Binging! Yikes what, why, and how to stop!
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tthickens637
Posts: 312 Member
Hey All,
I'm curious about binge eating. Every few days I have an insatiable hunger that turns into over-eating. My macros are good 40C/20F/40P and my daily calorie goal is 1350 (60y/o female, 5'8", 160lbs). At least once a week, and sometimes twice, I end up taking in 2000+ calories. It's seriously slowing my progress and I feel like such a failure when it happens. I'd like to know what you consider binging, why you think it happens, and what you do to overcome it!
I'm curious about binge eating. Every few days I have an insatiable hunger that turns into over-eating. My macros are good 40C/20F/40P and my daily calorie goal is 1350 (60y/o female, 5'8", 160lbs). At least once a week, and sometimes twice, I end up taking in 2000+ calories. It's seriously slowing my progress and I feel like such a failure when it happens. I'd like to know what you consider binging, why you think it happens, and what you do to overcome it!
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Replies
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How active are you? Is it possible that 1350 isnt enough? It might be more sustainable if you up your calories a bit.3
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If you're curious about it, that tells me that you have not been clinically diagnosed with an eating disorder.
If that's truly the case, then we're in the same boat. Every few days or weeks I jump all the way off the rails and eat stuff I don't even want or need.
One of the things I know causes that is when I go grocery shopping and get a bag of candy or a box of cookies and do so with the thought, "This is for me". Once I mentally open the door of possibility to it, I go through with the deed. It may not be the first day or the second, but it's going to happen. I share a home with 3 other adults, my wife and 2 daughters. I'm the only one trying to stay in ketosis. I can't avoid buying the candy and such, but as long as I know it's "not for me", I seem to be able to live in the house with the candy without eating all of it. It's definitely strange to realize that. There's a big bag of assorted Hershey miniature candies and a bag of miniature Baby Ruth candies in the kitchen right now. They are not for me. And that's ok.7 -
I binge when im bored or extremely tired. Ill start off with a small snack i.e. an apricot which later turn to 6 apricots, a kit kat bar and a slice of toast. When im on a binge i am NEVER full. I find it so stressfull and so hard to stop myself!2
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I have the same issues. Let me tell you, I think it just SUCKS to be an older woman with the calorie restrictions we are given.
Right now, I'm on 1450 (55 y/o, 5'7") in order to lose .5 lb a week. Yesterday I met my goal and I got the "If you keep all your days like this, you will weigh XXXX in 5 weeks." Wow, that seems like a LONG time to still be overweight.
I think the problem is that we've been given such a low caloric value due to our aging TDEE, but unfortunately, our stomachs have not gotten the message.
You are hungry. That's why you are having these scattered binges. Although, to me, 2000 is hardly a binge. It's just a tough caloric goal to meet every day (1350).
When I read these forums and I see the young people getting to eat 1600-1700 calories a day to lose quite a bit, I am so envious. I remember when I was there!!! Seems like a luxury now. When I see what people are eating on the "healthy breakfast" thread, I know I can't because it would blow too much of my daily calories. No wonder we have these little binges.
Anyway, I was probably no help but just wanted you to know that you're not alone!9 -
I have the same issues. Let me tell you, I think it just SUCKS to be an older woman with the calorie restrictions we are given.
Right now, I'm on 1450 (55 y/o, 5'7") in order to lose .5 lb a week. Yesterday I met my goal and I got the "If you keep all your days like this, you will weigh XXXX in 5 weeks." Wow, that seems like a LONG time to still be overweight.
I think the problem is that we've been given such a low caloric value due to our aging TDEE, but unfortunately, our stomachs have not gotten the message.
You are hungry. That's why you are having these scattered binges. Although, to me, 2000 is hardly a binge. It's just a tough caloric goal to meet every day (1350).
When I read these forums and I see the young people getting to eat 1600-1700 calories a day to lose quite a bit, I am so envious. I remember when I was there!!! Seems like a luxury now. When I see what people are eating on the "healthy breakfast" thread, I know I can't because it would blow too much of my daily calories. No wonder we have these little binges.
Anyway, I was probably no help but just wanted you to know that you're not alone!
That was totally helpful! As I was reading it I was thinking 'damn right' and cheering you on. Guess I'm a little bitter about this. 🤣3 -
alexandravictoria88 wrote: »I binge when im bored or extremely tired. Ill start off with a small snack i.e. an apricot which later turn to 6 apricots, a kit kat bar and a slice of toast. When im on a binge i am NEVER full. I find it so stressfull and so hard to stop myself!
You hit the nail on the head for me - both why and what happens. I think boredom plays a huge role for me too. When I'm engaged/enjoying what I'm doing, I don't even think about food. In fact, when I'm busy I'll forget to eat and end up famished - which is also a slippery slope!! Thanks for your insights. 🤗1 -
Very insightful! I 'usually' won't touch the 'not for me' food. But when binge hunger hits, I might have 'just one' - and really savor it - and maybe 'one' of those too - and deliberately enjoy it - and... oh heck, I guess I'm really hungry! I'll have some of my good food now - and maybe even a little more because I'm sooo hungry. Great, now I've blown my budget for the day. 😞0
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emorrell21 wrote: »How active are you? Is it possible that 1350 isnt enough? It might be more sustainable if you up your calories a bit.
That is a great question. Thinking about it, my activity level isn't consistent. I'll regularly get my base level in, but on top of that I might work my rear off on some big manual labor project all day or I might lounge around all day. 🤔0 -
tthickens637 wrote: »emorrell21 wrote: »How active are you? Is it possible that 1350 isnt enough? It might be more sustainable if you up your calories a bit.
That is a great question. Thinking about it, my activity level isn't consistent. I'll regularly get my base level in, but on top of that I might work my rear off on some big manual labor project all day or I might lounge around all day. 🤔
What percentage of the calories that you earn from exercise do you eat back?0 -
tthickens637 wrote: »Hey All,
I'm curious about binge eating. Every few days I have an insatiable hunger that turns into over-eating. My macros are good 40C/20F/40P and my daily calorie goal is 1350 (60y/o female, 5'8", 160lbs). At least once a week, and sometimes twice, I end up taking in 2000+ calories. It's seriously slowing my progress and I feel like such a failure when it happens. I'd like to know what you consider binging, why you think it happens, and what you do to overcome it!
This sounds like you, only 1350 instead of 1200:
https://www.aworkoutroutine.com/1200-calorie-diet/
I'm 1.5 inches shorter than you and can't imagine eating a paltry 1350 calories.4 -
kshama2001 wrote: »tthickens637 wrote: »emorrell21 wrote: »How active are you? Is it possible that 1350 isnt enough? It might be more sustainable if you up your calories a bit.
That is a great question. Thinking about it, my activity level isn't consistent. I'll regularly get my base level in, but on top of that I might work my rear off on some big manual labor project all day or I might lounge around all day. 🤔
What percentage of the calories that you earn from exercise do you eat back?
I don't count exercise calories.1 -
kshama2001 wrote: »tthickens637 wrote: »Hey All,
I'm curious about binge eating. Every few days I have an insatiable hunger that turns into over-eating. My macros are good 40C/20F/40P and my daily calorie goal is 1350 (60y/o female, 5'8", 160lbs). At least once a week, and sometimes twice, I end up taking in 2000+ calories. It's seriously slowing my progress and I feel like such a failure when it happens. I'd like to know what you consider binging, why you think it happens, and what you do to overcome it!
This sounds like you, only 1350 instead of 1200:
https://www.aworkoutroutine.com/1200-calorie-diet/
I'm 1.5 inches shorter than you and can't imagine eating a paltry 1350 calories.
That is a great chart! The visual helps. I was following TLS guidelines, but I'm beginning to think 1350 is too aggressive. Being older, my TDEE is pretty low, so any significant deficit drops me way down there. I'd rather not starve and take it slower. Also I don't want to end up loosing muscle.😬 Thanks!1 -
I find that if I eat less calories in the morning/lunch, then I can eat a larger amount of calories at dinner time and it helps me to feel more satisfied. My brain knows that I’ll get plenty at dinner, so it helps make eating less earlier easier.4
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Thanks for sharing. I'm starting to realize I need to be more strategic like that too. The past two days I logged a evening snack first thing in the morning. And believe it or not, I forgot both days that it was there until evening when I realized I had room left in my budget for a decent snack. I was so excited!!🤣I find that if I eat less calories in the morning/lunch, then I can eat a larger amount of calories at dinner time and it helps me to feel more satisfied. My brain knows that I’ll get plenty at dinner, so it helps make eating less earlier easier.
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My experience has been that binging has been associated with not eating enough. When I do eat my budgeted calories I rarely have a problem.
I had very few problems with binging during my active weight loss phase. It started happening more frequently as I got close to goal and early in maintenance (maybe because I had less "in storage" to sustain myself at that point??) As soon as I made sure to eat all of my daily calories, the binging went away.2 -
I find that if I eat less calories in the morning/lunch, then I can eat a larger amount of calories at dinner time and it helps me to feel more satisfied. My brain knows that I’ll get plenty at dinner, so it helps make eating less earlier easier.
THIS!!!!!!!!!
I eat very frugally all day (keep macros perfect) knowing I can have a big dinner with my family in the evening eating what they eat.
I then workout (with a lot of fuel from dinner) in the evening and have a small snack after.
Bed. Go again the next day.1 -
tthickens637 wrote: »Hey All,
I'm curious about binge eating. Every few days I have an insatiable hunger that turns into over-eating. My macros are good 40C/20F/40P and my daily calorie goal is 1350 (60y/o female, 5'8", 160lbs). At least once a week, and sometimes twice, I end up taking in 2000+ calories. It's seriously slowing my progress and I feel like such a failure when it happens. I'd like to know what you consider binging, why you think it happens, and what you do to overcome it!
Hey theres nothing wrong with having a few cheeky chocs etc from time to time. It does me no harm and I still manage to lose weight1 -
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i think kshama hit the nail on the head. you are under eating on days you are active thus under-fueling leading to binges (and less control around them).
On the busy days log the exercise and eat more. or sorta average it all on the week and eat a bit more daily.
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tthickens637 wrote: »kshama2001 wrote: »tthickens637 wrote: »emorrell21 wrote: »How active are you? Is it possible that 1350 isnt enough? It might be more sustainable if you up your calories a bit.
That is a great question. Thinking about it, my activity level isn't consistent. I'll regularly get my base level in, but on top of that I might work my rear off on some big manual labor project all day or I might lounge around all day. 🤔
What percentage of the calories that you earn from exercise do you eat back?
I don't count exercise calories.
Good news! Sounds like there is a simple cause for the binging - undereating in general for your height and the amount of weight you want to lose plus not fueling your exercise - and thus a simple solution: eating a little more on a regular basis
If you use MFP to set your calorie goal, exercise, but don't eat back any exercise calories, you are not using MFP the way it was designed.
Unlike other sites which use TDEE calculators, MFP uses the NEAT method (Non-Exercise Activity Thermogenesis), and as such this system is designed for exercise calories to be eaten back. However, many consider the burns given by MFP to be inflated for them and only eat a percentage, such as 50%, back. Others, however, are able to lose weight while eating 100% of their exercise calories.
http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/818082/exercise-calories-again-wtf/p1
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