QUESTION============================================================
Hi, I'm 18 years old, 5"7 and 140 pounds. I am determined to get to 112lbs.
I restrict my calories to around 1500 a day, I excersise about 4 times a week, and I make sure I eat healthy, wholesome food. I've been doing this for about a year, and I've remained the same weight (about 140lbs) despite my efforts.
However, I know the reason for this. It's pretty embarassing. I binge...alot! It happens about once a week (sometimes 2/3 times) and I don't just have a normal binge, I seriously go insane and eat an unimagineable amount of food! I'm guessing about 20,000 calories in a few hours, and I'm not overestimating I promise.
I don't know why I do this, I mainly do it when I feel worthless or when I'm left alone or when I've had one calorific food (I have a taste...then I want more!). This binging is making me miserable, plus I'm sure it can't be good for my health.
I just don't know how to stop. I do so well and then I sabotage all my hard work. I'm suprised I'm not the size of a house by now. I mean, I do put on weight but after a week/a few days of healthy eating I go back to normal again. I usually put on about 7lbs (once, a stone) then within a week I lose it again.
I'm never going to get to my goal this way, and I've decided today is the day I quit this habit for good. Can anyone please help me, I don't know how to stop this binging... I suppose it's just will power isn't it?
I had a binge about an hour ago, and I feel bloody miserable now. My tummy feels bloated, I know it's my fault, and now I just feel like something needs t change. I've had the worst week ever for food, I binged about 4 times this week! I never usually do that much, so now I'm scared I'm going to get so fat. Oh god.
Sorry if I sound pathetic, I actually feel pretty optimistic at this moment, now I come to think of it. Tomorrow I start a new healthy life!
So if anyone can give me a few tips on how to start my binge-free life, that would be great :)
Oh, and until about a month ago I used to make myself throw up onccasionally, and I did get addicted to....er...chewing and spitting out. I've stopped that now thank god, but I do realise I have an unhealthy relationship with food. I used to be much heavier as a kid so I'm guessing that's probably to do with it.
ok that's enough garble from me...
REPLY=============================================================
HI CHICKIE!
I am a sports nutrition consultant and trainer, and I recommend 130 grams of protein a day for you.
I am 5'5'' and I eat that much. I am 130 pounds and a size 6, which is perfect for me. If I get too thin, I lose all shape (and look like a 10-year-old boy) so I keep a little shape this way. I think 112 pounds is too low for you (that's my my 5th grader weighs) but everyone has a different body type. Some people are bulky and some are not. I suggest you lose a little, maybe 10 pounds, then stop there for awhile and see what you think. I imagine that would be plenty thin, especially if you have any muscle at all.
I think 1500 cals is a little low, but you have to go low to lose weight. Or exercise more. Have you tried that? We tell our clients 5 times a week for weight loss. That means you PLAN TO GO every day, and then with work/school/kids/family, you'll end up going 5 times. Do more cardio than weights, but make sure you do weights at least 1 hour a week.
That weight will come off if you quit binging. What I recommend is BINGE on something that you have cooked yourself, such as fat-free sugar-free banana pudding with sliced bananas and vanilla wafer cookies on top. Or, fat-free reduced sugar ice cream covered with sliced strawberries, blueberries, and frozen cherries. YUM! Eat all you want of those and you won't take in very many calories at all....and even if you do, you'll be full for awhile and probably won't eat as much for your next meal.
One of my favorites is frozen black cherries, pour them in a bowl, then pour skim milk over the top with 1 packet of artificial sweetener if you like, then let the bowl sit for about 3-5 minutes. The cherries make the milk "frost" and it is DELICIOSO!
The vanilla ice cream we buy that's fat free and reduced sugar has hardly any more calories than milk. And you need the CALCIUM.
START EVERY DAY with a 60-gram protein shake. I buy Whey Protein (generic brands or EAS brand), and put it in the blender every morning with water/ice, maybe a little skim milk, and fruit if I have it handy.
PROMISE YOURSELF that before you binge, you'll make yourself drink an ENORMOUS protein shake with lots of fruit and ice in it. Why binge when you can have a CHOCOLATE MILKSHAKE?? And if you want to have a couple of chocolate chip cookies with it, go ahead! But don't binge until you drink ALL OF YOUR SHAKE! My guess is that you won't want anything else.
You also may be seriously nutrient deficient. Get some vitamins! Take a multi-vitamin with minerals, a calcium, a vitamin D 2000, a B-complex, a vitamin C 1000, and a fish or flax oil. That's the minimum. FEED YOUR BODY good stuff.
We drink a wonderful greens drink called Shakeology: http://www.shakeology.com/fitnessusa. My friends are on medicine for high blood pressure and diabetes, I drink my greens drink every day!
GOOD LUCK SWEETIE, YOU ARE SPECIAL. YOU CAN HAVE A GREAT LIFE. Write back if you have any questions.
ANITA STONE
Certified Fitness Trainer and Sports Nutrition Consultant http://www.videofitnesscoach.com
