Ladies-how do you cope?
RobinC37
Posts: 242 Member
I joined MFP on Monday (I think). Tuesday I had to go get my birth control shot, and since then I've been a complete wreck. I want to gorge on chocolate and went to bed sobbing last night because I had already reached my calorie goal, I was hungry, and I didn't want to mess up anymore. I had already cheated all day yesterday- I went to a big lunch with a friend (800 calories in one sitting OMG) AND had a sweet treat later (Soan Papdi- an Indian cake/dessert type thing-170 cals). I was crying because my boyfriend was yelling at me for being "too hormonal" (umm... duh... that's what birth control is) and because I'm afraid I don't have the discipline. I made it through last night by looking at success stories on here. What do you other ladies do to skirt the cravings?
I'm also pretty down because for exercise I am restricted to walking for another week because of surgery I had on Xmas. I enter my walks in the exercise bit here and it seems like nothing compared to the 2 mile jogs I had finally worked my way up to in December. I have my first weigh-in on Monday for a weight-loss challenge I am in on a car forum. I'm terrified the scale won't have budged from my 208.8, or worse, it will have gone up, even though I am sticking strictly to my micro and macro suggestions on here. Le biggest sigh ever. Help me feel better.
I'm also pretty down because for exercise I am restricted to walking for another week because of surgery I had on Xmas. I enter my walks in the exercise bit here and it seems like nothing compared to the 2 mile jogs I had finally worked my way up to in December. I have my first weigh-in on Monday for a weight-loss challenge I am in on a car forum. I'm terrified the scale won't have budged from my 208.8, or worse, it will have gone up, even though I am sticking strictly to my micro and macro suggestions on here. Le biggest sigh ever. Help me feel better.
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Replies
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Let me guess - you are trying to stick to 1200 calories?
Check this out here: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/717565-in-place-of-a-road-map0 -
1420, adjusted for work-outs.0
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I was on the depo shot for awhile. I did not have this problem.0
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Baby steps, kiddo. Work on one nutrition component for a couple of weeks. Perhaps just tracking your calories faithfully for a week with a goal of not going more than 200 or 300 over. Work on one exercise goal for a couple of weeks (walking every other day, perhaps).
Keep it simple. Make some attainable goals. Reach them, then move on to the next goal.0 -
I was going to say something about using BC as excuses but I will just keep my mouth shut.
I guess I never had issues that some women have when using or switching BC.
FYI, 1420 seems too low in terms of calories. This could be the reason you are hungry.0 -
Well... there's a couple of different things:
A) your calorie intake is just too low. Yes, all of us go through an adjustment period when we lower our calories. But, they shouldn't be SO low that you're going to bed hungry. That is crazy and NOT something you can continue long term.
Your calorie goal is okay, but you're making high calorie food choices and eating through your calories too quickly each day.
C) A little of both. It could be your daily calorie intake IS too low and to make it worse, you aren't making the best choices which means you're going through your calories too quickly.
Do you know your BMR? TDEE?0 -
sometimes you have to satisfy the craving so it won't overtake you. i try and keep some 100 calorie (or less) chocolaty treats around. when the hormones are raging is when its the hardest and the worst for me. what i end up doing is finding a lot of low calorie healthy meals and treats to have throughout the entire day. sometimes it seems like i am eating a lot of food but when i go back and look at my diary i see that it's all good stuff for my body. keeping the food flowing when the hormones are raging helps to keep the cravings away. as far as exercise goes... can you do yoga? walking is great and that sucks that you are restricted (hope you are healing well after surgery). but sometimes to change things up with yoga. try www.doyogawithme.com. It has free videos that you can follow along with. and keep coming here and asking for help!!!! this is why we are all here. we need each other
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I was going to say something about using BC as excuses but I will just keep my mouth shut.
I guess I never had issues that some women have when using or switching BC.
FYI, 1420 seems too low in terms of calories. This could be the reason you are hungry.
I haven't been on depo for very long (this was my second shot) so I'm guessing my body is still adjusting. I thought PMS and hormones was a load of crap too, and I don't want to make this an excuse, but it is real. I started crying because I was fighting with my boyfriend, then I was crying because I was crying, then I was crying because I wanted chocolate.
I don't think 1420 is too low for calories. Remember I had surgery recently and have been pretty sedentary. I know the reason I got so hungry yesterday by bedtime was because I normally eat 6-7 times a day. Yesterday I went out to lunch with a friend and overate, so I cut out some of my later snacks to compensate. Hunger wasn't an issue until yesterday.0 -
Depo was one of several reasons I gained weight. It also unbalanced my hormones to the point that I was a raging c*nt all the time. I stopped taking it 3 years ago and have slowly come back to normal. Even then, after I quit, it took almost a year for my to get pregnant with my oldest daughter. And after I had her, my cycles were still messed up.
As for what you can do, like another poster said, baby steps. Nutrition is the key to any weight loss plan. Concentrate on that first. Get into the habit of tracking, and possibly add 1 new, healthy thing to your diet this week. Next week, add another healthy thing. Then start trying to cut out the unhealthy.
If you need a guideline, Sparkpeople.com has a great step by step program you can follow. Plus they have a huge community. That's where I started out, originally. I just like the Nutrition Tracker here better. It's not much different from the one at Spark, but the Database is definitely bigger and more diverse.0 -
I chew minty gum and drink lots of water. I also pre-log my days and plan ahead on my food for the day, so I know if I can have that extra sweet thing. I look everything up BEFORE I eat it and then decide if it's really worth the calories. This past summer I went to an amusement park, ordered a funnel cake (because they're awesome) and before I took a bite I looked up the calories to determine how much of it to eat....well after being smacked in the face by just how many calories were in it, I gave it to my kids to eat. I plan ahead before I go out to eat anywhere too. I know it sounds anal but I never want to be over 200lbs again. I've been at this for almost a year and have lost 45lbs so far, its a long and hard road but (for me) saying 'no' has gotten easier. Good luck!0
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sometimes you have to satisfy the craving so it won't overtake you. i try and keep some 100 calorie (or less) chocolaty treats around. when the hormones are raging is when its the hardest and the worst for me. what i end up doing is finding a lot of low calorie healthy meals and treats to have throughout the entire day. sometimes it seems like i am eating a lot of food but when i go back and look at my diary i see that it's all good stuff for my body. keeping the food flowing when the hormones are raging helps to keep the cravings away. as far as exercise goes... can you do yoga? walking is great and that sucks that you are restricted (hope you are healing well after surgery). but sometimes to change things up with yoga. try www.doyogawithme.com. It has free videos that you can follow along with. and keep coming here and asking for help!!!! this is why we are all here. we need each other
I'm not sure about yoga yet, although I've done it in the past. It was an appendectomy so they cut up my abdominal muscles. Can't do any ab/core stuff until that's all fixed up.
I try to have a healthy relationship with food and my house is stocked with junk food (all my bf will eat). I'm good at avoiding it normally, but wanting more afterhaving already tried to satisfy the craving is frustrating. I have to keep reminding myself that I AM eating right and making good decisions. I've had problems with eating disorders in the past and am trying not to be too obsessive about this because that scares me, too. But if I don't obsess I can't stick with it.
Golly I am down in the dumps today though.0 -
How can I make my food diary open so you all can see?0
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Toward the bottom: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/account/diary_settingsHow can I make my food diary open so you all can see?0 -
Do you have to be on the shot? I also had really bad emotional and physical reactions to Depo; the pill works so much better for me. :flowerforyou:0
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If you doing 2 lbs a week I suggest going up to one. This might make a GIANT change in how you feel. And you might find that you end up losing more weight doing this. I have... and I know a few other girls who have. We're all different but it might be worth a try.0
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Do you have to be on the shot? I also had really bad emotional and physical reactions to Depo; the pill works so much better for me. :flowerforyou:
Yeah, I smoke too many cigarettes for the pill. Also I like the convenience.0 -
I actually lost weight, alot of weight on the depo. It does make you more hungry than usual but it's possible to lose on it! I'm a sucker for cravings as well. If I eat out, I try to save half for later. Buy healthy snacks for cravings, skinny cow bars or ice cream, weight watchers ice cream, special K bars. I also noticed that if I eat alot of processed high carb things my cravings are worse so I just try to stay away from them all together.0
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There is definitely a thing known as "self-control" if you are too tempted by going out with friends and think you will have huge splurges than do something else with friends that doesn't revolve around food. This is a LIFESTYLE change, so sometimes you have to change your lifestyle.
I myself broke my ankle and was in a cast/crutches. That along with a torn meniscus in my knee, 4 bulging disks in my back and hip bursitis doesn't make working out easy, but you know what I don't do, let it be an obstacle that keeps me from doing the things I can do, including walking on a treadmill and exercising on the recumbent bike. Find something that works for you. No I can no longer play volleyball for 4 hours a couple times a week, I've had to adjust and you will too. Can you swim? can you lift weights? ect.
As far as the food goes, eatting too low will just set you up for failure. I would suggest planning out each day prior to having melt-downs. Start your day with a dose of protein, learn what 'snacks' satisfy you when you are reaching your calories (for me I make air-popped popcorn). Remember you can still incorporate 'treats' you just have to be accountable for them to be successful.
MFP has a lot of supportive, encouraging people, use them and LISTEN to their ideas and what they say, but always remember this is something YOU must ultimately do for YOURSELF. If you need more support, maybe look into Weight Watchers where you can have an open group to speak with about difficulties.
Best of luck! 0 -
Why is everyone saying that 1400 calories is too low when you don't even know anything about this girl?? You can't give advice when you aren't aware of the situation.
My goal on non weight lifting days is 1380. If I eat real, whole foods it's hard to hit that number. My TDEE is approx 1560. My stats are I'm 5'1'' 120 lbs with 19% BF.
Don't make generalizations, please.0 -
You just started, you'll figure it out eventually. I call it shark week, and i don't shy away from chocolate. but i don't binge either. Give yourself a chance before you start beating yourself up0
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Don't stress out too much. I find that making my self workout helps tremendously. And if I want chocolate I make sure I have a few squares of dark choclate. You can do this!0
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Why is everyone saying that 1400 calories is too low when you don't even know anything about this girl?? You can't give advice when you aren't aware of the situation.
My goal on non weight lifting days is 1380. If I eat real, whole foods it's hard to hit that number. My TDEE is approx 1560. My stats are I'm 5'1'' 120 lbs with 19% BF.
Don't make generalizations, please.
THANK YOU for making this point. Most days I find it hard to hit the 1420 because I eat a lot of raw and whole foods and green smoothies. I'm just looking for tips/advice what to do specifically when the birth control hormones are raging. I know I'm doing well most of the time. I'm 5'11" and started at 269, I am 208 now. Perhaps I should have made it clear that I am not new to healthy eating and weight-loss, just new to MFP.0 -
You just started, you'll figure it out eventually. I call it shark week, and i don't shy away from chocolate. but i don't binge either. Give yourself a chance before you start beating yourself up
I call it Shark Week too, lol!0 -
Don't be too hard on yourself! Okay so you are limited on the working out because of your knee..... and you have this adjustment to the bc. The knee will heal so you can go hard again. The bc, well that might or might not be an easy adjustment. Just keep plugging and doing the best you can, and when your knee is completely recovered, you can work on progress again.0
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Don't be too hard on yourself! Okay so you are limited on the working out because of your knee..... and you have this adjustment to the bc. The knee will heal so you can go hard again. The bc, well that might or might not be an easy adjustment. Just keep plugging and doing the best you can, and when your knee is completely recovered, you can work on progress again.
Another girl here had the knee surgery. I had an appendectomy on Christmas (abdominal surgery).0 -
Why is everyone saying that 1400 calories is too low when you don't even know anything about this girl?? You can't give advice when you aren't aware of the situation.
My goal on non weight lifting days is 1380. If I eat real, whole foods it's hard to hit that number. My TDEE is approx 1560. My stats are I'm 5'1'' 120 lbs with 19% BF.
Don't make generalizations, please.
THANK YOU for making this point. Most days I find it hard to hit the 1420 because I eat a lot of raw and whole foods and green smoothies. I'm just looking for tips/advice what to do specifically when the birth control hormones are raging. I know I'm doing well most of the time. I'm 5'11" and started at 269, I am 208 now. Perhaps I should have made it clear that I am not new to healthy eating and weight-loss, just new to MFP.
At 5'11 and 208 pounds, you are likely not eating enough.0 -
Don't be too hard on yourself! Okay so you are limited on the working out because of your knee..... and you have this adjustment to the bc. The knee will heal so you can go hard again. The bc, well that might or might not be an easy adjustment. Just keep plugging and doing the best you can, and when your knee is completely recovered, you can work on progress again.
Another girl here had the knee surgery. I had an appendectomy on Christmas (abdominal surgery).
Oh, sorry about that. But still the same point applies.0 -
I got really hormonal and as a result I had hormonal migraines. By losing belly fat I've stopped all my hormonal symptoms including the mood swings, bouts of crying and wanting to set people on fire, and most life changing, I no longer get migraines.
This is because you store hormones in excess body fat and so when it comes time to release hormones for ovulation etc your system gets flooded with them and you get the resulting crappy PMS.
A big help for me was eating lots of protein around that time of the month too. I was doing only 1200cals but with lots of protein and not much carbs. I found this really helped mr curb my cravings as sugar set me off wanting to eat everything!
Good luck and I hope it gets better for you0 -
I got really hormonal and as a result I had hormonal migraines. By losing belly fat I've stopped all my hormonal symptoms including the mood swings, bouts of crying and wanting to set people on fire, and most life changing, I no longer get migraines.
This is because you store hormones in excess body fat and so when it comes time to release hormones for ovulation etc your system gets flooded with them and you get the resulting crappy PMS.
A big help for me was eating lots of protein around that time of the month too. I was doing only 1200cals but with lots of protein and not much carbs. I found this really helped mr curb my cravings as sugar set me off wanting to eat everything!
Good luck and I hope it gets better for you
Thank you for this explanation and advice!! I noted that as I got fatter, long before birth control, my PMS would get worse the more I weighed. I never knew about protein though. I usually wake up to a green smoothie, which nets me lots of carbs from fruit, and small amounts of protein from the greens. I will try to start eating my Greek yogurt earlier in the day or maybe starting with some eggs to get an earlier protein boost. I'm not a huge sugar eater to begin with- except the first week or so after the shot.0 -
How about chalking it up to having an "off" day and just getting over it. Being over your goal by a couple hundred calories isn't going to effect your weight loss goal that much. If I'm hungry, I eat something that's 100-200 calories and if it puts me over for the day, so be it. As long as it's not happening every day of course... This especially counts for PMS week (which I'm going through right now). If I'm craving and hungry, I'm miserable and eventually I'll hit a point where it gets to be too much and I'll say F THIS and go eat whatever the hell I want and go WAY over. Better to be prepared with a satisfying snack (protein bar, square or 2 of dark chocolate, even oatmeal w/ craisins) that puts you over a tiny bit than cave and eat a pint of Ben & Jerry's.0
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