This is my problem

abetterjune · July 2012

As soon as I finish eating, I am suddenly, incredibly ravenous. Like I could eat the entire kitchen, no joke. It's not about quality of my meals, I don't believe, as I include lots of veggies, plenty of lean meats/ fish, and a small to moderate amount of whole grains (no wheat, but brown rice, quinoa, millet, gf oats, etc.) I don't do bread or pasta often, I try to stick only to grains in their whole state. I try to keep my fruit 2 or less servings a day because I watch my sugar like a hawk. I'm not afraid of fat, avocados are my best friend.

Anyway.

I'm thinking about trying daily intermittent fasting and having a 4-8 hour feeding window (12-6ish).

But am interested in any one else's opinions or suggestions on how to combat this.

myfitnessnmhoy · July 2012

Looking at your diary (ignoring the last week or so with the 15,000 calorie manual adjustments and stuff that I can't figure out), you have the same problem I had - not bad components, too many carbs, not enough protein.

Protein will help keep you full.

DangerJim71 · July 2012

Agree about the protein. Also keep the water intake up. I had issues early on in my journey and found that water helped to some degree.

abetterjune · July 2012

Thanks. I try to do 1g of protein per lb of body weight. More than that, do you think?

Also, yes, the last wish weeks have been very bad. Hard core relapse into my eating disorder, so just disregard that if you look at my diary. I'm pre-logging tomorrow if you want an accurate picture of how I try to eat on a daily basis.

lizziebeth1028 · July 2012

"105.6 in 5 weeks.

so tired. my legs are falling asleep whenever i sit down. dr appointment tomorrow. thats why i ate. only 42ish hours total fasting. i don't even remember. anyway, not eating more or tomorrow."

Yea your diary is scary. And I'm not sure what your above statement means......But it looks like you've confirmed that you have a eating disorder in another post. Please seek help!!!! Starvation is not healthy, sickly skinny is not attractive!! :flowerforyou:

MeMyCatsandI · July 2012

Intermittent fasting is not recommended for people with eating disorders.

abetterjune · July 2012

Intermittent fasting is not recommended for people with eating disorders.

I've heard this. But I've also heard it can help in recovery. For me, at least, trying to get the "right" amount of nutrition would be easier, I think, if I knew that my eating hours were shorter than 6 am to 10 pm. That's a lot of time to be stressing about what/ when/ how much to eat.

I'm thinking if I've got 6 hours of the day devoted to eating, it will help.

MeMyCatsandI · July 2012

Intermittent fasting is not recommended for people with eating disorders.

I've heard this. But I've also heard it can help in recovery. For me, at least, trying to get the "right" amount of nutrition would be easier, I think, if I knew that my eating hours were shorter than 6 am to 10 pm. That's a lot of time to be stressing about what/ when/ how much to eat.

I'm thinking if I've got 6 hours of the day devoted to eating, it will help.

I suppose depending on your eating disorder and it's severity, IF might help you reduce the time you spend thinking about food. But you also must be able to consume your entire days calories within the eating window. If you can't do that, then I would suggest you do not try IF. Either way, I wish you luck.

lizziebeth1028 · July 2012

Intermittent fasting is not recommended for people with eating disorders.

I've heard this. But I've also heard it can help in recovery. For me, at least, trying to get the "right" amount of nutrition would be easier, I think, if I knew that my eating hours were shorter than 6 am to 10 pm. That's a lot of time to be stressing about what/ when/ how much to eat.

I'm thinking if I've got 6 hours of the day devoted to eating, it will help.

That's a big NO. You need counseling to help you learn how to eat healthy balanced meals.

It_never_ends · July 2012

I don't think anyone on here can give you the advice you need. You need professional help. I'm not sure if this is the best idea for you.

lizziebeth1028 · July 2012

Intermittent fasting is not recommended for people with eating disorders.

I've heard this. But I've also heard it can help in recovery. For me, at least, trying to get the "right" amount of nutrition would be easier, I think, if I knew that my eating hours were shorter than 6 am to 10 pm. That's a lot of time to be stressing about what/ when/ how much to eat.

I'm thinking if I've got 6 hours of the day devoted to eating, it will help.

That would be called binging and starving. Are you currently in counseling? Did you go to the Doctor's appointment you referenced in your diary? Did you tell him about your weak legs?

caraiselite · July 2012

fat will help keep you full too. have a nice juicy steak. yum.

freckledrats · July 2012

I can see how intermittent fasting would be attractive when trying to recover. It gives you many hours in which you can still restrict yourself. BUT it also gives you an excuse to not eat if for some reason you sleep through your window, or you're too busy, or something happens and your window passes and you haven't eaten. I could see someone with a disorder using that to talk themselves out of eating at all that day.

So be careful. One step at a time. Good luck

abetterjune · July 2012

I appreciate the support about my eating disorder, and I am in treatment, currently.

That's really not why I posted this question though. After reading a bit on the leangains website about hunger and breakfast, etc, it just got me thinking this could be a really good thing for me as for the most part, my issue is stopping after I've finished a meal, despite the "hunger" I still "feel."

Any additional advice/ comments/ feedback/ suggestions to that topic?

abetterjune · July 2012

I can see how intermittent fasting would be attractive when trying to recover. It gives you many hours in which you can still restrict yourself. BUT it also gives you an excuse to not eat if for some reason you sleep through your window, or you're too busy, or something happens and your window passes and you haven't eaten. I could see someone with a disorder using that to talk themselves out of eating at all that day.

So be careful. One step at a time. Good luck

This is helpful. Believe it or not, didn't occur to me to have a plan B if I'm unable to eat in the designated window- thanks! I'll keep this in mind

MeMyCatsandI · July 2012

I appreciate the support about my eating disorder, and I am in treatment, currently.

That's really not why I posted this question though. After reading a bit on the leangains website about hunger and breakfast, etc, it just got me thinking this could be a really good thing for me as for the most part, my issue is stopping after I've finished a meal, despite the "hunger" I still "feel."

Any additional advice/ comments/ feedback/ suggestions to that topic?

I can only be of limited help because I don't have an eating disorder (aside from over-eating myself into fathood) and I don't personally know anyone with an eating disorder. But it seems to me that the "hunger" you feel is not physical, it's emotional or mental. So IF will not help with that. I really don't think it would be wise for you to try to use IF to solve your problems. I think it would be very unsafe with the mentality you have towards food and eating.

pastryari · July 2012

Is the negatives quick-add calories canceling out a meal in your diary you throwing it back up or something?

supplemama · July 2012

The hunger you feel is two-fold. One part is psychological...no one can help you with that here. You need professional help as you are currently very disturbed. The other part is physical. You feel hungry because you are not eating enough and/or you throw it back up. Help for that goes back to part one.

QueenGorgo · July 2012

I have the same problem so I know a little bit how frustrating it can be to eat a full meal and then want to eat again right away..I've realized that if I stop and ask myself outloud "Why am I about to eat?" it's weird but saying it outloud startles the little voice in my head that's telling me I want to eat..that voice kind of likes being secretive..so when I talk out loud it forces me to be fully aware of what I'm doing..then I just talk..whatever pops into my head.."Cause I'm tired, cause I'm bored, cause I'm lonely" whatever comes out..not only does it make me accountable for what I'm doing, it makes me aware that I'm being emotional about food.

Then I had to experiment with the order I ate food..I noticed if the last thing I ate was a protein, my urge to eat was very much diminished..if I eat carbs last..it's like my brain immediately goes on repeat..I just want more of what I just ate..but with a protein like chicken..it just makes me fuller so I don't feel such a strong desire to eat..I still want to but I can talk my way through it..

If I still want to eat then I wait..twenty minutes..I wait..not to punish myself or try to change my mind but just to give my mind time enough to register my physical level of hunger..it's brutal but I decide that if I'm going to eat then I can very well wait twenty minutes to do so..sometimes that helps me not end up eating at all..or I eat much less.

So at that point if I still feel the need to eat..then I eat a small piece of protein and I enjoy it..I relish it and taste it and smell it and love that I'm eating it. I don't punish myself, I don't trash myself and I don't allow myself to feel guilty. If I know I might want to eat again, then I split my meals..so instead of eating one big meal, I eat two smaller ones and it's amazing how much that's helped me not want to eat again..

But the one thing I would beg of you is to not fast..not at all..for any reason- ever ever ever EVER....you already know it's not good for you..but practically speaking..it's counter productive..because the second your body realizes it's not getting food, anything it does get is automatically converted to fat..so you end up gaining fat and losing muscle..so as tempting as it is (trust me I know it's tempting) don't fast ever...

robin52077 · July 2012

I can see how intermittent fasting would be attractive when trying to recover. It gives you many hours in which you can still restrict yourself. BUT it also gives you an excuse to not eat if for some reason you sleep through your window, or you're too busy, or something happens and your window passes and you haven't eaten. I could see someone with a disorder using that to talk themselves out of eating at all that day.

So be careful. One step at a time. Good luck

This is helpful. Believe it or not, didn't occur to me to have a plan B if I'm unable to eat in the designated window- thanks! I'll keep this in mind

For women the recommended "feeding window" is 8 hours. If you plan on starting at a certain time and miss it, just start the 8 hour clock as soon as you DO eat.
Like if you choose 10-6, and don't start eating until 12, you can eat up until 8, no need to stop at 6 if you haven't reached a healthy goal yet.

Important to remember it is about getting healthy and NOT an excuse to slip back into disordered eating. Choose a HEALTHY goal and macros, and aim to REACH that amount within that 8 hour window and then stop.

Maybe discuss this plan with your doctor and see what they think?

abetterjune · July 2012

For women the recommended "feeding window" is 8 hours. If you plan on starting at a certain time and miss it, just start the 8 hour clock as soon as you DO eat.
Like if you choose 10-6, and don't start eating until 12, you can eat up until 8, no need to stop at 6 if you haven't reached a healthy goal yet.

Important to remember it is about getting healthy and NOT an excuse to slip back into disordered eating. Choose a HEALTHY goal and macros, and aim to REACH that amount within that 8 hour window and then stop.

Maybe discuss this plan with your doctor and see what they think?

Thanks. This is really great advice!

abetterjune · July 2012

I have the same problem so I know a little bit how frustrating it can be to eat a full meal and then want to eat again right away..I've realized that if I stop and ask myself outloud "Why am I about to eat?" it's weird but saying it outloud startles the little voice in my head that's telling me I want to eat..that voice kind of likes being secretive..so when I talk out loud it forces me to be fully aware of what I'm doing..then I just talk..whatever pops into my head.."Cause I'm tired, cause I'm bored, cause I'm lonely" whatever comes out..not only does it make me accountable for what I'm doing, it makes me aware that I'm being emotional about food.

Then I had to experiment with the order I ate food..I noticed if the last thing I ate was a protein, my urge to eat was very much diminished..if I eat carbs last..it's like my brain immediately goes on repeat..I just want more of what I just ate..but with a protein like chicken..it just makes me fuller so I don't feel such a strong desire to eat..I still want to but I can talk my way through it..

If I still want to eat then I wait..twenty minutes..I wait..not to punish myself or try to change my mind but just to give my mind time enough to register my physical level of hunger..it's brutal but I decide that if I'm going to eat then I can very well wait twenty minutes to do so..sometimes that helps me not end up eating at all..or I eat much less.

So at that point if I still feel the need to eat..then I eat a small piece of protein and I enjoy it..I relish it and taste it and smell it and love that I'm eating it. I don't punish myself, I don't trash myself and I don't allow myself to feel guilty. If I know I might want to eat again, then I split my meals..so instead of eating one big meal, I eat two smaller ones and it's amazing how much that's helped me not want to eat again..

Thanks for you in put. This sounds like a great way to deal with that "keep eating" voice! I haven't ever paid head to the order of the foods I eat so I'm definitely going to check that out with a bit more scrutiny.

PRMinx · July 2012

Your wanting to create a feeding window is just another way of exercising your need to be in control. For anyone without an eating disorder I guess I can understand it, although I would argue that it's kind of silly, but considering that you have an eating disorder I see this as just another tool in the ED tool belt, so to speak.

I see you are going to a counselor (which is great!), but are you also seeing a nutritionist? Have you had blood work done? There are obviously many problems with having a starvation ED, but one of the biggest issues is nutrient deficiency. Nutrient deficiencies can screw your system up to the point where what you are feeling, seeing and thinking is distorted. This makes it hard to get a grasp on reality. This is why anorexics who are 70 pounds think they are fat - they are literally seeing something in the mirror that isn't there.

And I'm not saying this to lecture. I kicked my ED (bulimia, anorexia, laxatives) 10 years ago and haven't looked back. I'm not saying it's not a challenge, but there is no substitute for happy and healthy.

This is my problem

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