I either under-eat when I diet or I binge?

Verity1111
Verity1111 Posts: 3,309 Member
edited October 2016 in Health and Weight Loss
I kind of have a history of ED (bulimia and binge eating disorder, no vomiting, but LOTS of binging and some excessive exercise and fasting). I have a major food addiction and I find being strict and organized, logging my food early, etc, is the only way I stay on track. Now, I am eating healthier and more organized meals, but way less calories and I feel full and satisfied. The only issue is I have some days where I barely hit 900-1000 calories. I'm just not hungry and I also get bad acid reflux/GERD sometimes so I fear eating too late at night and don't want to force myself. Should I worry about it or just let myself go over on other days if I feel like it and Zig-Zag my calories to make up for the low calorie days?

Replies

  • ajnb88
    ajnb88 Posts: 339 Member
    My experiences with EDs are pretty limited (brief period of anorexia a few years back, worked with a severely anorexic person for a few years) so I can't really comment on that side, but healthy eating is a long-haul thing. As long as you're eating 'right' most of the time, don't worry about the odd day or two when you don't.

    I know it's hard, but look at the big picture, hopefully over the course of a week/month/whatever, you can look back and say that yes, you're making progress with it. :)
  • Verity1111
    Verity1111 Posts: 3,309 Member
    edited October 2016
    ajnb88 wrote: »
    My experiences with EDs are pretty limited (brief period of anorexia a few years back, worked with a severely anorexic person for a few years) so I can't really comment on that side, but healthy eating is a long-haul thing. As long as you're eating 'right' most of the time, don't worry about the odd day or two when you don't.

    I know it's hard, but look at the big picture, hopefully over the course of a week/month/whatever, you can look back and say that yes, you're making progress with it. :)

    Thank you. Im trying. I was eating 1500-1700 calories for a couple days which is kind of high and then I had an 850 and a 950 calorie day. Im not too hungry. I just feel very satisfied as far as my diet right now. I am very overweight (didnt walk for 4 months due to an injury and I gained a lot) so Im not at risk of being underweight or anything. I just also have a lot of immune system issues and dont want to pass out or something due to lack of nutrition. lol. I mean, I doubt I will but people on here make me nervous when they go on about how awful it is to under eat. I feel good physically. I just want to make sure I'm not severely damaging my body. I'm eating both fresh and processed foods. Like healthy choice steamer meals (under 300 calories) for lunch but a big salad with spinach, arugala, tomato, cucumber, carrots, celery and vegetarian "chicken" tenders" for dinner usually with ranch or herb cream cheese. I also have bagels with cream cheese and cucumber for a snack a couple times a day. I feel like I'm eating a large quantity of food for the small amount of calories that I'm consuming. Thank you for the encouragement!
  • ajnb88
    ajnb88 Posts: 339 Member
    Don't feel like you're starving yourself (or binging) based on one day, it sounds like you have it figured out :) The health dangers come from continued routines of over/under eating.

    As I said, look at it in a week. You said a couple days with 15-1700, a couple with 850-950? Averaged out that's about 1200/day - some will say that's a little low, but you can see how the weeks add together and little blips don't count for much in the end :)
  • singingflutelady
    singingflutelady Posts: 8,736 Member
    The only thing I'd be careful about is that the undereating days could lead to binging. I often fall into the restrict-binge cycle which is no fun (I'm a mostly recovered anorexia binge/purge subtype)
  • SCoil123
    SCoil123 Posts: 2,111 Member
    I'm a recovering bulimic and binger. For me I have found that I can't allow myself to go over or under my calorie goals. I always eat my minimum set by mfp and then eat most of my activity calories. I've had to change my thinking around food and now I see it simply as fuel to keep my body healthy.
  • Verity1111
    Verity1111 Posts: 3,309 Member
    ajnb88 wrote: »
    Don't feel like you're starving yourself (or binging) based on one day, it sounds like you have it figured out :) The health dangers come from continued routines of over/under eating.

    As I said, look at it in a week. You said a couple days with 15-1700, a couple with 850-950? Averaged out that's about 1200/day - some will say that's a little low, but you can see how the weeks add together and little blips don't count for much in the end :)

    Thank you very much. Well, I'm 5'4" so for me 1200 isnt bad lol once I get to goal it would be nice to be able to eat more instead of needing to lower my calories so if I eat an average of 1200 thats fine with me. That means I will be all ready for maintenance. :) Thank you again!
  • Verity1111
    Verity1111 Posts: 3,309 Member
    singingflutelady wrote: »
    The only thing I'd be careful about is that the undereating days could lead to binging. I often fall into the restrict-binge cycle which is no fun (I'm a mostly recovered anorexia binge/purge subtype)

    I actually binge if I go over. It's like if I go over by a few calories I feel like a failure and I binge like crazy. If I know Im going to go over I literally up my goal in my diary for a day or two to trick my brain into thinking I did well...lol.
  • Verity1111
    Verity1111 Posts: 3,309 Member
    SCoil123 wrote: »
    I'm a recovering bulimic and binger. For me I have found that I can't allow myself to go over or under my calorie goals. I always eat my minimum set by mfp and then eat most of my activity calories. I've had to change my thinking around food and now I see it simply as fuel to keep my body healthy.

    I'm the same. If I go under I want to keep going under, but in this case I feel good. I am under my calories, but I'm not hungry or starving myself. If I'm hungry, I eat. If I want something and it will make me go over my calories for the day, I will log it for tomorrow and enjoy it now if I want. I just am trying to make sure I average about 1,200 per day for the week. Somewhere there because I'm short and not very active. I have 3 small kids but I also dont get out much and I have a recovering ankle with 8 screws a plate and a wire in it.
  • Verity1111
    Verity1111 Posts: 3,309 Member
    Thank you all for the advice :)
  • luv2shimmy
    luv2shimmy Posts: 67 Member
    You sound to me like you're listening to your body and like you're doing well. Good job.
  • Verity1111
    Verity1111 Posts: 3,309 Member
    t_tullius wrote: »
    You sound to me like you're listening to your body and like you're doing well. Good job.

    Thank you very much. I hope you're right and hopefully it works for me. :)
  • GottaBurnEmAll
    GottaBurnEmAll Posts: 7,722 Member
    edited October 2016
    singingflutelady wrote: »
    The only thing I'd be careful about is that the undereating days could lead to binging. I often fall into the restrict-binge cycle which is no fun (I'm a mostly recovered anorexia binge/purge subtype)

    This. Too much under eating can set off hormonal signals in your body that lead to binges of the kind that don't have anything to do with your BED.

    I don't have BED, but I've fallen victim to the over restriction/binge cycle due to hormones. It's not fun.

    Editing to add: Upon further thought, if your weekly calories add up to a reasonable deficit equal to 3500 calories? Then I think you're okay.

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