Cheat day turned to binge eating

Ok. I was going strong for 2 weeks. I decided to have a cheat day on one of the weekends. What started of as a cheat meal. (Nutella+ bread) ended up stuffing my face in It all night and morning. I'm probably had more than 2000 calories. I hadn't eaten Nutella/ butter chicken / chips for a year. Now I feel nausea and I just want to stick my finger and let it out.

Replies

  • Helloidentitycrisis
    Helloidentitycrisis Posts: 64 Member
    Nah, don't be hard on yourself. Live and learn... And get back on track tomorrow like it never happened.

    Purging will make very little difference and you'll do much better if you just jump back on the wagon!
  • lynn1982
    lynn1982 Posts: 1,439 Member
    Just log it and move on. You're human. It happens. (And don't purge please...)
  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    lynn1982 wrote: »
    Just log it and move on. You're human. It happens. (And don't purge please...)

    All of this.
  • emdeesea
    emdeesea Posts: 1,823 Member
    Don't worry about that. I regularly have a cheat meal that's easily 2,000 calories every week. It's not stopped me.

    Just keep going. It's the long-term that matters.

    DEFINITELY don't purge.
  • epeart11
    epeart11 Posts: 35 Member
    It's ok to have a cheat day every once in a while. However, it is hard when you have been eating really well and then eat not so healthy options. Your body tend to get sick because it is not used to it. Keep up the good work!
  • Scamd83
    Scamd83 Posts: 808 Member
    lynn1982 wrote: »
    Just log it and move on. You're human. It happens. (And don't purge please...)

    Is there any point in logging it? Trying to remember it all is going to keep it prominent in her head when she needs to move on. Plus, what is going to be achieved? Is she supposed to then make up for that excess and severely restrict calories the next day or two? People keep saying this and I never understand why, to me it just seems better to forget about it and get back on track.
  • cnbbnc
    cnbbnc Posts: 1,267 Member
    Well...why have a cheat day then if it's triggering to you? Why not just settle for incorporating a small portion of those things into your diet throughout the week? I think it can be more damaging to treat foods as taboo and then try to make them "cheats" then to get accustomed to portion control when you want something.

  • ClosetBayesian
    ClosetBayesian Posts: 836 Member
    Scamd83 wrote: »
    lynn1982 wrote: »
    Just log it and move on. You're human. It happens. (And don't purge please...)

    Is there any point in logging it? Trying to remember it all is going to keep it prominent in her head when she needs to move on. Plus, what is going to be achieved? Is she supposed to then make up for that excess and severely restrict calories the next day or two? People keep saying this and I never understand why, to me it just seems better to forget about it and get back on track.

    Honesty. Accountability. Learning from one's mistakes. Seeing if there's a pattern that might lead to figuring out if something specific triggers a binge (i.e., too much restricting). But mostly honesty and learning to keep going.
  • ElJefeChief
    ElJefeChief Posts: 650 Member
    My rule is always log, no matter what.
  • llbrixon
    llbrixon Posts: 964 Member
    When I have days of uncontrolled eating, I create a new meal title. That says..".Uncontrolled Eating! Stop it!"...something like that. If you are exercising, you will create an extra 2000 calories easily. Learn from your mistakes and move on.
  • samanthachen
    samanthachen Posts: 360 Member
    cnbbnc wrote: »
    Well...why have a cheat day then if it's triggering to you? Why not just settle for incorporating a small portion of those things into your diet throughout the week? I think it can be more damaging to treat foods as taboo and then try to make them "cheats" then to get accustomed to portion control when you want something.

    I was just thinking this. I used to have Nutella every day. I'd log it, and it was a regular snack. The key for me is that I know I am dealing with over-eating and binging. My trigger is a lack of accountability and eliminating certain foods. That's when I crave and/or over-eat. Now I eat those things that sound good, but I fit them into my day. If it's something I know might lead to wanting more and more, I might eat it right after a meal, that way I'm not also actually battling real hunger on top of cravings and wanting to binge.

    But I agree. Log it and tomorrow is a new day. I log my overages so I know what to expect. You didn't fail; you are human, and there will always be days that we aren't super proud of. You are still here. You didn't take this moment and quit. For me, I would give myself some credit. Celebrate surviving the lows as much as you appreciate the highs.
  • DearestWinter
    DearestWinter Posts: 595 Member
    Scamd83 wrote: »
    lynn1982 wrote: »
    Just log it and move on. You're human. It happens. (And don't purge please...)

    Is there any point in logging it? Trying to remember it all is going to keep it prominent in her head when she needs to move on. Plus, what is going to be achieved? Is she supposed to then make up for that excess and severely restrict calories the next day or two? People keep saying this and I never understand why, to me it just seems better to forget about it and get back on track.

    Honesty. Accountability. Learning from one's mistakes. Seeing if there's a pattern that might lead to figuring out if something specific triggers a binge (i.e., too much restricting). But mostly honesty and learning to keep going.

    Yes, this should be logged just for accountability. There may be some who find it truly detrimental to log a binge because they dwell on it. For me logging allows me to move on because I know I'm not in denial. If I don't log it then I end up thinking about it more.

    And no, I wouldn't try to cut extra calories or exercise more to make up for it. No need to add to the stress.
  • FitOldMomma
    FitOldMomma Posts: 790 Member
    DrEnalg wrote: »
    My rule is always log, no matter what.

    Mine also. Every single bite.
  • lynn1982
    lynn1982 Posts: 1,439 Member
    Scamd83 wrote: »
    lynn1982 wrote: »
    Just log it and move on. You're human. It happens. (And don't purge please...)

    Is there any point in logging it? Trying to remember it all is going to keep it prominent in her head when she needs to move on. Plus, what is going to be achieved? Is she supposed to then make up for that excess and severely restrict calories the next day or two? People keep saying this and I never understand why, to me it just seems better to forget about it and get back on track.

    For me personally, logging a binge keeps me accountable. It allows me to see just how many calories (approx) I did consume. Not logging and simply forgetting about binges is exactly what got me here in the first place. I find getting back on track is easier if I am accountable for my actions. But what works for me may not work for you or even the OP... it was just my two cents.
  • James12315
    James12315 Posts: 30 Member
    I avoid cheat days because I can just as easily lose control with binge eating also. I would suggest though you need to consider a balanced diet of fruits veg and proteins (if you haven't already) which may allow you to learn how to control binging habits. Fruits for example are still incredibly sweet so it poses the danger of triggering a binging session but if you manage to incorporate it into your diet and control the quantities you eat, you'll find that you have no more temptations to carry on eating and thus training your mind not to go crazy at sweet food. This at least worked for me anyway. You'll also find that the longer you stay away from foods such as chocolate, the easier it becomes to resist so again would suggest no cheat days but just make your diet interesting and balanced. If you want any suggestions from me because I used to binge eat pretty much daily (which originally started from a previous diet of complete inbalance in diet which I would just go crazy for sugary foods) feel free to add me and whenever you feel like binging or had a binge then I can try help you overcome the temptations or give advise you on preventing yourself from doing it again.
  • Rabidrunner
    Rabidrunner Posts: 117 Member
    Man, I did the same kind of thing yesterday, was over my calorie budget by 1,500. Jumped on the scales today to assess the damage.... No difference.

    Just keep on trucking!
  • RobD520
    RobD520 Posts: 420 Member
    Once, in the middle of a very successful weight loss program, I went to a Brazillian Steakhouse and had what I am certain was a several thousand calorie meat fest. The next day I pretended it didn't happen and forged ahead and all worked out well.

    The key is not to overreact to one event.
  • lemurcat12
    lemurcat12 Posts: 30,886 Member
    cnbbnc wrote: »
    Well...why have a cheat day then if it's triggering to you? Why not just settle for incorporating a small portion of those things into your diet throughout the week? I think it can be more damaging to treat foods as taboo and then try to make them "cheats" then to get accustomed to portion control when you want something.

    I agree, I think it can lead to the idea that this is your last chance to eat those things, so you go absolutely nuts. Or once you eat more than planned you think you've ruined the day anyway, so might as well eat more.

    IMO, that's the benefit to logging it--you realize that the first little bit really wouldn't have been a problem at all, and even the whole day's worth isn't going to set you back meaningfully if you don't do it regularly.

    That said, OP, after the fact I probably wouldn't try to recreate (although for some this is helpful), but would just keep some notes for myself about it being an out of control high cal day and what was going on when it happened/whatever you can recall of what you were thinking.
  • whmscll
    whmscll Posts: 2,254 Member
    OP, this has happened to me so many times! You just get sick of logging, and eating as much as you want of any food you want feels so good (while you are doing it). I felt disgusted after, and wanted to purge. But I didn't. The huge trick is to forgive yourself and go back to logging and eating at a deficit the next day. Otherwise...you gain the weight back. I know from experience! One day of falling off the wagon will not affect you in the long term unless you quit.
  • biodigit
    biodigit Posts: 145 Member
    cnbbnc wrote: »
    Well...why have a cheat day then if it's triggering to you? Why not just settle for incorporating a small portion of those things into your diet throughout the week? I think it can be more damaging to treat foods as taboo and then try to make them "cheats" then to get accustomed to portion control when you want something.

    Bingo.

    I eat everything, especially the delicacies I enjoy and fit them in within my daily calories intake. Stop demonizing them and embrace it all.
  • ObtainingBalance
    ObtainingBalance Posts: 1,446 Member
    For some people, "cheat days" can be a binge trigger.

    I've found cheats never turn out good for me, I feel like it is a word that makes me feel desperate to experience as many "banned foods" as I can before I have to eat "good" again.

    For me, I find having a free meal works better -- which only means it's a meal I don't have to log.. after the meal I continue with the day, eating balanced.

    Maybe it's not the cheat day so much, but what foods you eat (some people have certain trigger foods -- nutella is hard to eat only 1-2 spoons of lol).

    Although, if you don't have trigger foods, then you should try to work these foods into your diet every day (or every other day) so they don't have the forbidden label. Sometimes all it takes is normalizing the food item or group, to make portion control easier to practice.

    Like they say -- it's lifestyle changes that make lasting differences, not one binge day. Just continue improving yourself and working on a healthy and balanced life :)
  • raindawg
    raindawg Posts: 348 Member
    I had one of those days on Friday. It happens, just get right back on the wagon and don't stress over it.
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    And that's why it's much healthier to eat what you want within your calories.
  • oolou
    oolou Posts: 765 Member
    Log it and look at the total in the context of the whole week. Then move onto tomorrow. If you want to feel like you are doing something positive to mitigate the extra calories today, perhaps fit in some extra light/moderate cardio over the coming week - walking on the spot while watching tv or something like that (nothing so strenuous that you need to fuel it like a full blown workout).
  • ALG775
    ALG775 Posts: 247 Member
    Did close to the same thing. You could look at it like I'm trying to - there will always be setbacks. The setbacks aren't the problem. It’s what you do after the setback. Log it, notice how you felt (without judgement if possible), and celebrate yourself for sticking to your plan today.

    Not logging it makes it feel more shameful to me. It’s just food and just too much and very likely that it will happen again. We're all human.

    Good luck!
  • Obnoxa
    Obnoxa Posts: 187 Member
    Yeah. It's why I'm anti-cheat day because it never bodes well for me.
    Write yourself a letter, that's what I've done. I tell myself how crappy I feel, how my expectations vs the reality of eating whatever it was is vastly different, etc. I put it away and future me gets advice when she needs it.
    But like everyone else has said, we all stumble, it wont be last time it ever happens so dust yourself off and move forward :)