Healthy Eating

By good topic

February 6, 2007 12:31 PM | Link to this

Having spent my life from age 8 dealing with an eating disorder, I appreciate the updated information above that binge eating is currently the most common eating disorder rather than the more specific behaviors of bulimia or anorexia, and the above definition of a binge as bouts of uncontrolled eating well past the point of being full that occur at least twice a week. Usually professionals will patronize me and insult my intelligence trying to define a binge in terms of calories consumed rather than just listening to what I’m saying and trusting that I am in pain. How can another person possibly know how I feel on the inside? It has nothing to do with “forgiving myself” after a binge; the issue is the pain I’m in, both physical and emotional. I am sick to death of it being about food and the physical level, when in reality, for me it’s not about what’s on my plate but what’s going on in my head. There is no real situation which triggers a binge for me; it’s more a state of mind. Many professionals currently say restriction comes first eventually resulting in a binge. Well maybe, for some, but people are not clones and one size does not fit all. I’ve had a lot of help from support groups, individual therapy and an outpatient treatment program. It’s all helpful, IF I use what I learn. Some of it involves reality not being enough (much like an addict using alcohol to escape), some of it involves specific things like planning meals and asking for support, some of it is nutrition, some of it is stress and other living issues. Some people find help from simple things like seeing a nutritionist or a personal trainer. For some it’s a bit more complicated. If you need help, please get it. It’s really a painful thing to live with. It’s like an iceberg, way more than you see on the surface.

By Thinning Down

February 6, 2007 01:27 PM | Link to this

good topic I’m going to have to take issue with you. I was massively overweight and quickly going down the road to certain death because of it. I could sit down and binge my way through just about anything at one time. I, like you, blamed everything under the sun for my problem. Inside my brain, I was avoiding the obvious. The problem wasn’t the millions of outside factors I was using (stress, living environment, my brain chemicles, the professionals, etc.), but it was ME and my lack of self-control. Plain and simple. Here are a few facts:

• There is no miracle weight-loss drug.

• Unless the “professional” has gone from massive poundage to normal poundage, they won’t and can’t understand. Ergo, their advice is moot.

• There is only ONE way to reduce your weight and stop the madness going on inside you. That way is eating right.

You know what you’re supposed to eat and why. Heck, with the advent of the Internet there is NO excuse for not knowing the calorie, fat and sodium content of every single morsel you put into your mouth.

Here’s a challenge for anyone with a self-control problem: for one month stop all sodas (regular AND diet), stop eating out completely (no fast food - not even the healthy crap - no restaurants, no QT dogs or taquitos). Go to the grocery store and purchase a cartfull of Healthy Choice, Lean Cuisine, etc. (you’ll save TONS of money too) and start drinking water, coffee, tea or other H2O based drinks (no sugar, cream, etc). Purchase the top portion of the cartfull of healthy snack foods (nuts, whole grain crackers, fruits, dried fruits, whatever as long as each serving is less than 100 calories with NO trans fat, little Sat fat and low sodium and sugars). And don’t go near processed foods like Hamburger Helper, Box cake mixes, canned soups, etc. In one month’s time, if you don’t lose at least 30 pounds, I’ll eat my hat…depending on the nutritional value in said hat.

I know your woes good topic I was there a year and a half ago. I’ve lost 80 pounds by NOT dieting or taking pills but by cooking all my meals (or eating healthy choice/lean cuisine) and I feel fantastic about myself and every aspect of my life now. Especially the aspects you aren’t supposed to talk about in polite company. grin

So here’s the question: Do you live to eat or eat to live? When you decide to change your reasons for eating (and your lifestyle) then you’ll see wonderful success.

I wish you and all the rest the best of luck with your issues. When we start accepting responsibility for why we are the way we are…we can start changing our lives and live like we were meant to.

By Good Topic

February 8, 2007 11:43 AM | Link to this

Thinning Down, not sure I understand if you’re taking issue with what I said or assumed I was just whining without lifting a finger to help myself, if you were expressing general concerns with the way the world looks at things, or if you just wanted to get some things off your chest, like I was doing. In any event, I guess I forgot to say I weigh 115 pounds and am 5’5” due to years and years of continuous discipline with what goes into my mouth and physical activity - about 65 pounds less than my top weight a long time ago. I am very happy for you that you are slimming down and feeling better about yourself.