Paleo Diet and Paleolithic Diet Questions & Answers

Question

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I don't know what's wrong with me. I know I'm not the only one who struggles with it, but I feel like I just can't control myself when I eat. It's either I start my morning knowing it's going to be a fast day and feel in control, or I eat food and a switch is turned on where I just want to munch munch munch all day. I hate it. Even on a ketogenic diet... it just makes me crave carbs more and then I end up eating wayyy too much again, hating myself for it, and fasting the next day. I'm trying to lose weight and I just don't know what to do. It's a horrible cycle. Fasting the next day is usually easy... as long as food doesn't touch my tastebuds, I'm fine. My relationship with food is just awful though. I've gone on 7, 10, and 14 day fasts before and have felt like those are the ONLY times where I ever feel in control of my eating habits, but once I start eating again, after a few days I start eating WAYY too much yet AGAIN. I've tried SO many times to have a consistent, balanced, menu but I end up overeating, hating myself, and fasting yet again. It's like a vicious cycle and I don't know what to do. Maybe I'm just an all or nothing person... and I should try to make alternate day fasting my permanent menu? are there alternate day fasters out there who have this problem too? :( I've gained 10 lbs from these binges over the last few weeks (more binges than fasting days), and I almost feel like giving up and just fasting for another week. I don't know what to do.

5"1, 125 lbs, 16 yrs old.

edited Sep 17 at 3:26

asked Sep 17 at 3:20

Amber
1,273●7●18

	why are you fasting to begin with? – Jeff Sep 17 at 4:05
	originally to lose weight, but now because I just keep overeating when I do eat, and I fast the next day to make up for it... – Amber Sep 17 at 4:13

Morgan · Answer 1 · 2012-09-17 04:17:04Z UTC

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Perhaps at 16, fasting should not be included in your paleo routine. I know you are an individual with the right to make your own choices, and I hate it when people discourage my choices. However, your body is in a very delicate metobolic state, almost like being pregnant or something. Your body needs caloric input all the time to complete your growth process, i.e finishing touches on your reproductive system, brain development, muscle strength, etc. Wait a little while on the fasting, because you could funk up your metabolism for your adulthood, trust me I had an eating disorder as a teen and really wrecked myself. Maybe add more fat to your diet, eat butter and avacados, bacon, etc.. it will curb your appetite and give your body what it needs, plus great hair, skin and nails.

answered Sep 17 at 4:17

Morgan
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Thank you very much for your input morgan! sigh I just don't know how to control myself if I don't fast:/ but okay thank you I will try it. But it's not even like I even have an appetite that needs curbing, I just get this feeling of "I want to eat" it's horrible :/ sigh thanks again though I will try that!! – Amber Sep 17 at 4:23

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paleohacks.com/questions/44128/… This is hopefully a link to a paleohacks discussion about someone with an eating disorder, I feel like the the top responder explaned things about fat helping with cravings very well. Additionally, I feel you, I'm an recovering binge eater for sure. Binging is usually a result of your bodies need for something it could be vitamin b or it could be iron thats why a prenatal vitamin rocks. PLUS, Big PLUS is according to your stats you are not overweight, your appetite is totally normal. – Morgan Sep 17 at 4:31

thank you a lot morgan. I feel like food has been taking over my life. and it sucks.so.much. I read some of the stories on there and they're inspiring. Anytime I feel like I want to binge, I'll eat some fat and see if it helps. I just hate myself for gaining 10 lbs b/c of this stupid problem. All my friends are sticks so it was hard enough being happy at 115. I really want to do a 10 day cleanse/fast for those 10 lbs I gained and then try adding more fat back into my diet when I break it? Do you think this is counter-productive ? :/ – Amber Sep 17 at 4:59

Yes, a ten day fast/ cleanse is going to drop the lbs no doubt, but as soon as you start to eat again you will get right back to where you were, and then some probably because of nutrient deprivation. Sorry, I wish it wasn't true, but with a young metabolism like yours and a still developing body a fast is just not going to work. I would just focus on eliminating wheat, grains, SUGAR, and dairy, while uping your intake of fat, protein, veggies and fruit, and eat them like there's no tomorrow and don't focus on weightloss. I know this is hard, – Morgan Sep 17 at 5:49

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Remember, your body is not a trophy or a piece of art to hang on a wall for others to enjoy, it is a machine that houses your heart and brain and soul, and why abuse it to make it "look" like a stick. Try some meditation and try to "feel" your body, your lungs, heart, muscles, its really a wonderful blessing. P.S as soon as I let go of making weightloss more important than health, I started losing weight, kinda funny huh? Hang in there girl:) – Morgan Sep 17 at 5:53

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Veganvspaleo · Answer 2 · 2012-09-17 06:32:53Z UTC

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I have read many articles that say fasting is not all that healthy for women. With that said I personally think fasting can be the beginning of an eating disorder without you even realizing it is happening. A lot of people think of bulimia as being the disease of those who throw up their food, but actually fasting or over exercising to cancel out something you eat is also technically bulimia if it becomes a habit. Stop it before it starts! Your body needs nutrition,and you may likely find that when you stop fasting you will actually eat less because you will not feel the urge to binge at the end of the fast. Also spreading out your calories allows your body to better burn them off. I have personally found thy eliminating tubers, dairy, all grains (including rice), or very sugary fruits can also reduce the urge to binge. It may take a couple days but reducing very carby foods and shockingly (to me) eating more fat can reduce the urge to binge.

edited Sep 17 at 6:32

answered Sep 17 at 6:24

Veganvspaleo
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+1, I totally agree! I know it is hard for young ladies to hear, but unless your weight is extreme or affecting your health, this isn't the time in your life to focus on it. It seems obvious and even a little funny looking back now, but I haven't forgotten how I cried when I went UP to a size 3. It didn't seem a bit funny then. – Varelse Sep 17 at 10:52

Thank you veganvspaleo, I think lately I've been trying to eat VLC exactly like you said... and it DOES suppress my appetite but then I always get this "unsatisfiable hunger"... I go for fruit and then once I have that fruit it's all down hill from there and I eat and eat and eat. But maybe like Morgan recommended I just need to eat more fat if I get that urge...? I'm going to try it thank you. In the past eating VLC like this though, it has made me very depressed. But if I DO eat carbs, I just can't stop, so I guess this is my only option :/ thank you. – Amber Sep 17 at 14:39

Amber, I personally include nuts and things like carrots to keep from going to low carb. I have also had the experience of being depressed when I go to low on carbs. With carrots I do cook them in some fat to allow my blood sugar to stay balanced. hope this helps! – Veganvspaleo Sep 17 at 15:23

That's my other problem... nuts. I can eat and eat and eat those too. When VLC it was the only thing that made me happy, but then again I'd eat too many, and get mad at myself. So I guess I have to stay away from those too (i've even tried to portion them with serving size portions but I start and can't stop). Carrots I was weary of for awhile too because of the sugar content (like fruit). I'm assuming it would be better for me to have an avocado or butter rather than carrots to avoid striking up that overeating urge again? Ugh it's all so hard. I will experiment. Thank you! – Amber Sep 17 at 16:13

bethaneyjayne · Answer 3 · 2012-09-17 04:16:51Z UTC

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"brain over binge" ebook. fantastic, I haved binged for over 10 years no matter what I do. This book has given me new thinking on the subject. I understand completely what it feels like, you are not alone!

answered Sep 17 at 4:16

bethaneyjayne
158●5

	wow. I will look into it!! thank you!! – Amber Sep 17 at 4:19
	I was about to post a comment recommending this book as well. Probably the best thing that you can read at this point. You will understand why fasting in order to make up for a binge will just make it worse. I bought this book as an ebook, read it in an hour, and then had 3 months of 0 binging. I was triggered by a recent health problem that was extremely stressful but this book always gets me back on track. I really hope it helps you... I wish I had read it when I was younger because I could have avoided a lot of the hell that binge eating has put me through. – EJH Sep 19 at 20:28
	yeah I wish I found it earlier too, its so nice to be able to move on from all that "Its because my mum was on a diet" or "I was picked on as a child" type crap and realize its something much more simple! I no longer link my low self esteem or anything like that to it, they're separate problems and seeing that has really helped my confidence too funnily enough! – bethaneyjayne Sep 19 at 22:01

MathGirl72 · Answer 4 · 2012-09-17 11:53:15Z UTC

Amber, are your parents aware of your disordered relationship with food? I am deeply concerned about a 16-year-old turning to complete strangers on the internet about such a serious issue. Looking at your history of questions, this is something that should really be taken up with a mental health professional that specializes in eating disorders.

You are still developing and your body requires nutrient dense foods. Starving yourself for extended periods will cause irreversible damage. Please, please, please have a frank conversation with your parents, a school counselor, your MD, a trusted relative, ANYONE that can help you.

VB · Answer 5 · 2012-09-17 18:30:40Z UTC

Those binges are most likely the result of those fasting periods. Please do not fast anymore till you get your binges under control. Actually, I would not even do any fasting period. I have fasted in the past and it was not a good experiment for me.
I have started binge eating after I went on a very restrictive diet (due to medical reasons). It took me a long long time to become binge free. I no longer binge.
The best way to get rid of binging behavior is prevention. Eat a diet very high in nutrients (not calories, but nutrients). For me personally it is Terry Wahls diet. Just imagine that your meals are your medicine and eat all that she prescribes (3 cups of green, 3 cups of color, 3 cups of sulfur-rich, liver, fermented foods, etc.) on a daily basis.
You binges will continue for a while. Do not try to stop them - just go with the flow and try to relax during the binge. After the binge try to calm down. The good part is IF YOU KEEP EATING NUTRIENT DENSE FOODS like kale, green leafy, sulfer-rich, fish, etc. they will become less and less frequent and then you won't have them anymore.
If you know your trigger foods (for me it is anything even remotely sweet, like fruit) - try to avoid them at all costs. I wear a bracelet on my right hand to remind me not to eat anything sweet. I still have sugar cravings once in a while, but they are less severe than my binges and I get so sick after eating anything sweet, it kills my cravings for a long long long time.
If it gets worse or out of control, seek help. Ask your doctor to refer you to an eating disorder clinic. I know at least two people who went through that and recovered. They also train your parents in those clinics - what to say, what not to say, etc. Good luck!

Colin · Answer 6 · 2012-09-17 04:56:23Z UTC

Losing weight is a lot like breathing if you hold your breath for long enough you will breathe in and take in more air than usual. 125 lbs sounds really healthy, and please don't be hard on your self try and focus on the good choices that you make and build from them. I like to keep things simple and just eat three square meals each day with some protein fat and carbohydrate if I feel like I need to lose weight I just tinker with my macros a little (more carbs to fat or vice versa). Good luck Amber I hope you figure it out!

Jade · Answer 7 · 2012-09-17 10:38:26Z UTC

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http://www.paleoforwomen.com/the-most-common-pattern-of-overeating-and-how-to-stop/

answered Sep 17 at 10:38

Jade
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Binge/Fasting Problem…

7 Answers