Gawd I miss watermelon :’(
“I used to view huge portions of food as a reward. Now, having the ability to say “no” is my reward. The feeling of having control over myself is better than a temporary moment of satisfaction.”
- The End of Overeating
Supersize vs. Superskinny: Documentary series in which two extreme eaters - one very overweight and the other severely underweight - swap diets in an attempt to change the way they view food and eating.
Watching this right now. I’m fascinated by the extremes our bodies go through.
mmmm these are so filling and delicious! i had one for breakfast and it made me feel so full with only 90 cals!!
Spinach Green Smoothie (total 90 cals)
.25 banana
quarter scoop vanilla protein powder
ounce spinach
quarter cup kale
2-3 strawberries
3 tablespoons blueberries
mmmmmmm nom nom yummy :)
Why Starving Seems to Work
It’s hard to explain to someone who has nearly or fully starved themselves for a few days that what they’re doing isn’t effective. The proof is right there on the scale, right? Two pounds, five pounds, ten pounds flushed from their bodies like that, simply from not eating.
Wrong. Losing real weight from starving is physically impossible. Your body absolutely can not lose that much weight in a week. It’s not because you weren’t working hard enough, or didn’t starve for long enough. It’s because you can’t do it, just like you can’t grow gills and live underwater like a fish.
Here’s what happens when your body is starved of nutrients:
Your body realizes that it needs energy to continue to function, to blink and breathe and scratch your forehead. All of this requires power source, and it has to get it from somewhere. When you don’t give your body the energy it needs from food, it cannibalizes itself as an energy source. The prime directive of the body is that it must have energy at any cost.
The protein in your muscles is the only energy source a starving person has, and since you aren’t eating, it’s the only choice you are left with. Your body will begin to destroy muscle cells to release that protein so it can convert it into energy. Muscles are about 70% water, so when a muscle cell is destroyed, that water is released and eventually excreted. That’s your weight loss.
Your body didn’t convert any lumpy fat into lean muscle. It didn’t begin to use fat as an energy source. It didn’t just magically get rid of three or four pounds of pure fat. It’s going to keep you alive at any cost, and that means burning up the muscle and using that to power you. Guess what? You’ve just increased your body fat percentage. Fat weighs less than muscle and takes up more space, so you might even look bigger than before.
You’ve also lowered your metabolism. Muscle is metabolically active tissue, so the more muscle you have, the higher your metabolic rate. The next bite of food you take, your body will use less efficiently and will hold on to much longer, converting it into fat and storing it for the long famine ahead.
Starving is not an effective weight loss tool. Not just because you shouldn’t starve yourself, not just because of the incredibly dangerous effects it has on your brain, not just because it can ruin your body forever. It really doesn’t work.
If you continue to starve yourself, your body will never get over that period of starvation. Your brain is programmed for survival, not for skinny, and you’ll become permanently hardwired to think that there is never enough, that you are constantly starving, even when you’re not.
Anorexia and Bulimia are extreme psychological diseases. and the above is your body’s evolutionarily hardwired response to trying desperately to survive on so very little nutrients. It is not your fault. If you’re struggling with starving, please consider getting help.
Review time! Just finished this book. It has interesting insights on what and why we eat so much in the US - as someone who has struggled with overeating, a lot of points hit home with me. It gets a little repetitive but overall, it’s a good read. Recommended for people who feel like food is in control of their lives, or anyone interested in the food industry/nutrition and physiology.
Thanks for all your messages and input on my psychology/nutrition dilemma. I’m definitely thinking of finishing my psych degree and using that as a base to study nutrition and eating disorders. I would be honored to dedicate my life to helping people out with their bodies and health.
I wish i could drill this into my head and never forget it
me tooo
Reasons to Lose Weight, The Healthy Way
- You will have tons of energy.
It’s simple math. When you put good things into your body, you will feel good. I’ll never forget that first huge burst of energy I felt one night after eating clean for about a week - I just wanted to get up and move, so I ended up taking a 4 mile walk at 8 p.m! It was insanely satisfying.
- You will look better.
And I’m not talking about just looking thinner. Your hair will become shinier and stronger from all the healthy fats you’re eating. Your skin will become smooth and clear from sweating everyday. You will have muscle tone. Your entire body will glow from health.
- You will feel happier.
You will only feel as happy as you your body will let you. When you don’t eat, your mind may feel satisfaction, but your body is starving. It will relay it’s discontent and eventually work its way into your mind. Treat your body right, and your mind will be free.
- You will have more support.
There’s a reason why people who suffer from eating disorders often feel alone: because nobody in their lives wants to support their dangerous habit. Think about if you had a daughter and she stopped eating. Would you encourage her to destroy herself? No. But when you develop healthy habits, you’d be surprised by all the people who encourage you and surround you with positivity. You may even influence them into leading a healthier lifestyle with you.
- You will have better results in the long run.
Yes, losing weight the healthy way is much slower. I have been frustrated by the numbers on the scale or the tape measure, wondering where all the fruits of my labor are. But when you start feeling your entire body change for the better, numbers don’t matter anymore. It’s all about how you feel. In the long run, the results are more likely to stick because you’ve changed yourself from the inside out. Be proud.
Balance
I have never been technically anorexic or bulimic, but I’ve had a taste of both.
I know what it’s like to eat practically nothing all day just because you want to feel thin. I know how incredibly satisfying it is to go to bed and wake up hungry and skinny. It gives you hope that you’re one pound lighter, one step closer to being okay.
I also know what it’s like to binge eat. I know how incredibly satisfying it is to just keep chewing and swallowing and chewing and swallowing. It fills a hole that you can’t explain. It’s addictive, until you finish and you feel disgusted.
I have been to both ends and I can say with with no doubt in my heart that neither made me any happier or healthier. All I did was think, “is this cycle ever going to end?”
I want to put this message out to all the people out there who are struggling with their bodies. It doesn’t matter if you weigh 100 pounds or 300 pounds. What matters is that you treat your body with the care and respect it deserves. I made a resolution to treat myself better, to be healthier. So far, I’m doing well and it has changed my entire outlook on life. Of course there will be days when I want to fall back into old habits, but I’m determined to keep it up because this is it. This is the only body you get, and one day when it’s over, you’re going to wish that you cherished yourself more.
Don’t abuse yourself anymore. Stop starving and purging for the sake of being thin. Strive to be fit, healthy, and happy. Love yourself now before it’s too late.
