1,000 Calorie 11PM Binging

melishhha
melishhha Posts: 10 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I really want to get in shape, but I love food. I'm 5'11 and started at 217 lbs--now down to 187. My boyfriend stepped up to help me push myself and follow a weight loss diet. But I love food.

When I'm stressed, I eat. I can keep food off my mind, but once I think of it I crave it until I get it. Yesterday I was right on target for calorie intake. At bedtime, my boyfriend fell asleep and I decided to get up and eat. I consumed over 1,000 calories in about 30 minutes just because. And today I really regret it because I was already 3 pounds heavier stepping on the scale this morning.

I don't want to do this again, but I've been doing things similar to this about once a week for the past month. I'm not here to beg for a miracle solution. I know I need to stand up and be my own boss. I am wondering if anyone else has had a similar problem. If so, what did you do to solve it?

Replies

  • auddii
    auddii Posts: 15,357 Member
    What is your daily calorie goal? I found that when I was eating 1000-1200 calories a day (waaay under eating given my size and BMR) I was much more likely to binge. I've now bumped up my calories to 1650, and I haven't binged since.
  • melishhha
    melishhha Posts: 10 Member
    My daily net is supposed to be 1220
  • lauren3101
    lauren3101 Posts: 1,853 Member
    Sounds like you aren't eating enough to me. I'm 5"10 and I eat 1800 cals+ and I lose weight.

    Have a read of this. Upping your intake a bit will probably stop the urge to binge so frequently.

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/654536-in-place-of-a-road-map-2-0-revised-7-2-12
  • Tanja_CHH
    Tanja_CHH Posts: 216 Member
    I will say one thing, even eating 2200 you would not gain fat taken thats probably on the lower end of your tdee. So dont feel too guilty!
  • autopilot_on
    autopilot_on Posts: 388
    I used to have the same problem. I still do sometimes. First of all, don't get too down on yourself if you mess up. Each day is a new opportunity to ROCK! For me I had to change my night time habits. Try to not get in bed until you're ready to go to sleep. Or try drinking water every time you crave food. Most of it is habit, or routine. Try to shake things up or replace your craving with another activity so your body won't go back to its old ways.
  • mwalker73
    mwalker73 Posts: 29
    Do you feel judged by your BF? I can remember dating someone that would offer to help me, then judge every little thing that went in my mouth. I would binge when he was not around or sleeping.

    Another possibility is eating too little. You get to a point where you're starved and you just say screw it and go on a hoover spree. The worst for me was when I first started to diet and didn't look at the best way to do it. I ate salads (which I hate) because I didn't know any better. That resulted in a weeknight binge on pizza and cheese.

    Up your calories, don't deny yourself anything and remember that this is a life change, not a diet. If your BF makes your eating uncomfortable, confront that issue head on.
  • melishhha
    melishhha Posts: 10 Member
    Thanks everyone, you've all offered me great advice! (:

    Just to comment on a few things, I definitely reach the point where I'm hungry and I just say "screw it" and throw out my day's progress and efforts on junk food. I don't feel judged by my boyfriend--I only mentioned him because I asked him to keep me on track and to make sure I don't binge. So I have to hide my late night snacking from him.

    Lastly, I think I will try raising my daily calorie limit because that seems to be something you all share as a common solution.
  • doubleduofa
    doubleduofa Posts: 284 Member
    Yeah, just to echo everyone else. I'm 5'10 and if I ate 1220/day, I'd binge too. It is tough enough some days to stick to 1700. I'd try adding in some more calories, particularly as fats and protein, (think salad WITH vinaigrette, cheese, egg, chicken...). If you are eating so little, you wil be prone to binging. Read Brain over Binge...good book. She was a bulimic, but it really has some interesting things in there about brain chemistry.
  • calibriintx
    calibriintx Posts: 1,741 Member
    Sounds like you aren't eating enough to me. I'm 5"10 and I eat 1800 cals+ and I lose weight.

    Have a read of this. Upping your intake a bit will probably stop the urge to binge so frequently.

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/654536-in-place-of-a-road-map-2-0-revised-7-2-12

    ^^^This
  • jimian60
    jimian60 Posts: 21
    It's the "binging effect' from dieting. I did it too. It's because you're focused on "calorie RESTRICTION" which just isn't sustainable in the long run. What i did was flip the whole equation on it's head and focus on calorie BURNING (thru exercise) using a heart rate monitor/Calorie-Tracking watch.

    You don't mention working out at all...or maybe I missed it but it seems you're putting all the BURDEN on following a strict diet. That's always setting it up for failure. I seldom count any food calories...but the watch does all the counting of total burn calories for me. Try the watches. It changes EVERYTHING.
  • ldrosophila
    ldrosophila Posts: 7,512 Member
    If you have a true binge eating disorder or BED then you need to break the cycle. I find I have to close the kitchen down after dinner. Lights out no going back in. I have to have my water and drinks ready and if I get a craving I sip on that. Also avoid food porn at night that makes it really hard to break the cycle if your stomach and brain is saying eat! It takes me about 3 days to break the cycle and its very difficult during that time perioud because the cravings are so strong. I have to change the focus. I've been binge free now for over a week and it's better as long as I dont give in.

    If you are emotionally weak or in a self destructive mood you need to talk or write it out. You need to figure out why you want to harm your body. Get away from food, refocus on something else that might be the time to take a bath, give yoruself a pedicure, play a computer game, or go to bed.

    If youre just really hungry after dinner cause you havent eaten enough then eat. Portion it out and eat it.

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