I think i may have a problem with food.

[pam]

Sorry MOE, I just realized you already said that. I didn't see your post before I posted mine.

[MarginOfError]

Originally Posted by Shaunboulton

It has been going on for about a year and a half now and has got progressively worse.
It all started when i was introduced to the gym at work, in particular AB machines and since that point onwards i thought if i ate very little fatty foods and eat lots of fruits will make my abs stand out more.

This worked a little bit, but not properly, at the same time i was also doing the weights which made me eat alot, but all i ate was cereals, fruits, breads and fish. But little in fatty foods so i didnt put on weight even though i ate alot.

Then about a year later i went to the states and i returned back losing about 10 pounds in weight, and i was pretty happy about that. My weight dropped from around 144 pounds to 134 pounds.

Shortly after that is where the problems started, it was around christmas, we had a huge stock of junk food in for that period, and when it came to eating it, i hate huge amounts at a time, daily. I think i put on the 10 pounds in no time at all. Then i stopped eating junk food to lose the weight, and it worked a little...but then i got sick and lost more weight, and at the same time i went back to the states and lost another 9 pounds, so i was back to the 134 pounds mark.

Now its gotten worse, i have a eating routine where, monday to friday i dont eat big meals so im always so weak, tired and hungry...but i resist the hunger and it goes away. And then it gets to saturday and literally i will wake up early, go on long walks, while eating HEAVILY, like this saturday i ate in the space of 5 hours:-

5 snickers bars
8 chocolate bread rolls
2 chocolate twists
1 bacon sandwich
a plate full of chips
6 crumpets

But after it i get really guilty and walk for hours and hours, usually 5-7 hours that day.

This also happens on sundays but i find it easier to resist because i know we are not to go to the shops on the sabbath day.

Please could someone give me help and advice on this

Just because I think this link will get lost in the other conversation, I think you should talk to your doctor and check out LDS Addiction Recovery Programs in your area. These are probably your best bet.

[pam]

How long has this kind of diet been around. Relatively new? If new, they haven't had a chance to see what the long term affect is on your system. That's a risk I sure wouldn't want to take.

[FairChild]

I've done OA, but have just joined TOPS. I think I will like that better, becasue it focuses more on food and nutrition than the OA group I went to. I will let you know how the TOPS group turns out. I think it will help having support from others with the same goal I have. It is not very expensive. Good luck.

[pam]

My mom did TOPS for quite some time, gosh about 40 years ago. She did really well on it when she did it.

[FairChild]

I do think you are having some food related issuses. I am a bit concerned about how you are using food. I think you need some help concerning food, the nutrition aspect as well as the emotional portion.

Originally Posted by Shaunboulton

. . . Now its gotten worse, i have a eating routine where, monday to friday i dont eat big meals so im always so weak, tired and hungry...but i resist the hunger and it goes away. And then it gets to saturday and literally i will wake up early, go on long walks, while eating HEAVILY, like this saturday i ate in the space of 5 hours:-

5 snickers bars
8 chocolate bread rolls
2 chocolate twists
1 bacon sandwich
a plate full of chips
6 crumpets

But after it i get really guilty and walk for hours and hours, usually 5-7 hours that day.

This also happens on sundays but i find it easier to resist because i know we are not to go to the shops on the sabbath day.

Please could someone give me help and advice on this . . .

Shaun~~

The eating/exercise pattern you described above is clearly eating disorder behavior. Don't be embarrassed or ashamed . . . boys, girls, men and women all over the world struggle with these issues.

Here in the States, we have the National Eating Disorder Association. Their website is National Eating Disorders Association. (I hope the link works.)

This is not something to take lightly but help is available. You're in my prayers.

[livy111us]

Originally Posted by MarginOfError

This is exactly what doctors will tell you NOT to do. This is dangerous and could cost you your life.



You won't lose any weight on this diet because of the Hcg...you'll lose weight because you are only consuming 500 calories per day (the average person requires about 2,000). This is essentially starving yourself. The problem is, your body will literally eat your muscle to feed itself when you do this, and not just your fat. This is a stupid stupid stupid thing to do. I don't think I stressed that enough. This is a STUPID thing to do.

Do not do this to yourself. This is extremely unhealthy and no credible doctor would ever recommend this. The best way to lose weight is what physicians have been recommending for years: increase your activity and reduce your intake of calories. Healthy weight loss consists of 2-3 pounds per week. Any more and you risk doing damage to your digestive, muscular, skeletal, and endocrine systems.

Miracle diets and fad diets are almost never what they are made out to be. Eat a balanced diet (balanced can mean over 3-4 days, not necessarily every day) and get plenty of exercise and you'll find yourself losing weight and improving your health.

Never, ever, ever take a diet pill or medicinal treatment without the supervision of your physician.

I recommend you talk to your physician, and you may also want to check out an LDS Addiction Recovery Program in your area.

Thank you for your concern MOE. The HCG diet was created by a physician and is prescribed by physicians (I went the cheap route though). The 500 calorie a day IS starving yourself and will be the hardest part of the diet, but you do not go into "starvation mode". That is where the HCG comes in. It doesn't let you go into starvation mode, so your body is forced to get it's energy from stored fats. That is why you have such a significant weight loss.

As for the extra pills, they are FDA approved and only bind to the fat in your food. They are not energy pills, or contain any dangerous drug. They to can be prescribed by your Doctor.

[livy111us]

The product has been around for around 40 years I believe, but am not sure on how long it's been used as a diet product. So far, there have been no side effects, but who knows, Ephedra was "safe" for a while as well.

[Heavenguard]

Even if you would prefer not to see a doctor, you can get instead a trainer (at a/the gym) who will help you maximize your diet for your goals, or a nutritionist, a lifestyle counselor, or a sports medicine specialist, or naturopath.

It's not just about your weight. Your entire body needs to be well-balanced. You can't just cut calories and think you're doing your body a favour. You may be (probably) robbing yourself of important nutrients needed for your body to function as it should. And there's much more that you need than just what is on Nutrition Information labels. If your body isn't getting what it needs, even your metabolism will slow and be further detrimental to your weight loss/gain.

Eat small, balanced meals often - that is the BEST way to maintain your body. The best part is that healthy doesn't have to mean boring or gross. I had a barbecue with my friends last week, and it was probably the most delicious, yet healthiest barbecue I ever had. (Ie, not all heavy red meats.)

Chicken (havarti) cheese burgers with vegetable toppings
Spinach dip with flat bread
Grilled mussels topped with chopped tomatoes, cilantro, garlic, olive oil (this was so delicious)
Skewered shrimp with zucchini, peppers and mushrooms
Foil-wrapped baked potatoes
Try topping a salad with raspberry vinaigrette and real raspberries. That is so good.

You take yourself as a lover of food, but you're probably more actually a lover of eating. I used to enjoy eating the greasy and fattening foods with lots of heavy red meat when my metabolism could still keep up with it. But it slowed after I entered the 20s, and made me really disappointed that I couldn't eat like I used to. (My stomach just couldn't fit it all anymore.) And so, since then, I been eating lighter fare I find I enjoy much more delicious foods now, and no longer crave the unhealthy stuff. Change your menu a little, and you will find you will actually enjoy the food itself instead of just the act of eating. It's like doubling the enjoyment!