Scared of overeating and unhealthy avoidance strategies?

alwaysbloated · August 2018

So, I've been a fan of the whole IF thing for a while, because of the smaller eating window and all the so called health benefits.

I had this feeling that I didn't deserve breakfast, and if I ate before a certain time of day, I would defiantly end up overeating.

As a result, I ended up avoiding food until about 2pm in the day, or doing a long walk in the morning, before eating, so I had at least burnt off breakfast (or 350-600 calories).

Does anyone else fast for really awful reasons? Did you go back to eating at normal times? or avoid snacking? I've also had trouble with binging at night time, I can eat perfectly all day, then 7pm hits and I want all the treats.

I did see an eating disorder specialist, and they said since I had recently learnt about cognitive behavioural therapy, I could implement it by myself, then gave me a list of about 5 places I could go for help with my problems. Other than one on one or group therapy for eating disorders. So, not really sure where I stand, just really messed up. Desperately need to lose weight, but maybe calorie counting, reward/punishment, all/nothing isn't right for me?

RaeBeeBaby · August 2018

Tracking calories is a good place to start. I don't think anyone really eats intuitively until well after it has become learned behavior. For me that has taken several years to get there. I really do know what I SHOULD eat and how much, but I still like to eat all the foods and drink all the drinks. Therefore, tracking my calories on a regular basis keeps me in check.

Humans eat because they're hungry and food tastes good. It's not really natural to think about what the food is or how many calories it contains. The only reason we have to do that now is that there are so many high caloric foods available that taste amazingly good and we don't move enough. This has led to a world filled with obese and overweight people.

Personally, I don't believe much in the IF idealogy. I don't want to restrict myself to only eating in a set window of opportunity. I can certainly fill that allowable window with high calorie foods, so what's the point? I have found that just tracking what I eat, eating only when I'm hungry, moving more and doing my best to stay in a calorie deficit is a pretty successful way of life.

Don't be looking for a magic bullet. Just go for a healthy eating plan and start moving more every day. You will see results.

Lillymoo01 · August 2018

You really need to get advice from professionals rather than strangers from an internet forum.

kommodevaran · August 2018

I recognize some of your thought processes, but I have a fear I will overeat if I'm too strict, I never think I don't deserve to eat. I like the extra buffer that being active gives me, but I never exercise to burn off calories. I have a meal plan that I'm quite attached to, but I accept that the execution of it is never going to be perfect, and I am the master, the plan is the servant.

I think you're falling between chairs, too much much going on in your head to handle alone, but a lot of that is insight and intelligence, so you your therapist doesn't feel competent to help you. You need professional help, and from someone else.

I have the Beck Diet Solution, and it can possibly help you, but it can also possibly be bad for you - it's filled with good, sound things, but also with "stick to your diet" and "low fat", so not very kind. I like these better:
Eating Less
Riley, Gillian

The End of Overeating
Kessler, David

The Diet Fix: Why Diets Fail and How to
Freedhoff, Yoni

Secrets of Feeding a Healthy Family: How
Satter, Ellyn

Intuitive Eating
Tribole, Evelyn

Better Than Before
Rubin, Gretchen

but you still have to filter out any tidbits that goes against building your own healthy relationship wih food.

Scared of overeating and unhealthy avoidance strategies?

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