Previous Eating Disorder, now trying to diet healthy
Options
Beautifulx0xButterfly
Posts: 7 Member
I am a 31 year old woman. When I was in highschool, aged 13-20 I had Bulimia. It took a long time, but I finally recovered from Bulimia by going to a psychiatrist and learning to love my body again etc. But then I went the complete opposite direction and learned a love for food (all the bad kinds of food) pizza, poutines, chicken wings, pasta, cake, chips etc. Now, I am at the complete opposite side of the relationship with food I was when I was a youth. I've been trying to lose the weight the healthy way this time around. I have been going to the gym doing cardio workouts for 2 hours each time, as well as keeping my calorie intake at 1300, but I have only lost 5 pounds, and I am hungry all the time.
My question is, how do I keep on my dieting without going back to binge eating or bulimia because I am feeling discouraged
Any advise from others in the same situation who have overcome?
My question is, how do I keep on my dieting without going back to binge eating or bulimia because I am feeling discouraged
Any advise from others in the same situation who have overcome? 6
Replies
-
What proportion of your exercise calories are you eating back, and how did you calculate them? MFP intends you to eat back all exercise calories assuming they are calculated correctly. If you’re not eating them back, you may be undereating.
Depending on your starting weight and how long you’ve been trying to lose weight, 5 pounds may be reasonable or even too fast.3 -
First, if you are going to workout, 1300 calories is way too low - no wonder you're hungry.
How much weight are you trying to lose? Set your goals accordingly and EAT.
I would suggest you go back to your treatment team to get you set up with a calorie and food plan.
2 -
If the cardio is new, you are likely retaining water from that, which can mask fat loss.
You've lost 5 pounds in what amount of time? And how much weight do you have to lose total?
I agree that depending on these factors, 5 pounds could be reasonable or even too fast.0 -
1. Five pounds is a great start. There’s no reason to say “only five pounds.” You’ve lost five pounds. Awesome job.
2. 1300 calories isn’t enough if you’re doing two hours of cardio daily. Of course you’re always hungry.
3. Be careful with your mindset. Over exercising and undereating and becoming obsessive about these things can trigger old bulimic-like habits.
4. Patience. You didn’t gain weight overnight. You won’t lose it overnight. I didn’t lose weight successfully until I stopped trying to lose it all at once. Change the way you eat and live and then allow the weight loss to come naturally.
5. Look more into your relationship with food. If you spoke with someone previously to overcome your issues, consider doing that again.
6. Try not to restrict yourself too much. Consider eating at maintenance for a while and adjusting as you feel comfortable. Going from eating whatever you want to being very restrictive and over exercising is a great way to trigger binge eating. It’s a cycle. You feel guilty for binging, so you restrict. Which causes more binging.6 -
Hunger when losing weight is not sustainable. You are eating man made food and it's confusing your body. Try natural foods like meat and vegetables and stop eating processed foods. If that doesn't work, or you need further help, then message me and I'll help you figure it out.-4
-
Hunger when losing weight is not sustainable. You are eating man made food and it's confusing your body. Try natural foods like meat and vegetables and stop eating processed foods. If that doesn't work, or you need further help, then message me and I'll help you figure it out.
You have no idea what s/he is eating.
What are you even talking about?9 -
cmriverside wrote: »Hunger when losing weight is not sustainable. You are eating man made food and it's confusing your body. Try natural foods like meat and vegetables and stop eating processed foods. If that doesn't work, or you need further help, then message me and I'll help you figure it out.
You have no idea what s/he is eating.
What are you even talking about?
Hormones. Insulin, cortisol, ghrelin, etc.. Are you hungry? I'm not. I eat 1 meal a day. So let's see..-1 -
cmriverside wrote: »Hunger when losing weight is not sustainable. You are eating man made food and it's confusing your body. Try natural foods like meat and vegetables and stop eating processed foods. If that doesn't work, or you need further help, then message me and I'll help you figure it out.
You have no idea what s/he is eating.
What are you even talking about?
Hormones. Insulin, cortisol, ghrelin, etc.. Are you hungry? I'm not. I eat 1 meal a day. So let's see..
I'm not hungry, but thanks for caring.
This woman isn't eating enough in general and is working out two hours a day.
She suffered from bulimia in the past.
Pretty sure there's more going on there than processed food causing her to be hungry.
Number of meals is not relevant here.14 -
cmriverside wrote: »cmriverside wrote: »Hunger when losing weight is not sustainable. You are eating man made food and it's confusing your body. Try natural foods like meat and vegetables and stop eating processed foods. If that doesn't work, or you need further help, then message me and I'll help you figure it out.
You have no idea what s/he is eating.
What are you even talking about?
Hormones. Insulin, cortisol, ghrelin, etc.. Are you hungry? I'm not. I eat 1 meal a day. So let's see..
I'm not hungry, but thanks for caring.
This woman isn't eating enough in general and is working out two hours a day.
She suffered from bulimia in the past.
Pretty sure there's more going on there than processed food causing her to be hungry.
Number of meals is not relevant here.
That's why I told her to message me if she has further problems with hunger. There are tons of reasons, being processed foods as the most common.-2 -
Hunger when losing weight is not sustainable. You are eating man made food and it's confusing your body. Try natural foods like meat and vegetables and stop eating processed foods. If that doesn't work, or you need further help, then message me and I'll help you figure it out.
She made no mention of what she is eating now. Her references to pizza, etc., were post her bulimia.
Is the pizza I make ok because it is made at home by a woman? Is it ok if I am using organic flour? Or does it also have to be stone-ground? Or are all grains bad? Or just wheat grown in the US? What if the wheat was grown in the US but I buy wheat berries and grind them by hand? Still processed, but processed by me. Or do I need to buy heirloom wheat seeds and grow, harvest, and grind my own wheat?
(The above illustrates many food myths I have heard, held myself, or are/have been held by family members. My mother and grandfather were at health weights when they ground their own flour by hand in a grinder, and at healthy weights when they switched to pre-ground flour. This is because their Calories In did not exceed their Calories Out.)5 -
cmriverside wrote: »cmriverside wrote: »Hunger when losing weight is not sustainable. You are eating man made food and it's confusing your body. Try natural foods like meat and vegetables and stop eating processed foods. If that doesn't work, or you need further help, then message me and I'll help you figure it out.
You have no idea what s/he is eating.
What are you even talking about?
Hormones. Insulin, cortisol, ghrelin, etc.. Are you hungry? I'm not. I eat 1 meal a day. So let's see..
I'm not hungry, but thanks for caring.
This woman isn't eating enough in general and is working out two hours a day.
She suffered from bulimia in the past.
Pretty sure there's more going on there than processed food causing her to be hungry.
Number of meals is not relevant here.
That's why I told her to message me if she has further problems with hunger. There are tons of reasons, being processed foods as the most common.
Are you a registered dietitian, or a mental health professional trained in treating eating disorders?8 -
cmriverside wrote: »cmriverside wrote: »Hunger when losing weight is not sustainable. You are eating man made food and it's confusing your body. Try natural foods like meat and vegetables and stop eating processed foods. If that doesn't work, or you need further help, then message me and I'll help you figure it out.
You have no idea what s/he is eating.
What are you even talking about?
Hormones. Insulin, cortisol, ghrelin, etc.. Are you hungry? I'm not. I eat 1 meal a day. So let's see..
I'm not hungry, but thanks for caring.
This woman isn't eating enough in general and is working out two hours a day.
She suffered from bulimia in the past.
Pretty sure there's more going on there than processed food causing her to be hungry.
Number of meals is not relevant here.
That's why I told her to message me if she has further problems with hunger. There are tons of reasons, being processed foods as the most common.
Are you a registered dietitian, or a mental health professional trained in treating eating disorders?
Straw man argument. I'm just offering help.-1 -
Some changes in mindset that have helped me:
(1) Food is not "bad" or "good". Foods have varying degrees of nutrients and calories, and it's important to balance what I eat to (a) care for my body properly and (b) enjoy food/life.
For example, you may automatically think carrots are "good", but a diet just of carrots will eventually lead to death. You call pizza a "bad" food but it includes protein, fat, carbs and many micronutrients (calcium, vitamin D, vitamins A&C, iron, etc.). It's actually possible that a diet purely of pizza that isn't over the person's calorie needs could lead to a long life. I would certainly recommend just pizza over just carrots. But, obviously, eating a wide variety of foods is the best option.
(2) Exercise is very good for health. A good exercise routine should include cardio, strength, flexibility, and balance. A good exercise routine should also be something that I can do virtually "forever".
(3) It's healthy for me to question and think about my attitudes towards food.
Here's an example from my life. I grew up in a large family without much money. Treat foods showed up occasionally and disappeared quickly. I had to grab quick and eat fast if I wanted some. As an adult, I still have to remind myself that I have a car, a credit card, and a healthy bank balance. If the candy I bought for a treat is eaten by someone else, I can simply drive to the store and buy more. There is no scarcity except in my own mind!
Try to take it slow. For someone with a former eating disorder, losing .5 lbs/ week or even less is often a better option. Be patient and kind to yourself. Don't hesitate to call in professional help. Use exercise to keep your body healthy, not just to aid weight loss, but, also, eat your exercise calories to fuel your body well.
Good luck!5 -
cmriverside wrote: »cmriverside wrote: »Hunger when losing weight is not sustainable. You are eating man made food and it's confusing your body. Try natural foods like meat and vegetables and stop eating processed foods. If that doesn't work, or you need further help, then message me and I'll help you figure it out.
You have no idea what s/he is eating.
What are you even talking about?
Hormones. Insulin, cortisol, ghrelin, etc.. Are you hungry? I'm not. I eat 1 meal a day. So let's see..
I'm not hungry, but thanks for caring.
This woman isn't eating enough in general and is working out two hours a day
She suffered from bulimia in the past.
Pretty sure there's more going on there than processed food causing her to be hungry.
Number of meals is not relevant here.
That's why I told her to message me if she has further problems with hunger. There are tons of reasons, being processed foods as the most common.
Or maybe the fact she's trying to eat 1300 calories and work out two hours a day and is struggling with hunger because she's not eating enough..
I hope she has better sense than to get into a personal and private conversation with someone who is offering up "not eating processed food" as the solution.
I lost 80 pounds 12 years ago and I've kept it off eating a wide variety of foods, many of them processed. That's not the problem here, and telling someone with an eating disorder that there are "good and bad" foods or that she has to eat in a particular way or at a particular time... that's just not helpful.8 -
cmriverside wrote: »cmriverside wrote: »Hunger when losing weight is not sustainable. You are eating man made food and it's confusing your body. Try natural foods like meat and vegetables and stop eating processed foods. If that doesn't work, or you need further help, then message me and I'll help you figure it out.
You have no idea what s/he is eating.
What are you even talking about?
Hormones. Insulin, cortisol, ghrelin, etc.. Are you hungry? I'm not. I eat 1 meal a day. So let's see..
I'm not hungry, but thanks for caring.
This woman isn't eating enough in general and is working out two hours a day.
She suffered from bulimia in the past.
Pretty sure there's more going on there than processed food causing her to be hungry.
Number of meals is not relevant here.
That's why I told her to message me if she has further problems with hunger. There are tons of reasons, being processed foods as the most common.
Are you a registered dietitian, or a mental health professional trained in treating eating disorders?
Straw man argument. I'm just offering help.
It's a very valid argument, if you don't understand the implications of what your advice can have on someone who is struggling with or has previously struggled with an eating disorder. Even what seems like normal advice can be triggering and potentially dangerous.
For example: "Stop eating processed food" - it's not necessary to cut out processed foods and many ED therapists will advise not making rules around food.
Also not sure why they'd need to message you, that alone is a bit of a red flag.8 -
Beautifulx0xButterfly wrote: »I am a 31 year old woman. When I was in highschool, aged 13-20 I had Bulimia. It took a long time, but I finally recovered from Bulimia by going to a psychiatrist and learning to love my body again etc. But then I went the complete opposite direction and learned a love for food (all the bad kinds of food) pizza, poutines, chicken wings, pasta, cake, chips etc. Now, I am at the complete opposite side of the relationship with food I was when I was a youth. I've been trying to lose the weight the healthy way this time around. I have been going to the gym doing cardio workouts for 2 hours each time, as well as keeping my calorie intake at 1300, but I have only lost 5 pounds, and I am hungry all the time.
My question is, how do I keep on my dieting without going back to binge eating or bulimia because I am feeling discouraged Any advise from others in the same situation who have overcome?
Almost 30 year old woman here... experienced bulimia in my early/mid 20s after weight gain... I can relate to what you're saying here and the best advice I can give you is my experience. I know how badly you want to lose the weight and it's easy to be frustrated that you used to have the "will" to be thin. The truth is, you will start over and over and over and cause yourself way more unhappiness if you restrict. Eat more food. You will feel much better and you can still be in a deficit. You won't believe the difference that a few hundred calories makes... you'll feel full and satisfied but you will start feeling slim as well. Please try it, you have nothing to lose.5 -
Please quit hijacking the thread. This person needs advice on hunger. That's all I'm helping them with. If they need bulimia help, that's on their own accord. Quit with the straw man arguments. There are some foods more nutritious than other foods. Flour that has been enriched is processed. Quit with the if this food generalizations. They have no part in this discussion. Have respect.0
-
Please quit hijacking the thread. This person needs advice on hunger. That's all I'm helping them with. If they need bulimia help, that's on their own accord. Quit with the straw man arguments. There are some foods more nutritious than other foods. Flour that has been enriched is processed. Quit with the if this food generalizations. They have no part in this discussion. Have respect.
OP is hungry because she is not eating enough for someone who is doing 2 hours of cardio per day, it's that simple.
Regarding the bolded yes there are, but you don't know what she's eating as all she has said about her current diet is:Beautifulx0xButterfly wrote: »I've been trying to lose the weight the healthy way this time around. I have been going to the gym doing cardio workouts for 2 hours each time, as well as keeping my calorie intake at 1300,
4 -
Please quit hijacking the thread. This person needs advice on hunger. That's all I'm helping them with. If they need bulimia help, that's on their own accord. Quit with the straw man arguments. There are some foods more nutritious than other foods. Flour that has been enriched is processed. Quit with the if this food generalizations. They have no part in this discussion. Have respect.
Again, she made no mention of what she is eating now. Her references to pizza, etc., were post her bulimia treatment.5 -
Please quit hijacking the thread. This person needs advice on hunger. That's all I'm helping them with. If they need bulimia help, that's on their own accord. Quit with the straw man arguments. There are some foods more nutritious than other foods. Flour that has been enriched is processed. Quit with the if this food generalizations. They have no part in this discussion. Have respect.
All flour is processed. Flour is literally the result of processing grains. You should stop offering advice when you have no idea what you're talking about.13
Categories
- All Categories
- 1.4M Health, Wellness and Goals
- 391.4K Introduce Yourself
- 43.5K Getting Started
- 259.7K Health and Weight Loss
- 175.6K Food and Nutrition
- 47.3K Recipes
- 232.3K Fitness and Exercise
- 390 Sleep, Mindfulness and Overall Wellness
- 6.4K Goal: Maintaining Weight
- 8.5K Goal: Gaining Weight and Body Building
- 152.7K Motivation and Support
- 7.8K Challenges
- 1.3K Debate Club
- 96.3K Chit-Chat
- 2.5K Fun and Games
- 3.2K MyFitnessPal Information
- 22 News and Announcements
- 922 Feature Suggestions and Ideas
- 2.3K MyFitnessPal Tech Support Questions