when healthy became unhealthy

[janie1234]

My husband won't step foot in a gym. Instead he bike rides at the beach, snowboards, surfs, does some pushups, etc just things he likes to do. I envy that. I'm just in this cycle where i'm like a robot and i'm preprogrammed based on what this expert, magazine, or book said.

Wow your husband and my husband must be twins? He is the same way, . .except he mountain bikes instead of riding at the beach. Have you thought of joining him. It is amazing how much spending time together has lifted me out of my funk. I never thought I could mountain bike but I've had so much fun doing it. Surfing would be super fun too, I just have to learn how to swim first.

Remember, . . . these magazines and books know NOTHING about US. They are not specified to us, . .our mental, physical, emotional needs, and if they say that they can cater to you and your life they are lying. They don't know what stresses you are going through, what kind of financial situation you are in, . .they just want you to buy their book. The truth is that whatever works for you and makes you happy is the right way to go. We all don't like the same things and what works for one person may not work for another, . . . heck I hated P90X and I know a lot of people here loved it. Some people can find their perfect jeans at the Gap, . . .I have to tailor practically everything I own. We can't all be a size 2 and you know what I don't want to be. I'm purly happy being me and I'm happy you are you.

 

[ennea4]

There is no rational reason to lose those last "5-10 pounds" if it makes you crazy in the process. People don't even notice. You're not going to look like Halle Berry or Angelina Jolie when you get down to your "perfect" weight. You'll just look like you, with your head on top of a lollipop stick (lol).

I've been there, and I still have "swings", but I really think the challenge for all of us is to find the "middle road" that is reasonably healthy, and is possible to maintain without feeling extremely deprived or uncomfortable.

I keep my worst binge foods out of the house, but otherwise, I eat when I'm hungry. I don't weigh or measure, and I usually stop eating when I'm in the range of satisfied to comfortably full. I don't eat a lot of junk (fried food, white carbs, etc.) because that makes me feel like cr@p. But otherwise, I'm not on a low-carb diet. And, I eat chocolate almost every day!

 

[nspire]

It was a blessing to run across this post today. Kariev, you stated eveything I've been feeling these past few weeks. I'm not sure when all this obsession started.

I originally started working out and found it reduced stress. I married young (19), and needed an outlet from a cheating husband and a new baby. I began working out and loved it, people started to take notice and the more compliments I got, the more obsessed I became. Then came the weight lifting and the transformation of my body. I could never really tell the difference, but people around me could see the change. I believe I got big headed by all the compliments, but never realizing the compliments and how I handled them to me to a road of failure within myself.

I began stressing about what I ate, I became a closet eater. I would eat healthy in public, but binge on sweets at home, and feel crappy afterwards, but would bust my butt on a workout to compensate.

I too am tired of this. I want control over my eating and wonder about the diet rules. All of this has made me so unhappy with myself.

I feel your frustration, you are not alone.

 

[nancy324]

kariev,
Just my two cents worth, but it sounds to me like your issues have little to do with eating. Once it was so easy for you to have a normal attitude towards food, and now it's not. That indicates to me that something is different now. Your eating issues are likely just a symptom of something else going on. Is there something bothering you? Did something happen? Are you worried or upset about something? I suggest that you figure out what's going on with yourself, and deal with that directly. Once you have that worked out, as Gayle said, the rest will fall into place.

 

[newswoman13]

Intuitive Eating

I like what Nancy324 wrote above, but I'll also add - I understand wanting to be fit and strong and have fun while doing it (hence Cathe) - However, when researching fitness, it's way too easy to read about diets and programs and interval eating, etc. My advice: Get back to the basics, listen to your body. A great book: "Intuitive Eating". You can find it in bookstores or online.

And, very similar to the "intuitive eating" approach, try "intuitive exercise" - Tune into your body to see what it needs versus forcing it to maintain a strict workout schedule.

Also, I'll reiterate the idea that "it's not about food" (which is actually a title of another book). Foodwise - listen to your body, practice moderation. But, feeling wise, if you feel like you struggle with food too much, dig deeper into your heart, your being, and see what else might be happening...you're worth it.