100+ Pounds to Lose Group

Could Emotional Eating be GOOD for me?

posted by manhattan on 7:08 am

I promise, this isn't an April Fools joke.

A few days ago, I posted a chart and my frustration that though I've been working very hard and eating well, I was still losing weight at a slow/nonexistant rate. It's been 6 weeks now, and I'm down MAYBE 5lbs on a good day. I'm thrilled with that, and I refuse to give up, but a little incentive might help.

I've been studying all my numbers, I'm a math geek. I know weight loss is not linear, but I want to find a trend. I think I'm moderate on most levels of nutrients, but I COULD have less sodium, less sugar (though it's 75% natural from fruits), more fiber and maybe less carbs, even though I'd say most are still whole grain or as close as I can come. (However, so many things say whole grain and the first ingredient is sugar followed by water...)

Regardless, just about three weeks ago, I lost 3lbs. I'm trying to look into detail what happened THEN, which is surprisingly, NOT healthy eating. I got sick, and had no appetite, for a couple of days I ate about 1300 calories, when I'm set to be at about 1650. Then, I got an emotional blow at work, went home, and soared over 2000 in potato chips and M&Ms. With a three day weekend, I got to go home to my parents where I counted perfect calories and drank more water and crystal light than I probably ever have since I had no real responsibilities than watching TV. I came back, had a smaller emotional day closer to 1800, and then got back on track.

It was when I came home from the weekend trip that I saw the significant weight loss. It's varied a pound or so up and down (but never lower than the original number) the past three weeks, TotM, water, cheat day all included in there.

But I'm wondering - could the more extreme up and down in my calories be the key for me? I wasn't ever a real crash dieter, I'd say "I'm going to starve today to lose weight!" and end up eating 3 bigmacs instead and telling myself I'd try again tomorrow, and of course never would. I don't have any medical issues like thyroid, and five years ago I was able to lose about 20lbs in 3 months by stupidly eating 1000 calories a day after a bad breakup. I've since gained that plus 20 more back.

I'm considering trying calorie cycling, and have been bugging the heck out of j3nn.net who has been a dear in giving me more information. I'm also going to drink more water once I get away from a reception job, which is hopefully sooner than later. I know I need to exercise more, and more than using my wii, especially since I sit on my but for 9 hours every day. My only concern with cycling is keeping things like sodium low on higher calorie days, and fiber high on low, etc - not resorting to chips and soda to "get those calories in" which is obviously counterproductive.

I am proud of myself that I have really made a lifestyle change, even with a couple of hiccups. I just want to see the results that go with it :-)

I'm 5'8", currently 210lbs. I changed my goal to 160 from 150. I'm a large/medium frame, and luckily overall proportioned, I mainly have a good chunk of my stomach that could be gone. I'm not trying to be thin with a six pack, but normal. My BMI is normal at 164, considering I am not a very muscular person. More information is in my profile, I am trying to be as candid as possible in order to succeed.

Thoughts?