Motivation and MFP

[NGC2017]

Hi all

After being really down on myself the other day after weighing myself I've decided something had to be done. I am the same weight I was when I was 9 months pregnant!! I'm not pregnant, my DS is nearly 5!
I'm at the top end of my BMI, maybe going slightly over the normal range. anyway for me is has been the lack of control I have had over my eating. I can be beyond greedy. Not eat all day then post 9pm I will binge eat anything even when I'm not hungry and yet still am thinking what I can eat next whilst my mouth is full of junk (why can't I binge on vegetables!!!).

I wouldn't be looked at as overweight but I feel it's a personal thing. Clothes are alot tighter, I have rolls and overhang and cellulite. My stomach is constantly bloated. And my face is so spotty. I took photos of myself yesterday so I can track my journey. I was gutted to be honest. I have always been quite small and I'm literally spreading sideways. My saddlebags are hideous 😔

I have a holiday with my little boy in August so I am working towards that.

I am 3 days in and by using MFP I have kept within my calories of 1300 a day. This may seem minor but for me it's a big deal, as I don't remember when i last didn't binge eat. It's also made me feel in control of things and I am proud I've kept to it so far. Again for me it's a big thing. I know I've been unhappy for a long time yet I've had no motivation to do an and simply had the attitude 'I can try again tomorrow'. At the moment I feel like I don't want to sabotage anything because I do care. I am already feeling positive mentally.

At this early stage I am not cutting anything out. Initially its about me cutting the calories, however I have found its massively reduced the rubbish I'm eating. I'm actually enjoying the biscuit rather than feeling sick after gorging on the pack!

How soon after cutting the calories should I look at trying to cut out the junk?
I don't want to feel like I am not allowed to enjoy anything as this way I won't feel like I am dieting.

Any advice or anyone wanting to join is welcome xx

Hi
I know exactly how you feel hun! Bigger now than I have ever been even throughout my pregnancy it makes me so depressed and don't want to leave my house. Well done on keeping to your calorie goal! I've just set up mfp ready to 're start my diet tomorrow!!
I'm also looking to lose weight by my birthday in August so would love to join you on your weight loss journey .
My starting weight is 14st 9lbs and hoping to be down to atleast 11st.

Welcome hun :-)

I am 10 stone 3lbs. I'd be happy with a 7lbs loss to be honest but ideally like to get to 8 stone 10lbs.
I hope no one sees that and thinks I am abit pathetic as I dont have much to lose, which I know I haven't. But as I have always said its more how its affecting my confidence and self worth. My binging is out of control. Easily 2500 - 3000 calories a night. I honestly dont know how I am not bigger than I am, but I have to break the cycle as things will eventually spiral. I have always been quite small. At 9 months pregnant I was around 10 stone and my baby weight dropped off within days. I dont know if I am eating out of comfort or boredom or if I am content with the little life I have built for me and my son. I suffered with eating disorders when I was a teen into my early twenties. It was important to me that my son enjoys food rather than tells himself he cant have it. The difference with him is, he can say no to things, whereas I cant. And once I start I cant stop :-(

Last night I was on track, then at 9.30pm. I felt like it wouldn't hurt me having a little something. I ate a Cadbury Caramel Egg. And I didn't really enjoy it. I dont regret it as it only too me over my daily calorie intake by 100, and it is well within my usual nightly binge of upto 3000, but I became so bloated and uncomfortable. In fact my tummy is still hurting now. I haven't felt that since cutting back and not eating after 8pm. It is also one of the many reasons I want to get back in control. I constantly feel shit. Both mentally and physically. My constant bloating makes my anxiety peak, when really I should be being more accountable and looking into what and how I am eating before thinking the worst. Losing the rolls and being able to look feminine in nice pretty clothes again is just a bonus in this process. I tend to him behind leggings and oversized hoodies. People must see me and think has she got anything else in her wardrobe!.

Today I need to be more mindful of what I am eating. Apart from salad for dinner, I just picked a little things throughout the day. This early on I am not going to worry too much about that as the biggest thing for me is trying to bring the binge eating under control x

I thought I'd check back in tonight. Hoping to keep myself motivated by doing so but i have struggled tonight. I suppose after nightly binges for years at some point cutting back was going to get to me.
I can't stop think about food. Ive had a good day and a delicious chicken salad for dinner but since about 7pm I've spent it upstairs keeping myself away from the kitchen! I popped downstairs to take the washing to the machine and ate 5 ritz crackers so I'm pretty happy about that considering. But yeh it's been harder this evening, but I've made it.
Time to sleep x

Hia hun, It's not pathetic at all! It's how you feel about yourself that matters, even when I was thin a few years ago I felt fat and looking back at pictures now I must have been mad! aww glad you have stuck to your healthy eating I had chicken wraps for dinner followed by a walk with my dog so was feeling pretty good but then sat down with a cup of tea and custard creams only had 4 though instead of nearly a whole packet so it's progress lol. I also live in leggings but refuse to buy new clothes til I've lost some weight! Will check it tomorrow xx

@Gemma0893 well done hun. I really should be making the effort to exercise more. Hopefully that will come in time.
I had love heart eyes at the thought of dunking biscuits in a coffee lol.
At the moment I have purposely not cut anything out. For me, I become obsessive over it and crave it more when its forbidden.
Not going to lie though, today I could already eat a horse, but I also know I really arent that hungry, so I need to work on why i feel i could eat so much. It was bound to get tough at some point though so hopefully I will ride it out x

If you want some inspiration and reassurance MFP works, I have lost a stone using it since January. I have been pretty strict about 1200 a day (not adding back steps but I do exercise a few times a week and add that back- never used to MFP gave me that motivation). I often have friday or saturday where I go out for dinner and/or drinks and go over my allowance, but then just try and do some exercise the next few days or make up for it a bit. Haven't been too obsessive though and have enjoyed myself.
For me MFP works as you can still eat what you like, just in moderation. It teaches you healthy habits and you soon learn what kind of portions you can have.
It has literally changed my life as I used to binge eat and eat my feelings. I also had no concept of what calories were in different foods.
For me, the number system and control works. It is like have £1200 to spend every day and it is up to me to work out how I want to spend it. I can then earn more by exercising and in return get the reward of more £ (food!).

Thanks for that. I agree I do feel it will work. I love the money theory.
But I do have some bad news....
Day 5 of doing really well and Ive binged. I want to cry. I did feel hungry to be fair but I've ate ridiculous. Sweet stuff.
It's no where near a typical binge and for the first time in years I actually felt my stomach was feeling full yet I continued. But I haven't had that noticable, 'I'm feeling full' feeling in years.
But overall I do feel really shit that I've done it 😔💔

@SaltyDogs sorry I forgot to mention your 1 stone weight loss. That's incredible. Did you at any point find it hard?
My nightly binging has gone on for so long now. Its making me miserable

I'm in a similar boat, weight gain wise and I'm using MFP too (1200 Cal's). I also follow several fitness gurus on Instagram and their mantra is ' nothing is out of bounds' I try to eat a very healthy lunch, chicken, veg and houmous ( all weighed, no cheating) and save treats for my known craving times. For me it's at 2-3pm.
I also try to limit the crap I have.
I like natural yoghurt and frozen berries, you can have a decent portion for 100 Cal's.
I also drink water in pints, particularly at my big craving time.
I'm also trying to change routines to avoid being near food at my times of weakness.
You can do this! Good luck

Just wanted to say hello and add a bit of solidarity.

I started using MFP in January and have lost a stone since. I have set my calories to 1200, and probably go over about 50% of the time, but not by too much.

My BMI is currently 22.1, but I would like to lose another half-kilo and keep it off!

MFP really works, but I feel your pain in trying to keep away from the kitchen!

I also do the nightly snacking, especially if I'm working into the night. I find the only way not to do this is not to have the food in the house, so running down the last stocks of peanuts etc. and will try not to buy them again.

More positive results using MFP.
I have a little boy so I reach for his treats. I've felt so uplifted these last few days going to sleep having not binged. But tonight I've actually cried. As I feel I'm back at square one and like I will never be able to break it. My stomach is currently in agony. I feel sick. I'm so deflated. I'm so annoyed at myself

I lost a few kg with MFP last year, then totally lost motivation.

I’ve been using Noom for the last 6 weeks, have lost a couple of kg, but although it’s not cheap it’s a course which gives an insight into the psychology and physiology of overeating and tips on how to overcome these issues. I can see me using what I’ve learnt for the rest of my life.

@NGC2017 yes certainly hard at times. For me it has been as time has gone on not to sneak calories in (a handful of grapes, a 'treat' biscuit at work) and not log them thinking 'it is my treat' or 'it won't make a difference anyway'. I also went through a phase of being obsessed with the scale - getting really high or low depending on a loss or gain. Another challenge is I have now had almost two weeks of plateau. I think it is a combination of things - possibly even muscle gain but also probably not being as controlled as I was. Mainly a few too many 'cheat days' where I have gone away for the weekend with others cooking and so been 'out of control' of my calories. I find when I am being entertained for by others I have to say yes and find it very hard to limit myself on these days. It can then lead to me deciding it is a 'fuck it' weekend and I'll start again on Monday. Forcing myself to log these days and then do what I can to compensate back after helps a bit. So many other hard times but I won't go on... Something more positive:

Things that have helped are...

• Having snacks I like and saving calories for them. I love a snack when I get home from work so always save 50-100 calories for this time. I still buy things I love. I had 5 mini eggs and a marshmallow today after dinner with some of my exercise calories. I also have discovered low calorie salted caramel ice cream, chocolate rice cakes, marshmallows and lots of other great low cal snacks which I'd love whether low cal or not.
• Pre-logging things. As soon as I've done the food shop for the week I put in all my meals on MFP. I always have the same breakfast, so then I know what is left is for lunch and snacks. I can then spot days where exercise will help me be able to eat what I want. E.g. had ribs and chips for dinner on Sunday so I went for a swim during the day to add more calories.
• Seeing the big picture. yes there are huge fluctuations on my weight graph app but overall it is a downwards trend. I remember it has been working so far so if I have had a gain, just keep going and a loss will come. I have achieved a lot over the long term even if on shorter time scales I can feel defeated or like it is slow progress.
• Keeping it in perspective. I feel huge guilt after binge weekends etc. I have to remember I am allowed this, I have lost a stone despite all the times I haven't stuck to 1200 so I will continue to lose even if there are times I just enjoy myself. Time off can then inspire me to get back on it on Monday morning.
• Changes in my body - smaller clothes size fitting, more toned, less thigh flab
• Changes in my health - feel fitter, asthma more under control, less colds and illnesses, IBS symptoms gone (probably were just from over eating!)

sorry for the late reply. Thanks for all your responses.

I was back on track yesterday. Ive decided to stop beating myself up if I do slip up. Just do my best and hope i feel improvements.

A big reason for this, for me is to feel better. My IBS and skin have been horrendous for months. I have already noticed when I eat better, I feel much better and less bloated

Evening all. I hope you are all OK.

So my next thing is, I've been doing this watching my calories for a little over a week now. I've had one binge but otherwise done really well, finishing each day with a few hundred calories remaining.
Tonight I've cooked a bolognese which MFP has roughly worked out the calories for. I was on track today and then around 5pm I just thought 'you know what I'm going to enjoy our dinner and not worry about the calories involved'. I went into our (mine and my DS) dinner accepting I would be over today's allowance but that was ok. Luckily I didn't overeat, however the portion was bigger than I have been used to over the last week. I really enjoyed it, but within 10 minutes my tummy was agony and still is.
Does anyone else get this and could it be that I've ate more than I can handle. I feel awful :-(

Hi NGC2017,

It could be that you've eaten more than you're used to, but I'm not sure - if it's agony, worth checking with a doctor? Would Gaviscon or anything help? I don't get stomach pains from eating bigger portions, but I'm naturally quite greedy .

I've done about 80 days continuously on MFP now, and it is not too bad. I am not cutting anything out in terms of food and drink. It's harder if I'm eating out, but I'm not as strict as I was in the early days. Have reached something of a plateau, with about 1 kg to go before I reach my target weight. I think if I went back to being strict, it would probably drop off quite quickly.

Hiya.
I'm in with my GP in a week's time so I will mention it then. After a few hours it did subside but it was bad.

Congratulations at nearly being at your goal now. That must feel great.

I'm finding MFP really helpful. I'm purposely choosing not to cut out foods I enjoy that would be considered bad. I think I would be asking for trouble if I did that. All but two days I have been within my calorie goal. One of those was a binge and another I accepted I was going to go over (maybe that made me not overeat and take advantage if you get me). But I am finding MFP really good in helping me understand the calorie content of foods. It's only when you see it being logged you start to realise what you are actually eating in one go/a day! It's also making me more accountable for what I am consuming which I really wanted, as I kept brushing how I felt and how I ate under the carpet telling myself tomorrow I can start again, but I never did. Now I feel like I am working towards something and get a satisfaction out of achieving each day and not binging.
I am 8lbs down but so early in I am expecting that to be water weight. Weight loss was a little part for me though overall. I am already feeling happier and proud of myself that binging in not controlling my thoughts every night

I clearly don't get weight loss. I'm keeping to my calorie allowance and I'm just stuck. I'm starting to feel starving at night too but I'm still sticking to my allowance. I'm happy all the same. Probably just moaning as I'm so hungry by night but not seeing anything to show for it 😂😂
Sorry suppose I'm just being silly

Still stuck at the same weight despite sticking to 1380 calories a day. What give

A plateau? I get them sometimes... Nothing happens for a couple of weeks and then I start losing weight again.

I also gain some weight depending on where i am in my cycle, or at least I'm going that's what the recent 2lb weight gain is!

I seem to become ravenous around when I'm due lol.
Well he last two days I've ate abit silly. No where near what I would used to eat but still considered a binge.
I'm been struggling with my bowel movements, TMI sorry. I can't work out if it's related to restricting my calories but I am doubtful as I havent changed my diet just reduced the volume I was eating. Its giving me anxiety now and the doctor has referred me for investigations. Reducing calories wouldn't stop me going would it?