On bingeing and meal frequency - I eat 2 meals a day, and you? page

[JPA]

On bingeing
On Saturdays I indulge myself in dark chocolate with coffee, and on Sundays I do a no-wheat primal dessert (chocolate cake with coconut flour/milk) for example. It's borderline bingeing in my opinion because I tend to eat several brownies or more than just a few slices.

However, on that day, Sunday, I only eat lunch, 1 meal, and then I fast until Monday's lunch, so there's a 19-22 hour fast right there (late lunch on Sunday). Monday so happens to coincide with a workout day, but hey... I'm only doing bodyweight squats and pullups so...

I've been feeling like I'm probably pushing it too far since I eat half a bar or a whole bar of dark chocolate on Saturday, and then a semi-binge of cake (several slices/brownies) on Sunday (and the occasional fruit on top too, ouch).

I think about it like this: I'm going to cease to exist one day, why not enjoy it? I'm doing ok during the week days eating meat, cottage cheese, fish, nuts and vegetables, I deserve some spicing up in my life.

On meal frequency
Also, another thing I noticed is, I just want to eat a lot since I've been eating 2 meals a day (1 month now). It's not like I'm hungry, I just want to eat a 2nd cottage cheese, a 2nd or 3rd stake, etc... when I log in my food intake, I can average easily 1500 calories in one meal (let alone the other one) if I'm not alerting myself to how much I'm really eating, and it doesn't help that I'm adding in olive oil, as is a staple of my country's diet. Olive oil really adds up the calories.

So here I am seeking some support for my fellow 1 or 2 meal a day buddies to ush me and tell me everythings all riiight ^_^.

[kojo147]

Well JPA, while I can't say whether or not it's right I can definitely sympathize with your way of eating. I eat usually only two meals a day but I just can't seem to control my portions and I end up feeling like I put down more food in one sitting than most people eat in a day. And I also usually make myself a dessert of some kind over the weekend, last weekend it was pumpkin pie for instance and I put away half of the pie with generous amounts of coconut cream and butter. For me I think it's mostly a comfort thing, I'm not hungry but I feel like eating will make things better or at least be a temporary distraction from the hardships of life. All I can say is that I am trying to put things in perspective, if I am eating big meals but still feeling good and keeping my weight where I like it then what the heck? If it brings you joy and isn't causing you any harm I say go for it.

[Dr. Bork Bork]

I'm trying to focus on 2 meals a day. Easiest way to do it is start the day with an IF, skipping breakfast, then having a FEAST after the gym (around noon). I suck down 1,000 calories in a few delicious minutes, and then dinner is usually around 400-600 cals. So far I'm not having trouble controlling portions. I measure everything, and it's all very satisfying.

[the bacon hut]

I'm trying to focus on 2 meals a day. Easiest way to do it is start the day with an IF, skipping breakfast, then having a FEAST after the gym (around noon). I suck down 1,000 calories in a few delicious minutes, and then dinner is usually around 400-600 cals. So far I'm not having trouble controlling portions. I measure everything, and it's all very satisfying.

I'm like this only I have different time frames. During the work week I get close to 1000 calories at breakfast and it lasts me until dinner at around 5:00 p.m. where I get around 600 or 700 calories. I find that I'm not really hungry in the morning, but if I don't eat and can't get to eat lunch, I'm constantly thinking about eating and that's not too productive at work. During the weekend I eat when I'm hungry, which is about 1 or 2 p.m. but still have dinner around 5:00 p.m.

[emmie]

Your weekend 'treats' don't qualify as a 'binge,' which is a serious form of disordered eating.

I see nothing wrong with treating yourself the way you're doing because you're limiting it to weekends. I do something similar, limiting any 'indulgences' to the weekend. If it were a daily dark chocolate bar, it might be a concern, but not if it's only one day. I know people who limit themselves to one square daily, and that satisfies them, but I'd prefer to limit myself to one day and enjoy an entire bar.

If you personally think that you're eating too many brownies, then my response would be to try to limit myself to what I consider a reasonable level. If there's any food that 'triggers' an overindulgence for me, I eliminate that food completely--or order it at a restaurant so that I'm limited to a single portion.

[iniQuity]

It sounds like you’re content with your lifestyle, and I fully agree with you on being good during the week and allowing a little “fun” on the weekends. If it keeps the train chugging along I see nothing wrong with it. You may want to cut back some, so as to not actually feel guilty about it and just see it as a mild indulgence instead of an all out assault.

[Enamel]

I think about it like this: I'm going to cease to exist one day, why not enjoy it? I'm doing ok during the week days eating meat, cottage cheese, fish, nuts and vegetables, I deserve some spicing up in my life.

If that's how you feel, then there's no reason to change it. If you really feel like you're overdoing it, just cut back a little. Otherwise, just enjoy life.

I'm also a 2 meal a day person, I tend to eat breakfast around 8-10 am and have my second meal around 2-4.

[Hilary]

If you're fit and healthy, why change anything? What does some theoretical notion of "too much" have to do with the price of tea in China?

[Melantha]

Your weekend 'treats' don't qualify as a 'binge,' which is a serious form of disordered eating.

+1

If you are still enjoying what you are eating, it is not a binge. There is a different between bingeing and indulging. Indulging in a treat once in a while is not a problem, even if you eat a lot of that treat. As long as you stop when you're no longer enjoying what you're eating, you're not bingeing.

Edit: It sounds like the only thing you need to drop in your diet is the guilt....

[JPA]

Thanks for the replies... I can eat a bar on Saturday and several brownies/slices of cake on Sunday but hey... enjoy life I guess. I'm healthy and within or near a good body image so it's ok.