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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to eat like this.....

43 replies

starsandguitars · 13/10/2014 14:30

I think I've lost all sense of perspective about an acceptable diet.

This morning I made myself late to work due to diverting to Tesco, buying a box of cakes and a box of Matchmakers, and scoffing the lot in my (mercifully private) office before lunchtime (low cal ready meal.......) because I had a slightly trying day ahead of me.

Is this a tad loony?

OP posts:
BackforGood · 13/10/2014 14:31

tis a bit..... I mean, I'm not what you'd call a healthy eater, but even I think that's extreme.

Wolfbasher · 13/10/2014 14:32

Definitely unhealthy! As a one-off (or if you're pregnant) it doesn't matter, but if you're regularly eating like that, you're going to do yourself damage in the long term.

Sorry to sound a bit pompous, but is there a reason for it? I do that kind of thing if I'm stressed, or even if I have just skipped a meal - if I let myself get too hungry then my body just demands total crap and my brain gets sugar-crazed!

LadyLuck10 · 13/10/2014 14:32

I think it is a bit. If it's to the extent of making you late to work then It seems like an issue.

hotfuzzra · 13/10/2014 14:33

YABU. Speaking as a former binge eater I say STEP AWAY FROM THE Cake !

StripyBanana · 13/10/2014 14:36

If you do it often it sounds like binge eating. It often is exacerbated by dieting tbh....

Overcoming binge eating and getting better bite by bite are good books to try....

Original poster
starsandguitars · 13/10/2014 14:40

I'd like to say it's a one off but it's not....I used to do similar things of an evening many years ago when I was in an unhappy relationship ....I'm very happy now but when I was on maternity leave I put on 2 stone as my only 'treat' and 'trip out' in the day was wheeling the twins to the shops and getting myself something sweet...this could be a whole box of chocs quite easily by the time my maternity leave was over (it's a good job I went back to work!). I was overweight before but now I'm back to my absolute heaviest (16 stone).

I think I'm confusing 'stressful day/couple of extra biccies' with 'mild inconvenience/entire box of quality street'....

I need to pull myself together don't I? I'm talking like its crack not confectionery.....

OP posts:
WorraLiberty · 13/10/2014 14:41

Yes it is unreasonable to eat like that just because you had a slightly trying day ahead of you, but I'm guessing you know that already.

Whether it made you late for work or not, doesn't really come into it.

Original poster
starsandguitars · 13/10/2014 14:42

Silly question, but is this proper binge eating? How did you knock it on the head hotfuzzra?

OP posts:
Joolsy · 13/10/2014 14:43

It really depends how it makes you feel afterwards. If you feel guilty for having scoffed that much then it's done you no favours whatsoever. And nobody NEEDS to eat that much in such a short space of time. Have a proper breakfast in future Wink

Lweji · 13/10/2014 14:44

The problem is also that it's fast sugar.
If you are going to eat well in the morning, make sure you have enough protein and slow sugars.
Yogurt and oats biscuits would be a better alternative.

Original poster
starsandguitars · 13/10/2014 14:45

I think I do know WorraLiberty.....I think it's just become what I do, which is what's forced me to question my behaviour

OP posts:
WorraLiberty · 13/10/2014 14:48

At least you're aware of it, that's a big step towards changing your behaviour Smile

Original poster
starsandguitars · 13/10/2014 14:49

I'd already had my breakfast - yoghurt and wholemeal toast shamefaced.

I'm a prat. I'll tackle it.......

OP posts:
OTheHugeManatee · 13/10/2014 14:51

YABU but I think you know it.

VanGogh · 13/10/2014 14:53

But how do you tackle it?

VoyagerII · 13/10/2014 14:58

I'd advise ditching the low-cal ready meal and anything low-cal or diet foods. If you're seeing regular meals as disappointing and lacking, that could be because they are - you're not getting proper food, and your body craves a "treat"/instant gratification and calorie hit.

Try eating healthy but normal, full-calorie food that you really like, so that it makes you feel satisfied and full. There's lots on the web about food that will help you feel full for longer - eat more protein, grains etc and less refined carbs and sugar. Look for snacks that are a real treat but where you don't need much, like quality chocolate. It can take time to make the change but you do feel better for it. Diet foods and low cal foods don't make you feel good.

Original poster
starsandguitars · 13/10/2014 14:58

I have no idea other than cold turkey.....I'm afraid it will leave a bit of a 'hole' if you know what I mean?

OP posts:
Chandon · 13/10/2014 15:00

it's fine, as a one off.

I would step away from the low cal meals though.

They are not satisfying, you KNOW they are not satisfying, they are a pale imitation of a real meal. They make you feel that you need to somehow compensate before you even eat them. They become an excuse for then eating cake/crisps/choc.

I would eat something nice and satisfying for lunch, with plenty of flavour and ...calories. Choose a lovely baguette with chicken mayo and salad, for example. Or pasta with meatballs, or a bowl of roast veg with goat's cheese, or a nice hearty sandwich, or soup AND a cheese toast, or a baked potato with a nice filling.

There are too many females in this world who eat pathetic lunches and then eat cake, and then fel guilty, and then go on a diet the next day, eating a sad little salad for lunch, then crave biscuits and cake etc etc.etc. DH is a teacher, and he says this is an aspect of women he totally does not understand.

hellsbellsmelons · 13/10/2014 15:02

Your breakfast sounds fine.
As long as the yogurt was full fat Greek yogurt.
And if you add some berries you will get the sweet kick you need.
I always have raspberries or strawberries in my yogurt.
If still not sweet enough then add a bit of honey.

It's not normal but I've never been a binge eater TBH.
And thank goodness I don't have a sweet tooth.

Chandon · 13/10/2014 15:03

(the relevance of DH being a teacher, is that he works with lots of women.) I think the DH teacher bit seems a bit random otherwise.

ChickenMe · 13/10/2014 15:08

I think the remedy for what looks like a sugar addiction would be a high protein breakfast (eggs are good. What about a ham omelette?). And don't scrimp on fat - fat is filling. So fry your omelette in butter, have cream in your coffee.
Secondly make your servings of grain-based carbs smaller. And lastly if you try a sugar detox you can beat the cravings. It's evil but it works.
I'm a fan of Marks Daily Apple website. Basically lots of info about blood sugar regulation and ideas for filling lower carb meals. Smile

hotfuzzra · 13/10/2014 15:10

stars Two things happened to make me see what I was doing and want to change it. Firstly I went on a summer holiday with my best friend. When we looked at pictures afterwards it looked as though I was about to eat her. She was slim (not super skinny, she had a bit of a tummy, but healthy) but next to her I looked massive. I had never realised/seen a full length photo/accepted that I had steadily been putting on weight for the previous 4 years.
Secondly I wanted to join the police and I was worried I would fail the fitness test, or they'd say I was too fat to join. I was definitely overweight, I think probably obese on the balance of probabilities but I didn't know my BMI then.
I made a real effort to lose it, a big burst over 6-12 months and gradual for another two years. Overall I lost over 4 stone. I found it simple once I had a good habit and I managed to stick to it, apart from occasional blips. I moved more and ate less, but luckily I had good reasons and I felt as though if I hadn't stuck at it I wouldn't get my job (which I don't think anyone else has that specific pressure to use as a driving force).
I know many people have lots of reasons for overeating and I don't judge why, but if you can find a reason to stop which is more important than the short term enjoyment of whatever you're eating, you should shift it.
Good luck.

Original poster
starsandguitars · 13/10/2014 15:14

Sensible advice my loves, thank you. Chandon, that made me smile, I presumed that's what you meant - other than him generally being sage of course!

I need to stop reading Weight Watchers magazine with a bag of toffees, promising myself I'll start tomorrow don't I?

OP posts:
StepAwayFromTheEcclesCakes · 13/10/2014 15:18

stars this is exactly the sort of thing I used to do and my weight crept up to almost 16stone too, I knew I was unhealthy and quite frankly bloody fat. It was impacting on my life and my self esteem. I finally gave myself a good talking to and decided to get some control over my revolting eating habits (whole pack of bacon in two sandwiches anyone) I dug out my slimming world books and went back to following them, I have lost almost 4 stone so far and have changed how I eat completely, now I just need to tackle my drinking Smile you know you are doing it so work on finding the will power to tackle it, make a plan to change and think forward to how much better you will feel, and the new clothes

hotfuzzra · 13/10/2014 15:21

I use 'my fitness pal'. I love it, it really helps me to keep track of what I'm eating. It also helps me to plot weight loss/gain so I can really see what I'm doing, plus adding any exercise helps.
With regards to going cold turkey/leaving a hole this is what I did.
I gave up crisps/savoury treats for a month. No chips. No nachos etc.
The next month I gave up any chocolate. But I was allowed occasional crisps if I felt it was within my daily calorie goal.
The next month I gave up and sweeties/cakes, but again was allowed occasional crisps and chocolate, again ONLY if it was still within my daily allowance.
One of the months I also gave up alcohol too.
By the time these three months were over I had really broken that cycle of craving. I had friends who were very healthy, they gave me simple tips like freezing grapes (end result, sweet little juicy thing like a boiled sweet) and snacking on them at work so you felt like you were eating/grazing but it isn't unhealthy. Four days a week I had a homemade wrap or salad with chicken or cheese, or egg, and some nice dressing, and a packet of those snack a jacks or nuts, and a load of fruit. Or day a week I had something else.
Dieting doesn't have to be boring food and no enjoyment, but I found it easier to keep a track of what was going in my gob, you can still have chips if you fancy it, but not every single day and not a whole tray of cakes.
Occasional treats are fine and normal.