DESPERATE need of help/advice/answers
gmazzthespazz
Posts: 6 Member
Hello there MFP world- I'm Gina! I'm a 19 year old college student in search for some answers to the MANY questions I have.
I am 5' 6", about 140 pounds (I haven't checked since my last physical, though, which was about a month ago- I started to get scale obsessed, so I try to stay away from them).
I am SUPER active, taking AT LEAST one hour-long fitness class each day (except saturdays). Most of the time I do two classes back to back, though.. The classes consist of Spinning, kickboxing, xfit, 'beach body' (a mix of weight lifting and cardio/plyos). I also go to a large school where I have to walk an average of 10 minutes from my dorm to each class, work, or the gym, and I spend most of my days out of my room, rushing here, there, and everywhere.
I am OBSESSED with counting calories, keeping my weight down, and all staying healthy. I restrict myself from SO many things, making most sweets, bread, pasta- mostly all my dinner options at school beside salad- 'off limits,' if you will. It has essentially consumed my life and these things are all I think about.
During my winter break from school, I let loose and allowed myself to have WHATEVER I desired, and ended up gaining 10 pounds, which has made me pretty upset with my PHYSICAL self/my body, but I was just feeling so free and happy because I LOVE SWEETS SO MUCH and I JUST ATE ALL DA COOKIES AND ICE CREAM I WANTED. I definitely think that I'm in a dangerous binge eating cycle- where I restrict myself from things for so long that I crack and go SICK with that kind of stuff, because it happens every few weeks. Then I feel guilty and start all over again with being "really good."
I just want to find the right balance between the two extremes. I have a history of eating disorders, and I'm not trying to resort to them EVER AGAIN. But i can't help but feel like the fact that I am so obsessed with recording everything I eat and not allowing anything has sent me into another category of eating disorder.
I just want to know EXACTLY WHAT I SHOULD BE DOING TO STAY AT MY HAPPY 135 POUNDS. I WANT TO BREAK OUT OF THIS. I'm sick of trying to figure out these things on my own.
I am 5' 6", about 140 pounds (I haven't checked since my last physical, though, which was about a month ago- I started to get scale obsessed, so I try to stay away from them).
I am SUPER active, taking AT LEAST one hour-long fitness class each day (except saturdays). Most of the time I do two classes back to back, though.. The classes consist of Spinning, kickboxing, xfit, 'beach body' (a mix of weight lifting and cardio/plyos). I also go to a large school where I have to walk an average of 10 minutes from my dorm to each class, work, or the gym, and I spend most of my days out of my room, rushing here, there, and everywhere.
I am OBSESSED with counting calories, keeping my weight down, and all staying healthy. I restrict myself from SO many things, making most sweets, bread, pasta- mostly all my dinner options at school beside salad- 'off limits,' if you will. It has essentially consumed my life and these things are all I think about.
During my winter break from school, I let loose and allowed myself to have WHATEVER I desired, and ended up gaining 10 pounds, which has made me pretty upset with my PHYSICAL self/my body, but I was just feeling so free and happy because I LOVE SWEETS SO MUCH and I JUST ATE ALL DA COOKIES AND ICE CREAM I WANTED. I definitely think that I'm in a dangerous binge eating cycle- where I restrict myself from things for so long that I crack and go SICK with that kind of stuff, because it happens every few weeks. Then I feel guilty and start all over again with being "really good."
I just want to find the right balance between the two extremes. I have a history of eating disorders, and I'm not trying to resort to them EVER AGAIN. But i can't help but feel like the fact that I am so obsessed with recording everything I eat and not allowing anything has sent me into another category of eating disorder.
I just want to know EXACTLY WHAT I SHOULD BE DOING TO STAY AT MY HAPPY 135 POUNDS. I WANT TO BREAK OUT OF THIS. I'm sick of trying to figure out these things on my own.
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Replies
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Since you are good at recording your intake, let's focus on that. Stop restricting so many foods - you can see where that leads when you deny yourself foods that you love. Eat them in proper portions, logging everything and staying within your daily goal.
Curious what your daily goal is, actually, because you're VERY active and I'm hoping you're not on the standard 1200 per day and not eating back exercise cals, which will also lead you down the road of wanting to eat everything in sight, and going off the rails again.
Losing weight does not mean eating just salad and going gonzo with the workouts. You want to find the balance - that's good! So eat the proper amount of calories (that means no UNDER eating as well as over eating), and do a reasonable amount of exercise. Log everything, drink water, get good sleep, take rest days. And have patience. It's for life, not a short, temporary thing, right? Isn't steady, consistent progress better than short bursts of doing well only to crash and burn and gain it back? Yo-yoing is no fun! 0 -
There's nothing which you have to remove totally from your diet plan, as long as you stick to proper portions and under/at your calorie goals. With all the exercise you do, you should have a lot of wiggle room in your diet to be able to enjoy the things you like.
For me, portions are a big deal. My husband may fix a pasta dish for dinner, so I'll have my 1 portion of pasta then add a salad, veggies etc on the side to fill me up. Getting enough protein and fiber are also key, as both are filling and the protein is a neccessity for building muscle.
If you want a cookie everyday, then have one. Unless you're diabetic, then there's no reason why you have to restrict your carbs. Have that pasta, along with a salad, select whole grain breads and enjoy it. A simple visual to try - mentally divide your plate into 4 quarters. One quarter should be carbs, one quarter protein and the other half fruits and veggies. It's an easy tip I've been using successfully. 0 -
Set your goal to .5 lb. per week, and be patient. Eat "good" (whatever that means to you) 80% of the time. Fit yummy, portion-controlled treats into your calorie goal. Deprivation can lead to bingeing.
Read this: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1080242-a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants0 -
Since you are good at recording your intake, let's focus on that. Stop restricting so many foods - you can see where that leads when you deny yourself foods that you love. Eat them in proper portions, logging everything and staying within your daily goal.
Curious what your daily goal is, actually, because you're VERY active and I'm hoping you're not on the standard 1200 per day and not eating back exercise cals, which will also lead you down the road of wanting to eat everything in sight, and going off the rails again.
Losing weight does not mean eating just salad and going gonzo with the workouts. You want to find the balance - that's good! So eat the proper amount of calories (that means no UNDER eating as well as over eating), and do a reasonable amount of exercise. Log everything, drink water, get good sleep, take rest days. And have patience. It's for life, not a short, temporary thing, right? Isn't steady, consistent progress better than short bursts of doing well only to crash and burn and gain it back? Yo-yoing is no fun!
This.0 -
Have you sought out professional help yet for your eating disorder?0
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This sounds a lot like Orthorexia, and as indicated by SideSteel above, you should probably consult a professional.0
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I decided that the tracking keeps my calories maintained. So this is maintenance I suppose. I know that if I eat over 1500 calories, I start gaining.0
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This sounds a lot like Orthorexia, and as indicated by SideSteel above, you should probably consult a professional.
agreed...0 -
I have- i saw a counselor back home, and have talked to a nutritionist at school about it who wanted me to also see a psychologist friend of hers. haven't gotten to that yet, but i plan to0
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Since you are good at recording your intake, let's focus on that. Stop restricting so many foods - you can see where that leads when you deny yourself foods that you love. Eat them in proper portions, logging everything and staying within your daily goal.
Curious what your daily goal is, actually, because you're VERY active and I'm hoping you're not on the standard 1200 per day and not eating back exercise cals, which will also lead you down the road of wanting to eat everything in sight, and going off the rails again.
Losing weight does not mean eating just salad and going gonzo with the workouts. You want to find the balance - that's good! So eat the proper amount of calories (that means no UNDER eating as well as over eating), and do a reasonable amount of exercise. Log everything, drink water, get good sleep, take rest days. And have patience. It's for life, not a short, temporary thing, right? Isn't steady, consistent progress better than short bursts of doing well only to crash and burn and gain it back? Yo-yoing is no fun!
this was SUPER helpful- I have my goal set to the 1200, but I always go over, especially on my rest days. I don't eat back ALL my exercise calls though, because if I did, I'd be consuming like 2200 calories a day, and I don't think I could do that if I tried.
I used to try to stay at about 1400 a day, but the nutritionist said it was not enough for someone as active as i am SO i try to keep it at around 1700-1800 a day now.0 -
It's probably best you don't try to lose weight in the mean time then, no? Take the pressure off yourself a bit.I have- i saw a counselor back home, and have talked to a nutritionist at school about it who wanted me to also see a psychologist friend of hers. haven't gotten to that yet, but i plan to
One thing I want you to keep in mind all the time;
ANY time you increase calories from a previous level you will gain weight but it is NOT fat. When you move from a deficit upward, your muscles are able to refill glycogen stores and every gram of glycogen stores about 4g of water. GLYCOGEN IS GOOD. If you're still in deficit, just on slightly more calories, your weight will stabilise as glycogen does too.
This change is what scares a lot of people and they say things like "Any time I go over 1500 cals I gain weight!" - they do, but it's not fat, and it won't continue if you just give it a chance.
Edit: also, enjoy your sweets in moderation -- just ensure you're getting enough fruit, veg and protein and you'll be fine.0 -
I have- i saw a counselor back home, and have talked to a nutritionist at school about it who wanted me to also see a psychologist friend of hers. haven't gotten to that yet, but i plan to
I think you should make this a priority. See that psychologist as soon as possible.0 -
Start practicing moderation. Eating any foods in moderation within your calorie limit will do wonders for what I think you're trying to achieve.
Oh, and why are you working out so much if you're already very active?
What are your goals and what are you trying to achieve?0 -
This sounds a lot like Orthorexia, and as indicated by SideSteel above, you should probably consult a professional.
agreed...
and agreed.0 -
Start practicing moderation. Eating any foods in moderation within your calorie limit will do wonders for what I think you're trying to achieve.
Oh, and why are you working out so much if you're already very active?
What are your goals and what are you trying to achieve?
Will do! && I work out so much because I love it- it's fun, the classes are great, and they put me in a good mood and give me a break from my studies! plus, I just got hired as a fitness instructor here at school, so I have a lot of friends at the studio/gym.
I don't want to be thin/skinny/lanky, that's for sure. I want to have that nice, toned, tight, firm looking body. I'm just trying to get pretty fit, and then maintain that.0 -
It's probably best you don't try to lose weight in the mean time then, no? Take the pressure off yourself a bit.I have- i saw a counselor back home, and have talked to a nutritionist at school about it who wanted me to also see a psychologist friend of hers. haven't gotten to that yet, but i plan to
One thing I want you to keep in mind all the time;
ANY time you increase calories from a previous level you will gain weight but it is NOT fat. When you move from a deficit upward, your muscles are able to refill glycogen stores and every gram of glycogen stores about 4g of water. GLYCOGEN IS GOOD. If you're still in deficit, just on slightly more calories, your weight will stabilise as glycogen does too.
This change is what scares a lot of people and they say things like "Any time I go over 1500 cals I gain weight!" - they do, but it's not fat, and it won't continue if you just give it a chance.
Edit: also, enjoy your sweets in moderation -- just ensure you're getting enough fruit, veg and protein and you'll be fine.
thanks so much. maybe i will start to focus on me and let this go until i know I'm ready and mature enough to handle it.
&& okay that makes sense! however, what do you advise me to do in that case as far as calorie deficit goes? like are you saying i should be eating 1500 calories a day? should it be NET cal where I'm eating back all my exercise cals? I just don't know what to do in that respect0 -
5'6, 140lbs, female and 19 years old, with heavy exercise gives me 2550 as per http://www.fitnessfrog.com/calculators/tdee-calculator.html
It's probably best you don't try to lose weight in the mean time then, no? Take the pressure off yourself a bit.I have- i saw a counselor back home, and have talked to a nutritionist at school about it who wanted me to also see a psychologist friend of hers. haven't gotten to that yet, but i plan to
One thing I want you to keep in mind all the time;
ANY time you increase calories from a previous level you will gain weight but it is NOT fat. When you move from a deficit upward, your muscles are able to refill glycogen stores and every gram of glycogen stores about 4g of water. GLYCOGEN IS GOOD. If you're still in deficit, just on slightly more calories, your weight will stabilise as glycogen does too.
This change is what scares a lot of people and they say things like "Any time I go over 1500 cals I gain weight!" - they do, but it's not fat, and it won't continue if you just give it a chance.
Edit: also, enjoy your sweets in moderation -- just ensure you're getting enough fruit, veg and protein and you'll be fine.
thanks so much. maybe i will start to focus on me and let this go until i know I'm ready and mature enough to handle it.
&& okay that makes sense! however, what do you advise me to do in that case as far as calorie deficit goes? like are you saying i should be eating 1500 calories a day? should it be NET cal where I'm eating back all my exercise cals? I just don't know what to do in that respect
So, 2550 is your maintenance(ish). Eat about 2000 calories a day and you're on track for 1lb a week.
Note; using TDEE to calculate how much you should eat accounts for exercise before, so don't need to eat exercise calories back 0 -
do this, first.I have- i saw a counselor back home, and have talked to a nutritionist at school about it who wanted me to also see a psychologist friend of hers. haven't gotten to that yet, but i plan to
you're in school - take advantage of the counseling services that are most likely available to students.
good luck!0 -
this was SUPER helpful- I have my goal set to the 1200, but I always go over, especially on my rest days. I don't eat back ALL my exercise calls though, because if I did, I'd be consuming like 2200 calories a day, and I don't think I could do that if I tried.
I used to try to stay at about 1400 a day, but the nutritionist said it was not enough for someone as active as i am SO i try to keep it at around 1700-1800 a day now.
if you do the exercise, eat back the cals... 2200 isnt actually a massive amount... just plan your day, hit your macros and enjoy some treats... life's too short to never eat cake!0 -
okay- working at all this!
but what about on my rest days?? should i still be eating 2000 calls on those days too? or should i do less?0
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