Eating/Exercise Routine & Getting Off Schedule

goatg
goatg Posts: 1,399 Member
edited November 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
I really struggle with eating, and completing exercise, when I get off schedule.

I can't believe I'm saying this on a public forum, but I've struggled with an ED off and on. One of the ways I remain successful is by creating a lot of structure. This involves me waking up early, doing a lot of cardio on an very light stomach, and then recovering and eating during the day. I feel good about this.

However, today I'm working from home and let myself get up late. I won't work out until the afternoon and I already ate (a meal high in protein and fiber). Per my training program, I have to do an hour interval run and timing avoiding feelings of fullness/hunger is a challenge. I'm giving myself 2.5-3 hours to digest but staying on track is a challenge. I feel anxious.

These days are harder than off days. How my body will feel, moment-to-moment, is unknown. I really hate this feeling. Has anyone had similar struggles? What coping mechanisms do you find useful?

Replies

  • jjpptt2
    jjpptt2 Posts: 5,650 Member
    I have very similar struggles. I have all the symptoms/signs of an ED, but have never seen anyone about it, so no formal diagnosis. Regardless, my relationship with food is pretty poor.

    I know what you mean about structure. I've also learned, fairly recently, that I have very strong willpower in any given moment... but maintaining willpower over time is damn near impossible. For me, that means the longer I think about doing something, the less apt I am to make the right decision. I combat that with structure, routine, and distractions. And caffeine (helps me focus). But sometimes life doesn't care about my routines.

    The difference for me, I guess, is that I don't worry so much about how my body will feel. I can generally predict it. The problem I have is that if I know I'm not going to feel great, I'm much more apt to say "screw it" to both diet and exercise. My all-or-nothing tendencies are typically what do me in.
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,368 Member
    You're not alone. I think it's more anxiety than ED, per se... I mean, that's why I work out in the morning too, because it's out of the way... I'm always nervous that I won't be able to get a workout done if I have to wait until the evening because something will come up, and I'm always struggling to stay under calories if I don't have my 12000 steps.

    Like today... didn't feel good so I cut my workout short after 8000 steps and now I'm already 100 calories over and it's only 12pm. Horrible weather so I won't be able to walk the dog either. I hate how much I depend on feeling good enough to workout to be able to lose weight.
  • nowine4me
    nowine4me Posts: 3,985 Member
    I don’t have an ED, but I do experience some anxiety when I get out of my routine.

    Unless I’m on vacation, I try really hard to get up at the same time every day and walk & lift or run. I try to eat my meals at about the same time every day ( I have lunch on my work calendar and ask that no one schedule over it). I also go to bed at the same time.

    It’s days that I have a super early meeting, lunch appt or after-work engagement that really throw me off.
  • Christine_72
    Christine_72 Posts: 16,049 Member
    I'm the same when my routine gets out of whack. I struggle to continue normally throughout the day, and my eating/calorie deficit goes out the window.
  • goatg
    goatg Posts: 1,399 Member
    edited March 2018
    @jjpptt2 Structure, routines, and distractions. I definitely relate to this. I usually have all-or-nothing tendencies too. I definitely relate to the feeling of, "the longer I think about it I'm less likely..." Do you think our own mental/emotional states are our worst enemies in this regard? Today could have easily been one of those days but instead I waited until I digested and felt better, and scheduled the rest of my day around that.
    I try to think in terms of weeks, not days. We age one day at a time; we simply keep track by years. It's kind of the same with food, right? We may partition in terms of days, but really it's individual calories, minutes..

    @Francl27 Your perspective really helped me today. I'm so happy you shared your thoughts. Thank you. Saying, "I think it's more anxiety than ED" allowed me to remember another perspective: that feelings are not out of control, being very influenceable by the thoughts we choose to focus on. Self-empowerment is a powerful feeling, and it was very inspiring. I finished my work (mostly), worked out around 3:30, and all-in-all have had a successful day.
    Francl- How do you define, "feeling good?" Is it mostly physical or emotional too? I also hate going over early in the day. It's such a feeling of defeat. Is there anything you do to help yourself stay on track for the day/week and to feel good?

    Thank you, you two, for the inspiration. I read this before heading out and you really did help.
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,368 Member
    Yes I feel down when I go over. But I was just a bit under the weather today (hot, hungry, tired), so I had to cut my workout short and it always makes me feel bad too. Hard enough to stay under goal on active days!
  • goatg
    goatg Posts: 1,399 Member
    Francl27 wrote: »
    Yes I feel down when I go over. But I was just a bit under the weather today (hot, hungry, tired), so I had to cut my workout short and it always makes me feel bad too. Hard enough to stay under goal on active days!

    I'm guessing "over," for you, often can still involve a calorie deficit? Eg, I have my goal set at about -1k calories per day so I just remind myself when I go 'over' (which is pretty much *every.day.*) that I'm still doing a good job : )

  • goatg
    goatg Posts: 1,399 Member
    I hope you feel better! Sometimes rest is better for your body long and short term. I had to cut mine short today too. I just couldn't finish....and only 12 hours to recover before my next workout.
  • jjpptt2
    jjpptt2 Posts: 5,650 Member
    goatg wrote: »
    @jjpptt2 Structure, routines, and distractions. I definitely relate to this. I usually have all-or-nothing tendencies too. I definitely relate to the feeling of, "the longer I think about it I'm less likely..." Do you think our own mental/emotional states are our worst enemies in this regard? Today could have easily been one of those days but instead I waited until I digested and felt better, and scheduled the rest of my day around that.
    I try to think in terms of weeks, not days. We age one day at a time; we simply keep track by years. It's kind of the same with food, right? We may partition in terms of days, but really it's individual calories, minutes..

    Mental/emotional state? Yes, that's definitely the limiting factor for me. More so on the diet side (emotional eater), but it can be a problem on the training side, too (end up over thinking things, then getting lost in details that don't really matter).

    Sounds like you recovered well. Or fended off what could be a tough day. Good job.

    Yes, I agree about the food. The body is remarkably adaptable - a bad day means almost nothing to it. Mentally (at least for me), is a totally different story. 1 bad day can spiral, so a longer, bigger picture view helps me keep things in check. Sometimes.
This discussion has been closed.

Categories