Excuse the vent ladies but i'm just so frustrated with myself. Each week I binge. I just binged on all kinds of carbs. I'm so burnt out from diet and exercise. I was getting ready to workout and instead inhaled about 1200 cals worth of carbs/sugar. I think i'm going to take a break from working out and focus on diet because i'm reall struggling with that right now. I do well for a week and then all of the sudden i have this overwhelming cravng to binge and i do. Then i'm bloated and unhappy for the next 2 days. Its such a cycle. I'm thinking that i may have some kind of blood sugar problem but the binging makes it even worse. I'm so frustrated. I work my butt off only to ruin it by binging. Its such an embarrassing problem. My weight is slowly creeping up due to the binging. I try to eat 1500cals a day but i find that i'm always feeling hungry. I then try and compensate with exercise so the cycle continues. Mabe if i take the crutch of working out away from me, my diet would improve from. We all know diet is most important. Do any of you have sugar problems?
diet struggle vent
- Thread starter kariev
- Start date
nspire
Cathlete
Hugs and kisses to ya!! I've been feeling the same way. It's like I can't take control. I'm thinking about making an appointment because I think I may have a blood sugar problem as well. Maybe focusing on your diet would be a good thing. I saw something on TV a few days ago, where a nutritionist stated if she had to choose between e-cising and eating, she would choose eating.
Try not to be so hard on yourself, you have no idea how many people struggle with what you're going through even though you feel all alone.
Try not to be so hard on yourself, you have no idea how many people struggle with what you're going through even though you feel all alone.
pixiesis
Cathlete
I've never really binged (but I can overeat with the best of them) but I want to tell you that YOU CAN'T DO IT ALL! Your diet it obviously causing you emotional and physical distress, so give yourself the permission to focus on it, ignoring exercise until you feel better. People who find it easy to eat well and exercise truly care about themselves, and it sounds to be that your motivations with diet and exercise have much more to do with not liking yourself and with punishing yourself. I say listen to your instincts and just try to learn how to be nice to yourself and forgive yourself.
I realized recently that my whole approach to diet/exercise, and in way, life, was based on fear of and dislike for myself and my body. I decided to change that, I'm now doing what I naturally like to do, which is exercise more frequently but at a less intense level, and eat healthy food. I don't really restrict calories, and eat between 1700-2000, but with my increased activity level I usually burn 2500+ calories a day according to my GWF, so I am slowly losing weight (which is what I want).
Here are some of the things I am doing that seem to really help:
-Light exercise 1st thing in the a.m. (I burn way more cals throughout the day)
-Green tea sitting in the fridge for me ready to drink while I do my light exercise and wake up.
-I've been making bread and soup. The bread isn't exactly "healthy" but it's delicious and I don't really pig out on it because I made it and I want it to last longer, and also because DH loves it. I'm using the no-knead method and making big batches of dough that I keep in the fridge and can easily bake up whenever. The soup really seems to help me eat fewer cals and get in some good veggies.
-Dry brushing my skin before my morning shower. It's invigorating and really seems to wake me up and give me good energy. My skin feels much nicer and I feel cleaner in general. Something about this calms me and motivates me to keep taking care of myself and to believe that it is possible to reach my goals.
I realized recently that my whole approach to diet/exercise, and in way, life, was based on fear of and dislike for myself and my body. I decided to change that, I'm now doing what I naturally like to do, which is exercise more frequently but at a less intense level, and eat healthy food. I don't really restrict calories, and eat between 1700-2000, but with my increased activity level I usually burn 2500+ calories a day according to my GWF, so I am slowly losing weight (which is what I want).
Here are some of the things I am doing that seem to really help:
-Light exercise 1st thing in the a.m. (I burn way more cals throughout the day)
-Green tea sitting in the fridge for me ready to drink while I do my light exercise and wake up.
-I've been making bread and soup. The bread isn't exactly "healthy" but it's delicious and I don't really pig out on it because I made it and I want it to last longer, and also because DH loves it. I'm using the no-knead method and making big batches of dough that I keep in the fridge and can easily bake up whenever. The soup really seems to help me eat fewer cals and get in some good veggies.
-Dry brushing my skin before my morning shower. It's invigorating and really seems to wake me up and give me good energy. My skin feels much nicer and I feel cleaner in general. Something about this calms me and motivates me to keep taking care of myself and to believe that it is possible to reach my goals.
Last edited:
sparrow13
Cathlete
Kari, sorry you are struggling with this. Have you tried the opposite approach of not restricting your diet AT ALL, and taking it out of the forefront of your thoughts? I'm not talking about binging here but just one or two weeks of taking the pressure off yourself;iif you feel like having fried chicken or pizza for dinner, have it. If you want a candy bar, eat it. I'm no specialist but it seems to me you are too hard on yourself and maybe need a little permission to rediscover the joy of food?
Good luck whatever you do. We;re here for you!
ETA: I heard Jillian Michaels say on her radio show once that what she does with clients who are totally stressing themselves out in the food department is to have them eat whatever they want within a certain calorie range. So, eat 1800-2000 calories but have *whatever* you want within that range for a couple of weeks, and then begin to transition yourself to the more clean foods when you feel more relaxed around food. HTH!!
Good luck whatever you do. We;re here for you!
ETA: I heard Jillian Michaels say on her radio show once that what she does with clients who are totally stressing themselves out in the food department is to have them eat whatever they want within a certain calorie range. So, eat 1800-2000 calories but have *whatever* you want within that range for a couple of weeks, and then begin to transition yourself to the more clean foods when you feel more relaxed around food. HTH!!
Last edited:
Hi Karie - What Amy said.
Also, seriously, I don't think you're eating enough if this is your target. I'd chew my own foot off at this number of cals.
I mentioned this before, eating more fat has DRAMATICALLY decreased my want for sugar and carbs.
lainiefig
Cathlete
I am no expert (my baby is 4 1/2 months old and I'd still like to lose about 40 lbs) but I think typical dieting often sets us up for failure. When you are too restrictive it's natural to rebel and swing the other way, I think. Right now I am focusing on eating cleanly as much as possible, but not beating myself up for the occasional treat. I am also getting back into regular exercise but again not letting myself get obsessive about it. I don't know if it will help with weight loss but it's bound to help with my health. I've been reading a book called Health at Every Size that is fascinating about how diets fail us--and yet we always think it's us failing at the diets. I haven't finished that book yet, though, so I'm no expert about that either.
Anyway, I think you're being too hard on yourself and as some others have said, maybe too restrictive. I know how you feel--I have been there! (((((HUGS))))
Anyway, I think you're being too hard on yourself and as some others have said, maybe too restrictive. I know how you feel--I have been there! (((((HUGS))))
RapidBreath
Cathlete
Get your self over to the IOWL podcast, now, not later. Also, you might want to go to Renee Stephens website and buy the sabotage self sabotage podcast.
Maybe, 1500 calories a day is not enough for you. I'm thinking that you aren't eating enough healthy fats and calories. This is probably why you are encountering a nasty urge to binge. I am not so sure its your spirit that is the problem. I think its what you are eating or worse what you aren't eating. As for weight loss, exercise is the icing on the cake, its the thing that makes it possible for us to be more sane while going through the weight loss phase. Weight loss is a painful, difficult, and exhausting thing. I use exercise to avoid a dip in my metabolism from having a calorie deficit.
Have you tried doing a three day cycle? Two lower calorie days followed by one higher calorie day with a lot of extra healthy fats thrown in? That might keep the 'binge' urge at bay. Hugs!
Maybe, 1500 calories a day is not enough for you. I'm thinking that you aren't eating enough healthy fats and calories. This is probably why you are encountering a nasty urge to binge. I am not so sure its your spirit that is the problem. I think its what you are eating or worse what you aren't eating. As for weight loss, exercise is the icing on the cake, its the thing that makes it possible for us to be more sane while going through the weight loss phase. Weight loss is a painful, difficult, and exhausting thing. I use exercise to avoid a dip in my metabolism from having a calorie deficit.
Have you tried doing a three day cycle? Two lower calorie days followed by one higher calorie day with a lot of extra healthy fats thrown in? That might keep the 'binge' urge at bay. Hugs!
I'm right there with ya. I eat when I'm bored or just get a craving for something. The GWF device tells me that I only burn 1600-1800 calories a day and 30 min. on the exercise bike only burns 130. So what I do is try to look at the food I'm about to eat and ask my self if I'm really hungry and how many calories am I about to eat and how long would I have to exercise to burn that off.
When I work so hard for 30 min. and only burn 130 calories do I really want to eat that zinger that is calling my name.
I also found that my body needs a lot of protein. If I eat high protein meals then I'm not having the food cravings.
There was a thread last week on sugar addiction. Someone suggest a book.
Hang in there, don't hate yourself.
When I work so hard for 30 min. and only burn 130 calories do I really want to eat that zinger that is calling my name.
I also found that my body needs a lot of protein. If I eat high protein meals then I'm not having the food cravings.
There was a thread last week on sugar addiction. Someone suggest a book.
Hang in there, don't hate yourself.
Worknprogress
Cathlete
Kariev - I hear ya'! I am doing the binge-thing as well. My back went out again terribly the 2nd week of January and some very stressful family things are going on that causes me to stress eat.
I have put 10 pounds on since January 1st due to binge eating. I do well usually throughout the day and by the time the evening hits, I am eating everything in site.
You've already gotten some very helpful tips here - I am going to try a few of them myself! I don't have any to offer, just wanting you to know I know exactly where you are coming from. I hear the frustration and the disappointment you have with yourself right now in your post.
Women have a tendency, I being one of them, to beat ourselves up when it comes to taking care of ourselves. It becomes a vicious cycle, doesn't it?
I have put 10 pounds on since January 1st due to binge eating. I do well usually throughout the day and by the time the evening hits, I am eating everything in site.
You've already gotten some very helpful tips here - I am going to try a few of them myself! I don't have any to offer, just wanting you to know I know exactly where you are coming from. I hear the frustration and the disappointment you have with yourself right now in your post.
Women have a tendency, I being one of them, to beat ourselves up when it comes to taking care of ourselves. It becomes a vicious cycle, doesn't it?
I would say I'm a slight sugar addict. I love the stuff. Especially chocolate chip cookies. If I make a pan, I eat half of them myself. I can't diet and count calories and all of that stuff. It just makes me obsess over food. I just try to eat healthy most of the time. Some of the time I don't. I try to workout regularly to burn some of that off. I've been able to maintain a size 8 for years. I got a little heavier at one point. After I had my 4th child, I decided to give up soda. I got to 10 lbs below my prepregnancy weight just by doing that. It wasn't even hard. I would love to drop a little weight, who wouldn't. I just haven't wanted to put that much thought into it. I'm comfortable at this size and don't look bad so it's hard to get motivated to do it. I'm just trying to incorporate more healthy things into my diet instead of taking things out. The healthier I eat, the less I want that stuff because I feel better when I eat healthy. At 38 years old, its going to get harder and harder to keep weight off so I am trying to develop better eating habits. I would say don't stress so much about it lifes too short. Just try to make sure you get healthy food into your diet.
pixiesis
Cathlete
thanks sooooo much guys!!!! you guys are so great and supportive and its so nice to have people that can relate. i really thing my binging is mostly due to not eating enough but also fluxuations in my blood sugar. I'm using diet and exercise as pure punishment for my body. I restrict food as punishment for binging, i do intense workouts for punishment for binging. I just want to be healthy. I workout for an hour intensely 5-6 days per week then sit on my butt for the rest of the day so i'm not physically active at all. I know diet is what is super important which is why i want to focus on that. And i don't mean focus on restricting myself but focus on just trying to keep my blood sugar stable and not get over hungry. On a daily basis I do get up to 50 grams of fat so i'm not sure if i need to add more to kill some cravings. what do you think? I get 1 gram of protein per bodyweight so 120g per day and the rest is healthy carbs. So mabe overall i need to increase cals???? I'm afraid to do that though. Its like 1500 is just set in stone in my head. I had such great results last year doing turbulence training 3 days a week and 2 days a week of yoga. For some reason i just can't get back to that workout regimen but it was balanced so great. Now i'm just doing all itense workouts (especially since shock cardio) and just running myself into the ground. I think my body is really trying to say enough and i'm just not listening. The harder i'm trying the farther away and more difficult everything is getting.
syzygy314
Cathlete
Kariev
You might want to consider seeing a nutritionist or having some blood work done. You may have an imbalance somewhere driving you to eat like that. There are a lot of good ideas here, too. I'm just humbly adding my 2 cents worth.
It never hurts to have the endocrine system checked out!
I know you'll figure it out and get back on track! Hang in there!
You might want to consider seeing a nutritionist or having some blood work done. You may have an imbalance somewhere driving you to eat like that. There are a lot of good ideas here, too. I'm just humbly adding my 2 cents worth.
It never hurts to have the endocrine system checked out!
I know you'll figure it out and get back on track! Hang in there!
Sandi S
Cathlete
dietitian.com
Dietitian.com (Joanne Larson) is a wonderful site to visit. It'll show a healthy food plan for you. I eat 3 meals a day plus two snacks and those awful cravings are gone. I'm sure I could still eat a bag of chips, cookies or candy but I don't have the urge to do it.
I enjoyed reading Tom Venuto's book, "The Body Fat Solution". He recommends a diet higher in protein than Dietitian.com does but he suggests "On average, most women will reduce body fat effectively and safely on 1,400 to 1,800 calories per day." page 113.
I'm tall so I went for the 1,800 calories a day because I thought I could always reduce calories if I wasn't losing weight. So far, it's working and the fat is coming off. I track my food with Calorie King so I know where I have to tweak it to stay within my calorie budget.
Another hint that I love from Tom is to plan my eating before I eat it. I plan my day's food with Calorie King in the morning and eat what I planned. This works much better than recording what I eat after I ate it. Life throws in a surprise once in awhile but that's OK too.
I know how frustrating those binges are and hope you can find what works for you.
Sandi
Dietitian.com (Joanne Larson) is a wonderful site to visit. It'll show a healthy food plan for you. I eat 3 meals a day plus two snacks and those awful cravings are gone. I'm sure I could still eat a bag of chips, cookies or candy but I don't have the urge to do it.
I enjoyed reading Tom Venuto's book, "The Body Fat Solution". He recommends a diet higher in protein than Dietitian.com does but he suggests "On average, most women will reduce body fat effectively and safely on 1,400 to 1,800 calories per day." page 113.
I'm tall so I went for the 1,800 calories a day because I thought I could always reduce calories if I wasn't losing weight. So far, it's working and the fat is coming off. I track my food with Calorie King so I know where I have to tweak it to stay within my calorie budget.
Another hint that I love from Tom is to plan my eating before I eat it. I plan my day's food with Calorie King in the morning and eat what I planned. This works much better than recording what I eat after I ate it. Life throws in a surprise once in awhile but that's OK too.
I know how frustrating those binges are and hope you can find what works for you.
Sandi
Something else to keep in mind is we don't really 'break' bad habits--we replace them w/ a better one. So, rather than focusing on NOT BINGING, come up w/ other activities when the urge strikes (take a shower, go for a walk, clean toilets, windows, etc) Maybe do all of those! 
Pick something physically engaging that won't allow you to eat while you're doing it and something that lasts at least 20 min. Most urges are gone w/in 20 min so if you keep your hands occupied and your mouth empty for that long, the binge urge should subside w/ no damage to your waistline.
You're trying to create another coping mechanism besides binging and it will take 3-4 weeks before the new habit replaces the old one.
Also, it helps to keep binge foods out of the house. Ask your DH to understand that you're trying to get this habit under control and if the food is in your cupboard or fridge, it's going to call to you more.
I also agree w/ the suggestion to get a full endochrine work up. It's hard to be in sync w/ your body if it's working against you.
Pick something physically engaging that won't allow you to eat while you're doing it and something that lasts at least 20 min. Most urges are gone w/in 20 min so if you keep your hands occupied and your mouth empty for that long, the binge urge should subside w/ no damage to your waistline.
You're trying to create another coping mechanism besides binging and it will take 3-4 weeks before the new habit replaces the old one.
Also, it helps to keep binge foods out of the house. Ask your DH to understand that you're trying to get this habit under control and if the food is in your cupboard or fridge, it's going to call to you more.
I also agree w/ the suggestion to get a full endochrine work up. It's hard to be in sync w/ your body if it's working against you.