Weight gain through overeating or bingeing

Tatarataa
Tatarataa Posts: 178 Member
edited November 15 in Health and Weight Loss
How much weight can you gain through bingeing? I had 4 pretty bad days with a PLUS of 10500 kcal over TDEE in total. This would equal 3 times 3500 kcal or 3.3 Pounds FAT (1.5 kg) gain if the calculation goes the same way as for losing. So am I right that I could not have gained more than 3 Pounds FAT these days (plus some water retention)? Or could I have gained more FAT???
Today I weighed in at 9.9 Pounds (4.5 kg) more!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Shock!!!!!!!!!!! Is the rest just water and what is still in me? Or could I have gained more fat?
I am desperate....sniff...

Replies

  • DemoraFairy
    DemoraFairy Posts: 1,806 Member
    You won't have gained more fat than the calories you ate, of course if you weren't measuring everything then how much you ate is just an estimate and you could have eaten more. Most of it will be water weight.
  • malibu927
    malibu927 Posts: 17,562 Member
    Yep, what she said. Plus you're still digesting all that food, so the weight of it is also included.
  • Tatarataa
    Tatarataa Posts: 178 Member
    Thank you so much! That is helping me a lot because I need to calm down now to be able to get back on track today.
  • Tatarataa
    Tatarataa Posts: 178 Member
    So can I really rely on the maths (in the end at least) when it comes to calorie counting?
    This would mean that I would be able to get back control over my weight (finally) over the long term!
  • maasha81
    maasha81 Posts: 733 Member
    Today is a new day ...focus on getting back on track and moving on. I think what you should try to identify is what triggered that binge fest and work on a resolution. Good luck and remember to drink tons of water :)
  • tekkiechikk
    tekkiechikk Posts: 375 Member
    edited April 2015
    When I binge I'm not weighing food or measuring portions. Could it be possible that you ate even more than the 10000+ calories you think you did? And some of it will be from water retention. Wait a few days and weigh yourself again.

    Put the past behind you, learn from it, and move forward :smile:
  • BicepsAndBows
    BicepsAndBows Posts: 197 Member
    I would not recommend weighing yourself right after a binge, ever. It can be so tempting to do, but it will just lead you to beat yourself up and feel worse than you already do. It can take up to three days after a binge for your body to get back to "normal" ( all the food to pass through your system and water retention to regulate), so I would wait to get on the scale until after that point to see your true weight. Right after a binge, most of the weight gain you see on the scale is going to be coming from having excess food in your stomach and water retention from carbohydrates and sodium you took in. Over the next few days, focus on drinking a lot of water to help flush your system out, getting in some good workouts (sweating is a great way to rid your body of excess sodium that can cause bloating and water retention), and eating healthy, nourishing meals and snacks that keep you feeling satisfied and within your goals. DO NOT try to compensate for the binges, either by restricting your food intake severely or doing excessive amounts of exercise. This leads you to a horrible cycle of restrictive and reactive eating. When you limit yourself too much, you will be setting yourself up to binge again. Instead, eat when you are hungry and try to time your meals/snacks so you will feel full throughout the day, thus eliminating the urge to binge.

    Also, it can be helpful to remind yourself that to truly gain one pound of actual body fat, you have to eat 3,500 calories MORE than what your body needs just to preform it's essential functions each day ( breathing, keeping your heart beating, etc.). Even if you were just to lay in bed all day, you still burn at least 1,000 calories just staying alive each day. So even if you do binge, the weight you see reflected on the scale is water retention and the food in your stomach, not true body fat gained. Yes, you could potentially gain actual body fat if you continue to binge, but remember the math involved.

    Most importantly, learn from this. Determine why you are binging and address those issues. If it is emotionally related, make a plan of action to take care of yourself and cope differently with what you are going through. If it is diet related, make a plan to help you eat consistently throughout the day and drink plenty of water so you will not be tempted to binge. Eliminate binge foods from your house if possible, and make a plan of what you will do the next time you are tempted to binge. And then, forgive yourself and move on. We all have times we slip up, and the more you beat yourself up, the worse you will feel, and that is not a good mental state to be in to reach your goals. You cant hate yourself into a version of yourself you will love! Focus on the future and meeting your small goals each day, and you will be just fine
  • KrisAZ000
    KrisAZ000 Posts: 76 Member
    Most of it is water weight. The few legitimate pounds of fat gain can be lost within a week or two. I think it's more important to figure out what triggers your binges so that you can address the root of the problem.

    I also binged badly this weekend, and have identified two main causes. The first is that I use it as a coping mechanism when I'm stressed. The second is that I've been eating way too much processed foods, so my body was craving nutrients. I'm hopeful that I can avoid a repeat binge by fixing these things, and I wish you luck too.
  • Tatarataa
    Tatarataa Posts: 178 Member
    Thank you sooo much for all of your help and uplifting words!!!!!!!!!I have really tracked my binge food intake and it was really 10500 OVER my daily burned calories in total (for those 4 days of bingeing altogether)-so it will be 1.5 kg FAT more but also ONLY 1.5 kg to lose back again-as far as I understood you all I will be able to rely on the maths after the first couple of days when water and excess food is out of my system again. And this will only be 3-4 weeks of dieting if all goes well. All the best also to you with the same problem!!!! Good luck!!!! I will try to move on normally and be mentally prepared with some sort of plan for the next bingey situation. Also, I am starting to eat more regular small meals. Hope all of this will help!
  • uvi5
    uvi5 Posts: 710 Member
    moon_childxo wrote: »
    I would not recommend weighing yourself right after a binge, ever. It can be so tempting to do, but it will just lead you to beat yourself up and feel worse than you already do. It can take up to three days after a binge for your body to get back to "normal" ( all the food to pass through your system and water retention to regulate), so I would wait to get on the scale until after that point to see your true weight. Right after a binge, most of the weight gain you see on the scale is going to be coming from having excess food in your stomach and water retention from carbohydrates and sodium you took in. Over the next few days, focus on drinking a lot of water to help flush your system out, getting in some good workouts (sweating is a great way to rid your body of excess sodium that can cause bloating and water retention), and eating healthy, nourishing meals and snacks that keep you feeling satisfied and within your goals. DO NOT try to compensate for the binges, either by restricting your food intake severely or doing excessive amounts of exercise. This leads you to a horrible cycle of restrictive and reactive eating. When you limit yourself too much, you will be setting yourself up to binge again. Instead, eat when you are hungry and try to time your meals/snacks so you will feel full throughout the day, thus eliminating the urge to binge.

    Also, it can be helpful to remind yourself that to truly gain one pound of actual body fat, you have to eat 3,500 calories MORE than what your body needs just to preform it's essential functions each day ( breathing, keeping your heart beating, etc.). Even if you were just to lay in bed all day, you still burn at least 1,000 calories just staying alive each day. So even if you do binge, the weight you see reflected on the scale is water retention and the food in your stomach, not true body fat gained. Yes, you could potentially gain actual body fat if you continue to binge, but remember the math involved.

    Most importantly, learn from this. Determine why you are binging and address those issues. If it is emotionally related, make a plan of action to take care of yourself and cope differently with what you are going through. If it is diet related, make a plan to help you eat consistently throughout the day and drink plenty of water so you will not be tempted to binge. Eliminate binge foods from your house if possible, and make a plan of what you will do the next time you are tempted to binge. And then, forgive yourself and move on. We all have times we slip up, and the more you beat yourself up, the worse you will feel, and that is not a good mental state to be in to reach your goals. You cant hate yourself into a version of yourself you will love! Focus on the future and meeting your small goals each day, and you will be just fine

    That was fantastic. My last binge was over 10 days ago. I had lost 3 pounds before that binge. I binged for over a week. I have no Idea amounts I ate (2000 to 3000 a day for a week) could be less, could be more. I was depressed and foolish. I got back on track 10 days ago. I did not weigh myself until about a week into it (being back on track). I knew I was bloated and must have gained some weight. But, after the first week back on and working out, I was down another 5 pounds. I am back on track and down a total of 8 pounds last time I weighed. I feel, being the 10th day in, that I am down more, but wont weigh for another week. I am feeling great again, but I did go back to eating normal and not trying to compensate for the binge. I learned that I felt awful, tired, and very ill while I was binging and forced myself to remember that feeling and how wonderful I feel when I deal with my emotions in other ways. Exercise makes me feel good and eating just what I need to feel energy to do the exercise. Hopefully I learned and as of now I feel more in control of myself again. The lesson was learned.

    Anyway your response to the OP inspired me and it was worded great! Thank you!
  • uvi5
    uvi5 Posts: 710 Member
    Tatarataa wrote: »
    Thank you sooo much for all of your help and uplifting words!!!!!!!!!I have really tracked my binge food intake and it was really 10500 OVER my daily burned calories in total (for those 4 days of bingeing altogether)-so it will be 1.5 kg FAT more but also ONLY 1.5 kg to lose back again-as far as I understood you all I will be able to rely on the maths after the first couple of days when water and excess food is out of my system again. And this will only be 3-4 weeks of dieting if all goes well. All the best also to you with the same problem!!!! Good luck!!!! I will try to move on normally and be mentally prepared with some sort of plan for the next bingey situation. Also, I am starting to eat more regular small meals. Hope all of this will help!

    Your attitude is great and keeping positive will get you back on track in a snap!
  • Tatarataa
    Tatarataa Posts: 178 Member
    Many thanks again!! Unfortunately another 3500 cal PLUS binge today-so 14000 cals PLUS in total equals 2 kg FAT!! I hereby commit to restart tomorrow, not with getting to maintenance, but with weight loss. I will this time try to follow more of a routine. And I will try to stay away from my trigger food quest bars..I just cannot have just one it is usually many more and then I am frustrated and add ice cream etc. to the binge....
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