I do now and take some of your words into action. Thanks so much for your time!

shannon_stallone

Everytime I attempt lo carb I end up wanting to binge...Try brown rice or a couple piece of wheat bread...Just think eating is 80% of the battle(my friend who is a personal trainer told me that)...I agree on having a small cheat day, where you can allow yourself to maybe have something you've been wanting all week...Or if you crave something just have it so you don't binge...I'm a huge dessert person and was completely cutting it out of my diet and it backfired on me...I started buying sugar free reeses cups and skinny cow icecreams for when I want something sweet..You can do it!! Just think of your goal!

jbeauchamp1

My advice from personal experience is don't tell yourself you can't have a certain thing....because you will ALWAYS want it more! The only thing that I have completely cut out is diet pop because it is not good for me and honestly I don't miss it. Nearly every ounce that I drink is water with the ocasional juice or regular pop (extremely rare). I find when you feel too restricted you are tempted to quit so instead I say if I want that I have to one either work out extra hard to make up for it and plan for it in my calories for the day or two I have it on my "cheat" day.

I do my best to be very strict and stay in my calories from Monday to Saturday. I weigh in on Sunday mornings and then that day is my day off of tracking and exercising. I do not go crazy and eat everything in site but that is my day to relax and if I want to eat something that I would not eat during the week or if we plan to go out to dinner. It works for me and maybe it would help you not feel so deprived of something.

Hang in there it gets easier....don't quit!

AniyahsMommy324

I have the same problem! I'll do GREAT for like 4 days and then I'll cave. Then I get really angry and upset with myself. So now when I feel the urge to cave I just keep telling myself it's not worth it because of how far I've come. 99% of the time it works!

tracy337

For me the easiest to stop this in its tracks is NOT to cut it out of your diet, but instead choose healthier versions if available. Like if you want to have half or whole sandwich, have one. Use Whole wheat bread instead of white. Brown rice instead of white. There are some things that you can't sub, like potatoes, but limit to one time a week? Or twice a week. watch portion. Another thing I do with that kind of stuff is I put it on my plate, but only can have it once my good stuff is gone, that way by the time I get to the yummy mashed potatoes I usually only have room for a bite or 2. Never can finish them lol Umm sweets, DARK chocolate! Small amounts of dark chocolate daily can help you burn 50% more calories (Or so I heard on the news the other night have not fully checked their sources yet). Starbursts as well! Those are my "I HAVE to have something sweet NOW" food lol an entire pack (12 pieces) is only 240 cals! I usually only eat about 4-6 and it kills my sweet craving. Uhmmm, thinking.....lol if I have anymore suggestions I will post again GL!!

pizzygirltx

I have designated Sundays as my cheat day. I am not eating anything white (rice, pasta, bread, potatoes etc) during the week and then on Sundays, I allow myself to eat (in moderation) whatever I am craving.

Maybe this will help keep you from totally giving in.

Carrie_D

I had a friend tell me that is if you think about eating three meals a day, that is 21 meals per week. If 19 of those 21 meals are healthy, correctly portioned meals, you can have successful weight loss. Don't let one meal destroy what you are working toward. Start again fresh with the next meal.

Bugsyzgrl

I try to make my meals the night before. Then I have no excuse but to eat the healthy items available to me. I've also stopped buying all the empty carbs- chips, etc. If it's there... I WILL eat it.

Rhodygarden

ETA: Just thought of Key #3 - every time yo make a change in your lifestyle to lose weight, ask yourself "can I do this for life?". This is so important because you'll find out what are the healthy ways and what are just quick fixes that won't work. Can you do low carb forever? Maybe - but how about focusing on moderate levels of carbs or more healthy carbs instead. Same with fats.
[/quote]


Very well said - every day make the best choices you can, remembering this is a way of eating for life not a 'diet'. Each day log foods and my exercise. Allowing all food groups and working 'treats' into your plan help me to stay on track. Quick fixes and setting unrealistic goals just lead to failure.

nicolemarie045

I know for me I am not able to cut out the stuff that I love, its just learning very slowly to eat it in moderation. I still have ice cream, hamburgers, pizza, and things but I budget for them in my calories, work out hard to eat them, and eat smaller portions. In my situation, I would eat so much worse/more when I would restrict my choices. If i can have a half cup of ice cream at night, im less likely to sit down with a huge bowl at the end of the week because I'm going crazy. Keep working, you can do it!

svetlana_vs

Forget about refusing from any food - allow yourself some pasta, bread, even sweet things from time to time, but only within your calorie limit. Add calories through exercise. Do not treat this as diet - this is life-style change... do not have fixed "cheat" days - target having all days as "good" days... but just some days will be better than other...

This works very well for me.

TinaDay1114

If allowing yourself 'one treat' is producing a binge, chances are you're being over-restrictive to start with. Getting healthy is about learning to be kind to yourself, in a positive, healthy way.

EXACTLY. Beautifully said. It took me a long time to learn to be kind to myself, and not beat myself up. After that, things clicked.

rml_16

Most of the large losses when you cut carbs is water weight, since carbs hold a lot of water. I doubt you lost that much actual weight in such a short time.

But really consider if you can live your entire life foregoing cake, pasta, bread, whatever. If you can't, you need to balance your diet and include those things in moderation.