HELP!!! I'm eating and I can't stop!!!

I didn't cheat once in my 16 week prep - I was so disciplined. Now, well, I'm eating all the normal stuff - chicken, broccoli, oatmeal, egg whites, etc, but the cravings for sweets is killing me and before I know it - death by chocolate! Oh, and my clean snacks - Almonds and peanuts - I can't have them in my house 'cuz I'm eating them until they're gone. I don't know if this have anything to do with it but, the last 2 months I didn't have that 'happy time' of the month (sorry if too personal), and yesterday it finally came back - I could not stop myself from eating chocolate yesterday!

I had lost 28 lbs in my prep, and as of today, I've gained 13 back (1 month). I'm at my wits end. Any suggestions (other than just do it!).

I tried this for a litle while and it helped get me off the junk food and on the way back, but its been 2 months now and I am just getting back down into an acceptable weight range.

come up with a whole new diet that has about 700 calories more than a a 2 week out diet. Spread it out over about 6-7 meals and eat every 2 hours. The more often you eat, the less tempted you'll be to snack. You most likely won't stop weight gain, but it will get you back on the right track. I did this for 2 weeks and that got me going back into training and effective eating. I was at 160- went up to 180 or so in a binge week and a half. 2 months later now, I am at 168 with a little bit more lean mass than before. I told myself I was on a new beginning instead of trying to work out of a hole. My mistake was thinking I owuld be able to just pop that wight off, not really the case.

BC - Being 13 lbs heavier a month after your contest is not unusual or unexpected. I was up about 10 or 12 lbs myself, but now I'm holding steady.

Some of that is simply the fact that your body is now retaining more water with the added calories and carbs, some is added body fat as your body attempts to get back into a normal state (it really does not like to be very lean - we are predisposed to have higher bf levels)

It is a good thing that you are paying attention to this, however, and that you recognize that the weight gain now needs to slow down and become primarily a positive (added LBM) weight gain during the off-season.

One simple trick is to try to limit the availability of your impulse foods - i.e. - get them out of sight, out of reach or out of the house! If they are easy to grab cheating becomes too convenient.

Have you written up a new off-season diet plan? If not I would recommend it. You won't have to follow it as closely as you did your pre-contest plan, but just the fact of having it and knowing what your ideal daily meal plan is will help you stay closer to it.

Try to keep eating as a maens to achieving your goals, and not just something that you do every day. Go ahead and cheat a little during the holidays, and don't fret over it, but if you follow the 95% rule (try to eat right for 95% of your weekly meals) you can be more flexible for the other 5%.

My bigger problem now is that I have been very busy with work and travel and I end up missing my 6th meal many days. That is probably helping me keep my weight steady, but it won't help me gain more LBM - so I also have to get back on the wagon! Good luck!

Men, you might want to skip this post...you probably aren't interested.

In regards to not having your "happy time" and then being so overcome with binging once it returned...I experienced the same thing. I would be great for a whole month and then not realize why I was getting depressed and just wanting to throw in the towell (typically this would set in after I'd eaten approx 1 cup of natural peanut butter straight out of the jar and/or eaten the crusts of bread with honey while I made my husband's sandwiches.) I write everything down, but I wasn't really tying the binging episodes to my female cycle..duh. Also, that time of month I'm just so tired and not wanting to go to the gym, I feel fat since I'm bloated, and think to myself that I certainly don't look like a Figure competitor. Anyway, now I pop lots of midol before that hits...it seems to improve my mood, attitude in general, and keeps me from getting to the point where I'm alone in the kitchen with a jar of peanut butter.

I know it isn't totally lack of willpower, since I've proven to myself that I can stay on a plan for a given amount of time (even when faced with beer, pizza and the like). I'm sure you are the same way. Hope that helps.

Hey BikerCHick, same thing happened to me after my last contest. I know how ya feel. It really got me down,but I have to keep telling myself-the contestant look isn't something I should maintain year round. The eating will even out, I feel the same way at "that time" especially the first one that came after my comp-not a happy time. Take care.

Thank you guys and gals. I REALLY appreciate it - it's nice knowing someone else understands.

VA - I agree - I have to get everything out of the house!!! I can't be trusted. Yes, I have put together an off-season diet which SHOULD be pretty easy to follow, I've just got to do it. Did you get my e-mails?????

Thanks Ladies - I thought I was going crazy!

BC - I have received each of your emails and have resonded several times. See if you can add my email addresses into the allowed list for your spam filter - apparently your firewall is blocking all of my responses.

Sorry VA. I just sent you and 'e' from my hotmail account.

Hi BC! Just visiting you over here. You'll overcome. Just get that stuff out of your house! I sent the candy to the dealership for the most part, but still kept a stash here for me to finish off this week. LOL Luckily, it's gone now (on my hips) and it won't tempt me any next week.

You did great in your first contest & you will succeed again! Just back away from the candy bowl! You can do it!

LOL @ "back away from the candy bowl".

So, I've decided - THIS IS IT!!!!! Tomorrow is a new day and a new plan. So, today - I ate like a pig!

My workouts kicked hiney this week - 7 'personal bests' and I hurt all over!!! So tomorrow - new plan , new diet, new ATTITUDE!

Thanks for all your help.

psst, psst......guess who girlie!

Hi everyone, there seems to be a lot of us going through the same issues (water weight gain post contest, tapering the diet and potassium, unconrollable cravings, etc.) I'm wondering if the Beverly advisors could use their skills and put together a "post contest" diet. I mean, they are the pros a putting our diets together to begin with, so maybe they could come up with a generic "post contest" diet which would include specific directions on water intake, potassium tapering, etc, and advice on adding in cheat meals, etc. I'm thinking that we are all so regimented in our diets that we still need structure and if structure is provided, we will follow it. I think the shock of going off such a structured diet is the real issue and that is where we lose control. If we are given a post contest diet with some cheats involved, I think we would have an easier time transitioning into "normal" eating again. what do you think?

Hey RP!!! Are you stalking me?!

Toad - I think that's a great idea!

Of course I'm stalking you! Lol! You're my idol.

Toad, I like your thinkin!

Me too, after last time, I would think a post-contest meal of cardboard would have been smarter than my junk fest

I had to bump this back up as I am now three weeks post contest, but holding my own. My big question is why does everyone want to feed you after the show? I missed Thanksgiving this year to diet for my last show. Din't bother me, but seemed to upset my family. So far I have gone to my in-laws for three Thanksgiving meals, my Aunts for one and my best friends famil for another. I also had a pizza party given in my honor at work (thanks chief, but I would have rather had a day off with pay) and another from the gym. Throw in all the well wishers dropping off cake, cookies, pasta dishes etc... at the house, gym and police station and you would think the world revolves on food! All I want to do is maintain around 165 and train like a animal and eat 95% clean except for my one cheat night per week (and Christmas too) but noooooo, I have to dodge food all day long! On top of everything else I go to my favorite mexican place last night and order my usual, two grilled chicken brest on a big pile of greens. The owner stopped at the table and commented on a piece the local paper did on my shows this year. He asked if I was still in training and I reply, no its my off season, but I still try to eat right most of the time. He winks, wonders off and comes back with the largest fried ice cream I ever saw! It was in a mixing bowl and had three LARGE scoops of the fried ice cream, a ton of fudge and real whipped cream and a crumbled brownie. Now what do you do?? Now he did have three spoons in the bowl, but my daughter is 8 and my wife can't eat all that soooo......... Well, perhaps my goal will be no more then 170 now. Please tell everyone you know, post contest give money NOT FOOD!!!!!!!!!


Sully

Sully --- I know how you feel. Why is it that everyone thinks that the perfect gift for the police is food

Im a hair dresser, instead of an extra tip at xmas, we get Boxes and boxes of candy, baked treats, nuts etc... and with 6 on staff, thats alot of goodies!

Sully, where do you work? I am a Sergeant in a police dept in NJ and there is definitely too many goodies around here. Doesn't help that I have to work on Xmas whaen most of the goodies arrive. How do you handle not eating it? I find that my willpower to walk away from it is failing. I do however to a ton of extra cardio when I fall from the diet but I know I shouldnt have it in the first place. Any suggestions on how you deal with this would be great. This is my first time on a pre-contest diet (contest in March). I was previously a cardio junkie so I think nothing of running for 2 hours or riding for 3-4 hours. Seems like that is where I'm headed with all the holiday goodies
Have a safe holiday!
Maggie

No one tries to feed me after a show cuz they know I won't eat it ! I have them TRIAINED...I used to tell them I am so full because I have been just eaten. I ask if I can take it home and eat it later..and then I give it to my hubbie or the freezer...but in the case of fried Ice Cream that would not work !!! On your own on that one !!