Starting again and would love some tips.

So, to start off, I struggle with some bingeing issues. I try SO HARD to be healthy, only to fall of the wagon, hard, and feel hopeless again. But every single time I pick myself back up and try again. That's what I'm doing this time too. Now I'm asking for some tips. Here's an example of what my goals are and what I ate today.

I am 5'9" with a small build and weigh 134-140 pounds. I'd like to weigh 120 by the end of summer. I think twenty pounds by October or so is reasonable. This will give me a BMI of 18, which is not underweight for a 19 year old. I've been at this weight before, and have been functioning normally.

To lose roughly one pound per week, I've been instructed to eat 1400 calories per day with 30 minutes of exercies, and adjust my calories accordingly should I add more activity to my plan.

Here's what I ate today, which was a BAD day. A binge day. It wasn't nearly as bad as some of my binges, but it will definitely result in weight gain. Bolded items are unplanned items.

Breakfast: 350 cals
light english muffin
tbsp peanut butter
1/2 cup egg whites, scrambled
2 strips turkey bacon
80 g banana

Snack: 170 cals
fage 0% greek yogurt cup
100 g pineapple
1/4 cup fiber one

Lunch: 350 cals
Amy's Breakfast Burrito
6 oz broccoli slaw mixed with 3 tbsp fat free ranch dressing

light pita + 200 cals worth fat free cheddar cheese = 310 cals
(decided that would replace dinner)

Frozen yogurt: 300 cals

Went shopping with friend...
pei wei chicken lo mein: 920 calories
4 crab wontons: 200 calories
chicken from pei wei spicy chicken salad: 200
fortune cookie: 30

return home:
banana: 120 calories
a couple pieces pineapple: 20

to a friends to retrieve ipod for a fundraiser:
approx 25 pieces chocolate: 1250

return home:
peanut butter sandwich: 400
2 low calorie pudding cups:120

= roughly 4740 calories!

As you can all see, it's difficult for me to control myself around food. If anyone has any tips out there for me regarding my summer goal of a 20 pound weight loss, PLEASE let me know! I'm sure there are more people than just me in this situation!

Thank you so much :)

Original Post by berriesandyogurt:

I am 5'9" with a small build and weigh 134-140 pounds. I'd like to weigh 120 by the end of summer. I think twenty pounds by October or so is reasonable. This will give me a BMI of 18, which is not underweight for a 19 year old. I've been at this weight before, and have been functioning normally.

You're a perfectly slim, healthy weight as you are now but a target BMI of 17.8 would mean you were clinically underweight.   You may have been at that weight before when you were a girl  - many adolescents are really skinny - but that doesn't mean it's healthy for a grown woman of 19.  If the only way you can lose weight is to restrict calories to the point where your body needs to binge in order to keep itself going.... then that would be another sign that your aims are unrealistic. 

Stop trying to lose weight and instead work on improving your diet i.e. eating better, and getting more exercise.  I think that will make you feel happier and look a lot healthier and more toned. 

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gi-jane is right.  I am 120lbs.  but I am 5'2" plus you are 19 years old so your metabolism is still pretty high. 

But to answer your question about control, once you realize how many HOURS it will take to burn off high calorie foods, it might become easier to say no, because for me it's easier to say no than to dread hitting the gym.  So try that.

I was 110 lbs. when I was younger, but that doesn't mean it's healthy for me now (25), I would be a toothpick.

so i have struggled with bingeing issues like this also for the past 2 years or so. like you, i am a perfectly healthy weight, at the moment 110, last year i was not happy at 118, im 5'2 by the way. anyway i was always struggling to lose a few more "vanity lbs" because clearly i am healthy and don't really need to lose weight. although like you, i had the hardest time coming to this realization, and like you i would be "super healthy" for days, even weeks sometimes, and then just go nuts every now and then, just like you did. a few weeks ago, i got fed up with this cycle and decided that i'm done with it. first i have been focusing on getting back to eating like a normal person. the first week or 2 was hard, but this week i have noticed significant improvement. what stand out to me about your post is that you seem like an all or nothing person, which is how i used to be. when you fall off the wagon, you fall hard, but when you're on your eating perfect. my advice. stop the perfectionism and you won't binge anymore. i let myself have little treats almost everyday. and i haven't had a big binge in awhile. i'm enjoying life alot more too, and isn't that what its really about? also i haven't gained an ounce.