Posts by gabby103

what i meant is, "i would hate YOU to think youre going to gain back 20 lbs right away..." etc etc

once, when i was overweight, i had a best friend who was about my height (5'4") and told me she weighed about 120-125 lbs. she was thin. not too skinny but definitely THIN, perfect i thought. it was a great source of jealousy for me all throughout my struggles with weight loss.

i am now fluctuating between 108-112 lbs and have been maintaining within that range for about a year. and not one day has gone by that i have looked in a mirror and saw someone as thin or who looked as good as i thought my friend did.. although from what is reflected back at me through other people's comments and what the scales tell me, i can only assume i am actually probably much thinner?

so yeah, id say it's quite possible that it's just your pre-conceived notions playing tricks on your eyes.

- any milk, even skim (i use light soy - half the cals of skim)

- sugar/honey/syrups

- butter/oil/cream of any kind

- real bread/bagels

- beer or soda that doesn't come in the bottle - like at bars/restaurants.. i'm convinced that the waitress is gonna 'slip' me the real thing instead of light/diet

- juice (non-diet)

- any cereals containing more than 110 cals/cup

- chocolate or any candy really

i've been there. it never really got so bad that i was doing it more than once a day, and what made me stop was that i (gross) really clogged up our sink/garbage disposal, and it was a horrible and frightening ordeal to try and fix it before someone came home to see what i had done.

after that happened i was too scared to do it anymore.

but i know how you must feel, and what the shame and sadness feel like.. i feel like i am never helpful on here and i wish i knew what the right thing to say is... i hope you know you arent alone and a LOT of people do this- it seems like its this weird unprecedented thing because not many people admit to it or talk about it. but its out there i wish you the best of luck.

i just got off the pill too, about three months ago

i have no period yet, from what i hear this is entirely normal. i have also gained, not quite so dramatically but i've gone from 108 or so to around 111,112 with no outside contributing factors.

from what i've read, this really happens to a lot of people and it can take anywhere from a month to a YEAR for your body to re-regulate. i'm actually incredibly angry with my old doctor for failing to mention any of the side effects of taking/stopping the pill. (the whole time i was taking it, my sex drive was dead, and it is still not back 100% yet). i am now convinced it's a horrible horrible thing and i'm never going back on hormonal bc again. i'm getting the paragard iud.

anyway, the pill is evil, give it some time, you should bounce back.

yeah i definitely have the best luck when i plan to have a tonnnn of tiny little meals every 1-2 hours.  it has nothing to do with hunger, in fact i think it gets WORSE the fuller i am.. i just wanna keep on stuffing it in. and once i reach my cal. max, i have nooo problem eating nothing else, no matter how long i have to go. until i wake up every hour at night starving.

well it's another day so today i'm gonna try to be as intuitive as possible and only write things down after i've eaten them, that way i'm forced to be a bit more mindful re: actual hunger.

thanks, thats great advice. i guess i gotta just keep trying! i think maybe it has something to do with the fact that i plan out meals for the whole day in the morning.. and when i see it all written down, i just dive in until there's nothing left.  i dont think i could stop keeping track altogether, but maybe if i write things down AS i eat them rather than all first thing in the AM.

also, my stomach seems to have become slightly distended from all of this- does anyone know if it will go back down if i correct my habits? i find that even in the evening after i havent eaten for several hours, it is stretched out far past where it used to be normally.. i have this permanent baby-bump look.

3 favoritest foods: Cereal, Eggs & Toast, Cereal.

Favorite snack food: Nature's Promise White Cheddar Popcorn.

Favorite Breakfast food: Cereal (especially Cornflakes and Rice Krispies with Vanilla Soymilk and a little Splenda - oh yum.)

Favorite Beverage: Sugar-free lemonade mix with water.

3 favoritest local restaurants: Ginger Blossom, Bueno Y Sano, 3 Cafe.

3 favoritest chain restaurants: Subway, Subway, Subway.

Favorite fast food place: Subway.

You're at the farmer's market - you're hungry - you've got 10 bucks - what do you buy? A Luna bar (Chocolate Peppermint Stick), a can of soup, and an apple.

3 least favorite foods: Anything Italian x 3.

Beef, Chicken, Pork, Fish - pick just one?: Fish, salmon.

What game-ish meats have you had?: Duck?

What's the most unusual thing you've ever eaten?: Probably duck. Or some random sushi.

Like sushi?: Tons <3.

What did you eat for breakfast today?: Cornflakes and vanilla soymilk.

How do you like your eggs?: Three whites, one yolk, scrambled, with chopped onions, green peppers, and non-dairy cheddar.

What do you like on your pizza?: Not that big on pizza, maybe cheeseless with barbecue sauce, red onions, tomatoes, mushrooms and chicken.

Have you ever worked at a restaurant?: No.

What kinds of food can you have delivered in your area?: Pretty much anything I think.

Have you ever gone on a diet that worked?: Yes, it's called the eating sensibly and exercising regularly diet.

What is your favorite dessert?: Fruit, or vanilla frozen yogurt in a cone.

What was the last thing you ate?: Chicken gumbo soup and popcorn.

Favorite kitchen gadget?: Hmm.. the microwave :( I know. Or a small skillet, I can do a lot with that.

Ever swallowed anything whole?: By accident maybe.

Weirdest gift item pertaining food that you have gotten?: Not sure. Oh I got a bag of microwave popcorn on halloween once.

What was your favorite food as a kid?: Bagel bites. I didn't have the greatest eating habits back then.

Would you ever raise your children vegetarian?: Never say never, at this point it wouldn't make much sense since I'm not one.

Best thing you mom cooks?: She makes good lasagna I suppose. I'm not really into that kind of food.

Do you like deep fried foods?: Umm.. it tastes good I guess. I'm not really very tempted by foods like that anymore. It's weird to think about. I just wouldn't eat it if there were better options around.

Worst food you have ever eaten?: Fried calamari.

What is your most hated food?: I don't know that I HATE any food.

Any new dishes you'd like to learn to make this year?: I wish i could make my own sushi.

Any crazy food habbits?: Tons.

What food(s) do you like to eat when sick?: Scrambled eggs and toast. They're my all-purpose feel-good foods.

Any food from your past that you used to love but can't even think of eating now?: Fried chicken, greasy chinese.

Do you own a Kitchen Aid mixer? No.

Can you bake?: Only if it involves a box and directions.

Which is better, sweet salty or sour?: Toss up between sweet and salty.

Do you like to fondue?: No.

What is the most creative dish you have created?: Umm.. most people think this is gross but I used to really love mixing oatmeal with chocolate or vanilla pudding.

Favorite candy?: Jujyfruits, Mike & Ikes.

favorite food you CRAVEEE?: Nature's Promise White Cheddar Popcorn. And Cereal. Any cereal at all.

When is the last time you cleaned out the fridge?: Earlier this year.

Favorie ice cream?: This wal-mart stuff.. it's no sugar added vanilla. Also their butter pecan.

Are you good at sticking to your calorie intake with out going over?: Some days yes, others no.. I never go over by too too much, like 200 on my WORST WORST day.

Favorite salad dressing?: I don't know the brand but it's called Wasabi Dijon. I think it's Maple Grove Farms or something. God it's good!

What does peanutbutter go best with?: Strawberry preserves.

Do you burn food a lot?: Toast, if I'm preoccupied.

Leaste favorite thing to cook?: Anything too messy.

What do you get at Mcdonald's?: Nothing. I mean.. if I had no other choice I'd get a snack wrap and apple dippers.

Favorite tye of cousine?: Japanese. Mostly I love good old American breakfast foods.

Juice of choice?: No juice.

Are you currently hungry?: No.

Do you remember that square candy bar called "Chunky"?: No.

Favorite brand of peanut butter?: Ehh doesn't really matter as long as the nutrition/ingredients check out okay.

What was your leaste favorite food as a kid?: Spaghetti.

Favorite kind of pudding? Sugar-free butterscotch or chocolate.

if you must weigh yourself do it first thing in the morning, before you eat. my weight always is a few pounds higher at the end of the day than at the beginning. i prefer to look at the flattering number. also for some reason it's higher after a workout.. i have no idea why, someone explained it to me once but i forget the physiology behind it. the end-of-the-day weight just discourages me, and probably needlessly because i think its usually just water weight or bloat.

Do you or anyone else find protein and carbs together(like fruit and cheese) work best? Not just one or the other?

 yes ma'am! when i know i wont be able to eat for several hours, i always always go for peanut butter and sugar free jelly on whole wheat. something about the carb/protein combo.

me too, since i started eating healthfully i have settled at about 110, 111ish. and i greatly prefer the way my body looked at 103 pounds. but.. i try to tell myself that if this is where my body clearly WANTS to be with a healthy diet and exercise regimen in place.. then i guess i have to accept that.

sometimes i think id rather be as thin as i was even though i felt like crap mentally and physically and was very sick all the time.. but at the end of the day, this is so much better. i think you should listen to your body because it's going to try to do whats best for you despite your efforts to fight it.. and if it wants to be 113 pounds (which is pretty darn light) my guess is you look great at that weight.

i totally get what you're saying. i never really will admit to anyone or myself that i have or ever have had an "eating disorder" officially, whatever that means.. i think it falls under the category of 'disordered eating'.. so stupid lol. either way its bad for you and a horrible trap to fall into. but anyway..

i never hid behind big baggy clothes either.. on one level i always thought i was fat, even when i was like barely more than 100 pounds, but i think on another level i knew i was getting pretty skinny.. because people would constantly comment about it.. and i liked it a lot but it would scare me too. i went to great lengths to like.. hide the evidence that i was doing anything weird or unhealthy, because i didnt want people to think i was crazy, and i most certainly didnt want a bunch of weird attention..

i dunno. all im saying is that i get what you're saying. if that means that you didn't fit perfectly into the criteria for an eating disorder.. then you didn't. either way, it's good that you're not doing it anymore. like i said, "official" or not, it sucks and you suffer.

thanks guys. all good advice.

when i first upped my calories i gained and bloated a lot. stick with it because my weight seems to be settling down now where it wants to be. it hasn't changed in a while. just get healthy exercise and eat a variety of healthy foods and your body will settle at a weight where it feels comfortable and healthy- and youll look great. just give it time. and remember.. you have to give your head time to catch up too. at first i freaked out at every 1/4 pound i gained... just HANG IN THERE. =]

hey,

you know, i think after my experiences with food and weight issues, one of the most important things i'm learning is that balance and moderation is the key. to everything.

the scale can be a helpful tool in your recovery, and it sounds as though you are aware of how important it is to get better (since you have started eating more etc), but there is a fine line between using it as a tool to monitor your health and using it to facilitate obsessive patterns/behaviors.

i used to weigh myself every day, almost every hour. now i make sure i only weigh myself every sunday at the gym. it's good to weigh yourself once a week to monitor gains/losses before they get out of hand, but if you're weighing yourself too often, those changes are likely due to water weight, a full stomach, bloating, any number of things. any gain or loss under five pounds shouldn't be something you worry about since it could be as simple as water weight and is likely a temporary fluctuation.

that being said, if you find that you have a hard time limiting your use of the scale, and that it really stresses you out and hinders your recovery, then i suggest putting it away altogether (for now.) if you're going from starvation to eating a somewhat normal diet, your body is going to go through huge changes, physically and psychologically. you have to give your body time to adjust and level out, and try not to freak out at every fluctuation.

i hope this was helpful? i know it can be very hard, but just try to trust yourself and i ASSURE you, if you're only eating 1300 calories every day, you are NOT fat or going to get fat, that would be literally impossible. so good luck. =]