I hid my scale, I've been on a five day binge, and I feel like a failure!

I had my mom take away my scale because I was being crazy and weighing myself way too much. However, since I haven't been weighing myself, I've been basically binging and not working out anymore for the past five days. Every day I would tell myself I would get back on my diet the next day, but then the next day comes and I eat something bad and I've messed up all over again.

I have roughly 10-15 more pounds to go, and I've lost about 25 so far so the weight is coming off much more slowly. I just feel so frustrated and I've been trying to get these last pounds off for so long and nothing works, so I just get frustrated and binge and am forced to start all over again. My friend who started dieting with me just got to her goal, (she's lost about 60 lbs in the past 10 months), has an awesome job, and is engaged, and compared to her I feel like a big fat (literally!) failure. I know you shouldn't compare yourself to other people...but I don't know why she could lose that much in such a short time and I am just stuck.

I feel like my binges have been getting worse, last night I basically ate so much I felt like I had to throw up. It was awful, and I am so embarrassed of myself. I know it's not healthy to eat as a reaction to emotions but I've been doing that all my life and it's so hard for me to stop, but I know I need help.

I'm just so frustrated!

I guess my first questions would be; how old are you? (live with mom). Also, what do you consider binging? I guess my concern is that you are 14 years old, 87 ponds and consider 100 calories a binge. Hopefully this is not the case.

 

I would focus less on the weight and focus more on the emotions that cause you to eat.  If you can stop and think about how you are feeling and why, it will help you get back on track and becoming a more balanced, healthier person.  Unless you deal with this stuff you could lose the 35 lbs, but it will return because you haven't dealt with the core of why you overeat.  best of luck.

Hi Catherine,

I am 21, about 115 lbs (on a good day, although I don't have my scale so I'm not sure at this point) and binges for me are usually when I eat foods I normally am not "allowed" to eat, eat more than I need to be full, or just eat because I can. I wish I didn't do it and realize I need to get to the bottom of my overeating issues...which really didn't start happening until I started dieting.

Ok, first of all you have got to get your emotions in order...otherwise you will never feel good about yourself.  How big was your friend? Because to have lost 60 lbs. and still be healthy...... you are not in the same category.  If you were to loose even 20 lbs. you would be looking pretty sickly. (unless you are 4'5")  In order to be healthy even your weight is not the issue, it is your total body fat.  I would go and get your total body fat checked out.  And honestly girls are supposed to have more than guys....for obvious reasons...  Guys don't prefer sickly looking girls. They prefer healthy and fit girls.

I have a few pieces of advice and will flow with your writing so it makes sense. I am proud of you for getting rid of the scale since it was creating a compulsive problem for you. It is great that you recognized this, realized it was a problem and solved the problem. Great job! When you eat poorly and fall short of your goal of eating healthy, my recommendation is to NOT wait until the next day to start over. Do it the NEXT meal. Realize that you have made an error, but you can correct it and starting with the next meal you eat, you will get yourself back on track. Back when I used to yo-yo diet, I did this same thing and a day turned into a week which turned into a month which became five years of unhealthy eating. So, get back on track right now and begin eating healthy. Do NOT wait until tomorrow, because tomorrow will never come. You also said that you haven't worked out in the past five days. Get back on track right now and workout. Even if it is not your "normal" workout. Go for a walk, if a walk outside is not realistic because of weather drive to the nearest mall and walk. Jog in place in front of the television. Jump rope. March on your tippy toes. Anything. Get moving. You will feel better.

Since you say you have ten to fifteen pounds left to loose, and later on told Catherine you are about 115 (before the scale was banned from the house) then I am guessing you are rather petite and shorter in stature. If you are neither of these, then perhaps you should re-evaluate your goal weight as it might be unattainable to be healthy. If you don't want to be healthy then an unrealistic weight will help this (terrible) endeavor. It is normal as you near your goal weight for the weight to come off slower. Much slower. Remember, the slower the weight comes off the less apt you are to re-gain the weight in the future. It is possible for your friend to loose weight in a shorter period of time because she has a different body shape and structure than you. Is she taller? Was her goal also about 100 pounds? You are a unique and wonderful individual who is attaining a healthy lifestyle and this takes time, so give yourself time. You are not a failure and at 115 pounds (even 125) you are NOT FAT!  Please seek the advice of a counselor, clergy person, trusted and wise adult to get help with your issues surrounding food. To be on a five day binge would indicate that you have issues surrounding food and you will discover (as I have) that you will not loose the weight until you begin conquering your personal demons, especially those surrounding food. Be aware this is very hard work, but to reach your goal it probably needs to be done.

Best of luck and take care of yourself. Be good to yourself and your body. I hope this helps a bit.

Smiles,
Dacia