I miss the way I used to eat....And I feel worse now then I

katrinaloveslunar

I lost 75 lbs in 3 months (many years ago). I was scared to eat my favourite foods because I knew I'd fall back into old habits. And when I did eat some, they didn't taste the same or give me the same "high" as they used to. However, I know for me, it's the increase in exercise that really helps my weight (not that a proper diet doesn't add to it as well).

You seemed to have your self image confused with your size. You are you, no matter what weight you're at. It sounds to me like you're trying to be happy. You thought losing weight would make you happy, and it didn't. So maybe try something else. Happiness comes from the inside out, not the outside in. There's something good in you that makes you happy, but sometimes it's really hard to find. For some people, it's jogging. For others it's volunteering. For me, it's working with kids. It can be tough to find that happiness, but it is worth the arduous, sometimes painful, journey. Keep trying! (And the journey is always better when you're living a healthy lifestyle ) You're worth all the hard work!

RazorTazor

I completely cut out all sodas from my diet. I only drink water.

WinWinGo

Not sure what to tell you, OP. However, I do agree with everyone who said you might want to seek help for depression. That's up to you, if it seems like it would help.
You said something about your body reacting poorly to junk food. Is that in any amount, or just if you binge on it? I don't know how much you're eating, but maybe you need to up your calorie intake. Also, if you cut a food group out of your diet (carbs, fat, etc.), that might be messing with you. I also agree with whoever said to try consuming more healthy fats. Your brain needs those.
And this is going to sound crazy, but maybe you need some more sugar in your diet? I went off sugar once, for about a week. I was fine during, didn't really notice any changes, but afterwards it seems my body tried to get back at me for not consuming any. And I don't know about you, but trying to stick to mfp's calorie guidelines made me kinda batty. I had to make sure I exercised enough, just so I could have the calories to eat back. When I didn't get 500 extra to eat back, I was in THE worst mood. I've gone days without food,(but not without sugary drinks) and not been that pissed off.

So... try to make sure you're eating enough. If you can manage some junk food, eat it. I'm serious. Just don't binge. If you do binge, don't beat yourself up about it. Just go for a loooooong walk. Not burn the food off, but to help it settle. Sitting still after a binge has always just made me feel indigested and gross for an extended period of time. And that made me feel fat, which made me feel guilty, etc.

And good job on losing the weight!

RazorTazor

I always go over my sugar limit as to what MFP tells me. So that in turn makes me feel as though I should stop eating for the day.

Imthempres

You seem like a really nice guy. I want to say give yourself a break-you are so young and it can be a confusing time as it is, let alone dealing with a new image.
I agree, calculating everything I eat seems to take the joy out of eating. However, our eating habits got off course and now we are using this as a tool to get back in balance. Journaling is another tool. Hopefully, we get to the point where we can eat sensibly and find other interests that make us happy. Happiness is not a constant. Find small things to be grateful for and build on that. For example, you are young and have so much to look forward to accomplishing. Volunteering might be an option or join a meetup group with a common interest like running, etc.
I wish you the best.

tameko2

Thanks for all the feedback guys and girls. I think what I'm gonna do is take a week off of MFP and just try out something new. Eat what I want ONLY when I know I'm hungry and still excercise and see how much I gain. Sound like a good idea? Feel free to friend me if you wanna follow my story.

Yes please try that. you won't gain on the amounts you'll probably eat since you're going to stick to healthy food. Fuel your body. Fuel your runs.

sazroy

I munged out on 600cals worth of chocolate last night.. I wont deny myself my chocolate.. but then I burnt 600cals on the exercise bike.

Eat your lollies! Just if you down a whole packet, read the amount of calories were in that then work it off!

**Added note
You'll learn with time, with this method, the lollies/chocolate wasn't worth the amount of effort to work it off. If you induldge, but work it off everytime, you'll soon associate bad foods with hard work lol

stevenleagle

Razor - I've quickly scanned your profile and some of the comments.

I agree as others have noticed that you have lost heaps of weight in a short period of time.

I also notice how young you are - 19 years old!

Seriously dude, you need to EAT. I am not talking junk food but healthy, nutritious, wholesome food.

You are at the perfect age (if you are in good health otherwise) to start some serious strength training. Your goal is to grow some serious muscles and (by including other exercise) keep up your fitness too.

At your age, you can easily become a lean, mean burning machine. Plenty of muscle requires plenty of fuel. That includes wholesome hamburgers, steak, chicken, eggs, anything you desire. If you have a look at a serious bodybuilder's diet (assuming they are not in a "cutting" phase) they even include plenty of carbs to fuel their workouts - I'm talking heaps and heaps of food to grow.

So you should not really have to miss food at all.

PS - Disclaimer - I'm a dude in the mid 40s who was lean in his 20s but through inactivity put on a great deal of weight in his 30s and early 40s, its only now that I am seriously getting back into it and have grown to absolutely love strength training (and exercise in general). I do understand what it means to MISS food but I reckon things are very different in your circumstances as a young 19 year old man.

jkdarby

Three months is not much time to make a "lifestyle" change. Sure, it's a good start, but I'm sure it's not complete habit for you yet. Once you have started maintaining, you should get to the point where you don't have to "count" calories. You should know your limits, what you can eat each day and not gain weight. Now, if you start eating pizza, fried foods, and sweets every single day, you will not only deprive yourself of nutrition, but you will just pack it all back on.

I have only lost 18 pounds so far. I have been doing this off and on for over a year (I fell off the wagon for about 7 months). When I first started, I would pre-log everything to make sure I would never go over my calories. I felt like I could not eat anything until I knew exactly how many calories were in that food. Now, I am starting to get to the point where I can log at the end of the day (even when eating new food) and still be within my goal.

ByrdMessy

If you're not happy with other areas of your life, focus on other areas of your life. Read a little about feng shui and intentions or try out a site like MindBloom.com where you grow a virtual tree by logging actions, each branch representing a different area of life--make that your daily obsession instead. You can still come back to MFP and meet all your goals, but recognizing that you're unhappy and you want to do something to change is responsible and remarkable and means you'll more likely be successful.

ByrdMessy

I always go over my sugar limit as to what MFP tells me. So that in turn makes me feel as though I should stop eating for the day.

Everyone's body is different, though. It might be perfectly OK for you to eat more natural sugars than MFP suggests--don't let a machine dictate your happiness. You can talk to a Dr. and discuss changing the goals you have set for daily nutrition. Staying under 16g of fiber seems impossible, but I wouldn't dare stop eating because of it. Some sites recommend more than twice that anyway, so I'm OK with too much fiber! If it's an ongoing problem, then you'll want to pre-plan and focus on whichever bothers you most, maybe sugar.

Don't forget! Your body has changed a lot already--have you tried going back and resubmitting your weight and goals? Your net calorie intake might have altered in order to keep losing, but more importantly, your goals will be different now.

GoalSixPack

Should open your food diary, so we can help you and see what your eating. Sounds like your just starving yourself and not eating.

I my self was at 220 as of may 23 2011. I am at 179 and almost took me a year to drop about the same weight as you. Lost very little muscle. Guessing a lot of your weight loss might be muscle due to lack of food.

DogsK

Perhaps you need to seek more professional help like a dietician or personal trainer.

ByrdMessy

I don't mean to post three in a row, but one last suggestion (and I hope I'm being helpful) is to expand your food repertoire. I went grocery shopping today after work and was able to come home to a meal of cottage cheese with strawberries and blackberries in a multigrain tortilla. Yuuuuuuummmmmmmmmmmm. If that doesn't work for you, the other wrap I had today was a multigrain tortilla with spinach and artichoke hommus, carrots and avocado. Both were exciting and if you get the portions right, filling and healthy. Instead of fish, try cooking tofu in a little buffalo sauce. Another recent favorite was making a deviled egg with laughing cow cheese and spices. Mushrooms sauteed in lemon are AWESOME. Try different kinds of nuts and beans, greek yogurt, and don't forget salsa--so few calories, such big taste. Find a way to make food something you look forward to and make your entire family jealous of what you're eating.

RazorTazor

Some of you are missing the point. I miss eating things I ate before I lost the weight. For example (and since it's Easter and I'm missing out on all of my favorite things) jelly beans,marshmallow peeps, cookies, brownies, Pizza, wings, hamburgers ect. Yes it's ok it eat in moderation but, for example, a moderation for peeps is like 1 peep. That would make me miss them even more. And I already do plan ahead. Sometimes I plan up to a week ahead and follow that plan verbatim.

tlinval

One word comes to mind: therapy. ((hugs)) Don't be so hard on yourself! :flowerforyou:

Heartpath

Food can have emotional meaning, too, such as the tradition of Easter or feeling included by your family in what they eat. I'm sorry they aren't supportive. When you take away the "friend" that food is, but you don't substitute in something else, then it makes sense that you feel lonely and sad. Here was this thing that was always available and made you feel better, just because it tastes good and fills your stomach and maybe is tied to situations that feel good. What are you doing, other than food, that makes you happy? You lost the weight, thinking that it would make things better, but what does "better" mean for you, in practical terms? And what can you do to get there? What can you add into your life?

Rhea30

I was a very depressed person BEFORE I started dieting. I thought that if I looked good I would magically feel better about myself, and to tell you all the truth I feel worse now then I ever have. I'm so stressed, and my body always acts negitively when junk food enters my system. My family and friends all sit around eating whatever they want and I'm stuck eating a 4oz peice of fish and a salad. It's killing me. And no they won't join me on this diet, I don't have that kind of family. And now I'm stuck with feeling like this because if I start eating like I did I will feel so guilty and feel even worse.

I think thats what the other MFP member was talking about. You may have emotional issues that need to be addressed, losing weight isn't going to matter if you haven't addressed the real issues. If you feel very deprived with your eating do what some do on here and have a cheat day where you don't log, sort of like a vacation from your dieting.

CrazyMidget611

Rhea30

Some of you are missing the point. I miss eating things I ate before I lost the weight. For example (and since it's Easter and I'm missing out on all of my favorite things) jelly beans,marshmallow peeps, cookies, brownies, Pizza, wings, hamburgers ect. Yes it's ok it eat in moderation but, for example, a moderation for peeps is like 1 peep. That would make me miss them even more. And I already do plan ahead. Sometimes I plan up to a week ahead and follow that plan verbatim.

Maybe experiment and try to make some of the foods you like but in a healthier way. I have found some recipes that I'm enjoying of foods I liked and actually finding them better then the original. One is homemade chicken nuggets, I loved chicken nuggets but I've learned how to make them homemade and healthier and they are great since I don't feel like im depriving myself. Try some of the stuff at Skinnytaste.com, the food is awesome on there.

bemott

therapy. please try it. I know it's harder for men. If you find the right person, your mind will start matching your body in feeling better, more fit, more functioning and well. really!

ashnm88

Don't treat it as a diet, because its not. Its a lifestyle change. I have lost a good amount of weight (72lbs in total) before MFP(35) and with MFP(37).

I treat myself to pizza, the odd ice cream and so on. Don't deprive yourself. Moderation is key and it can be done.

shesajoy

I was a very depressed person BEFORE I started dieting. I thought that if I looked good I would magically feel better about myself, and to tell you all the truth I feel worse now then I ever have. I'm so stressed, and my body always acts negitively when junk food enters my system. My family and friends all sit around eating whatever they want and I'm stuck eating a 4oz peice of fish and a salad. It's killing me. And no they won't join me on this diet, I don't have that kind of family. And now I'm stuck with feeling like this because if I start eating like I did I will feel so guilty and feel even worse.

Sweetheart, you need to see a counselor. Your body is healthy now, and your mind needs to be healthy7 as well. "I don't have that kind of family" speaks volumes. I have suffered from depression my entire life, as has my son, who is now 22. He lost over 80 lbs to join the Air Force, and I know that his losing weight did NOT magically transform his inner feelings about himself or eliminate depression. You have made SUCH great strides - find a counselor who specializes in overeating as a form of emotional issues. Your body is reacting negatively to the junk food because it now knows what it feels like to be healthy.

Good luck to you!!

shesajoy

Some of you are missing the point. I miss eating things I ate before I lost the weight. For example (and since it's Easter and I'm missing out on all of my favorite things) jelly beans,marshmallow peeps, cookies, brownies, Pizza, wings, hamburgers ect. Yes it's ok it eat in moderation but, for example, a moderation for peeps is like 1 peep. That would make me miss them even more. And I already do plan ahead. Sometimes I plan up to a week ahead and follow that plan verbatim.

Maybe experiment and try to make some of the foods you like but in a healthier way. I have found some recipes that I'm enjoying of foods I liked and actually finding them better then the original. One is homemade chicken nuggets, I loved chicken nuggets but I've learned how to make them homemade and healthier and they are great since I don't feel like im depriving myself. Try some of the stuff at Skinnytaste.com, the food is awesome on there.

Again - you are missing these foods because of some other issue. Otherwise, a couple of peeps or two slices of pizza or whatever would BE enough, do you see? Don't give up. You can do this, and you can feel good inside and out, and live a happy healthy life, I promise. (Can you tell I am a mom?? )

smcalabucci

Hi.. Your problem isn't the food. You can diet all you want but if you do not have your emotions in check nothing is going to make you feel better. You need professional help to treat the underlying problems that exist. Don't be hard on yourself about this! Eating the way you use to or changing your eating habits are NOT going to help you. You need to get treatment for your depression and find out what is actually causing it. It's not what's on the outside that is the problem, it's what is on the inside. Please get some help...

amymrls

I started dieting and working out vigoriously about 3 months ago. I lost about 60 pounds and I went from a size 38 waist to a size 32. I went from somewhere around 220lbs to weighing about 171lbs. At first I was all gung-ho about making this lifestyle change. I was confident and loved getting complimented. Now...I just miss the way I used to eat. I miss all my favorite candy, and I know the response will be, "it's ok in moderation once every two weeks" or something like that, but that...that will just make me feel worse. I miss not having to worry about my calorie intake. I miss being able to be like, "yeah sure I'll have a burger," or "yes I would love some pizza." I figured by this time I would love the way I look, and I do, but is it really worth it? Nothing has changed in my personal life and it's making me so depressed and confused. I feel worse now, than I did when I was fat. What should I do?

I eat what I want and when I have to many calories I work out more. I love food and am depressed when I cut foods I like as well

Articeluvsmemphis

Baby, just eat some pizza, or chocolate, haha ALL WILL BE RIGHT WITH THE WORLD haha

just ask yourself why you're losing weight. I've always been fat, I'm losing weight for myself, for my future aspirations (sports, etc)

the weight loss makes me happy. I don't starve myself, sometimes I go overboard, but it's a learning process. 70pounds later, and I have some pretty good set in stone habits, and it's a good feeling.

i am not on a diet, it's a life change.

ckish

Decades ago I lost alot of weight and I understand what you are feeling. Maybe I am projecting my experience into your situation but in my case those feeling you expressed stemmed from all of the emotional things that came up as a thinner person that did not exist when I was heavier. I did not realize until I lost the weight how I had used it as a crutch to protect me. If someone didn't like me it was because they didn't like fat people - not because they didn't like the real me. If anything went wrong in my life or relationships I always had a solid built in excuse to explain it away. I enjoyed eating and I was worth splurging on myself. Losing weight stripped that away and I had to face the uncomfortable fact that maybe I had contributed to some of my own problems. As a fit trim and attractive woman I realized if someone didn't like me or I didn't get a job my appearance was not the reason. It made me want to run back to the fat me. Instead I slowly faced my fears and then I saw my life change. Losing weight turned out to be the easy part. Changing my life was far more difficult. I have no idea what your situation is but I can tell you that life is wonderful on the otherside. In closing, the definition of insanity is sometimes described as doing the same things repeatedly and expecting different results. If you are unhappy with your life - regaining 60 pounds willl not make you magically enjoy it. It will just put you into an earlier grave. No matter how destructive the people are who surround you the world will be diminished by your early departure and I sure that there are people who would be devasted by your absence. Don't be afraid to face your fears and claim the wonderful life that is waitng for you.

NoAdditives

I'm sorry I can't offer any useful advice.
I have not cut anything out of my diet. I allow myself to have the things I've always enjoyed.
Yes, a part of it is moderation... BUT... If I am feeling greedy, I'll plan ahead and make other meals smaller, or workout extra hard to make up for it.

^^This. I still eat pizza, cake, cookies, occasional fast food, etc.

NU2U

I will NEVER miss the way I use to eat...because now that I'm seeing positive changes in my body..I will NEVER miss the way I use to look.

Eat junk= look like junk
Eat good=feel and look good