"Slow" binging every day

JustRiseAbove
JustRiseAbove Posts: 7
in Motivation and Support
Okay, so I figured this would be a good place to get some opinions on this.

A year ago, I was diagnosed with PCOS (at a completely normal weight) and began to eat strictly and exercise like a madwoman, despite the fact that I wasn't overweight. Then, I accidentally lost weight and was subsequently diagnosed with Hypothalamic Amenorrhea. My stats were 5'2 and 98 pounds, so yeah. Enough said. My ND put me on hormone cream and told me to gain some weight. I had no estrogen, progesterone, FSH or LH. My body was menopausal at 23.

Since then, I increased my calories and also went on a week long trip that led me to eat EVERYTHING I once avoided and a lot of it. I am avoiding the scale at the moment, but I did gain a nice amount and I am no longer in the underweight category whatsoever.

However, since I've been back, my brain and body are rebelling against me and I now partake in "slow" binges every night. By slow, I mean over the course of a few hours, I eat multiple servings of various things (granola, tostitos, multigrain chips, triscuits, pretzels, anything salty really) and I just don't stop. It's technically a binge, but it's not rapid. And it's been happening every day. I'm probably clocking in at over 3000 calories most days and even though I was told to gain weight, I'm pretty sure I need to be at maintenance now. How substantial do you think it'll be if this persists? I want to be able to enjoy life again and snack like the rest of the world, but this is a bit over the top. I feel like this is all related to depriving myself of fun completely and this is my brain's way of fighting back. I'm nervous it'll go on forever. But I like the darn food!

Note: I exercise using Jillian Michaels DVDs, so it's usually 30 minutes most days. I'm not an athlete and I don't burn massive amounts of calories a day to be taking in this kind of stuff.

Has anyone ever been in a similar predicament? I'm not sure what to do.

Replies

  • QuietBloom
    QuietBloom Posts: 5,413 Member
    It's only been a week! It will take your body months to rebuild all the damage you did. You NEED to be eating 3,000 calories a day. Make sure you are getting LOTS of protein and healthy fats, not just salty carbs.
  • Sabine_Stroehm
    Sabine_Stroehm Posts: 19,251 Member
    How long have you been on the hormone meds?
  • magerum
    magerum Posts: 12,589 Member
    It's only been a week! It will take your body months to rebuild all the damage you did. You NEED to be eating 3,000 calories a day. Make sure you are getting LOTS of protein and healthy fats, not just salty carbs.

    Seems like solid advice. Toss some resistance training in there to help with composition while gaining.
  • JustRiseAbove
    JustRiseAbove Posts: 7
    I know! I do incorporate those healthy fats and proteins in every meal. It's after the meals when the damage comes in.

    But even if the scale keeps going up? It's just hard to accept (I also have ED history). I have no idea if the daily weight is due to excessive sodium or if this is actually fat. I know technically there's 3,500 calories in a pound of fat, but I'm pretty sure that's exactly what I've been taking in daily. I doubt my workouts account for half of that!
  • JustRiseAbove
    JustRiseAbove Posts: 7
    Only since November. She told me to give it 3 months to see if at least something would budge.
  • MuseofSong
    MuseofSong Posts: 322 Member
    Don't guess at the damage you think you're doing. You might not be eating as much as you think. You've developed an unhealthy relationship with food because your diagnosis of PCOS freaked you out.

    It's time to give yourself a reality check. Start to log and measure your food. Don't try to cut everything out of your life all at once again, that almost always backfires on people.

    Use MFP to set an appropriate calorie range for your height/weight and what you want to do, which may be gain or maintain. Get a kitchen scale, eat from a bowl or a plate, not a package, and relax a little. Take it easy on yourself as you learn to eat appropriately again.

    Once you've started seeing what you're really eating in your normal day, then you can start making choices about sodium, fiber rich carbs, healthy fats, protein, and those sorts of things. See where you are, and then make little changes till you feel comfortable with how you are eating.
  • Sabine_Stroehm
    Sabine_Stroehm Posts: 19,251 Member
    I don't have more to offer, other than the best of luck, and the suggestion to definitely follow up with your doc.
    AND the suggestion to ask the fine ladies here:

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/forums/show/3087-p-c-o-sis
  • JustRiseAbove
    JustRiseAbove Posts: 7


    Seems like solid advice. Toss some resistance training in there to help with composition while gaining.

    Yes - definitely. And I wouldn't mind the muscle mass. Unfortunately, it's not the easiest thing in the world to accomplish.
  • JustRiseAbove
    JustRiseAbove Posts: 7
    I have been measuring and logging everyday. And this probably would have never happened had it not been for the PCOS diagnosis. Everything's been a disaster area since then. It's awful. But I'm trying.
  • JustRiseAbove
    JustRiseAbove Posts: 7
    Thank you! And I'll take a look over there.
  • JustRiseAbove
    JustRiseAbove Posts: 7


    Once you've started seeing what you're really eating in your normal day, then you can start making choices about sodium, fiber rich carbs, healthy fats, protein, and those sorts of things. See where you are, and then make little changes till you feel comfortable with how you are eating.

    I do see what I'm eating - and I'm wishing I didn't. :embarassed:

    I just need to recalibrate without putting such heavy limitations on myself again.

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