Can't stop eating!!

[marianimal]

Hi everyone
I have been doing Cathe for years and I'll never be a supermodel but I was happy with my fitness level and ok with my weight (Probably 10 pounds over ideal) But for about the last 6 months or so I cannot stop eating. Anything and everything. Lost my devotion to working out too. And what's really weird is that its like someone just flipped a switch and turned off the "workout light" and turned on the "eat like there is no tomorrow" switch.

Has anyone else experienced anything like this and if so how did you overcome it? I've gained about another 10 pounds and I really have to get it off!
I appreciate any help any of you "educated crowd" can provide.

[kariev]

oh yeah, i have definatley been there. i don't really have an answer for you other than you will shift again when your ready and the diet/workout switch will turn back on. i don't know what caused it for me. I think it was years of strict dieting and heavy exercise and then one day i just couldn't take it anymore. I fought it so much and always felt like a failure b/c i ended up eating a bunch and not working out. I just didn't care. It lasted for a couple of months and then one day the switch just turned back on ( i think this was due to me stepping on the scale and seeing those 10 extra pounds and my clothes not fitting) I then decided i have to start a new habit once again and get back to a healthy lifestyle. First i decided to try some new workouts while keeping my diet the same. The change in my workout routine was definately what i needed. The exercise made me feel good and not want to eat crap so my diet kindof naturally fell into place again. I'm definately not as strict as i used to be as i think this overly strick behavior is what led me to falling off the wagon. I've also found that most of it centers in my mind and i have to change the way i think about diet and exercise. Its now more for healthy than for a weight and if i'm having a day that i don't want to do something i always think about less fortunate people that would give anything to eat fresh veggies or be able to run outside. Its hard but you will get there. Don't give up on yourself. We've all been there.

[Janis]

Hi,

I'm not part of the educated crowd, but I can't seem to resist chiming in on Nutrition and Diet Questions!

Here's my version of uncontrollable eating combined with lethargy. Before now I never worked out vigorously. but I was always conscientious about what I ate. I was vegetarian for 17+ years, vegan for 10 of those, and totally raw for two of the ten. For my body it just did not work, I started to have blood sugar related health issues, and then a switch flipped in me similar to what you described - and I started to eat all kinds of stuff - non stop- my weakness was potato chips or home made cookies or chocolate. I gained about 10 pounds - slowly - gradually. My system was out of whack, plus I started to have mood swings, energy crashes, lethargy, depression.

A book written by Dr. Diana Schwarzbein helped me a lot, The Schwarzbein Principal. She now has additional books, but the science is described very well in her first book. After following her program for a week or so my energy shot through the roof, I wanted to exercise - I craved exercise. This was about eight years ago. I continued with her healing plan then followed her maintenance plan for many years. The common sense/logic laid out in her program balanced my metabolism, my hormones, and restored my strength. In the book she has thorough, easy to understand discussions about glycogen, serotonin, and insulin and how the endocrine and metabolic system function, I learned a lot. Here is a link to her website

http://www.schwarzbeinprinciple.com/pgs/home.html

Fast forward to the present, Schwarzbein helped me understand metabolism and hormones, but I'm human, I am prone to making mistakes (over and over) and getting distracted - and well, there's life. After a horse back riding accident I gained an additional 5 pounds. Putting what I learned from Schwarzbein together with the ebook by Tom Venuto, adding Cathe's excellent weight training program, and finding Sean O'Malley's Cardio Coach on the forum, I have, at long last, figured out what works for me. Since January I have lost ten pounds, and I have never felt better in my entire life.

I hope this helps. Take baby steps, you'll get re-motivated and the memory of how good it feels to move will come back to you.

Best wishes

[marianimal]

Thanks Janis and Kariev-- It does help to know that someone else has been through the same struggle. I think you both hit on points that apply to me. I get so obsessed with food and exercise that it becomes a chore rather than something that should be enjoyable. My husband always says "do it for your health, not your vanity." But my vanity concerns have always been alot stronger than my health drive, I guess. And I guess my vanity has decided to check out for a while.
I will check out the Schwarzbein book and take those baby steps.
Thanks Ladies!

[Janis]

Hi Marianimal

I was thinking that if you would like (a lot) more input, you might consider posting your question at "Open Discussion."

[Aaroneet]

Originally Posted by marianimal

Thanks Janis and Kariev-- It does help to know that someone else has been through the same struggle. I think you both hit on points that apply to me. I get so obsessed with food and exercise that it becomes a chore rather than something that should be enjoyable. My husband always says "do it for your health, not your vanity." But my vanity concerns have always been alot stronger than my health drive, I guess. And I guess my vanity has decided to check out for a while.
I will check out the Schwarzbein book and take those baby steps.
Thanks Ladies!

You probably burned out. Did you work out every day? If you did, try only working out on weekdays. Find something you like to do, not just something that will trim your waistline. If that means not working as hard, then that's what it means. Don't be so concerned with meeting "quotas" (i.e I have to burn at least 350 calories per workout/work out at least an hour/lift x many days per week). Remember-working out less can sometimes be more.

[mgm1]

sometimes eating too many carbs causes the brain to crave more and more carbs...it can also be hormonal

[keelie]

I used to feel that way and figured out that I just lacked energy because I wasn't eating right.