Sigh. Ever feel like it's just ... kinda hard living like this? (beware, whining thr

[Night Fly]

They have a saying in AA: Progress not perfection. Maybe if you focus on your progress, and not so much on your slipups and/or feelings of "weakness," you won't experience such intense pressure, and you will find dieting "easier" because it's something you CHOOSE to do, not something you MUST do.

Just a thought.

You have a great point, here, evilqueen. Dieting is really hard for me, but I notice that when I focus on my progress in the gym...and how hard I've been working, it kind of helps me to keep my intake in check. I will occasionally eat what I want...and drink (hehe...) but...I am getting so much better at not doing that.

 

[SteelWeaver]

Thanks ladies - I appreciate the support. I'm glad I'm not the only softy here, heh heh. j/k I think until one's done this type of dieting, one just cannot grasp how it affects every aspect of one's life. No-one around me can relate at all. All they see is that a dark cloud enters the room with me when I arrive. lol. Actually, it's not that bad yet - I'm still only in week 2 (all the WORSE, it's started so early!) I was such a bitch and so unpleasant on my last diet it was almost more than I could stand having to live with MYSELF, ha ha, never mind anyone else.

I don't mind the lonliness, I don't mind the intensity, I don't mind (mostly) refusing invitations to go out, I don't mind the hunger, I don't mind getting up at 5am for cardio - none of some of the harshest aspects of this sport are a problem. My goals are clear, my resolve is unbending, and I'm completely comfortable with the fact that THIS IS MY LIFE (and it's beautiful - sorry I know that sounds corny, but I can't help waking every morning and feeling that I have been blessed in so many ways, and I'm not religious). I just wish there were some way to kill the cravings, grrr.

Cheat meals/refeeds are a standard part of my diet. They help enormously with maintaining sanity. I don't see those as cheats - they're part of the diet. I don't feel guilt when I cheat or slip. I just feel disappointed and annoyed, because now I'll have to work that extra bit harder, and because I just proved to myself I'm not made of steel, lol.

I guess I was a bit off when I compared it to drugs - the CRAVING is drug-like, constant and wearing - it tires me out fighting it off all the time - but I don't have any problem having just ONE cookie - one cookie doesn't set off a binge - I had way too many problems and issues with food when I was younger to go back to that. But thanks Gladi - I'll PM you about coping mechanisms - have you found a way to make the cravings stop?

Sometimes I just do the NA thing - one minute at a time.

I've been reading a lot about carbs lately. It helps to find out what they do inside the body after they hit the tongue, all the reactions, physiological processes, etc. Quitting smoking and drinking was easy after I saw how clearly they were damaging my chances for success in my physique goals. Maybe the same thing will work here. I need to figure out how best to manipulate them for optimal results.

MS, I know as one gets leaner the cravings get worse. Would you happen to know if this is simply as a result of the state of being so lean, or is the degree of craving related to bodyweight setpoint? The further away from your setpoint you get, the worse it gets? I'm wondering if it's been bad all year, even when I was hypercaloric, because I've been below my setpoint all year? Just a theory ...

Anyway, thanks ladies. Hang cool (35 degrees and dripping hot here). Don't lose sight of your goals

 

[wyst]

I'm no diet expert (at all), but I find that I feel exactly way you describe when I don't have enough fat in my diet. I know you're talking about bigger macro issues, and know far more about the world of competitive dieting than I do, but anyhow, it just struck me that the way you described feeling is exactly how I feel when there just isn't enough fat going in.

xoxo

Wyst