Post Show Binging and gaining too much weight

[balashka666]

Hello all, I am newbie on this page and so happy i came across this site!!!! I was doing a research on cjc1295 DAC and when i was through with the post i kept reading all the good topics and couldnt resist to join. Now that I know i will be communicating with like minded people, I feel like a little kid in the candy shop

So, last year was my debut competing in bikini division. I am 30, 5'5 was competing at 109-114LB. I took away trophies from each show I did, and placed 1st in major shows like Jay Cutler and etc... Anyways, I was coached by a wrong team and they adviced me to do more shows my body could handled. A little intro here is in order. I decided to compete in Jan 2010 with 131 LB. My first show was on April 16h 2010 and I came in at 112LB. I picked at Jay Cutler on May 2, and peak continued till end of May. My coach kept me on the almost contest one week out diet while i was still working out twice a day (cardio & lift split). In June I started to lose too much lean mass, and compited in June 16th at 106lb and looked to skinny. Since then i did one more show.... I was very committed to the diet and paid the price later in the summer. I started binging. The result was clinically diagnosed adreno fatigue. I binged for 2.5 month almost every day and gained 30lb. Does anyone else experienced that? I feel like my hormones are experiencing a roller coster and I cannot seem to lose any weight gained. Or controlling binges.

After taking a month off in Dec, I followed 8 week program to build legs and booty with no cardio. Last week I started my new training working to lose fat and get into competition ready body. I still binge on occasions (ones per week) and need help on evaluating my program and supplementation protocol... Any feedback / recommendation would be appriciated - thank you all for your support!!!!

I tried taking ENPULSE by reval-us to boost testesterone. After one week i've noticed i am growing too quickly and losing sleep. I stopped taking it this weekened. I also stopped taking BCAA (xtend) cause i think i retain water from it and whey protein post workout. I still take the following: multi by Charles Poliquin, pre-work out: gerasium mix from true protein website, post workout: vitamin E, folic acid, vitamin C. Before bed zinc and magnesium.

I drink 16-20 glasses of pure water a day and few cups or tea / coffee mixed with little almond milk.

My diet is as follows (6 meals):
meal 1: 3 oz protein, 1/4 cup dry oats, blueberries, 1/8 cup pineapple, 1/8 cup papaya
Meal 2: whey protein
meal 3: 3 oz turkey breast roasted, 2 cups of green salad, 2 oz sweet potato, 1/2 spoon olive oil
Meal 4: same as 3
Meal 5: post workout 3 oz meat (used to be 2 scoops of whey by rivalus)
meal 6: 3-4 oz turkey, 3 cups of mixed greens and green veggies (peas, edemame, pepper), 1/2 spoon olive or flax oil

I train 6 days per week each session i increase weight or intensity. breakdown of the 4 week split is in the reply post.

 

[balashka666]

Here is the training split:
Monday:
for abs I do SB ball hip raises, SB mountain Climber, SB crunch
Shoulders:
-Standing Overhead DB press 4x8
-Arnold press 4x8
- T-bar row 3x10
- seated 1A cable press 3x10
-lat side raise 4x10
- sword 1a 3x10
cardio: 30 min HR above 140 steady
Tue:
abs - on tuesdays i do 3 superset of hanging leg raises, rope 3 way crunches, 3 way floor mountain climb
Arms: lots of supersets
seated calves 3 drop sets
inclined french press / incline hummer curls 2x10 and 1x failure
v-bar press down / BB curls 2x10 and 1x failure
close grip Bench Press / DB curls 2x10 and 1x failure
hyperextensions 3x12
cardio: 1 fast mile (1 min i run at 6.5 mph 1 mile sprint over 8.5 mph)

Wend:
abs: lots of medicine ball 3 set 10 rep: russian twist, SB crunch with MB, lying leg raise
Back:
wide grip pull up - 4x8
reverse grip bb row / reverse grip lat pull down 3x10
tbar row 2x10, 1xfailure
1a pull down machine / 1a db row
cardio: 30 min HR above 140 steady

Thu:
Abs: 3 sets 10 reps each: hanging side raises, crunches no weights
Chest
incline DB press 3x6
incline DB fly / flat bench press 3x10
weighted dips / cable cross over 3x10
one hand pushups 3x6
cardio: 1 fast mile (1 min i run at 6.5 mph 1 mile sprint over 8.5 mph)

Fri:
1st round:
walking lunge size of a big hall - 20 each leg
leg press 3 way 10 each way
step up with a kick 15 each leg
abductions 20
5 min cardio

2nd round:
leg extentions 20
side lunge - 15 each
hop jumps 20 each side
still leg deadlift 15
5 min cardio

3rd round:
walking lunge with weights
box hop jumps 15
seated curls 20
plie DB squat 20
5 min on step master on the toes

4th round:
leg press 3 way x 30
step up with a kick
split leg hops 15 each leg
25 min cardio

Sunday: 45 min steady cardio HR above 140

 

[Roxy722]

Welcome to EF!

I'm attaching a couple of links here for you to read and give you some food for thought. While I'm not necessarily a Scott Abel fan (and keep in mind he's selling his program) I do think a lot of what he writes about post contest diet, binging etc fits, at least with what I experienced after my first show. Binging after a show is very common and it's the silent, darker side of competing. There is so much more tied into it then just competing and moving on to the off season.

The worst thing you can do is to keep binging and jump right back on a diet. It's a vicious cycle. You'll diet for awhile, binge, diet and it takes a toll on your body and your mind. If you are really struggling, I would take a step back and focus on being healthy and " in balance". Don't restrict yourself too much and keep your training to a reasonable level, at least until such a time that you are able to get back on the horse and keep your sanity. You need to give your body time to even out. Hormones can take 3-6 months to even out, especially after the extreme contest dieting. I would stay away from the test boosters for now, as well.

The other thing I'd suggest is to remember that stage ready bodies, for most of us, are not realistic or healthy. It's very hard to accept that and I'm definitely guilty of it too but it's something to keep in mind when trying to lean out. 10-15 lbs within stage weight...more reasonable. I went from binging to dieting for the next show and I couldn't do it. The weight wouldn't come off and it just made the binge eating that much worse. It took me over a year to straighten myself out and get to the point where I could have some consistency.

Anyway...whatever you do, good luck!! I hope things go well for you.

Scott Abel - The Blog: Metabolic Damage

Scott Abel - The Blog: Food and Diet Issues: Your Problem is NOT Metabolic

 

[balashka666]

Roxy

thank you so much. Huge eye opener for me to read your response. Many of my FB competitor "peers" say suck it up you did it once you can do it again just focus. It is so hard to focus even when over-achieving is your characteristic, not after you discovered (love how you put it) dark side of coming off competitions. Thank you for recommending these books to read, will definatelly read it.

so no test booster.... good to know. I guess better to stay away from cjc also? I got recently sponsored by a sup company and have a lil pressure to do a photo shoot for them at the end of May. That is a driver to leaning out.

I totally agree with trying to diet and reverting back to binging when not ready... .I thought i'm just becaming weak minded.... maybe four month is just not enough to rest

Thank you once again for your support and help,

 

[Roxy722]

Roxy

thank you so much. Huge eye opener for me to read your response. Many of my FB competitor "peers" say suck it up you did it once you can do it again just focus. It is so hard to focus even when over-achieving is your characteristic, not after you discovered (love how you put it) dark side of coming off competitions. Thank you for recommending these books to read, will definatelly read it.

so no test booster.... good to know. I guess better to stay away from cjc also? I got recently sponsored by a sup company and have a lil pressure to do a photo shoot for them at the end of May. That is a driver to leaning out.

I totally agree with trying to diet and reverting back to binging when not ready... .I thought i'm just becaming weak minded.... maybe four month is just not enough to rest

Thank you once again for your support and help,

The links are just a couple articles on a blog but he has other stuff too. I've done a lot of reading on this subject. It was a huge eye opener for me and I can definitely relate to being an overachiever!! All or nothing right? lol Women in the industry can be bad for saying that type of thing...suck it up, weak minded etc...we aren't always very nice to each other.

This is just my opinion...if you are feeling good about things, then go for it. Just pay attention to yourself and if you start feeling "sick" or become too obsessed with it or the weight just isn't coming off, I'd really take a step back. It's not worth the time it will take to repair it all, physically and emotionally. 4 months of rest is good...if you are exercising regularly and eating around maintenance. The binging did some damage so I wouldn't count the 4 months completely (if that makes sense).

I don't know enough about the peptides and just said that about the test booster, more with the thought of evening out hormones. It would probably help for muscle gain for sure.

All that being said, your diet looks good and your split is decent. Do you count calories? use a site like fitday.com or another ...just to keep track?

 

[balashka666]

Welcome to EF!


The worst thing you can do is to keep binging and jump right back on a diet. It's a vicious cycle. You'll diet for awhile, binge, diet and it takes a toll on your body and your mind. If you are really struggling, I would take a step back and focus on being healthy and " in balance". Don't restrict yourself too much and keep your training to a reasonable level, at least until such a time that you are able to get back on the horse and keep your sanity. You need to give your body time to even out. Hormones can take 3-6 months to even out, especially after the extreme contest dieting

Roxy - how long did it take you to recover and what did you do? I am reading the blog you recommending. Ironically I was diagnosed just like Scott writes it. I went to specialized endocrinologyst and was diagnosed with adreno fatigue and PCOS without cycts too funny.... Wow eye-opener.,.... Again I cant thank you enough for recommending these blogs

 

[balashka666]

.

All that being said, your diet looks good and your split is decent. Do you count calories? use a site like fitday.com or another ...just to keep track?

Thank you so much once again. I used to use loseit application on my iPhone for years and especially when competing, but when started binging it added extra stress to record, see that i overate, etc.... I became obsessed and stopped.

On one hand it is aweful, on the other one I am glad there are others like me who are going through the same rollercoaster. There are cookie cutter plan coaches who should not be coaches if you know what i am saying. Girl thank you - thank you and thank you

 

[Roxy722]

I am pretty much the walking example of what not to do!! I competed in Oct 2009...I did a 23 week prep and dropped almost 50 lbs in that timeframe. I had a plan for post contest, had great coaches who had prepared me and I made it all of about 3 weeks and then went nuts! Did a whole lot of eating! I jumped back into prep in January, with the thought of competing in June, and just never made it. I couldn't stand the thought of dieting again so didn't get more then 3 days together of dieting, until I'd have to have a treat, which usually turned in to a lot of treats. My hormones went nuts and I felt depressed, physically and mentally. It SUCKED gaining weight that I had worked sooo hard to get rid of. To top it off, I decided to do a cycle and put on some more weight! It was muscle but still...messed with my head.

I wasn't ready for June because I couldn't get the weight off and then started prep for October but about 20 weeks out, I really started doing a lot of reading and research and talking to other women who had competed. Turns out a lot of them had the same issues. So...I backed out of the contest and tried to focus on getting my head back on straight. It's honestly been a real battle. It hasn't been until I joined the EF transformation contest, which started in January, that I've been able to have any sort of consistent eating/ exercise program. Even then, the first few weeks of the contest were a hugely emotionally charged experience for me.

I had to take competing on stage right off the table for me to be able to get my head back in the game. So I guess, overall, it took me a year and a few months. I'm feeling better and stronger now. I have really tried to pay attention to my body. Mistakes will happen but I'm trying to maintain a bit more of a balance. The weight is still a lot harder to get off though! Darn it!

 

[Roxy722]

Thank you so much once again. I used to use loseit application on my iPhone for years and especially when competing, but when started binging it added extra stress to record, see that i overate, etc.... I became obsessed and stopped.

On one hand it is aweful, on the other one I am glad there are others like me who are going through the same rollercoaster. There are cookie cutter plan coaches who should not be coaches if you know what i am saying. Girl thank you - thank you and thank you

Anytime!! And..there are a lot of great women here so they can comment too on the diet, supplements etc...lots of wonderful support!

 

[balashka666]

Anytime!! And..there are a lot of great women here so they can comment too on the diet, supplements etc...lots of wonderful support!

thank you - Based on the eye-opener I experienced today - this site is full of very good information & education.

 

[balashka666]

I am pretty much the walking example of what not to do!! I competed in Oct 2009...I did a 23 week prep and dropped almost 50 lbs in that timeframe. I had a plan for post contest, had great coaches who had prepared me and I made it all of about 3 weeks and then went nuts! Did a whole lot of eating! I jumped back into prep in January, with the thought of competing in June, and just never made it. I couldn't stand the thought of dieting again so didn't get more then 3 days together of dieting, until I'd have to have a treat, which usually turned in to a lot of treats. My hormones went nuts and I felt depressed, physically and mentally. It SUCKED gaining weight that I had worked sooo hard to get rid of. To top it off, I decided to do a cycle and put on some more weight! It was muscle but still...messed with my head.

I wasn't ready for June because I couldn't get the weight off and then started prep for October but about 20 weeks out, I really started doing a lot of reading and research and talking to other women who had competed. Turns out a lot of them had the same issues. So...I backed out of the contest and tried to focus on getting my head back on straight. It's honestly been a real battle. It hasn't been until I joined the EF transformation contest, which started in January, that I've been able to have any sort of consistent eating/ exercise program. Even then, the first few weeks of the contest were a hugely emotionally charged experience for me.

I had to take competing on stage right off the table for me to be able to get my head back in the game. So I guess, overall, it took me a year and a few months. I'm feeling better and stronger now. I have really tried to pay attention to my body. Mistakes will happen but I'm trying to maintain a bit more of a balance. The weight is still a lot harder to get off though! Darn it!

this is awesome girl. Good luck to you and thank you so much for literally saving me from trying to alter my problem with yet another unnatural solution.

 

[slat1]

I used to judge the Jay Cutler Classic. I believe the last year I did it was the first year of Bikini.

 

[balashka666]

I used to judge the Jay Cutler Classic. I believe the last year I did it was the first year of Bikini.

Which show did you judge? May or October? I won the one in May 2010 - Bikini Tall Division. Was bummed the girl who took overall had no waste but won cause of amazing quads which I still lack

I also know few judges from that show Steve, Tianna....

 

[MetalMilitiaBabe]

I was just reading through your and Roxy722 posts and wanted to chim in a bit. Roxy has given you some very good advice and she is very right that many female competitors are not the nicest people you will meet - which is unfortunate... Anyway, I have been around a long time and have seen quite a bit. The one and I say the biggest mistake I see people (competitors) making is trying to do too many competitions or staying way too close to competition weight. Though you certainly don't want to hit the other end of the weight spectrum you can't maintain stage physique for very long. I always tell people - yes, we look great, but we are about as close to deeath as you can get without being actually dead... Take your time getting ready for another show - don't rush it. You will know when your head is right and the time is right. Roxy722 is right about the weight - try to keep it around 10-15 pounds from competition (10 is best) and don't stay so strict that you don't enjoy life - you will burn out othewise. Best of luck.

 

[Roxy722]

Thanks Anita! Great advice....so good to hear from someone so experienced. Good luck with your show and your prep!

 

[balashka666]

thank you all for your respnonses. Definately helps to get support and right opinions. Roxy after i read the blogs you recommended I made a new goal - get off all the supps such as creating, beta alinine, coffeine, bcaa and other staff as well as regain inner balance and stop binging completely...

last year when competing - I only took vit C and multi by charles poliquin - no shakes, no powders - just natural food. Before i overtained and overdieted - for about six month I was in a great condition and felt great too. I am going to do so again this year

Thank you ladies - you are the best

 

[Roxy722]

Great job balashka. Keep us posted how it goes for you! I hope you can get back to that place where you both looked and felt great!!

 

[balashka666]

I will Roxy.
this week has been taugh, stress at work combined with full schedule outside and upcoming business trip overseas... been creaving food cause head is so so so light. This is my fifth day on no supplementation what-so-ever. But, second day eating above maintanance. Head just creaves energy.... Will keep you posted how it goes after i am back from London

 

[MetalMilitiaBabe]

Balashka hope you have or had a great time in London...Good job with cleaning out. Everyone wants to or feels they always need to be on something. Personally I always tell people you should go through stages with certain points of the year where you just clean out other than taking a basic multi/mineral and added c. Just do food. It is good to get off of everything for awhile. Poliquin puts out some good stuff.

 

[MetalMilitiaBabe]

Oh and Roxxy - thanks for the good luck wish - I will be sure to keep all posted on the progression.

 

[Star123]

Hi,

I posted about this same thing (post show weight gain) back in October 2010....and I am still struggling with it! I have tried dieting again...but cant mentally do it. Its like I have become obsessed with food..and cant stop "cheating." So I stop the diet. Then I get depressed because I am at a higher weight than I ever have been EVER. I still cant fit in pants that I used to always wear before contest prep even started last year. Its so depressing. But all the weight is in my mid section..stomach, hips, BUTT, thighs. Why is this?? I cannot get it off!!
I know you all say to just eat at maintenance and quit trying to lose weight, but I have given myself enough "maintenance" time the past 8 months! My show was last July! Will I ever be able to lose weight again? Whats wrong with my body? Why cant I lean down???

Thanks for your help! Its stinks we have to go through this..but on the other hand it is reassuring to know that Im not the only one experiencing this.

 

[Roxy722]

It's a brutal place to be and a real mind game. The only thing that has worked for me is consistency. I've been dieting about 8 weeks, very limited cheats and had to really up the intensity of the cardio I was doing and the weight is finally starting to come off. It's taken that long though!! That's after about 16 months of yo yo'ing. I started right at maintenance and then dropped slowly. I'm not doing a severe deficit though because if I think I'm starving, I'll cheat. So it's painfully slow but hopefully finally starting to repair the damage done.

 

[balashka666]

I love CP staff but all the staff are on the shelf dusting for now. I dropped absolutely everything except zinc and whey powder by Revalus that i take post workout. What a difference. I can finally have deep sleep and feel rested Thank you MetalMilitiaBabe for your responses. Hope your spring is rocking

 

[balashka666]

Star - welcome to my world of misery. I am in the same situation. I always have had body image issues and therefore kept myself lean and tight till end of last year. I am also at my biggest right now and even though I try to get on some sort of mild diet, it is just a matter of days before I overeat again. Maintanance is still pretty low if you are petite. I honestly think and blame my former coach for giving me a cookie cutter program while not coaching me proparly. She did not advice me to take a break between competitions and kept me on low calorie diet while i was working out twice a day at 7-9% BF.

When Roxy responded back to me saying that if you still obsessed with food - i certainly am - it means you are not recovered yet. Realizing that helped me a lot to re-evaluate my game plan. However, food still calls my name - especially bad carbs - and there are days when i cant control it. I hate this feeling. I hate not being able to control my mind and cravings, and most of all, I hate the fact that being an elite & sponsored athlete I cant get my act together.

I guess what we can do for each other is support and motivate. Lets do it!!!! - lets motivate each other and help get through that bad habit & food obsession. We did it once, we can do it again. what do you say?

 

[balashka666]

Roxy - great job following through your 8 weeks of clean food. Good Job!!!! & thank you for motivating us

 

[Star123]

balashka666
-I am all for supporting each other! It really is crazy how this happens. You think you are doing everything right...eating good, working out, and yet you still feel like you look like you eat like crap..and just look like the average person...not someone that trains hard and has competed!! Its so depressing. I am in the same boat with self image. Everyone says Im not "fat" and I dont need to lose weight, and while they are probably right for the "average" person...I am big for "me" and my standards for myself. I havent weighed myself in over 6 months..and I refuse to again. The last time I did, I cried for days. So now I only judge by my clothes...and my shirts are fine. However, I have this little "gut" now ( always had flat tummy all my life) and my pants still dont fit that I have always been able to wear at my "normal" weight. I may have gained some muslce the past year, but its no excuse for clothes not fitting...I havent gotten that ripped. So......the past 8 months have literally been hell. I have been obsessed with the way i look and weight gained. I think about it 24/7 no matter what I am doing. I am so insecure with the way I look around people, that I avoid certain things. I am a little extreme I know, but this post show weight gain has really affected me in a negative way. I just want to get back to "normal" for me. I have started dieting two days ago, and have vowed to stay strict with it, and try to give it another go to lose some weight. We will see....

I should also point out, like you, my coach had me on a very low carb, caloric diet! I was also doing cardio 2x a day for the whole 12 weeks of training, and even though I was way to lean to early, she continued to drop my carbs and keep my cardio the same. I looked way to lean, and I am still suffering from the effects of all that... I used to be able to eat whatever I wanted for the most part, and it wouldnt effect me negatively as long as I worked out. Now, if I eat anything somewhat bad I can tell!!!

Ugh..I wish I could be normal again.

 

[balashka666]

OH honey Start - I dont think you are extreme at all. I think all of us who went throught this and still battleing weight gain and food obsession are in the same boat. I can relate to all your points, hate seeing myself in the mirror, having cellulite covered huge bum, sticking out stomach that i never had before, shoulders & arms that look like they are injected with extra estrogen and have very little, avarage non athletic look. Just like you are i am insecure. I skip gym sometimes cause the clothe i brough makes my hips look huge, I dont go to the beach and just one thought of being on vacation terrifies me. My BF is not allowed to see me with lights on. Every time he touches my stomach or quad I feel like he is pinching and evaluating how fat i am

I wonder if your former coach's name is Cathy My former coach dropped my carbs after I lost 5 lb in one week while already being the leanest on the team. What a f...ing bitch. Sometimes I hope there are ways to file a lawsuit or smth against those who whould not be coaching. Fitness, bikini, figure and bodybuidling should be promoting health and beautiful bodies and not force athletes to pay for fitness success by psychological as well as physical stress. I remember i did not have period for 11 month. I could not sleep. What i used to love started to bother me. I got stressed. Obsessed. And etc..... and I blame her for that. FOr poor guidence, for cookie cutter program, for not looking out for her althetes.

Stay strong and motivated. I trully believe that if we stick to one plan - regardless of what it is - we will get back to being normal. ROXY started to see improvement after 8 weeks of planned approach. Lets look upto her and follow.

If you want we can exchange email address and when we feel week - when we want to reach for food that makes us bigger - we can just instead email one another fpr support.

I have a new coach. He told me there are over 100,000 atheletes who go throught the same. He went through it as well. The difference between him and I is that he conquered bad habits. He is teaching me to have fun again doing all that I loved. No dieting, no discussions of contests.... Just follow workouts you feel like doing and have a good eating plan in place - the rest (with proper support) will follow.

 

[bettybody]

Thank you guys so much for the information. I have been hard-core dieting for the last 6 months.. And after the show, I couldn't stop eating sugar and I would eat sensibly and then at night go crazy with junk food. I put on about 12 pounds in 2 weeks. I was wondering what was going on and why the weight was piling on. Thanks you guys so much!

Also was wondering, I have a lot of muscle and would like to lose some of it so I can have a leaner look without the huge muscles... some people say I should compete in the bodybuilding because of my build, but I would much rather lean out... My comp weight was 139, and about 13%. Any suggestions? Thanks ladies.

 

[psizzle_8]

Awesome that you two are supporting each other. That's def what a girl needs in times like these!

 

[Dggymnast98]

Hi! I'm a 20 yr old female that competed in bikini competitions! I started 10 weeks out prepping for my 1st shOw march 31st! The day after that show I gained 10 pounds. I got right back on my competition diet and lost it! After that I competed again April 28th and 29th! After that show I continued my diet for a couple of weeks, planning on doing another show but pulled out bc my body was to tired to continue! I binge and ate more food for longer than a couple days and within less than 3 weeks I gained 20 pounds! :/ I was also on a low carb and 2adays of cardio for an hr each session, maybe a little under! it has been 4 months pretty much and I haven't lost any of the weight I have gained! I have had all types of blood work done from thyroid to standard stuff and everything came back good! I have a bad trainer that didn't care about me obviously! I messed up by eating whatever for some time but I couldn't control my cravings! I am now on a diet and trying to lose some weight but it doesn't want to come off! I went from 112 to 130! The heaviest I have ever weighed even before competing! I have no confidence anymore and feel depressed ALL THE TIME! Is this fixable??? Are u still going thru it? please anyone one that can help I would love to hear from u!! I want To live a normal life again also! Thank you!

 

[leahbody]

Hi all!
I am in the same boat and am so unbelievably frustrated! I am at a higher weight than I have ever been, and I tell myself every week that I will diet down to my starting weight. I do great for 2 days then go crazy, like most of you, on foods that I normally would not eat. Has anyone had success in getting off this horrible roller coaster? I need hope, because as of right now, I have none.

 

[psizzle_8]

Welcome to EF

Did you post in this thread because you're referring to post contest? If so, great. If not, next time please create your own thread. It's a lot easier for us to give you advice when you start something new and not hijack an old thread

 

[leahbody]

Hi! Thanks for the reply. I did post here because of post contest, but I could create my own thread if that is best? I am not too familiar how forums work (I usually just read them, instead of contributing).

Thank you!

 

[psizzle_8]

Yeah, why not...just make your own thread and ill check it as soon as I see it. That way the thread can be all about you