I totally lost all discipline - please help me get back on track before tis too late

Hi cc members, I think am at the end of my rope. Stats: 27female, 5.25ft, 123lbs (as of today), small body frame When I first joined cc, I was the epitome of discipline. I exercised lightly but regularly (twice a day), ate well, no eating after 7pm, I ate some junk every now and again but was moderate about it; lost weight from 139lbs-117lbs (lowest point) and my body was firm. The only thing that that bothered me then was that I thought about food ALL THE TIME! So whats the bad news?

I cant regain that discipline, and the pounds are coming back. I know what I ought to do, I just cant do it. Everyday I wake up with a resolution to do better and today, it day began well; on the good side, I had 2 bananas (afternoon and evening), 3 apples (one morning, 2 evening), a slice of a pineapple (lunch time), a little rice and beans for lunch. On the bad side, I had chocolate (a kit-kat mini, half a bar of kit-kat chunky white, an omelet and fried drained brown peas for dinner and snacked on a doughnut).  Not to mention that for the past 3 days, I could eat as many as 7 doughnuts in addition to my daily in-take. I can eat until I feel almost sick. Only then do I stop. I dont exercise anymore, but I got a stationery bike. 

I have a scale so I try not to go above 125lbs and that I can do but I want to see 117 again. My goal is the magical 110. My boyfriend thinks I am obsessed but I don't think so. I think I am better off being concerned with my weight than not minding at all.  May be if he were more supportive... I must add that as a teenager, 17-18yrs, I weighed my highest, about  170lbs (give or take) so I know how it feels to be unhealthy and unattractive.

If anyone has a word of advice, it comes highly appreciated... (but please dont tell me 123 is ok, coz I have a soft, fleshy body, I look fat).

this forum is for ppl trying to gain weight. weight loss is for ppl trying to lose weight

I expect this will get moved to a more appropriate forum.

The reason you have a 'soft fleshy body' is because you've been undereating badly (starving by the look of that menu) to get your weight down.  If you chronically undereat then your body starts to use lean tissue (muscle) to make up the short-fall in energy.  If you look at body-builders and what they eat.... it isn't a radically calorie-controlled diet.  

123lbs is a perfectly slim weight for you.... dead centre of the charts...  but you now need to increase your calorie intake to something more normal, get a much better balanced diet, and then get half an hour to one hour a day of strengthening and toning exercises.

You'll see from this chart   http://www.bcm.edu/cnrc/bodycomp/bmiz2.html   that someone with your stats needs around 2000-2300cals per day to maintain their weight with half an hour to an hour of activity .... this will give you the energy you need for your body to keep developing and should make it possible for you to tone your muscles and 'look slimmer'.

If you're not sure what a healthy diet looks like check out this site which has a sample menu for a normal, active teen.... plus lots of other great information about how to get a balanced diet.  NB..,. eating nothing but fruit is not a healthy balanced diet.   http://www.eatwell.gov.uk/agesandstages/teens /weeklymenu/

Original Post by gi-jane:

I expect this will get moved to a more appropriate forum.

The reason you have a 'soft fleshy body' is because you've been undereating badly (starving by the look of that menu) to get your weight down.  If you chronically undereat then your body starts to use lean tissue (muscle) to make up the short-fall in energy.  If you look at body-builders and what they eat.... it isn't a radically calorie-controlled diet.  

123lbs is a perfectly slim weight for you.... dead centre of the charts...  but you now need to increase your calorie intake to something more normal, get a much better balanced diet, and then get half an hour to one hour a day of strengthening and toning exercises.

You'll see from this chart   http://www.bcm.edu/cnrc/bodycomp/bmiz2.html   that someone with your stats needs around 2000-2300cals per day to maintain their weight with half an hour to an hour of activity .... this will give you the energy you need for your body to keep developing and should make it possible for you to tone your muscles and 'look slimmer'.

If you're not sure what a healthy diet looks like check out this site which has a sample menu for a normal, active teen.... plus lots of other great information about how to get a balanced diet.  NB..,. eating nothing but fruit is not a healthy balanced diet.   http://www.eatwell.gov.uk/agesandstages/teens /weeklymenu/

My apologies for posting on the wrong forum. Can I change it myself?

Jane, thanks for the advice. The chart u sent is for children, 20 years max. Am 27years now so it wont work for me. I lost a big part of my weight in my 3 years at university (18-21years). I didn't do anything much to lose that weight. I attributed it to growing up coz I was always a skinny girl - the weight gain started at 13yrs and at 15, I was already overweight. But I seriously started doing something for my weight about 2 years ago at - 25 and shortly joined cc.  

I agree with you on two accounts. Am not eating a properly balanced diet and I need exercise, but I don't think I am under-eating. I eat like 2000calories a day but tis mostly junk that I eat while I am up and working late and I don't exercise. My burn meter is at 1500. Weighing 123lbs wouldn't be a big deal if I looked slim and toned. So from the look of things, I have to exercise...

Sorry about that I misread your age as 17 rather than 27....   More exercise rather than 'less food' is definitely what you need.  1500 cals a day would mean you literally rolled out of bed onto a sofa each morning and back again in the evening.  2000 cals a day wouldn't be a bad target but plan it out better so that you're getting a healthy balance at each meal.   That teen menu plan is still a good guide.. just trim the portions and maybe elminate one or two of the snacks.

I'm a lot like you, in that I was very disciplined and motivated at first.  I gradually lost that motivation and had some binges.  I am finding out that eating very little in order to make up for overeating, like what it sounds like you're doing with all the fruit and low-cal food, is not "being good".  Restriction leads to binging, and binging leads to more restriction.  It's a vicious cycle.  Try to break it by eating a well-balanced nutritious diet, and allowing yourself a small treat every day or so.  I did this at the start of my diet (I only cut it out because I thought it would help me break a plateau) and I was so much more satisfied then, so I am trying to reincorporate sweets in moderation and it is helping I think.  Also, a "cheat meal" once a week might help.  Don't go completely overboard, but decide beforehand how many calories you will allow yourself to splurge and stick with it.  I did this last night, and even though I went slightly over what I planned, there was no serious damage done and I'm back to routine today without guilt.  Lastly, don't keep things you will want to snack on, like chocolate and donuts, in the house.  If you must have them around, put them someplace you can't see them, or ask someone to be in charge of them.  For me, if I can't see the sweets, then I don't think about eating them.

Im a lot like you too... I was so motivated and disciplined before... now im off that wagon and bingeing frequently...

I wake up telling myself I will do better... and say to myself everyday that tomorrow i will do better...

I'm just going to start eating like a normal person and not try to really DIET.. I did that before and it worked well..

I'm alot like that too.

I started CC last year and was extremely strict about what I ate and exercising most of the time 3 times/day. I lost about 40 lbs. in about 5 months.

Then, somewhere I fell off the wagon and gained almost all of it back.

Looking back I dont know how I was so restrictive and did not go completely insane. I wish I had that motivation and determination again.

So, i'm in the same boat. Trying to get my life back.

Hi YoungBess,

Your title line sent a zinger through me.  Getting off the beam, losing the momentum all familiar territory for me.  My suggestion would be make a committment for one day to avoid the poor choice carbs.  You can probably do it for one day.  See how that goes.

Consider checking out the carb addict angle.  I discovered trigger foods for me.  I am also an emtional eater. 

Remember there are folks at Calorie Count who have been through and are going through the same things you are.  Don't give up looking for your solution.

Love & light,

marjg