Finally! A good day.

[La Dauphine]

I've been trying to drastically cut back my caloric intake a few nights/week around dinner time. There's no need to be consuming 750 calories+ from a meal at 8 PM when I'll be burning no energy for the rest of the night, you know? Anyway, it's been difficult because my fiance is a big eater with a metabolism people should study and clone so even though I can have a light meal or fast, he can't. Then I feel guilty not cooking for him as he works much longer and harder than I do, but I've been working very hard to do things for myself more and it's not like he can't whip up something himself! I don't plan not to cook every night (I actually like cooking), but I have to do this for me! Anyway, yesterday, I managed to just have some fruit and crackers with peanut butter. Healthy. Nutritious. Light. I felt great. I even had a soccer game so I know I was finally in the negative for calories!

 

[Ebaz]

La Dauphine,

Your posts concern me. I posted in another thread that you had commented on regarding BMR (Basal Metabolic Rate) Which is the amount of calories that your body burns at complete rest, just by existing day-to-day. In addition to that, your body does need fuel to operate. You don't want to go drastically the other direction (Like say eating 300-500 calories a day and burning the same amount). This can make you sick, weak, and won't help you in the long run of losing weight. You actually do burn calories while you sleep. That is why people often suggest getting a full 8 hours of good rest a night when dieting. This helps your metabolism tremendously, and your BMR will increase, which means you can burn more calories by doing less.

I don't mean to scold you, I am very happy that you are feeling positive and proud of yourself! Those are good things.
I just see a tendency in you that is concerning. I was bulimic for a good portion of my young teen years and they started with thought processes similar to what you are referring to in your posts. Bulimia led me to health issues, and lots of uncomfortable counseling and doctor visits. Save yourself that kind of grief, and go about weight loss in as healthy a manner as you can!

Side note: Often times when you restrict calories THAT much, you can end up really holding the weight or even gaining. Because your body goes,....wait a minute whats going on? and holds on very tightly to the fat. Think of it like smoking maybe. It is easier to give yourself a little bit here and there which soothes your body and makes letting go of the addiction seemless and easier. If you just quit cold turkey, your body won't have it and will make sure it reminds you how much it hurts.

Have you seen a nutritionist? They might be able to come with a diet plan that is regular and will help you lose weight, but keep you healthy as well.

 

[La Dauphine]

Thanks for your concern! I think it's really misplaced, though. I don't intend to eat a light dinner once or maybe twice. I intend to make a lifestyle choice out of it. The only way to lose weight AND keep it off (not to mention avoid binge eating) is to make it a lifestyle, not a diet. I eat too many calories/day and I want to get in a routine of lowering my caloric intake. Consuming a full dinner between 8-9 and then just sitting on the couch is not healthy. I'm trying to eat nothing after 7.
Also, I don't want to get stuck with that mentality of BMR. I think people use that an excuse to over eat. If you have a fast metabolism (or high BMR) you KNOW it. I don't so I need to compensate by lowering my caloric intake. I get enough exercise, it's what I'm putting in my mouth that needs controlling. I just see this approach as toxic. Kind of like "I'll burn that off later..." No. You probably won't so don't eat it in the first place. To "trick" yourself into thinking you'll burrn it off later is the main reason people gain weight.
Weight loss is more about what you eat than what you do.

 

[La Dauphine]

I have started a program called Total Body Reboot, and it's all about making peace with food. It's 4 months long and just a couple weeks in I am already getting out of the calorie counting and food weighing and just starting to understand what my body needs. I have spent too many nights on My Fitness Pal checking calorie deficit and am starting to feel free.

Thanks for suggestion! I think it's so important to have a healthy relationship with food. I mean, we DO need it to survive. I'll never stop counting calories, though... I just think that's too dangerous. That's how I maintain a peaceful relationship with food: I know what's in it so I won't let it fool me and I never allow for the "Darn, I didn't know it had that many calories in it," excuse. I'm practiced enough now that I have a good idea what's in most things. I think as long as we're aware, everything will work out.

 

[balletmom42]

Leigh Kay: I would love to hear more about the Total Body Reboot!