I have to try something new. I have gained 10 pounds in the last year and cannot seem to lose any weight (not that I am making a real effort). So I am breaking down this problem and finding a solution like a reasonable person instead of beating myself up internally until I feel like shit (like I normally would do).
Reasons for weight gain:
1. The BF and I started spending more time together and during those times I eat like he eats (that is a 6″2 former offensive lineman)
2. I am not in therapy or doing anything to actively stop and help my emotional eating issues
3. I am constantly reading foodie blogs and thinking about food
4. I eat when I am not hungry all the time – for a number of reasons > stress, boredom, tired, lonely, frustrated, you get the idea…
5. I have a horrible “nighttime snacking” habit and easily add 200 to 500 calories to my total after dinner each day
The Solution of my problem requires:
1. That I not feel like deprived so I don’t end up in a horrible binge/restrict cycle (which I have a history of).
2. That I can still live a normal life of eating with the BF (just not matching him bite for bite)
3. That I eat about 1600 cals a day during weight loss phase
4. That I am not always thinking about food/the next time I am going to eat
5. deal with my emotional eating triggers in a way that is not eating.
6. don’t eat so much – in quantity or frequency (yeah, this should be obvious)
I don’t want to do anything dramatic, I want to make reasonable and “do-able” life style changes so I don’t have to deal with this problem for the rest of my life. Since my problem also involves emotional eating, this is more complicated than just making a meal plan.
The Plan –
1. I am going to try eating ONLY 4 times a day. I know that sounds weird, but recently Kath mentioned it on her blog and it totally hit me like a ton of bricks. I need to do this! I am constantly eating or thinking about eating. It is an escape from my life and it’s not healthy or productive.
2. Those 4 times a day are: Breakfast, Lunch, PM snack and Dinner
(I was thinking about just 3 times a day like Fit From Within suggests, but I normally don’t eat dinner until about 7is, so 12pm to 7pm is way too long for me to go without eating.) I actually haven’t even read the book, but the excerpt I read on Kath’s site has me convinced that I have to. Outside of that NOTHING should be eaten.
3. I need to make sure the meals I am eating are filling, satisfying and around 400 to 500 calories.
I am actually never hungry for dinner because I always have an afternoon snack and take it too far. I think I need to get something that is individually packaged and just enough cals to keep me from coming home starving, but not so much that I am not hungry for dinner. What do you ladies suggest for this? I was kinda thinking Z bars or something like that.
Now, after writing all that I don’t even want to describe my eats… greek yogurt with pumpkin butter and a little granoly – amazing.
Oatmeal when I got to work
Lunch – LC panini, salad
Vita Top and tea 🙂 I also had a fun size chocolate bar for no reason other than they were there:(
It was an okay day up until this point and then I totally let it all go to hell. So,I grabbed some of these…
and the last of the ww pumpkin cc cookies…
and a 100 cal pack. I don’t know why I kept taking pics of all this crap. I figured I wasn’t going to post it anyways. I have no shame. At least I’m honest right? Anyways, I guess I’m posting all of this because I am sick of it and need to stop and I need to hold myself accountable, which is the point of the blog in the first place right.
Well, all is not lost – sorry for the downer post, but I actually have some exciting news I will post tomorrow.
I think so MANY of us have emotional eating habits! (And I way sympathize.) Structure House certainly addresses this, brilliantly, I might add. This book keeps it real with just sensible logic — and you wonder why you didn’t think of this yourself! It outlines realistic, ahievable and simple steps to long-term weight loss, including ways to help you get up when you stumble.
If I could say anything, I’d say that this book helps you become empowered. You learn what to do and how to do it.
Michelle – thanks, I think I have a pretty good plan of attack.
Anna – thanks, I am starting fresh! I need to 🙂
Wholefoodswholeme – I’m glad you can relate. It’s so frustrating when you feel you’re the only one who feels a certain way.
Arielle – yeah, what’s up with that? Everytime I say I am not going to do something I want to do it more. This even happens with boys, I said to myself that I am not going to call the BF today because he is being weird and now all I want to do is call him. Whatever brain!
I do think you’re probably right about over-thinking it/thinking about food too much. Whenever I try to tell myself that I’m having too many snacks or I need to cut back on sugar, I always end up eating more.
i can totally relate – i’ve grown up in a family passionate about food, and it’s always been a big part of my life so i think about food a lot! and i also have a boyfriend who likes to cook rich food…. i’m so glad to see you’re thinking it about it very rationally, because as you say, going extreme always backfires and never leads to anything good. good luck!
don’t worry to much about the bad things that you ate today
you can start fresh tomorrow !
good luck with that i’m also trying but it’s hard but worth it 🙂
by: anna
Hi! Don’t worry…I seem to be having the same problems right now. I cannot help my late night snacking. Sounds like you have a great plan! Good luck!