Eating in moderation

extreme2

New member
I joined this WLF, about a week ago, but never got to posting anything. Just been reading what others have to say. I am 5'3 and about 130 pounds. I am very aware and knowledgeable about health and diet, but of course, not constantly practicing the eating part. For me however, it's not the exercising part that's hard, but the controlling my eating in moderation. And I feel I need to lose about another 10 pounds. I am engaged and will be getting married next August 2008. I already have my dress, and it is very fitted from top to bottom. Therefore, I need to maintain my weight, and want to lose about 10 pounds and inches around the waist for the big day.

Anyways, I just wanted to let everyone on this forum know that I think it's awesome that there are so many people aware and wanting to take better care of their health. Also, that no matter what size a person is, that it is very common for people to be obsessed and worried about how they look. I know I'm not overweight, but I am still constantly worried of becoming fat or gaining weight. Sometimes, I think the skinnier you get or are, the fatter you think you are. Anyways, I have had my fluctuations in weight. Never obese, but started to rack on the pounds, gaining 10 pounds (140 pounds), losing it (130 pounds), then gaining it back (140 pounds) and this was while I trained and ran the marathon......It was very depressing to work out that much and gain back my weight after I had lost it. And no it was NOT muscle gain, it was because I was pigging out after my long runs, eating waaay to much, more than I would burn, even if I ran about 40-50 miles per week. It's because of the fact, that I let myself think that I "deserved" to eat lots and whatever I wanted because I'd trained so hard. WRONG IDEA!! I was basically abusing my body, where I was running too much and eating too much. No balance. That's where I also learned that moderation is KEY!!! And once I started spilling over my jeans and having hard time fitting in them again, thats when I changed my lifestyle, to trying real hard to keep everything balanced. I realized that burning 1000 calories working out would take about 1 hour and 40 minutes of vigorous running, whereas eating 1000 calories can be done in 10 minutes. So, I continued running religiously, watching my portions, counting my calories and keeping diet diary. I had again lost the 10 pounds.

so, That's where my name extreme comes to play. I'm such an extreme person, where if I work out, I work out hard core, when I eat badly, it's not kinda bad but real bad and lots. However, when I eat well, I do real well. Anyways, I've learned that losing weight is hard, but the harder part is maintaining the weight you've lost. Because dieting or eating good for that short period is easy. It's continuously doing so that kills me.

Running got me bored, so my fiance got me to join the gym. It was great, because it was such a change and gave me a boost in my working out. But, like I said, I've never had a problem exercising, it is definitely my eating. My issue is overeating when I'm at home bored on the weekends. I'd be able to reach my goal weight, if I wouldn't screw up on the weekends and when bored. It's like as soon as the weekend comes, my brain automatically assumes to let loose and pig out. However, I am very strict and have such good control on the weekdays. I think it's because I'm so busy with work, go straight to the gym, or run outside, that I don't have as much time to snack and overeat, doing the whole 5-6 mini-meals, and working out. Does anyone have any suggestions/tips for eating in moderation when at home and bored on the weekends, to not eat when NOT hungry? The weekdays, I'll consume about 1300 calories, however on the weekends, I not only have one cheat day, but all three, fri, sat, sundays, I eat bad and lots...like 2000 calories, and most likely 3000 calories one of three days for sure. Cancelling out the great days I encounter during the workweek.
 
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I agree moderation is the key. I'm a firm believer that a little bit of what you fancy does you good. I now allow myself to have a little of what I fancy on most days but I agree with you that keeping that little bit 'truly little' is the hard part.

Yes, weight loss is hard and in today's overly image conscious society it is even harder. I believe we must make peace with ourselves even when we feel a little pudgy. We can be so hard on ourselves as we try to strive for media driven images of perfection. Ultimately I think we have to chose eating and exercise habits that we can live with.

Personally I find it easier to lose weight and MAINTAIN that weight loss only when I am not too hard on myself. Ironically when I try to lose weight by being really strict on myself I always end up giving up and then putting all the weight back on.

As for the boredom, the only antidote I know to this is to make a list of all the things you enjoy doing and make sure to occupy yourself with as much of that at the weekends as possible.

For me the internet is my favourite anti-boredom tool. Coming to this forum is part of my anti-boredom and anti-overeating strategy...I love writing and speaking to people and this forum allows me to do both.

I hope some of what I've said has been useful.

Good luck and I hope to see you again on another thread saying how well you are doing and that boredom is now a thing of the past.

see ya
 
:) Thanks so much for your kind words and advice. I agree with everything fully!!

you bring up very good points. accepting and loving yourself is so important. something I am totally trying to work on and not be so hard on myself. the beauty is in the eye of the beholder, right?

I will try these things this weekend!! Focus, focus, focus! Yup, this forum really does help keep occupy yourself and you gain so much from being on it.

have a great week!!! your post represents your name very well.
 
It sounds like you know just what to do. It's just that maintaining your vigilance in portion control over the long term is really hard.

If you are overeating when you are home alone, you could try not bringing anything into the house that you would feel bad eating. Having healthy snacks available might help or splitting your meals up to 4 or 6 to maintain a more consistent blood sugar level might help.

If you are bored at home you need more to do! My Grandmother used to say when I complained of being bored, "You are not bored, you are boring! Find something you are interested in and DO it" Kinda harsh in retrospect but true.

But really, you sound like you are on the right track- you workout allot and you do deserve to have a reward, you deserve to eat correctly to maintain optimal health!

David C
 
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If you are bored at home you need more to do! My Grandmother used to say when I complained of being bored, "You are not bored, you are boring! Find something you are interested in and DO it" Kinda harsh in retrospect but true.

But really, you sound like you are on the right track- you workout allot and you do deserve to have a reward, you deserve to eat correctly to maintain optimal health!

David C

Thanks David. Your grandma is absolutely right. Eating because I'm bored, is pretty much an excuse to eat when not hungry. I've realized in this past week, that I need to make lists of what I love to do, or things I need to do, and just do it. Already started, cause I've made a tee time for Saturday. Golf...something I love to do, but haven't gone for so long.

I use to reward myself, after working out by eating junk food, sweets. I'd run long and hard, and have a decadent cheesecake, because that was my idea of a reward for exercising, but that so contradicts itself, you're so right on the mark....i need to reward myself with other things besides food, like getting a pedicure, or going shopping, while eating healthy to achieve my goals regarding my weight.

It's all about training the brain rather the tummy:jump: !! he he.

i've been good all week. and, it's friday, i'm ready to conquer.
 
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