Beyond the Binge--APRIL

[peanutte]

Join us here for the month of April!

[daisymaiz]

Geez it seems like just yesterday I was saying I couldn't believe it was March already

[Sweetpea]

Count me in ---
I need a jump start - I just can not stay on track.
Need all the help I can get. I only have 2 pair of pants that
still fit and I REFUSE to buy new ones --- I have so many
smaller ---

[daisymaiz]

Sweetpeasgram!

I know what you mean, I have clothes in several sizes-I have packed the biggest ones away and I will not dig them out or buy more.

We CAN do it!!

[PhotoMama]

I fell behind again!

Well, this weekend went quite a bit better than last ... 145.something this morning. I keep thinking there's got to be a way to lose the weight faster but I know, the faster you lose the weight, the easier it is to gain it back. I've made myself a deadline though and right now ... I don't know that I'll make it. I want to be in a size 6 pant (med in shirts) by June 1. We've got a big summer planned and I want to look good. That's around 15 pounds (if not 20) in the next 2 months. Am I asking too much? In the past two weeks I've lost 5 pound so if I can at least keep this ... trend up, I can make it.


BTW, HELLO to all the new and/or returning "members".

[daisymaiz]

Even though I am doing well, I am very frustrated because CONSTANTLY today, I am having those thoughts-"it's only one more day, just start over tomorrow," "you're never going to make it through a holiday weekend anyway, just start over after that," "YOU WANT IT JUST DO IT," etc. Then I start to think things like, if I have to continually redirect myself every 10 minutes, is it even worth it? I know that YES, it is, but...grrrrr. I am going to make it through today, but WHY do I think like this. Even thinking of all the positives of staying on track doesn't help, and it should because the pros far outweigh the cons. OK sorry for the vent and thanks for listening.

It did not help my mood that I overcooked the chicken I was looking forward to. I still ate it, but it wasn't quite what I had in mind.

On a positive note, I have rediscovered the hard boiled egg! I don't care for eggs so I usually wouldn't even think of making them, but DD and I were dying Easter eggs and I just decided to eat one, I don't know why, I suppose just because it was there but it wasn't bad with some salt!! So that is an easy snack I should probably keep on hand!

[Samantha42]

Just marking my spot!

[Doggygirl]

Hi all. I hope I can join you in the April and get Beyond the Binge. I never really thought of myself as a binger, but I'm starting to see that I certainly am. I hope that by acknowledging this problem, I can begin to solve it.

I also recently quit smoking as I mentioned on a couple of those threads.

Anyway, I enjoyed reading Samantha's and Daisymaiz's journals. It's good to find people with problems in common, and a common determination to overcome. I too was successful on LC in the past, and let it go. I know what works for me. I just have to do it.

If you'll have me, I want to put some goals here in writing.

DG

[daisymaiz]

Of course we'll have you!!

Recognizing the problem is an important step, and I agree that finding people who GET IT is very helpful too.

Congrats on quitting smoking, I know that is difficult.

[PhotoMama]

"DG"!

Today ... I'd like to say I'm off to a good start BUT the reality is ... I haven't eaten anything. Part of me is saying "The hungry feeling you're having is you losing weight! DON'T EAT!" and the other part is saying "You know this isn't the way to lose weight. EAT SOMETHING!" I'm afraid if I eat something though, I'll keep eating. I don't know ...

I know I'll eat dinner tonight. DH won't let me NOT eat. I also know that if DH is around, I won't eat as much. It's just ... Do I try to make it to 5:00 or do I take my chances and eat something? I can't believe I'm actually SCARED of eating.

[daisymaiz]

Originally Posted by PhotoMama

That's around 15 pounds (if not 20) in the next 2 months. Am I asking too much? In the past two weeks I've lost 5 pound so if I can at least keep this ... trend up, I can make it.

I really don't know what is appropriate for weight goals, because any time I've said "I want to lose x pounds by x date," x date gets close and I realize I'm not going to make it, then I get upset, then usually I binge.

Personally I would just focus on doing your best every day, this will get you as close as possible to your goal by June, and then keep going from there. You will be much happier in June if you are getting closer to your goal than you will be if you have made no progress at all, even if it's not the full 15-20. KWIM?

[daisymaiz]

Originally Posted by PhotoMama

I know I'll eat dinner tonight. DH won't let me NOT eat. I also know that if DH is around, I won't eat as much. It's just ... Do I try to make it to 5:00 or do I take my chances and eat something? I can't believe I'm actually SCARED of eating.

Oh dear, I understand why you are scared, but if you're hungry I think you should eat something. Try to find some good protein/fat that will fill you up and not set off as many cravings.

I do not like to think about what would happen if I tried to go until 5 pm without eating!

[PhotoMama]

Daisy ~ I understand about the weight lose goal. I honestly think the whole number thing is stupid and it just drives people (mostly women) INSANE! Even kids are "getting bigger". Society focuses soooooo much on appearances/weight ... there's no getting away from it!

As for eating ... I took a pill that's supposed to help control appetite. I don't take them very often ... not 100% sure if it's good for me or not. I haven't read any reports that it's not but give it a few months ... you know? I've had this "30 day supply" for several months now. I'll force myself to eat something in 30 minutes. I haven't gone without ANY calories ... I've had my DP I'm just having "one of those days" where no matter what I do ... I'd going to question myself.

The GREAT news is ... for once, I'm not stressing over the dreaded $$. I think I'm starting to get the hang of this meal planning stuff. That there has helped TREMENDOUSLY! (FYI: We start our savings account for our down payment for a new house on Saturday. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A DOWN PAYMENT!)

[daisymaiz]

Originally Posted by PhotoMama

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A DOWN PAYMENT!)

How exciting!

I know what you mean about those days, I was having one of those yesterday.

What is the pill, if you don't mind me asking?

[PhotoMama]

It's called "Xenadrine EFX" ephedrine free. I only allow myself AT MOST one per day (directions say to take two thirty minutes before each meal - that's six per day!). A friend of mine takes it religiously (when she "needs to lose weight fast") and swears by it. So far, no health problems (been taking it on and off for almost 10 years) but as much as she takes it ... she doesn't eat at all. Anyway ... that's what I do and take. Let me know if you ever hear anything ... concerning about it.

[daisymaiz]

I actually took Xenadrine before-it did not affect my appetite at all, but I was able to maintain my weight while eating tons of junk that normally would have made me gain. I had a bad reaction to it once (dizziness, racing heart, etc.) but that is most likely because I took it immediately after bingeing and purging, which can have that effect anyway.

My DH took it (about 5 years ago, when he cared about his weight) and had a very bad reaction-said he felt like he was having a heart attack-but he is also on other meds and probably should have checked with his dr. first. Actually I used the rest of his bottle and then ended up buying several more-after lecturing him about how bad it could be for him, instead of throwing it out I started taking it

My biggest concern with that stuff is that it claims to speed up your metabolism, which is great for weight loss but not so great if you ever want to stop taking it and maintain your weight loss. Also there have been so many "diet" pills and products that have later been proven to be dangerous, especially if taken over long periods of time, these products just make me nervous.

I take other supplements though, and I do feel they are helping me, so who knows, they might not be any better

[PhotoMama]

You can tell when my friend is taking it ... she gets very hyper and can't sleep. That's why if I'm going to take it, I only take ONE and I take it in the morning. It seems to work on my appetite but that could only be because I want it to. Like I said, I haven't read any reports but I will take your experience into consideration ... did you take the full dose when you took it?

[daisymaiz]

Yes, I took 6 per day. I do agree that was too much.

I did notice that it gave me energy too.

My plan was to stop after the first bottle was gone, but I got AWFUL headaches, so I kept buying more, eventually I decided that I couldn't be wasting $$ like that (at 6 pills a day, one bottle was only lasting a couple weeks) since I knew a more natural way to lose weight.

[PhotoMama]

AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!

I just had someone out here to give me a quote on treating our little yard for fire ants. $275!!!! Anyone here ever had their yard treated? Is this a good price? I've never done this before so I don't know.

[Jammer]

Hey guys . . . I'm not a "regular" here, or even a regular poster, but I just wondered if you had any advice on talking to/not talking to the man in your life about your eating disorder. I've been through ten months of psychotherapy, but am wondering lately if I should start going back. . anyway, how do you let the man in your life know how he can be supportive, without having to deal with his own issues of not being able to "fix" you or not knowing what to say? Of course, at the same time, I recognize that when I am hurting, when I am frustrated, it hurts him, too, and he gets frustrated when I am unhappy with myself, or slip into a binge again, and he can't do anything to really make it better. I have to accept that my actions/feelings do affect his, since we love one another so deeply.

Seems men just will never understand that they help most just by listening, and that it's something that we will need to talk about again and again. . . that emotional support, not just for an eating disorder, is something that women need. I really am thinking about this, because I just may marry this guy, and while I do realize that I can't get all my emotional support from one person, I still need to be able to tell him the things that are going on in my life, in my heart, in my head, to have that true emotional intimacy that every good friendship and relationship and marriage should be based on.

Okay. . . any advice?

Thanks for letting me "drop in!"

[Samantha42]

Originally Posted by Doggygirl

Hi all. I hope I can join you in the April and get Beyond the Binge.

DG

Of course you can join! What kind of goals were you thinking about?

Photo-- 15 lbs in 2 months is definitely do-able if you stick to plan and really try to focus. Do you have a certain plan that you follow?

[PhotoMama]

Originally Posted by Samantha42

Photo-- 15 lbs in 2 months is definitely do-able if you stick to plan and really try to focus. Do you have a certain plan that you follow?

Yes and no ... right now I'm just trying to control snacking and eating out. I'm also trying to eat better ... cutting back on the fried food. So far, 5 pounds in two weeks just doing that. I know I need to do more. On the shopping list for this week, I have lots of fresh fruits and veggies. We'll see how that goes.

[peanutte]

Hi, Doggygirl, nice to see you here!

Jammer, that's a good question. I want to think about it for a while and not just shoot from the hip. Maybe I'll ask my BF what has helped him to understand my food issues.

[Pug]

I was reading about doing a water fast and i think it sounds really cool. I am just not sure i want to risk it. I have a history of binging issues and i don't think that a water fast would be ideal for me. I went all day today with just water to experiment and i have an enormous head ache. I also have a full time job and i don't think it would be something i should do while working. i guess i am tired of being this fat that i am looking for any plan that might work faster. lol at least i got a good amount of water today.

[PhotoMama]

Well, yesterday I thought ... well, I ended up snacking right before bed. I shared a bag of popcorn with DH; trying to eat slow so he'd eat the majority of it. This morning however, the scale was nice but the "Munchie Monster" is being TERRIBLE! Two pancakes and about 7 tater tots later ... I'm feeling guilty. I know it's not a lot and it could have been A LOT worse ... it's the way I feel that ... well, makes me feel so bad. KWIM?

I'm meeting a couple of the moms from my moms group at the mall today for pictures with the Easter Bunny and lunch. I'm thinking about packing a lunch for myself and the babies but I don't have anything to pack. I had to go buy lunch for DH this morning (I dropped him off at work, went to get lunch and dropped that off to him). So now I'm thinking that I'll order something and split it between the three of us (like a twelve piece chkn meal from Chick-fil-a). Yeah ... I think I'll do that.

My day is pretty full. I'm hoping all the running around we need to do will knock the babies out around nap time. They haven't been napping and it's really taking a toll on my attitude come 4:00. Mommy turns into a BIG MEANY! Anyway ... I'll try to check back in this afternoon. Don't leave me too far behind

[Doggygirl]

Hi everyone - thank you so much for the warm welcome! I've given some thought to my April goals, but first thought I would throw in my 2 cents on a couple of other topics.

Photo - CONGRATULATIONS on your budgeting success, and getting the downpayment going for your own house. You won't regret that!!

On the fire ant thing - I can relate as I am NO yard care / gardening expert - I'm "all thumbs" with that stuff. It is expensive though to pay people to do everything. Some things are easy enough and much cheaper to do yourself if you just find out what has to be done. I found a garden center near our house where I can go and ask for the owner. The owner knows what he's doing. He knows what products will work for which problems, and with dimensions can help figure out how much product I need, and he gives me idiot proof step by step instructions. His advice is free, accurate, and we save money that way. I do NOT trust the clerks at large - it's worth finding the owner, or someone with real experience and knowledge. If you decide to explore that, make sure to let them know about any pets who will be in your yard if you have any.

OK - for my April goals. I think one of the reasons I sometimes fail at things (i.e. regaining all my weight) is because I tend to get extreme. One extreme or the other. No middle ground. I think I need to find a nice, comfy middle ground with my eating.

So... For April, I do not plan to fanatically count and track every carb, calorie, gram of protein, etc. I know very well what LC foods work well for me, and what high carb foods and/or LC Frankenfoods do NOT work for me. So my #1 goal is to simply eat every day only those foods that are appropriate and healthy for my body and metabolism. My meals should consist mainly of meat/eggs and lots of veggies. Cheese, nuts, etc. in moderation but NOT with counting. (i.e. I know better than to eat 8 oz of cheese in one sitting. Just avoid extremes like that.)

Goal #2 is about meal skipping. I'm a notorious meal skipper which is a big part of what gets me in trouble. Many days I eat no breakfast, no lunch, then by 3 or 4 in the afternoon I am ravenous. I eat everything in site - including horrid junk food choices. It's like my mind leaves my body. Then of course I'm stuffed, and skip a healthy and balanced dinner. So the key to my success will be eating 3 meals a day. Breakfast is usually the hardest - it's like my tummy isn't awake yet. I need to make a protein shake at minimum if the thought of a cooked meal just isn't appealing.

Goal #3 - Keep my quit (smoking). I'm on Day 37. It's still a bit rough, but I know I can make it. I'm looking forward to being several months down the road where being an ex-smoker will be much easier than it is today. And HEY!! If I'm a few pounds lighter when that time arrives, that's icing on the cake!!

OK - that's my focus for April!! How about everyone else for specific goals?

DG