How I Stop Over-eating.
beanfacekilla
Posts: 69 Member
I lived most of my life eating whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted. I am 5'11", and my weight has varied from 160Lbs-240Lbs.
I don't know what came over me, but in 2017 I decided I was not only going to lose weight, but change my lifestyle.
I started dieting. At some point early on, my wife recommended MFP. I started using the app, and I logged all my food for nearly a year. My friends and family thought I was a little obsessive, I used a food scale religiously, and I was very disciplined about diet.
I also lifted weights, and did cardio in various ways.
All said and done, I went from around 220 lbs to 158. I still wasn't "cut" by any means, but much thinner than I'd been since high school (about 40 in 2017).
I really enjoyed the lifestyle change. It was intoxicating.
I ate very healthy until around 2020. I started to eat more and more around the house during covid lockdowns.
This mushroomed into eating whatever I wanted for 18 months (give or take).
I had long since stopped logging my food, or caring about what I ate. There are days I consumed 4000 calories and little exercise.
I went through some stressful life events, and I had lost my way.
I weighed in at 170 maybe 9 months ago. Then 176. Then 180. 185.
191. I weighed 191 recently. This may seem not that bad to many, it isn't. But it was to me.
I had stopped caring. If I don't turn it around soon, I won't fit into any of my clothes. I'll continue to gain weight. That will in turn make me more unhappy, and lead to even more over eating, more binging, etc.
I don't have a lot of muscle mass. For my body type, I think if I weighed about 160 I would be happy. If I built muscle, I could weigh more, but 155 or 160 lbs is probably "normal", not much belly fat, body fat, etc. Trim, but not "cut" or sculpted by any means.
It was a lot of work for me to lose weight, and get healthier. I worked hard at it. I bought all new clothes. All my old clothes didn't fit.
Now, many of those clothes don't fit. I am down to a few pairs of jeans that still fit, but many of my pants/shirts are too small. Under garments tight now.
I started dieting again a couple months ago. I only stuck to it for a week.
Now, once again, I've started a diet (lifestyle change). I am logging food again.
At first, I had to force myself to not eat. During the first couple days, the temptation to eat was nearly impossible to ignore.
I thought to myself "how will I ever get healthy again of I can't stop eating?"
I've been stress eating. The last 15 lbs I gained may have happened in 3 months. That's hard to do, IMO.
I had become so addicted to the taste of unhealthy foods, and the comfort if provides me for a few moments while I eat.
Now, I really feel like I am on the right track again. Logging my food. Lifting weights. Using my treadmill. Going for walks.
Now that I'm back on track, I just realized today that the incredible appetite I've had for the last 18 months or so has finally subsided.
Each day that I make it through without binge eating gives me more drive and motivation to continue.
Today, I had to eat some food before midnight so I wouldn't UNDER eat. 1500 calories today.
Also, I think when I ate unhealthy foods like pizza, sweets, fries, burgers, etc, they didn't really satisfy my appetite, because they aren't meeting my nutritional needs.
When I eat whatever I want it feels like I never am full. I'm always hungry.
When I eat healthy, and stick to it, I feel once again satisfied.
I don't know the purpose of this, if you read this far down, thank you for reading.
What I'm trying to say is this:
If you want to change yourself, just start. Each day is a victory. The more you do to adhere to a healthy lifestyle, the easier it becomes. Once you get on a roll, it's much easier and rewarding.
I weighed in this morning. 186.2 lbs.
I'm going to weigh in once/week. I'm going to get there. I hope this helps someone start or continue their journey.
Thoughts and input is welcome.
I don't know what came over me, but in 2017 I decided I was not only going to lose weight, but change my lifestyle.
I started dieting. At some point early on, my wife recommended MFP. I started using the app, and I logged all my food for nearly a year. My friends and family thought I was a little obsessive, I used a food scale religiously, and I was very disciplined about diet.
I also lifted weights, and did cardio in various ways.
All said and done, I went from around 220 lbs to 158. I still wasn't "cut" by any means, but much thinner than I'd been since high school (about 40 in 2017).
I really enjoyed the lifestyle change. It was intoxicating.
I ate very healthy until around 2020. I started to eat more and more around the house during covid lockdowns.
This mushroomed into eating whatever I wanted for 18 months (give or take).
I had long since stopped logging my food, or caring about what I ate. There are days I consumed 4000 calories and little exercise.
I went through some stressful life events, and I had lost my way.
I weighed in at 170 maybe 9 months ago. Then 176. Then 180. 185.
191. I weighed 191 recently. This may seem not that bad to many, it isn't. But it was to me.
I had stopped caring. If I don't turn it around soon, I won't fit into any of my clothes. I'll continue to gain weight. That will in turn make me more unhappy, and lead to even more over eating, more binging, etc.
I don't have a lot of muscle mass. For my body type, I think if I weighed about 160 I would be happy. If I built muscle, I could weigh more, but 155 or 160 lbs is probably "normal", not much belly fat, body fat, etc. Trim, but not "cut" or sculpted by any means.
It was a lot of work for me to lose weight, and get healthier. I worked hard at it. I bought all new clothes. All my old clothes didn't fit.
Now, many of those clothes don't fit. I am down to a few pairs of jeans that still fit, but many of my pants/shirts are too small. Under garments tight now.
I started dieting again a couple months ago. I only stuck to it for a week.
Now, once again, I've started a diet (lifestyle change). I am logging food again.
At first, I had to force myself to not eat. During the first couple days, the temptation to eat was nearly impossible to ignore.
I thought to myself "how will I ever get healthy again of I can't stop eating?"
I've been stress eating. The last 15 lbs I gained may have happened in 3 months. That's hard to do, IMO.
I had become so addicted to the taste of unhealthy foods, and the comfort if provides me for a few moments while I eat.
Now, I really feel like I am on the right track again. Logging my food. Lifting weights. Using my treadmill. Going for walks.
Now that I'm back on track, I just realized today that the incredible appetite I've had for the last 18 months or so has finally subsided.
Each day that I make it through without binge eating gives me more drive and motivation to continue.
Today, I had to eat some food before midnight so I wouldn't UNDER eat. 1500 calories today.
Also, I think when I ate unhealthy foods like pizza, sweets, fries, burgers, etc, they didn't really satisfy my appetite, because they aren't meeting my nutritional needs.
When I eat whatever I want it feels like I never am full. I'm always hungry.
When I eat healthy, and stick to it, I feel once again satisfied.
I don't know the purpose of this, if you read this far down, thank you for reading.
What I'm trying to say is this:
If you want to change yourself, just start. Each day is a victory. The more you do to adhere to a healthy lifestyle, the easier it becomes. Once you get on a roll, it's much easier and rewarding.
I weighed in this morning. 186.2 lbs.
I'm going to weigh in once/week. I'm going to get there. I hope this helps someone start or continue their journey.
Thoughts and input is welcome.
9
Replies
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Well done for getting back at it and having this revelation. I 100% believe this to be true for me, too, especially the bit I bolded:<snip>
Now that I'm back on track, I just realized today that the incredible appetite I've had for the last 18 months or so has finally subsided.
Each day that I make it through without binge eating gives me more drive and motivation to continue.
<snip>
Also, I think when I ate unhealthy foods like pizza, sweets, fries, burgers, etc, they didn't really satisfy my appetite, because they aren't meeting my nutritional needs.
When I eat whatever I want it feels like I never am full. I'm always hungry.
Keep it going. You're on to something!1 -
cmriverside wrote: »Well done for getting back at it and having this revelation. I 100% believe this to be true for me, too, especially the bit I bolded:<snip>
Now that I'm back on track, I just realized today that the incredible appetite I've had for the last 18 months or so has finally subsided.
Each day that I make it through without binge eating gives me more drive and motivation to continue.
<snip>
Also, I think when I ate unhealthy foods like pizza, sweets, fries, burgers, etc, they didn't really satisfy my appetite, because they aren't meeting my nutritional needs.
When I eat whatever I want it feels like I never am full. I'm always hungry.
Keep it going. You're on to something!
I don't know, my pizza and burgers are nutritious. I get the sentiment though and mostly agree except I don't think people overeat because the body is missing a particular nutrient and just keep eating until said nutrient is deemed sufficient somehow.1 -
neanderthin wrote: »cmriverside wrote: »Well done for getting back at it and having this revelation. I 100% believe this to be true for me, too, especially the bit I bolded:<snip>
Now that I'm back on track, I just realized today that the incredible appetite I've had for the last 18 months or so has finally subsided.
Each day that I make it through without binge eating gives me more drive and motivation to continue.
<snip>
Also, I think when I ate unhealthy foods like pizza, sweets, fries, burgers, etc, they didn't really satisfy my appetite, because they aren't meeting my nutritional needs.
When I eat whatever I want it feels like I never am full. I'm always hungry.
Keep it going. You're on to something!
I don't know, my pizza and burgers are nutritious. I get the sentiment though and mostly agree except I don't think people overeat because the body is missing a particular nutrient and just keep eating until said nutrient is deemed sufficient somehow.
In context, I suppose.
I know you eat well, and that you are also eating a lot of fresh produce. A burger or any of those foods in context can be part of a nutritious plan - eating mostly those isn't a workable plan for me. If I don't make sure I'm getting sufficient fiber and vegetables and fruit, I'll eat too much of the things that won't ever satisfy me.
You know what we mean.1 -
cmriverside wrote: »neanderthin wrote: »cmriverside wrote: »Well done for getting back at it and having this revelation. I 100% believe this to be true for me, too, especially the bit I bolded:<snip>
Now that I'm back on track, I just realized today that the incredible appetite I've had for the last 18 months or so has finally subsided.
Each day that I make it through without binge eating gives me more drive and motivation to continue.
<snip>
Also, I think when I ate unhealthy foods like pizza, sweets, fries, burgers, etc, they didn't really satisfy my appetite, because they aren't meeting my nutritional needs.
When I eat whatever I want it feels like I never am full. I'm always hungry.
Keep it going. You're on to something!
I don't know, my pizza and burgers are nutritious. I get the sentiment though and mostly agree except I don't think people overeat because the body is missing a particular nutrient and just keep eating until said nutrient is deemed sufficient somehow.
In context, I suppose.
I know you eat well, and that you are also eating a lot of fresh produce. A burger or any of those foods in context can be part of a nutritious plan - eating mostly those isn't a workable plan for me. If I don't make sure I'm getting sufficient fiber and vegetables and fruit, I'll eat too much of the things that won't ever satisfy me.
You know what we mean.
Yes, in the summer, we grill burgers, which I eat with a large salad, no bun. I find this more filling that just a burger and bun.
I can easily eat over 1,000 calories of pepperoni pizza. But if I have pizza with a large salad with cottage cheese and chicken to up the protein, I can limit the pizza to 300 calories and still feel satisfied. While just pizza has some protein, it's not in a proportion to fat and carbs that leaves me feeling satisfied.
I am now able to moderate pizza. Others may feel better abstaining.
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-happiness-project/201210/are-you-abstainer-or-moderator1 -
cmriverside wrote: »neanderthin wrote: »cmriverside wrote: »Well done for getting back at it and having this revelation. I 100% believe this to be true for me, too, especially the bit I bolded:<snip>
Now that I'm back on track, I just realized today that the incredible appetite I've had for the last 18 months or so has finally subsided.
Each day that I make it through without binge eating gives me more drive and motivation to continue.
<snip>
Also, I think when I ate unhealthy foods like pizza, sweets, fries, burgers, etc, they didn't really satisfy my appetite, because they aren't meeting my nutritional needs.
When I eat whatever I want it feels like I never am full. I'm always hungry.
Keep it going. You're on to something!
I don't know, my pizza and burgers are nutritious. I get the sentiment though and mostly agree except I don't think people overeat because the body is missing a particular nutrient and just keep eating until said nutrient is deemed sufficient somehow.
In context, I suppose.
I know you eat well, and that you are also eating a lot of fresh produce. A burger or any of those foods in context can be part of a nutritious plan - eating mostly those isn't a workable plan for me. If I don't make sure I'm getting sufficient fiber and vegetables and fruit, I'll eat too much of the things that won't ever satisfy me.
You know what we mean.
Yes, I do. I just wanted to assert the distinction for clarity. As you know it gets confusing for a lot of people. cheers.0 -
kshama2001 wrote: »cmriverside wrote: »neanderthin wrote: »cmriverside wrote: »Well done for getting back at it and having this revelation. I 100% believe this to be true for me, too, especially the bit I bolded:<snip>
Now that I'm back on track, I just realized today that the incredible appetite I've had for the last 18 months or so has finally subsided.
Each day that I make it through without binge eating gives me more drive and motivation to continue.
<snip>
Also, I think when I ate unhealthy foods like pizza, sweets, fries, burgers, etc, they didn't really satisfy my appetite, because they aren't meeting my nutritional needs.
When I eat whatever I want it feels like I never am full. I'm always hungry.
Keep it going. You're on to something!
I don't know, my pizza and burgers are nutritious. I get the sentiment though and mostly agree except I don't think people overeat because the body is missing a particular nutrient and just keep eating until said nutrient is deemed sufficient somehow.
In context, I suppose.
I know you eat well, and that you are also eating a lot of fresh produce. A burger or any of those foods in context can be part of a nutritious plan - eating mostly those isn't a workable plan for me. If I don't make sure I'm getting sufficient fiber and vegetables and fruit, I'll eat too much of the things that won't ever satisfy me.
You know what we mean.
Yes, in the summer, we grill burgers, which I eat with a large salad, no bun. I find this more filling that just a burger and bun.
I can easily eat over 1,000 calories of pepperoni pizza. But if I have pizza with a large salad with cottage cheese and chicken to up the protein, I can limit the pizza to 300 calories and still feel satisfied. While just pizza has some protein, it's not in a proportion to fat and carbs that leaves me feeling satisfied.
I am now able to moderate pizza. Others may feel better abstaining.
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-happiness-project/201210/are-you-abstainer-or-moderator
Excellent point here. I wish I could moderate and still enjoy those foods. It leads me to over eat. Maybe I have a lack of discipline/self control though.1 -
beanfacekilla wrote: »kshama2001 wrote: »cmriverside wrote: »neanderthin wrote: »cmriverside wrote: »Well done for getting back at it and having this revelation. I 100% believe this to be true for me, too, especially the bit I bolded:<snip>
Now that I'm back on track, I just realized today that the incredible appetite I've had for the last 18 months or so has finally subsided.
Each day that I make it through without binge eating gives me more drive and motivation to continue.
<snip>
Also, I think when I ate unhealthy foods like pizza, sweets, fries, burgers, etc, they didn't really satisfy my appetite, because they aren't meeting my nutritional needs.
When I eat whatever I want it feels like I never am full. I'm always hungry.
Keep it going. You're on to something!
I don't know, my pizza and burgers are nutritious. I get the sentiment though and mostly agree except I don't think people overeat because the body is missing a particular nutrient and just keep eating until said nutrient is deemed sufficient somehow.
In context, I suppose.
I know you eat well, and that you are also eating a lot of fresh produce. A burger or any of those foods in context can be part of a nutritious plan - eating mostly those isn't a workable plan for me. If I don't make sure I'm getting sufficient fiber and vegetables and fruit, I'll eat too much of the things that won't ever satisfy me.
You know what we mean.
Yes, in the summer, we grill burgers, which I eat with a large salad, no bun. I find this more filling that just a burger and bun.
I can easily eat over 1,000 calories of pepperoni pizza. But if I have pizza with a large salad with cottage cheese and chicken to up the protein, I can limit the pizza to 300 calories and still feel satisfied. While just pizza has some protein, it's not in a proportion to fat and carbs that leaves me feeling satisfied.
I am now able to moderate pizza. Others may feel better abstaining.
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-happiness-project/201210/are-you-abstainer-or-moderator
Excellent point here. I wish I could moderate and still enjoy those foods. It leads me to over eat. Maybe I have a lack of discipline/self control though.
Many posters here on MFP are able to moderate some foods but not others. It took me a lot of trial and error and error and error to learn that I simply cannot moderate pints of Ben & Jerry's ice cream
2 -
kshama2001 wrote: »beanfacekilla wrote: »kshama2001 wrote: »cmriverside wrote: »neanderthin wrote: »cmriverside wrote: »Well done for getting back at it and having this revelation. I 100% believe this to be true for me, too, especially the bit I bolded:<snip>
Now that I'm back on track, I just realized today that the incredible appetite I've had for the last 18 months or so has finally subsided.
Each day that I make it through without binge eating gives me more drive and motivation to continue.
<snip>
Also, I think when I ate unhealthy foods like pizza, sweets, fries, burgers, etc, they didn't really satisfy my appetite, because they aren't meeting my nutritional needs.
When I eat whatever I want it feels like I never am full. I'm always hungry.
Keep it going. You're on to something!
I don't know, my pizza and burgers are nutritious. I get the sentiment though and mostly agree except I don't think people overeat because the body is missing a particular nutrient and just keep eating until said nutrient is deemed sufficient somehow.
In context, I suppose.
I know you eat well, and that you are also eating a lot of fresh produce. A burger or any of those foods in context can be part of a nutritious plan - eating mostly those isn't a workable plan for me. If I don't make sure I'm getting sufficient fiber and vegetables and fruit, I'll eat too much of the things that won't ever satisfy me.
You know what we mean.
Yes, in the summer, we grill burgers, which I eat with a large salad, no bun. I find this more filling that just a burger and bun.
I can easily eat over 1,000 calories of pepperoni pizza. But if I have pizza with a large salad with cottage cheese and chicken to up the protein, I can limit the pizza to 300 calories and still feel satisfied. While just pizza has some protein, it's not in a proportion to fat and carbs that leaves me feeling satisfied.
I am now able to moderate pizza. Others may feel better abstaining.
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-happiness-project/201210/are-you-abstainer-or-moderator
Excellent point here. I wish I could moderate and still enjoy those foods. It leads me to over eat. Maybe I have a lack of discipline/self control though.
Many posters here on MFP are able to moderate some foods but not others. It took me a lot of trial and error and error and error to learn that I simply cannot moderate pints of Ben & Jerry's ice cream
Ha ha ha! That's one of the things I was eating when I gained weight. Ice cream. Candy bars. Very good but it set me back quite a bit0 -
It always seems to come down to all the tasty carbs that people find hypnotic and takes you to zombie land. Yeah, I can't have haagan dazs rocky road anywhere close.1
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Mod edit - Rather than deleting this post, I'm including a machine-assisted English translation. Please ensure posts on the English boards are in English. Thanks.Hello, I am very much in tune with this, because when I write what I eat, I am more conscious that the weight on the scale has a real relationship with what I eat, and sometimes I find it stupid to be obliged to write what I eat when so many people on earth do not eat enough, and I say to myself why have we reached this point, if we think of all the generations that preceded us before, where food was a sign of abundance, success and posterity... ... but, a lady told me, it's better to write down what you eat to lose weight than to be obliged to write down your blood pressure, your diabetes, or your insulin...... not to mention the medication you have to take...... so it got me thinking, at the moment I'm taking medication for my heart and my thyroid gland and I wish I didn't have to take that, so I have to do a few things to not add to it, today it hurt so much, because I'm doing active walking with my husband, and he pointed out to me that out of the three women there I was the fattest, and when I looked in the mirror I was the fattest, I have 20 pounds to lose and I've been trying for so long, I'm giving up, I'm trying, I'm giving up, because I love chips, fries, all the pasta, pizza, poutine, yum, yum, but I have to limit myself, I have to do it right now. ... my husband doesn't want me to have problems I don't blame him...... I eat more than him, I'm always hungry...... I know he loves me, but I have to love myself too, because long live health......
Original French here:
Bonjour , ça me rejoint beaucoup, car quand j'écris ce que je mange , je suis plus consciente, que le poids sur la balance a vraiment un rapport avec ce que je mange, et des fois je trouves stupide d'être obligé d'écrire ce que je mange alors que tant de personne sur terre ne mange pas à leurs faim, et je me dis pourquoi en est - t-on rendu la, si on pense à toute les générations qui nous ont précédés avant, ou la nourriture était signe d'abondance , de réussite et de postérité…… mais , une dame m'a dit, c'est mieux que tu écrives ce que tu manges pour perdre du poids que d'être obligé d'écrire , ta pression artérielle, ton diabète, ou ton insuline…… sans compter les médicaments à prendre…… alors ça m'a faites réfléchir, pour l'instant , je prends des médicaments pour mon cœur et pour ma glande tyroïde et j'aimerais tellement ne pas avoir eu à prendre cela, alors je dois faire quelques choses pour pas en rajouter, aujourd'hui ça m'a tellement faites de la peine, car je fais de la marche active avec mon mari, et il m'a fait remarquer que sur les trois femmes qu'il y avait j'étais la plus grosse, et quand je me suis vu dans le miroir effectivement je suis la plus grosse, j'ai 20 livres à perdre et ça fait tellement longtemps que j'essaie, j'abandonne, j'essaie , j'abandonne, car j'aime tellement chips, frites, toute les pâtes, pizza, poutine miam, miam, mais je dois me limité faut que ce soit la bonne fois maintenant.... mon mari ne veut pas que j'ai des problème je ne lui en veut pas…… je mange plus que lui, j'ai toujours faim…… je sais qu'il m'aime, mais moi faut que je m'aime aussi, car vive la santé……
3
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