Overeating

Posts: 6,644
9/4/12 8:08 P

Heather, first off, congratulations on the 74 gone pounds!

I agree with Coach Nancy; a slower rate now helps you discover what you NEED to do to make this a life-long loss. You are wise to recognize there are some things you just can't have around, and, I hope, wise to learn the balance between a good portion of a special treat and an all-out binge.

Posting about it is really, really smart, because it lets you see on the outside some of what's happening on the inside.

Keep trying new strategies, maybe journal about what works/doesn't work...and maybe switch your weigh-in day to Monday: if you have that to, uh, look forward to, it might make Sunday a bit easier to control.

Good success to you.

Pounds lost: 18.0

0 14 28 42

56

SparkPoints: (28,961)
Fitness Minutes: (22,225)
Posts: 413
9/4/12 6:58 P

@ Archimedes II - I do most of my overeating on the weekends, particularly on Sundays. Sunday is my weigh-in day as well. As far as exercising, I still do more exercising during the week, but I do my long jog/walks on the weekends in training for a half marathon in October. As far as a pattern, the overeating hits the day after a long jog/walk. I had to do my long jog/walk Sunday morning (instead of the usual Saturday morning) which was 11 miles.

My job has been stressing me out a whole lot the past few weeks. I feel like I've been so busy, and I don't have the time like I used to even to be more active on Sparkpeople.com like I was.

On the days I overeat, I do really well until after dinner/supper. At that point once I start overeating I don't record what I eat on my nutrition tracker.

@ Coach Nancy - I get in this crazy-I feel deprived mood when I start thinking about all the food I can't or shouldn't eat. Honestly I get tired of recording every single thing I eat sometimes. I try to let myself have a treat once in awhile to keep the crazy-deprived mood at bay, but this does not always work.

I have come to the conclusion today that there are certain things I just do not trust myself with anymore, and that I can't keep those things in my kitchen or pantry any longer. I mean, I haven't drunk any soda/cola in over a year, and I don't miss it. Why can't I do the same with certain foods, like sweets??? Where's the balance between treating myself once in awhile and cutting something out altogether???

That crazy-I feel deprived mood I referred to earlier is mostly triggered by stress. Not all the time, just most of the time. I really hate the feeling of food, or rather my appetite for food, having control over me. I want to have control over my appetite instead of the other way around.

You are completely right about the progression of the weight loss. I feel like I am on the last stretch of my weight-loss journey, but the weight is coming off slower for sure. When I first started it seemed to fall off!

Thanks for the input and encouragement!!! :)

current weight: 163.6

163.6 153.95 144.3 134.65

125

SparkPoints: (158,833)
Fitness Minutes: (112,042)
Posts: 46,222
9/4/12 6:03 P

Heather,

Reading your post you have some great insight. One of the biggest contributors to overeating or binging is depriving ourselves from the foods we enjoy. But remember even when you get to your goal weight, you are still going to have to be mindful of what your eat. Also know that the closer you get to your goal weight, the slower your progress seems to be. I lost 50 of my 80 pounds in a year, but it took me 2 1/2 years to lose the other 30. In some ways I was glad it happened slowly...the reasons, it give me a longer time to make the changes permanent and I learn how to eat healthy with occasional indulgences from time to time. I was no longer on a diet.

Hang in there!

Coach Nancy

1 Days until:  The Historic MC 1/2 Marathon

50 37 25 12

0

SparkPoints: (112,572)
Fitness Minutes: (179,030)
Posts: 17,372
9/4/12 4:11 P

Hi, Heather !

Well, I guess the question you have to ask is what is it about those two days that causes you to overeat ? Something must have recently changed. Are you under any unusual stress or anxiety ? Stress can cause a person to take a nose dive into comfort foods. However, if you don't feel stressed the other five days, what is it about those two days ?

Are you eating enough during the week and find yourself overeating on the weekends ? That's something that has happened to a lot of members. They strict their calories too drastically during the week and end up binging on the weekends. Was the weekend kind of your cheat day ? Did you allow yourself one day where you could eat a bit more than others ? Some times cheat days can get out of hand.

You've made great progress ! 74 pound gone is fantastic !! Don't give up.

Think hard, what is different about those two days ? Are you restricting yourself too much ? Try eating a bit more during the week so that you don't feel deprived later.

Are you doing more exercise on those days you feel you want to eat more ? If so, that is okay. Eating too little and exercising too much can hinder a person's weight loss. Do make sure you're eating enough on days you do more vigorous workouts.

Have you been logging your food on the days you over eat ? If not, you might find logging helps you to be more mindful of what you've been eating.

Just a few thoughts. The hard questions you have to answer. Maybe you have been sabotaging your efforts. if so, why ? not an easy question. but if you can answer it, you'll get yourself back on track.

SparkPoints: (28,961)
Fitness Minutes: (22,225)
Posts: 413
9/4/12 3:58 P

Good afternoon all,

I am at the point in my weight loss where I have about 20 lbs left to reach my goal weight. So far I've lost 74 lbs.

For the past few months now, I keep overeating about 1-2 days per week. I don't know how to make myself stop doing this! I need help. I just don't what to do. This has made my weight loss slow down a lot. When I make a step forward, then I overeat and take three steps back. I wanted to reach my goal weight by the end of October, but I don't know if that's feasible now. I would be happy to reach my goal weight by Christmas. I've lost some of my motivation and drive, and don't know how to get it back.

I have come so far, and I want to finish this - I don't want to "poop out" and fall short of my goal!!! I know I am prone to overeat either when I am stressed out or if I feel that I have been depriving myself. I feel like I have been sabotaging myself. This overeating cycle has to stop. I mean, I could understand if it was Thanksgiving or Christmas, but I want to get out of the habit of overeating every single week!!!

I pray so hard to God that He will help me and break me out of this overeating mess. I wonder if it would help if I go through the Spark stages again. I need help so badly!

Any encouragement or advice would be most welcome!!! Thanks for listening!!!

current weight: 163.6

163.6 153.95 144.3 134.65

125