Binging on maintenance
thaliamarini5088
Posts: 8 Member
Hello! I recently lost 100 pounds (from 265 to 165), and I did it possibly “too fast” in about eight months. I didn’t necessarily mean to go so fast, but by cutting out carbs and desserts during weight loss phase and going to gym and weight training 6x a week, it came off quickly. I have been trying to be in maintenance since Thanksgiving, and sporadically do have dessert and white carbs again, though not daily. I also started to have pretty big dessert binges once or twice a week and I feel awful about it. At first I was worried I would gain weight from that but the two months in maintenance even wth the binges I have lost another 8 pounds. So I want to maintain, and have consistent eating patterns that are healthy, but am still scared that permanently adding back in carbs will make me fat, and want to stop binging but seem out of control now that I’ve started doing it again.
Sorry these topics are a little all over the place, but would love any advice and help from the community. Anyone else lose a big amount of weight and have that weight gain fear, fear of certain foods, struggling with binging, etc?
Thanks!
Sorry these topics are a little all over the place, but would love any advice and help from the community. Anyone else lose a big amount of weight and have that weight gain fear, fear of certain foods, struggling with binging, etc?
Thanks!
5
Replies
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Carbs don't make you fat, too many calories do.
How many carbs do you currently eat?11 -
Oatmeal in morning is only consistent carb carb I have. But I do have plentiful fruits and veggies a day. Also either a bean, hummus, or nut daily. Otherwise most of my calories come from protein and dairy.1
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thaliamarini5088 wrote: »Oatmeal in morning is only consistent carb carb I have. But I do have plentiful fruits and veggies a day. Also either a bean, hummus, or nut daily. Otherwise most of my calories come from protein and dairy.
From your diary, how many grams per day out of how many calories?2 -
If you've continued to lose weight when you're trying to be in maintenance, then you aren't in maintenance. Eat more.
Some foods like desserts, candy, bread, chips, are triggery for many people. Maybe ease back into the dessert thing by just having it after dinner on a special occasion.
Definitely eat enough to stop the weight loss, though. Binge/restrict is not a path you want to go down, trust us!9 -
Were you tracking calories accurately when losing? Have you determined what you think your maintenance calories are? Did you slowly increase back up to that level or did you jump up all at once? Are you still tracking calorie intake in maintance?
Notice I didn’t ask a single question about carbs because they are not the cause of your weight loss or any potential regain - too many calories are. If you enjoy desserts and “white carbs” (whatever that means) there is no reason to cut them out now, and there wasn’t a reason during weight loss either . Figure out your calorie goals and the foods you like and how to fit those into an overall balanced, enjoyable, sustainable plan.12 -
Congratulations on your weight loss-I’ve been successfully in maintenance for 7 months-I have dessert every night after supper- usually a chocolate bar or a little Debbie cake-I’d recommend including foods you enjoy everyday within your maintenance calories so you don’t get to the point you’re feeling deprived and bingey.When I was losing I didn’t have many calories for treats and did eat 12 fugdeeo cookies in one sitting-oops
but IMO I think if you incorparate a reasonable dessert every day these feelings will pass- best of luck 8 -
I had a binge last night and the night before. As long as it fits into your weekly calories you should be fine. I’ve been maintaining since August and have a sweet binge once a week and even though I put on some water weight for afew days it drops off3
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Congrats on your huge loss! Great topic. You are doing well. Need to probably up your calories and try hard NOT to restrict at all after a binge. Learn to keep things which send you crazy out of the house. Everyone's maintenance journey is different but I bet there are a lot of us who have this binge issue. I don't think once you have it you are ever cured, but it doesn't mean you will gain your weight back. You already have ALL the tools you need (based on your success) to keep it off. Be kind to yourself and celebrate your success.5
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I had a binge last night and the night before. As long as it fits into your weekly calories you should be fine. I’ve been maintaining since August and have a sweet binge once a week and even though I put on some water weight for afew days it drops off
What’s your definition of a binge?4 -
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thecrossbar wrote: »WinoGelato wrote: »I had a binge last night and the night before. As long as it fits into your weekly calories you should be fine. I’ve been maintaining since August and have a sweet binge once a week and even though I put on some water weight for afew days it drops off
What’s your definition of a binge?
I thought this too...seeing as a binge is generally defined as not being within your daily calories...
A lot of people use the term loosely, in the sense of “I overdid it and ate more of XYZ food then I think I should have”.
Without realizing that there is a clinical definition of binge eating disorder that looks nothing like that.5 -
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WinoGelato wrote: »I had a binge last night and the night before. As long as it fits into your weekly calories you should be fine. I’ve been maintaining since August and have a sweet binge once a week and even though I put on some water weight for afew days it drops off
What’s your definition of a binge?
Well I ate over the two nights 2 75g chocolate bars, 4protein pancakes with a banana and sweet freedom choc spread, crackers(half a large tub), 4 fibre one brownies, tub of breyers icecream, and 2 huge bowls of Cheerios an cornflake mix with milk and 6 biscuits.
I’m only this bad if I’m stressed
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WinoGelato wrote: »thecrossbar wrote: »WinoGelato wrote: »I had a binge last night and the night before. As long as it fits into your weekly calories you should be fine. I’ve been maintaining since August and have a sweet binge once a week and even though I put on some water weight for afew days it drops off
What’s your definition of a binge?
I thought this too...seeing as a binge is generally defined as not being within your daily calories...
A lot of people use the term loosely, in the sense of “I overdid it and ate more of XYZ food then I think I should have”.
Without realizing that there is a clinical definition of binge eating disorder that looks nothing like that.
She didn't say she had a disorder. She said she binged. I consider a binge any time I feel out of control during an eating event. It is addictive or compulsive behavior and I know it when I do it. I may even stay within calories but be way off my plan. I may intend to have a cookie at lunch, end up eating the whole bag and then skip dinner to stay in calories.
I may have a whole bag of Flips (only 500 calories, but it's four servings, and not the way I need to be eating) or it may be three peanut butter sandwiches when I intended to have one. Don't make this into an argument because you have a definition in mind of a "disorder." A binge is any eating event that is compulsive, in my opinion. I know it when I do it and it's caused by certain foods for me; and there's a whole list of them. 9 -
oh brother dont set a big bag of haribo gummy bears in front of me because I will eat the whole bag lol one reason I buy the small bags lol. that alone is like 400 calories. not to mentiont the other stuff i may eat when I "binge" and I dont have an eating disorder and never had. as I do it rarely and never to the point that I hurt afterwards or feel like vomiting which anyone I knew that had eating disorders would do3
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thecrossbar wrote: »WinoGelato wrote: »A lot of people use the term loosely, in the sense of “I overdid it and ate more of XYZ food then I think I should have”.
Without realizing that there is a clinical definition of binge eating disorder that looks nothing like that.
Was this accidentally directed at me? I'm not sure why you feel a need to define something that I never said I didn't understand?
I was more just agreeing with you and clarifying why I asked the question in the first place. Something that now others are questioning as well.
I also think understanding what someone means when they say it - if they truly were out of control compulsively Eating (with or without a clinical diagnosis) vs someone saying “I binged last night and ate 6 Oreos” is important because in my opinion the second example warrants a totally different type of response than the first.5 -
cmriverside wrote: »WinoGelato wrote: »thecrossbar wrote: »WinoGelato wrote: »I had a binge last night and the night before. As long as it fits into your weekly calories you should be fine. I’ve been maintaining since August and have a sweet binge once a week and even though I put on some water weight for afew days it drops off
What’s your definition of a binge?
I thought this too...seeing as a binge is generally defined as not being within your daily calories...
A lot of people use the term loosely, in the sense of “I overdid it and ate more of XYZ food then I think I should have”.
Without realizing that there is a clinical definition of binge eating disorder that looks nothing like that.
She didn't say she had a disorder. She said she binged. I consider a binge any time I feel out of control during an eating event. It is addictive or compulsive behavior and I know it when I do it. I may even stay within calories but be way off my plan. I may intend to have a cookie at lunch, end up eating the whole bag and then skip dinner to stay in calories.
I may have a whole bag of Flips (only 500 calories, but it's four servings, and not the way I need to be eating) or it may be three peanut butter sandwiches when I intended to have one. Don't make this into an argument because you have a definition in mind of a "disorder." A binge is any eating event that is compulsive, in my opinion. I know it when I do it and it's caused by certain foods for me; and there's a whole list of them.
Not trying to start an argument and I agree with the distinction of out of control compulsive eating - even if it isn’t 10k calories, it is a binge to that person.
But there are also a lot of people that use that term to cover all sorts of indulgences and I don’t agree that exceeding your plan or eating something you don’t normally eat, automatically constitutes calling it a binge. And the response I would give to people depends on what they actually meant. I can’t help much with someone who has BED as I don’t have personal experience though I can empathize from so many of the brave posters on these boards. Someone who thinks eating a couple extra Oreos is “bad” and calls it a binge I would try to clarify for them about all things in moderation.
Sorry, hope that helps clear up my intent
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Okie. Let me share my story. I lost a lot of weight. Very very very quickly. I have sensed developed some of the same things you talked about. I went from 400 lb to 180 lb in a little under two years. I basically became an anorexic. I had all the symptoms of anorexic. I am now having issues of hunger and satiety issues. The only difference I think between you and I. Is I have not been used yet. Do not think that I'm judging you because you have. In some ways it's natural. The body does fight to regain weight according to the literature I have read. As far as being afraid of carbs. Don't fear carbs. From some of the research I've read it actually shows that fat becomes easier to store and carbs become the preferential fuel source in post obese weight loss. I bought into the carb insulin hypothesis for a very long time. It took many people on here and dealing with some good Minds in the field. To help me finally lose that opinion. I hope you find your way. If you would like to be my friend on MyFitnessPal. I am not a collector. Only interested in people who have some of the same goals and ideas that I share. I hope the best for you bless you. i once you add that I am currently trying to gain some weight back to hopefully have a more normal sense of hunger and satiety. I say mostly because I will settle for half at this point. Enough of my complaining carry on.14
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Thank you so much for sharing this. I really appreciate it and if you ever need to chat in your recovery- I am here!0
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WinoGelato wrote: »thecrossbar wrote: »WinoGelato wrote: »A lot of people use the term loosely, in the sense of “I overdid it and ate more of XYZ food then I think I should have”.
Without realizing that there is a clinical definition of binge eating disorder that looks nothing like that.
Was this accidentally directed at me? I'm not sure why you feel a need to define something that I never said I didn't understand?
I was more just agreeing with you and clarifying why I asked the question in the first place. Something that now others are questioning as well.
I also think understanding what someone means when they say it - if they truly were out of control compulsively Eating (with or without a clinical diagnosis) vs someone saying “I binged last night and ate 6 Oreos” is important because in my opinion the second example warrants a totally different type of response than the first.WinoGelato wrote: »thecrossbar wrote: »WinoGelato wrote: »A lot of people use the term loosely, in the sense of “I overdid it and ate more of XYZ food then I think I should have”.
Without realizing that there is a clinical definition of binge eating disorder that looks nothing like that.
Was this accidentally directed at me? I'm not sure why you feel a need to define something that I never said I didn't understand?
I was more just agreeing with you and clarifying why I asked the question in the first place. Something that now others are questioning as well.
I also think understanding what someone means when they say it - if they truly were out of control compulsively Eating (with or without a clinical diagnosis) vs someone saying “I binged last night and ate 6 Oreos” is important because in my opinion the second example warrants a totally different type of response than the first.thecrossbar wrote: »WinoGelato wrote: »I had a binge last night and the night before. As long as it fits into your weekly calories you should be fine. I’ve been maintaining since August and have a sweet binge once a week and even though I put on some water weight for afew days it drops off
What’s your definition of a binge?
I thought this too...seeing as a binge is generally defined as not being within your daily calories...
0 -
Sorry I’m clearly new and didn’t get how quote worked and was trying to respond to those comments. Yikes! I am so moved at how many pieces of genuine and good advice I have gotten and am so glad I decided to join this community. THANK YOU. I promise your help and support won’t go on wasted ears, and in turn, whilst new to the group, if you ever need support or a shoulder to lean on or a cheerleader, I am here!
So I am not by definition suffering from BED, so I hope my post didn’t minimize the disorder for anyone. Def not my intention! For me a binge is feeling this craze like I can’t stop, and is 95%-100% solely comprised of eating a ton of chocolate and dessert type stuff in quick succession usually late at night. (And as far as calories or quantity I would say anywhere from 1500 calories-3500ish per binge).
I do agree I need to get carbs more in my diet, have planned treats, and in general up my calorie count.
I thought I knew the right amount of maintenance calories but I think through years of yo-yo dieting, going to gym a lot more now, really restricting calories from April thru November, my body and metabolism aren’t stable- so the real answer is NO- I HAVE NO IDEA how many calories are on maintenance, but I do know in the process of losing 100 pounds- I have a lot of fears around food, gaining weight, and some bad behavior around eating to excess secretly, and also some health side effects like I stopped getting my period.
Anyway I am so thankful for all the advice, and am happy to be part of this group now, and if there are any more things I can Clarify or answer, or if you have more tidbits from having gone through this- pls let me know! I’m def looking for shared support friendships on here so if anyone else feels that we could be a mutual beneficial partner ship of support in this journey, please reach out, message me, friend me, whatever works! Thanks!7 -
thaliamarini5088 wrote: »Sorry I’m clearly new and didn’t get how quote worked and was trying to respond to those comments. Yikes! I am so moved at how many pieces of genuine and good advice I have gotten and am so glad I decided to join this community. THANK YOU. I promise your help and support won’t go on wasted ears, and in turn, whilst new to the group, if you ever need support or a shoulder to lean on or a cheerleader, I am here!
So I am not by definition suffering from BED, so I hope my post didn’t minimize the disorder for anyone. Def not my intention! For me a binge is feeling this craze like I can’t stop, and is 95%-100% solely comprised of eating a ton of chocolate and dessert type stuff in quick succession usually late at night. (And as far as calories or quantity I would say anywhere from 1500 calories-3500ish per binge).
I do agree I need to get carbs more in my diet, have planned treats, and in general up my calorie count.
I thought I knew the right amount of maintenance calories but I think through years of yo-yo dieting, going to gym a lot more now, really restricting calories from April thru November, my body and metabolism aren’t stable- so the real answer is NO- I HAVE NO IDEA how many calories are on maintenance, but I do know in the process of losing 100 pounds- I have a lot of fears around food, gaining weight, and some bad behavior around eating to excess secretly, and also some health side effects like I stopped getting my period.
Anyway I am so thankful for all the advice, and am happy to be part of this group now, and if there are any more things I can Clarify or answer, or if you have more tidbits from having gone through this- pls let me know! I’m def looking for shared support friendships on here so if anyone else feels that we could be a mutual beneficial partner ship of support in this journey, please reach out, message me, friend me, whatever works! Thanks!
What are the maintenance cals MFP suggests for you?
What calorie level were you at when losing?
Are you still logging today and how accurate is your logging?
If you have reliable data from the last few months and into your transition of maintenance you should be able to determine the maintenance cals. And if you think you are still too low then add 100 cals/day for a week at a time until you stop losing (reverse dieting) and then give it a few more weeks to ensure that’s the right number.-1 -
I agree with WinoGelato - use your last weight loss period as a starting point to calculate. But that only works IF you have good records. Each pound loss in a week works out to 500 calories per day on average. It is generally accepted that 3500 calories equal a pound of body weight.
So if you were losing a pound per week at the end (or even now) then add 500 calories per day to stop the weight loss. 500 X 7 = 3500.
Alternately, just use the numbers this site gives you for Maintaining your weight in the Goals section. Use that number for two months and log all your food. There *could* be a temporary bump up on the scale but stay the course, you're already eight pounds below your goal - so just keep going - you are safe. Use that eight pounds as a buffer. If you get back to that original goal weight, that's a good thing.
Second, it sounds like you have created for yourself a bit of distorted thinking around food, and if you've lost your period it's leading into a full blown eating disorder - so maybe consider talking to someone (a professional) about this before it gets worse.
Stay the course with food for a couple months. Eat at Maintenance as suggested on this site and keep good records and don't second guess yourself.4
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