Disordered eating and frustration.

I have developed a serious problem with binge eating in the last couple months- background is sort of a long story, but it's not because I'm dieting or not eating enough. I'm in individual and group therapy, so it's being addressed...but it's not going away yet.

Before this started, NROLFW had given me a body shape I was proud of. I've gained a noticeable amount of weight (to me, anyway). I am still doing the workouts, but I don't feel as comfortable being at the gym anymore. I know this isn't true, but I feel like I've wasted all the effort I've put into this program.

Plus, eating 5-6 times a day like the program says triggers binges for me (I am fine at 3x/day), and the protein shakes are also a trigger. So I feel like I'm not even maximizing my results right now.

I need your support!

I'm sorry you're going through this right now but don't ever feel like you are wasting all that effort!!! Just think where you would be without all the work you've put in!! You will come through this and you will be able to get back to the place you feel comfortable. Just keep reminding yourself that you CAN DO this! I totally understand where you're coming from and I have gained weight during this program but just keep reminding yourself there will be ups and downs and you can come through it. Hang in there!

I'm glad to hear that you are getting therapy to help you through a rough patch.  I think that it's way more important for you to take care of your emotional needs than to follow the eating instructions in the book.  

So, if eating 3X a day and avoiding the protein shakes helps you avert the binging behavior, that is the correct path for you just now.  Hopefully the workouts themselves are not triggers also, you didn't say that, so as long as that is the case, then even if your results are not maximimized, you'll still be gaining strength and taking care of yourself physically.  It's definitely not a waste of effort.

Thanks so much for your supportive responses. It's great to have a community I can turn to for support.

I had a great workout yesterday and didn't binge for the first day in a while! I even felt confident with my body at the gym- I felt like I was glowing from the inside- and one of my trainer friends even came up to tell me that I looked great!

Megan, luckily, the workouts aren't triggers. They actually help me avoid binges because they give me something to fill up my time. One thing I tell myself to break the guilt cycle over bingeing is- I am giving my muscles so much fuel! They have no excuse not to grow now!

Hi Emily - sorry you are having binge cravings.  I totally agree with Megan.  If you do better on 3 meals, then definitely do so.  I think the overall calories per day are far more important than the number of times you eat.  I had been slacking on the 5X per day too.  It just seemed like I was always eating.

A while back I changed up my plan;  if I am hungry, I allow snacks, but if I am not, I see no problem in skipping. 

Glad you are enjoying the workouts!

I don't know for sure how many calories I am getting, since I am eating intuitively and not calorie counting. When I am hungry, I eat until I am full. I have a good sense of how many calories are in things from my days of calorie counting, so I know I'm not going too low, but paying attention to calories at all tends to feed into my anxiety about things, so I try to ignore it.

When I don't eat intuitively, I end up bingeing. So when I try to eat snacks, I'm often not actually hungry, and same goes for the protein shake.

Me too.  I don't count.  I eat intuitively.  It has worked for me all my life, so I stick with what works.   I only counted for a brief period after gaining 8 pounds while quitting smoking.  After getting back to my original weight I stopped counting. 

I do like my shakes though after workout, but I usually eat dinner after that.

Your health is the most important thing I'm glad to hear you are seeking help. Don't feel like you aren't getting the desired result, even sticking with the plan is more than most can do. I've wanted to quit but I'm hanging in there, my eating also hasn't been ideal but I'm atleast sticking with work out plan. Know your strengths and focus on those rather than what you may feel are your shortcomings.

Hang it there.  I know it is difficult.  You are doing well.  And I agree with the others, don't follow the suggestions if they don't work for you.  Recently I printed out a chart that someone had developed based on the book.  All you had to do was plug in your height and weight and it figured out how many calories you need a day to maintain or to lose.  I thought, hey, I could use a little fat loss, so I cut my calories to match what the chart recommended for me.  Not a good idea!  I seriously overate on the third day of following the chart. 

So good for you for sticking with it, and hopefully the support you are receiving will get you back on track.  Let us know how it is going.