Bingeing

[VooDoo Lady]

I usually have super-human self control with my diet and I have recently had a few bingeing episodes (ok, more than a few). For example, I stood at a vending machine yesterday and ate 5 candy bars! These impulses are catching me totally off guard, I'm having trouble controlling them, and it's very upsetting (both to my stomach AND my head).

Has anyone experienced this? Sudden loss of control? Unchecked impulse eating (without a history of ED)?



VDL

 

[wyst]

I can get that way sometimes. I don't buy big bags of cookies or for that very reason, nor will I let anyone who lives with or visits me bring over or leave more than they are going to eat themselves. Chips are pretty much the same. I do get the chocolate craving now and then (monthly, lol) but I've never gone quite to the 5 candy bars limit.

Maybe you need to look at your diet again. What is it? I find that if my regular diet is tooooo strict, when I go off the ranch, I REALLY go off the ranch. If I have a little more badness built into my diet, I find that my fluctuations are less drastic.

In your pics, you look pretty cut up. How strict is your diet ordinarily, and how much joy is built into it? Are you getting enough comfort and enjoyment out of it, if you know what I mean? You might need to build a little in. Might be more fun and easier to stick to in the long run.

Wyst

 

[Temple]

When my diet is inadequate or too carb restricted I night feed. I have no recollection of doing it only I will get up to my kitchen being a total mess - kind of like Cookie Monster was in there. When my diet is working for me the behavior stops.

 

[smallmovesal]

my diet has been a little kooky lately which probably accounts for the massive amounts of ice cream i'm eating... i generally crave salty food

 

[muskles]

glad i'm not the only one!

i had a binging session last weekend. i drank a little which encouraged the purchase of ice cream, cookies, and chocolate

i ate whatever i wanted for 2 whole days! then i planned out my diet to the calorie, and cooked it all up for the week... been eating the same thing every day this week. i'm doing keto now.. when i include more fat in my diet it fights off cravings 4 me. i also planned out my carb-up day, so hopefully i'll be able to keep it under control.

 

[FitFossil]

Sounds to me like your diet is too clean (blasphemy I know ). At least that's the sort of thing that would happen to me if I'm too strict - the pendelum swings the other way (and then some) - I probably would've eaten the whole machine! I make myself eat a small treat every few days, even if I think I don't want it. This keeps me from craving or bingeing on anything else. I never have to fantasize about food, because I know there's nothing I "can't" have, as long as I keep the portions small AND I make sure I've eaten all my clean food first. Are you low carbing or contest dieting?

 

[Gladiola]

How strict is your diet ordinarily, and how much joy is built into it? Are you getting enough comfort and enjoyment out of it, if you know what I mean?

This is like the story of my life -but I have tried to manipulate every factor & it still happens. I'm certain I use the food for comfort for emotional issues. For me, it has NOTHING to do with what I have eaten or not eaten - so to fix the problem I must look to my emotions & not my diet.

But for you, easing up on the diet a bit may help. You still haven't bought flax oil, have you? I know you don't flavor things or mess around to bother to enjoy stuff, so here's some quick ideas:

buy a pepper grinder if you don't have one - fresh ground pepper is awesome on salad & veggies.
Try flax & balsalmic vinegar on salad.
Cut up an apple (I like Granny Smith), sprinkle with cinammon & microwave a bit till warm & soft - like apple pie filling-texture.
Black beans (nuked) & cottage cheese- YUM
Orange pieces & cottage cheese
peanut butter on small pieces of chocolate protein bar
sunflower seeds & yougart

Love,
Gladi

 

[hookdup]

I'm certain I use the food for comfort for emotional issues. For me, it has NOTHING to do with what I have eaten or not eaten - so to fix the problem I must look to my emotions & not my diet.

The story of my life!

The other night I went out with my ex-boyfriend ... just as friends, cause we're trying to see if that's possible before we even discuss getting back together ... and we got into a fight ... so I came home and ate, and ate ... at 1:00 in the morning ...

I feel ya girl,
I just gotta keep some "good" snacks readily available around the house for my emotional binges.

 

[D00fy]

voodoo i know the solution to your problem........next time you binge you call me so i can grab the junk from you and eat it for myself so than you can feel good and say "HEY I ALMOST CHEATED IF IT WASN't for D00fy" :/

 

[velvett]

Voodoo,

Try the chocolate flavored (there are a few of them) Atkins Advantage bars. They are high protein and only 2 grams of carbs.


When that NEED to FEED on chocolate takes me over I woof one down and the animal inside is quieted down.

Hell, sometimes I eat two for a meal if I am dying.

Try it.

Almond Brownie and Chocolate Mocha Crunch are my personal favs and they don't have that chemical taste.

 

[muskles]

ooh

i like the chocolate cocunut atkins bars.. yum yum. they are high in fat, though, like 14g i think.

 

[luvs2workout]

VDL - I relate to you, girl...I was feeling the same way recently...actually - when I decided I was going to start training for show - the training, diet, etc..felt like it was consuming me....I was sooooo trying to do everything just right - but it backfired on me mentally..i dunno, maybe Im not ready...maybe Im a little OCD???? I told my husband I felt like quiting (the only thing In life I really LOVE! besides my family he told me something that hit home so hard......I hope this helps you as well....
he said "remember how you felt when you first started, you did it b/c you enjoyed it, it was fun, etc...youve made it almost like a chore/job, you become completed depressed if you dont eat just right, etc...it rules every aspect of your life" He was so right.....although I love being disciplined, its all about balance...I want to enjoy life...I want to go out to eat and eat something good, rather than what is the only healthy shitty thing on the menu...I dont know if this helps you or not- Im only sharing MY recent experience...I may be waaaaayyyy off????

oh and I have to add this...I called the guy/girl who was going to train me for the show and the show is temporarily on hold until further notice It could not have worked out any better....good luck to you girl!!!

 

[luvs2workout]

hahaha....I just re read my reply and I know I got a little off topic ...hahaha...the reason I was going there in the first place was only to say that when I was in that "crazy OCD" mood - the cravings were uncontrollable!!! It was just part of what I was going thru in my life sorta thing, ya know?

 

[Ceebs]

VDL, assuming you're not pregnant, the root of this could be due to hormonal changes (the once-a-month kind), rapid decreases in your blood sugar, or the fact that you've been so strict about your diet. Everyone slips up once in awhile, the trick is to not make a habit of it. People don't automatically gain ten pounds overeating during Thanksgiving, it's when overeating becomes commonplace that the adipocytes inflate.

I've been cutting for ~6 weeks, and the cravings have been especially bad since I dipped below 16% bodyfat... until I allowed myself one Lindt Lindor truffle per day. They're incredibly rich, and the fat to carb ratio makes them pretty low glycemic. An extra 80 calories of indulgence is an acceptable tradeoff for no wild binges, whereas you used to be able to set a watch by my cravings. So my suggestion is to find something low-calorie, low-glycemic, and allow yourself a little bit of it every day.

 

[tripleV]

Pitfalls happen to the best of us, focus on the positive babe, not the negative, put it behind you and get on with the good stuff



Consistency is key too...u didnt do that much damage

 

[Arioch]

VDL,

When was the last time you took a break from strict dieting?

 

[VooDoo Lady]

VDL,

When was the last time you took a break from strict dieting?

Thanks everyone

To answer your question Arioch - a LOOOOONG time, really...My husband keps trying to tell me that even the pro's have an off season when most of them ease up on their diet and get chubby.

The problem for me is when I start to put on a little body fat I get uncomfortable and depressed. It's a mental game, and right now I'm NOT winning it...I suppose it's just another challenge that is part of being committed to living this lifestyle for the rest of my life.

Thanks again guys

VDL

 

[Arioch]

You could try a small (oh the humanity) bulking cycle for a while just to keep yourself from cracking. Or, go on a vacation, if possible. One where you can forget about all of the crap for a week or two.

I had to diet for 23 wees to make weight for a meet once, as I was far too weak to lift as a SHW Ol'er. I was a complete basket case. You can not operate at peak efficiency while dieting constantly. It is rather like trying to run a car flat out with limited or low octane fuel - sooner or later something is going to fail.

Plan a brief period where you get to "cheat" which should actually be viewed as a different sort of progess (such as a strength and/or mass phase) so that you do not feel guilty.

 

[Temple]

I think there is a tendency for us to become absolutely anal about this. The DH and I had a huge fight last night which is something that happens maaaaybe every 4 years. He had ended up with some customers at the local bar after work and it got later and later and later. I can't go to sleep until all the chickens are in the nest so I was waiting up. I absolutely did not care where he was or what he was doing but by midnight I was raging pissed off because he had interfered with my sleep schedule and I must have 8 hours min. and I was going to be too tired to get up in time to do my cardio before an appointment this am aaaannnd it was probably going to have a negative impact on my training tonight and today is a workout day and that is nonnegotiable.
My daughter has all but moved in with my sister who lives a few doors down because the food quality is waaaay better at her house as for as my 8 year old is concerned.

 

[Par Deus]

Thanks everyone

To answer your question Arioch - a LOOOOONG time, really...

Read my articles on leptin (Big Mf'r issues 3,4, and 5) -- the reason you are having these cravings is because your brain is being sent signals that your body is starving.

 

[MrMuscle]

dont worry your pretty head about it. binging once in a while wont kill you. infact, it will probably help you. im a VERY strict dieter myself, even when bulking. and i knwo where you are coming from. but seeing as i am this strict, if i ever get an urge, i go with it. its your bodys way of letting of some steam.

and btw, take a look in the mirror. you look fantastic, so you are allowed to pig out once in a while. keep up the exellent work. you are a great asset to thei board and us here.