Weight-Loss Sliding

[ocd]

So I have been in and out of this forum on my weight loss journey. I went from 340 pounds down to a low of 155 pounds in the span of 12 months.

At this point I decided to make the transition to putting muscle back on, which I did put a little bit of on. Here is where things started to go wrong for me.

I posted about this before but basically I started getting serious cravings that were new to me, that I hadn't had in the year I was losing the weight. It was all of a sudden common for me to just go into autopilot mode and go eat half a dozen donuts in a sitting. Then of course the circle of beating myself up begins.

It's so damn embarrassing because I was so unbelievably positive, I still am when I am having a good day. So certain in having figured everything out but now here I am sliding backward. Not fast, but every day it's getting easier to just eat too much, and exercise too little. I can't seem to grab hold of my motivation again even though I know I have to and keep talking myself into it, it's getting harder to come back each time.

I haven't put on a lot of weight, I looked admittedly gaunt and terrible at 155 since I'm 6'2 and I've risen to about 175 with a combination of a little bit of muscle and probably more fat gain than I'd like. So all is not lost so to speak as far as putting weight back on, but it's the trend and the precedent that is killing me. I understand the logic behind emotional eating but I just can't figure out where this is coming from, because it happens on days when I am totally positive just like a snap change of mind and it's like a snowball effect first a little then a little more then a whole week of exercise is written off just like that.

My diet is primarily extremely low in fat, and I have a tendency to panic and eat really light after this happens, or exercise a lot combined with eating light to make up for it. Could it be that I am driving myself into a binge eating disorder by doing this? I just can't make up my mind if it's that and that i'm just not balancing my diet right yet or if it's just that I am a food addict and cheated my way out of it for a while by obsessing about a goal.

I thought it was exercising too close to a deficit, so I backed off exercising hard and tried maintenance for a few days now and still it's happening.

It's been getting progressively worse over the last three months, harder to shake off, more frequent, less positive days more negative days. I know I want and need to hold onto this success, but I feel so much like it's just squeezing through my fingers. It's the first time in a year when I have to admit as embarrassing as it is I don't know what to do for the first time in a long time. That was really tough for me to come out and say, especially since I was so unbelievably certain in myself along the way. It feels terrible to come here and complain like this, to not have the answers even when I was sure they were so simple before. Heck even when I know they *should * be simple now but for some reason my ability to use reason is shaken.

 

[soccerrox]

Hey! Wow 340 to 155? That's awesome!! I think maybe you r just now reacting to the loads of pressure u placed on yourself earlier to lose the weight in the 1st place and are feeling worn out physically and mentally to keep up your drive. Do you make sure to reward yourself every now and then w/ something not related to food? Maybe u can schedule massages to have something to look forward to. You mentioned not getting enough fat in your diet...maybe u can incorporate healthy fats like avocado or olives...something like that. Are you getting enough sleep these days? Also, have you tried meditation for stress management...just a suggestion. Don't be discouraged. You can do this!! Every meal, everything that touches your mouth, you have control over. Don't have hungry eyes! Listen to your stomach!! Remind yourself why u are doing this. Post "before" pictures up. List pros and cons on your bathroom mirror...Hasn't your bp improved, your cholesterol, your energy, your self-confidence? Why would you want to jeopardize that? Just remind yourself that you can eat again tomorrow...so why stuff yourself today? Don't worry...you are not too far from your goal now...don't give up! Remember that you are a FIGHTER! lol (I was gonna say warrior but don't think it has the same effect) =)

 

[ecky1]

I just wrote in my diary about how I generally eat natural foods but yesterday I had something that set off cravings in me all day and although I managed to make healthy choices I ate far to many of them. I finally had a bowl of oatmeal that left me satisfied after hours of cravings. Are you starting to eat more processed foods if so then try and avoid them for a few days and see if it helps?
Maybe starting a food journal would help.
I hope you get this sorted. I'm not too far off of goal weight and am terrified of this happening to me.

 

[ocd]

I just wrote in my diary about how I generally eat natural foods but yesterday I had something that set off cravings in me all day and although I managed to make healthy choices I ate far to many of them. I finally had a bowl of oatmeal that left me satisfied after hours of cravings. Are you starting to eat more processed foods if so then try and avoid them for a few days and see if it helps?
Maybe starting a food journal would help.
I hope you get this sorted. I'm not too far off of goal weight and am terrified of this happening to me.

Just the opposite, I have gone out of my way to cut all processed foods out of my life. I even started making home made lunch meat. I buy a lean roast, cook it up, slice it, freeze it in convenient packs and take them out to thaw when I need one. As far as oatmeal goes, I eat it every day, It's a big favorite.

I have to think the fats have something to do with it. The reason being, my strength and positivity is back this morning after yesterdays crash. I had a bunch of donuts and tons of fat through the day. It always seems to be this way, it gets really easy to be upbeat again afterward. As though my body is getting something it is missing out of taking in all that fat (vitamin absorption perhaps?).

I am going to resolve not to punish myself this time. My goal going forward is to take it easy for a week or two and just work on getting comfortable with maintenance calories and working in the right amounts of the right fats from things like flaxseed and olive oil. I started adding 100 calories of flax to my oatmeal in the morning, basically I am going to try to add some of those positive fats to every meal. I already take a multivitamin and have the whole time.

I think one of the problems is I started listening to the wrong advice too. People telling me I should just give in and treat myself with garbage food because I am too skinny anyway. I think at least for me I have to be vigilant to not let those trigger foods into my life period. I tried it both ways and I just don't think I can do moderation of junk food any more. I can't have the one piece of cake because it leads to the three pieces of cake, and in reality the one piece of cake is of no value to your body whatsoever.

As far as a non food reward the final pieces of that are arriving this morning. I just ordered myself all the parts for a brand new water cooled i7 980x system that I will be putting together today. So I'm excited about that.

Thank you for the motivational advice to those that replied. Hopefully this is the time I can keep my focus and start making the adjustment the right way. And hopefully I am on the right trail as to the source of the problem with the fats. Maybe it is a combination of both, improper nutrition as well as being too lax and giving in to things I shouldn't and bad advice. Either way what else can I do but keep working on it right? It's that or give up and give up doesn't sound good.

 

[summer123]

Maybe think of it as a blip- you haven't lost your motivation, you haven't given up, your just stuck and struggling. You can pull out of the rut and carry on, it happens to the best of us, doesn't mean your never going to be able to get back on track, its just a set back.

Maybe keep a diary, log what you eat, do this for a few days then see if you can work out certain times of the day you need more food, certain times of the day you don't feel like eating (which can lead to feeling ravenous a few hours later).

You know the drill, low GI, fresh fruit/veg, plenty of water, complex carbs, lean protein and good fats...etc its nothing you can't handle as I am sure your equipt with all the info you need on healthy eating. You just need to find a way to enforce a new structure and stick with it.

Remember though, its always hardest at the beginning, once you've gotten past the initial few days or weeks its some how easier to stick to as long as your motivation is still in tact!