Jul 10 2008
Disordered Eating Success Story
Hold on to your knickers, because I have a stunning success to report!
(If you’ve never struggled with disordered eating, you will likely be perplexed and possibly disappointed by this success story. Just take my word for it–it’s HUGE!)
For the past four or five days, I have been viewing food as (are you ready for this?)… FUEL.
Amazing, right?!?!?
It all started with my personal trainer (my first session was three weeks ago), who asked me to write down everything I’ve been eating in order to track my protein intake. I complied, and we discovered that (as he suspected) it was abysmally low. He encouraged me to start adding more protein into my diet. Countless protein shakes later, I was getting more than enough of the good stuff to build and maintain muscle–something that is particularly difficult for endurance athletes (i.e., marathon runners) and ectomorphs (i.e., long, gangly people like yours truly).
All was going well until I discovered that protein kills–absolutely murders–my appetite. I was eating solely to ensure that I got enough protein. (I know!!!) Unfortunately, something else that high-mileage runners need is CARBS, and being stuffed with lean ground beef and protein shakes, it was incredibly difficult for me to force anything else down.
Then, a few days ago, I hit The Wall. Any of you who have ever worked out really hard for a sustained period of time know what I’m talking about. The dreaded Wall. I was out for a short, easy run and all of a sudden, I just could not take another step. I was shuffling along at a pace a full minute-per-mile slower than when I started training several months ago. I felt totally drained. I was overwhelmed by exhaustion for the next 24 hours. I was experiencing, so my trainer tells me, glycogen depletion. Why? Because I need more carbs!!
I began to look at my diet in an entirely different way–not in terms of calories and weight loss, but in terms of getting both the energy (carbs) I need for running and the protein my body requires to build and maintain muscle. It completely altered my approach to food and eating. I’ve been eating based not on what my mouth wants (or what my emotions tell me that my mouth wants), but on what my body needs. And–this is the best part–I haven’t minded it at all!
How can I make this permanent?
Wow - that is an awesome accomplishment for you! You go girl!!
~K
Sweet! I’ve not struggled with disordered eating the way others have. I am also horrible about working out. With the disclaimers out of the way…………….
The more I work out, the better I eat and the less I worry, obsess or crave bad things.
It’s like when you’re all sitting on your butt all day at the computer, you can just feel those fat cells dividing, and even though it drives you nutty, all you want is to help them…. with donuts and oreos and pretty much anything that’s around.
When you’re working those muscles, it’s almost like you have no choice but to eat regular healthy meals, because your metabolism is cookin’ and you’ll pass out if you have a large Dunkin’ Donuts coffee with cream and sugar and two bowties for dinner.
See, I can’t remember the last time I worked out, and now that I typed that, I will assuredly stop before school to pick up that exact meal for dinner. If I had worked out in the past few months, I would be craving tunafish.
I have to agree when you are doing right by your body, you want to put the right things into it.
I have been definitely heavily into my salads these days — some days, without the dressing!
I feel better and I’m sure my body does!
Good for you Jen, I think if you continue to feel great about your body and what you are doing, you’ll continue to eat right.
That’s so cool! I’m always amazed at people who view food that way because it’s such a foreign concept to me. I’ve never, ever experienced that endorphin rush that supposedly kicks in when you start exercising so I give up pretty quickly. But maybe part of the problem is that I’m not getting the right combination of foods to fuel me to have the energy for the workout the way I should.
Very interesting…I’m glad to know it’s working for you!!
is it too simplistic to say that you might make it lasting by just going with it?
embracing it?
not overthinking it?
xo xo,
an overthinker
This is just another great example of how your good habits are influencing your life in a positive way. Go, you!
I think that sounds fantastic. I can’t wait to see this nutritionist to get a better idea of how I can eat well and nourish my body. If I ever win the lottery then I am so getting a personal trainer!!