I feel like I'm going insane from this diet!

I've been eating things that are pre-portioned. Like Lean Cuisines, Healthy Choice, 100 calorie packs, all the jazz.

 

And I feel like I'm going insane. I'm very strict with myself, and only once did I go over 1200 calories, at most I go to 1100. And I can't even eat around others, or go into the fridge.

Everything is so tempting, and I just feel so awful when I see people enjoying their food, when I know I'm not enjoying mine.

I just eat, and then wait until I can eat again. I find no happiness in it, except for the fact I'm allowed to eat at that given moment. I'm just losing the will to even eat at all.

I just don't know, is this natural? I'm also starting to freak out bad if people eat near me. Like, really bad. I start screaming or just shaking and getting really frustrated...

And, I bought a scale to weigh food it, but it's too much hassle, because not everything is exactly like how people put it on this site.

I've also lost maybe 10lbs. I was 137lbs, but now I'm 127lbs. I've only been dieting for three and a half weeks at most, so a lot of people think it's just water weight.

Can I get any advice on either of my problems?

Restricting like this is really hard on the mind as well as the body. Secretive eating habits and avoiding situations which might tempt you to this extent can be dangerous and lead to disordered thinking in regards to food. It looks like you are not eating enough and you are suffering from the deprivation.

I would suggest you try to relax a little and eat what your recommended calories are (which I'm certain is more than the 1100 you are currently eating!). Try adding in fresh fruits and vegetables to your diet and avoid eating so many processed foods, which are often salt-laden and unsatisfying. You can eat healthier foods in larger quantities and still lose weight. 

I feel for you!! The prepackaged meals that you are referring to never seemed to satisfy my appetite either. I make my own meals now and they are much more filling but still low fat and cal.   

 If being around other people when they are eating makes you crazy because your that hungry maybe you should try to add a few more calories into your diet for now. 1200 calories a day is pretty low!!! 

You really shouldnt view food this way. The changes you make are when transitioning to healthy eating are permanent. So ask yourself, do you want to live this way for the rest of your life?

Instead of eating all that packaged garbage, eat real veggies and lean meats instead, and eat a lot of it. Eating should not be a chore. I eat all the time and I still lose weight. You know people are going to tell you that your intake is way too low.

Also, you should examine your attitudes about food in general. They sound unhealthy.

In my very humble opinion, you are going about this all wrong.  I know because I've been there and done that.

You need to think of this, not as a temporary diet, but changes you are making that will last a lifetime.  Instead of substituting packaged processed foods for a healthy, balanced diet, try doing some reading about cooking from scratch, and about what "balanced" really means.

Start by listing the eating and exercise habits that, if you changed them, would contribute to your lifelong health.  Then set about changing them for better habits one by one.

Maybe you could start by measuring out things like fats and starchy vegetables, and limiting them to small servings.  Or you could reduce the amount of refined sugar and high fructose corn syrup (it's in everything!) you consume.

Or you could exercise while watching your favorite TV show instead of sitting there.

The important thing is that you change the bad habit forever.  The weight loss will happen as a side effect of the healthier diet.  This is not just for now, it's for life.  Just think - if you make those changes you'll never have to "go on a diet" ever again.

no, this isnt at all natural. dieting should be about eating healthy, not about an insane amount of control. no matter weather you are trying to lose weight or what, food should always be enjoyable, and not cause you anxiety. of course this isnt always the case, espeically for people who are trying to lose weight, but that mindset is very unhealthy and probably going to make you very depressed, it looks like it has already.

i would suggest changing your habits gradually, i dont know how much of a habit this is. i would try to eat meals with friends, and to order or eat things you like. if its not too healthy than share it with a friend, if it is, then enjoy it and know that your body i thanking you.

also prepackaged foods arent very good for you, especailly if its all you eat. you dont need to know the calories down to the last one, calorie counting is still very effective even when it is estimated. stop letting this consume you- it is not good to develope these habits about food, food is supposed to be a family thing, a social thing, a cultural thing. dont get lost in the idea of controlling your food so strictly.

good luck, dont let the diet eat you!

Hmm... It sounds like not very much fun. Dieting, in my opinion, should be more of a lifestyle change than a torture process. I don't think it is healthy if you start to "freak out", as you say, when others eat around you. I know that if I am trying to "trick" my body into thinking it's nourished with those pre-packaged things, it always backfires and after a few days I feel unsatisfied with everything and "binge" so to speak on "forbidden" foods.

I think the key for me was finding foods I enjoy (taste good) that also satisfy me (keep my body nourished). For me, this meant switching from packaged and portioned foods to eating WHOLE foods. For example, on the weekend I will make a big batch of plain yogurt from organic skim milk, cook up 2 1/2 cups of whatever beans I have in the house, and make a ton of oat groats (same thing as oatmeal, it's just not cut and rolled... has more fiber, protein, and is much more satisfying). All these things take time to do, but they're EASY, and all reheat amazingly well the rest of my busy week (I'm a student, I work, and i work out almost every day). Then, with the beans I steam some kale and add some sun-dried tomatoes (or whatever organic veggies are on sale that week) and flavor with veggie bullion or tomato sauce. I portion these out into plastic containers and stick them in the fridge to toss in my backpack each day (they each come to around 300 cals or so) The oat groats I eat 1/2 cup each morning with some flax seed meal (.5 tbsp), cinnamon, vanilla, stevia, and milk (adding up to about 200 cals). These types of meals make me feel great because I know they're good for me, I don't feel jealous of others because they're extremely tasty, and I don't feel deprived because I'm getting full and satisfied at each meal. Maybe this is something you could try, if you're into cooking at all.

Also, you might want to try upping your calories every so often, maybe to 1300 or 1400 cals/day. I'm at 130 now, tring to get down to 110, but my goal is 1400. 1200 seems a little low; if it works for you then that's fine, but it doesn't sound like it is so much. Adding an extra 100-200 cals every couple days is not going to ruin your diet and it will give you the little extra sustinence it sounds like you need.

I hope this helps :-)

I mean, I do eat vegetables and fruits.

 

And, about not wanting to do with for the rest of my life, I honestly don't care. I pretty much figure I'll commit suicide in a matter of months or, at most, a couple of years.

I just want to be thin until then. I just want people to think I'm pretty...

 

and 1200 is a lot a day, considering I eat 2 meals, and a couple of snacks. I mean, sure, I just wait around until I can put something into me that just makes me stop worrying about when I'll get hungry again.

 

 

But I started crying yesterday over popcorn. I really wanted popcorn, but we had none of the measured-out portions, so I didn't have any. Also, all my family ate this really good food, and every time I went to look for popcorn, I looked as quickly as possible: The smells and the sight just drove me insane.

 

This in general might drive me to suicide in itself, because I pretty much only looked forward to eating something good, which is a terrible way to live, so if that's taken away, I might as well die, atleast it won't matter how much I weigh, huh?

"And, about not wanting to do with for the rest of my life, I honestly don't care. I pretty much figure I'll commit suicide in a matter of months or, at most, a couple of years."

This is not healthy. You need to talk to a professional. The lovely people on these boards can and will provide you with good wishes and support, but we are not qualified to give you the help you need. Please speak with someone.

No, I'm fine. I'm chill. Don't worry.

 

I hate professionals, anyways.

 

Tried a therapist once. She was really really awful. Never again.

Thanks for the compliment, DancesWithForks.

Learn that you need to eat to live not live to eat.

Then what I'm doing is right.

 

It doesn't matter what I eat or how much, just as long as I'm eating. 

Original Post by phantom_moocat:

And, about not wanting to do with for the rest of my life, I honestly don't care. I pretty much figure I'll commit suicide in a matter of months or, at most, a couple of years.

I just want to be thin until then. I just want people to think I'm pretty.

This in general might drive me to suicide in itself, because I pretty much only looked forward to eating something good, which is a terrible way to live, so if that's taken away, I might as well die, atleast it won't matter how much I weigh, huh?

If you were really suicidal you would not be posting comments like that on a message board for a bunch of random people to see. I'm sorry to sound mean, but it's true.

I don't really care about what you think of me, either.

 

I know myself, and I have a feeling I'll be doing that. I'm not suicidal, I'm rational. I know what life is, and what will become of me, and I won't stand for it. 

How very shallow.  Is life just one big bikini fest to you?  I guess I am an old fogie cause I can't imagine living like you are- got bad news for you- you mess up this life, there won't be another coming along!  I don't like professional types either. I rebelled against one and all when I was in my 20s and now that I am an old fogie, am paying big time for it.  Sure is not fun having screaming joints- maybe if I had eaten well and taken care of my engine, I would be having more fun now.  I am not sure you want advice. I am not sure your ears aren't stopped up with all your inner wisdom.  Again, how very shallow.  I guess you can tell that I turned off my tv and quit paying the cable bill a long long time ago!  Take care, whatever you do next.  May the Goddess guide you as you proceed on your journey.

How am I shallow?

 

I'm very accepting of other people, I don't care how much they weigh or what they look like as long as their kind.

 

If I'm more strict about what I look like, so be it.

 

Everyone else is shallow, that's why I have to do this. No one accepts me at my weight, I haven't ever had a date, I'm completely alone and utterly distressed over it. And for once in my life, I'm actually trying to fix it. The only way someone would ever even think about dating me is if I lose weight, because I know no one would care otherwise, because no one has. 

Back to your original topic, if you're this frustrated, it's most likely not a sustainable diet and won't work for the long term. From your other posts, you're 5'2" and 127 lbs which does not strike me as overweight but also isn't underweight.

The minimum calories that you should eat is 1200F/1500M +300teen +%exercise. I suspect from your posts that you're a teenager and should be aiming for 1500 calories per day instead of 1200 and that may be why you're so hungry and dissatisfied with your food. Your body is giving you feedback, you're just not ready to hear it.

Our bodies do not respond well to very low calorie diets, it's our logical brains that carry the logic a bit further than it should go and come to an erroneous conclusion. Consider the following off color joke a friend told me:

Two country boys sign up for college, one goes in and talks to the guidance counselor and gets signed up for math, english, and logic. He asks the counselor what logic is. The counselor say, well here's an example:

Counselor: Do you have a weedwacker?

Boy1: Yes

Counselor: That leads me to believe that you have a house and a yard.

Boy1: Yes

Counselor: So I would logically conclude that you have a wife.

Boy1: That sure is amazing!

He goes outside and talks to his friend and tells him that he's signed up for math, english, and logic. His friends asks what logic is...

Boy1: Do you own a weedwacker?

Boy2: No

Boy1: You're queer, ain't ya!

You can see the erroneous logic, it's funny, but it's not necessarily correct. The same goes for calories. Eating less can help us to lose weight, but not if we don't eat enough.

You just want to be thin and have people think that you're pretty...you've got yet another logical flaw here in that you think that people will like you better if you're thinner and that thinner is the same as being prettier. Think of the people that you actually want to be around. I would bet that most of them are enjoying their lives and not obsessing about every calorie that goes into their mouths. They have fun or appear to be having fun so you also want to be around them because you think you'll have fun with them. Go do something just for yourself and enjoy your life and you will start drawing people to you.

Give yourself a bit of leeway on your calorie allowance so that you don't have to count every single calorie. Try 1500-1700 for a week and see how that effects you. The goal is to always get 1500 calories and to eat less than 1700 calories. If you get even a little bit of exercise in addition to that you should be well set up to lose weight and still enjoy your food.

Now regarding counselors, like every profession there are good ones and bad ones.  Have you never had a bad teacher?  Have you ever had an excellent teacher?  Don't let one bad experience sour you on them forever. 

I won't lose weight as quickly if I eat 1500 calories. I just want to lose weight the fastest I can, just so people can see it. I mean, I'm obviously eating enough since I'm not dead. And even if I do die, still a plus, ya' know?

So, the worst that can happen is... I lose weight?

 

Considering I'm already insane to begin with and no one likes me anyways. 

It sounds like you're doing this all because of what others think of you... And all I have to say is do what makes YOU FEEL GOOD be it dieting or eating whatever you want. Once that happens, YOU will like who you are, people will see that, and they will mirror it back to you, no matter what size you are. So if you're dieting for YOU, then keep going, but if you're doing it for everyone else and are MISERABLE, then I would stop, reevaluate what is really important to you, and work on that instead... It will work to your advantage in the long run, i promise.

 

:-)