AMA - I've maintained a 50+ weightloss for 10 years 🙂

[Anonymous]

I am a new poster. I lost 40 pounds and have kept it off for 20 years. My BMI is around 21. I rarely think of food and also typically eat one large meal a day around lunch time for efficiency purposes.

Honestly losing weight was one of the best things I have done in my life. Of course there is always the possibility that I will gain in the future, but I take it one day at a time.

[Anonymous]

OP: Do you believe you have an eating disorder?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am a new poster. I lost 40 pounds and have kept it off for 20 years. My BMI is around 21. I rarely think of food and also typically eat one large meal a day around lunch time for efficiency purposes.

Honestly losing weight was one of the best things I have done in my life. Of course there is always the possibility that I will gain in the future, but I take it one day at a time.

Other than timing of the meal, this sounds like what OP does. I don't understand the harm in either case?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How do you manage food chatter/hunger?

I'm a late-day eater/snacker. Because I work out of the house, it's easy for me to control food intake during the day. Once I get home, I honestly eat about 80% of my calories. It works for me. I guess it's almost a form of intermittent fasting?

It honestly sounds like a form of binge eating that you manage harm reduction for.

Maybe? But I'm just not hungry early in the day, and I don't like going to sleep hungry. Different strokes for different folks! If I've maintained for a decade, then it clearly works well for me.

For sure. It just goes to show that even a self-described success story has to engage in disordered behaviors to maintain. Which is totally consistent with the long term data for weight loss maintainers, of course.

Eating once a day is not disordered. Everyone is not the same. Nobody should eat when they aren’t hungry. That’s what is disordered.

Hmm. Binge eating once at night rather than fueling your body throughout the day is a big red flag for disordered eating. Paired with a history of disordered eating (overeating/obesity) that’s a strong indicator of an ongoing eating disorder. Of course anyone engaging in these behaviors should discuss it with a qualified eating disorder specialist and not self-diagnose.

As a therapist who specializes in CBT for OCD with only the information we have on this thread this would not throw flag for me. I would be concerned if the OP were saying their evening eating was out of control, but some bodies do not need 3 meals a day. Sounds like OP is engaging in very healthy intuitive eating.

FWIW a hallmark of binge eating is an “inability to stop eating even when full”. Maybe I have reading comprehension problems, but where did the IP indicate she was unable to stop when full? Binge eating is a compulsion.

Some of you throwing around big words you do not understand need to read the DSM-5 on what binge eating means.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am a new poster. I lost 40 pounds and have kept it off for 20 years. My BMI is around 21. I rarely think of food and also typically eat one large meal a day around lunch time for efficiency purposes.

Honestly losing weight was one of the best things I have done in my life. Of course there is always the possibility that I will gain in the future, but I take it one day at a time.

Other than timing of the meal, this sounds like what OP does. I don't understand the harm in either case?

There is no harm. The people calling this disordered eating seem to have a disordered view of food themselves.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How do you manage food chatter/hunger?

I'm a late-day eater/snacker. Because I work out of the house, it's easy for me to control food intake during the day. Once I get home, I honestly eat about 80% of my calories. It works for me. I guess it's almost a form of intermittent fasting?

It honestly sounds like a form of binge eating that you manage harm reduction for.

Maybe? But I'm just not hungry early in the day, and I don't like going to sleep hungry. Different strokes for different folks! If I've maintained for a decade, then it clearly works well for me.

For sure. It just goes to show that even a self-described success story has to engage in disordered behaviors to maintain. Which is totally consistent with the long term data for weight loss maintainers, of course.

Eating once a day is not disordered. Everyone is not the same. Nobody should eat when they aren’t hungry. That’s what is disordered.

Hmm. Binge eating once at night rather than fueling your body throughout the day is a big red flag for disordered eating. Paired with a history of disordered eating (overeating/obesity) that’s a strong indicator of an ongoing eating disorder. Of course anyone engaging in these behaviors should discuss it with a qualified eating disorder specialist and not self-diagnose.

As a therapist who specializes in CBT for OCD with only the information we have on this thread this would not throw flag for me. I would be concerned if the OP were saying their evening eating was out of control, but some bodies do not need 3 meals a day. Sounds like OP is engaging in very healthy intuitive eating.

FWIW a hallmark of binge eating is an “inability to stop eating even when full”. Maybe I have reading comprehension problems, but where did the IP indicate she was unable to stop when full? Binge eating is a compulsion.

Some of you throwing around big words you do not understand need to read the DSM-5 on what binge eating means.

She said she can control herself all day. Clearly in contrast to the evening.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How do you manage food chatter/hunger?

I'm a late-day eater/snacker. Because I work out of the house, it's easy for me to control food intake during the day. Once I get home, I honestly eat about 80% of my calories. It works for me. I guess it's almost a form of intermittent fasting?

It honestly sounds like a form of binge eating that you manage harm reduction for.

Maybe? But I'm just not hungry early in the day, and I don't like going to sleep hungry. Different strokes for different folks! If I've maintained for a decade, then it clearly works well for me.

For sure. It just goes to show that even a self-described success story has to engage in disordered behaviors to maintain. Which is totally consistent with the long term data for weight loss maintainers, of course.

Eating once a day is not disordered. Everyone is not the same. Nobody should eat when they aren’t hungry. That’s what is disordered.

Hmm. Binge eating once at night rather than fueling your body throughout the day is a big red flag for disordered eating. Paired with a history of disordered eating (overeating/obesity) that’s a strong indicator of an ongoing eating disorder. Of course anyone engaging in these behaviors should discuss it with a qualified eating disorder specialist and not self-diagnose.

As a therapist who specializes in CBT for OCD with only the information we have on this thread this would not throw flag for me. I would be concerned if the OP were saying their evening eating was out of control, but some bodies do not need 3 meals a day. Sounds like OP is engaging in very healthy intuitive eating.

FWIW a hallmark of binge eating is an “inability to stop eating even when full”. Maybe I have reading comprehension problems, but where did the IP indicate she was unable to stop when full? Binge eating is a compulsion.

Some of you throwing around big words you do not understand need to read the DSM-5 on what binge eating means.

Woah woah woah. As someone who has struggled with binge eating, I never eat/ate past feeling full. You’re saying that means I wasn’t really binge eating?

[Anonymous]

Well done OP. I don't have any questions for you, but I lost 30 lbs last year and am really enjoying being back to my younger self size-wise. I'm also glad I kept all my clothes which now fit again. Who cares if they were fashionable in the 90s? There is a 90s resurgence going on.

[Anonymous]

This thread took a predictable turn. Poster comes in to explain how they successfully lost and maintained weight loss.

That turns into everything that doesn't involve eating all the time is an eater disorder.

When then evolved to discussion of weight loss drugs.

When then evolved to everybody being angry about the existence of weight loss drugs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How do you manage food chatter/hunger?

I'm a late-day eater/snacker. Because I work out of the house, it's easy for me to control food intake during the day. Once I get home, I honestly eat about 80% of my calories. It works for me. I guess it's almost a form of intermittent fasting?

It honestly sounds like a form of binge eating that you manage harm reduction for.

Maybe? But I'm just not hungry early in the day, and I don't like going to sleep hungry. Different strokes for different folks! If I've maintained for a decade, then it clearly works well for me.

For sure. It just goes to show that even a self-described success story has to engage in disordered behaviors to maintain. Which is totally consistent with the long term data for weight loss maintainers, of course.

Eating once a day is not disordered. Everyone is not the same. Nobody should eat when they aren’t hungry. That’s what is disordered.

Hmm. Binge eating once at night rather than fueling your body throughout the day is a big red flag for disordered eating. Paired with a history of disordered eating (overeating/obesity) that’s a strong indicator of an ongoing eating disorder. Of course anyone engaging in these behaviors should discuss it with a qualified eating disorder specialist and not self-diagnose.

As a therapist who specializes in CBT for OCD with only the information we have on this thread this would not throw flag for me. I would be concerned if the OP were saying their evening eating was out of control, but some bodies do not need 3 meals a day. Sounds like OP is engaging in very healthy intuitive eating.

FWIW a hallmark of binge eating is an “inability to stop eating even when full”. Maybe I have reading comprehension problems, but where did the IP indicate she was unable to stop when full? Binge eating is a compulsion.

Some of you throwing around big words you do not understand need to read the DSM-5 on what binge eating means.

She said she can control herself all day. Clearly in contrast to the evening.

So she can’t stop eating even when she is full? She eats until she feels sick? She feels out of control?

Have you been DMing her on the side and have that info to diagnose her with a real medical condition now that you’ve consulted with the DSM-5?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How do you manage food chatter/hunger?

I'm a late-day eater/snacker. Because I work out of the house, it's easy for me to control food intake during the day. Once I get home, I honestly eat about 80% of my calories. It works for me. I guess it's almost a form of intermittent fasting?

It honestly sounds like a form of binge eating that you manage harm reduction for.

Maybe? But I'm just not hungry early in the day, and I don't like going to sleep hungry. Different strokes for different folks! If I've maintained for a decade, then it clearly works well for me.

For sure. It just goes to show that even a self-described success story has to engage in disordered behaviors to maintain. Which is totally consistent with the long term data for weight loss maintainers, of course.

Eating once a day is not disordered. Everyone is not the same. Nobody should eat when they aren’t hungry. That’s what is disordered.

Hmm. Binge eating once at night rather than fueling your body throughout the day is a big red flag for disordered eating. Paired with a history of disordered eating (overeating/obesity) that’s a strong indicator of an ongoing eating disorder. Of course anyone engaging in these behaviors should discuss it with a qualified eating disorder specialist and not self-diagnose.

As a therapist who specializes in CBT for OCD with only the information we have on this thread this would not throw flag for me. I would be concerned if the OP were saying their evening eating was out of control, but some bodies do not need 3 meals a day. Sounds like OP is engaging in very healthy intuitive eating.

FWIW a hallmark of binge eating is an “inability to stop eating even when full”. Maybe I have reading comprehension problems, but where did the IP indicate she was unable to stop when full? Binge eating is a compulsion.

Some of you throwing around big words you do not understand need to read the DSM-5 on what binge eating means.

Woah woah woah. As someone who has struggled with binge eating, I never eat/ate past feeling full. You’re saying that means I wasn’t really binge eating?

Feel free to look up the definition of binge eating. You can make your own assessment if you fit into that category. It is one do the more simple disorders for a lay person to interpret. Not all people who are overweight binge eat. Not all people who are normal weight do not binge eat. Binge eating is a diagnosis with a very clear set of criterion. Binge eating is a recognized mental health diagnosis.

It is not an OCD (which I treat) but I do see a lot of people who want help with binge eating. It is a difficult impulse which is exactly why Vyvanse is so effective in controlling it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How do you manage food chatter/hunger?

I'm a late-day eater/snacker. Because I work out of the house, it's easy for me to control food intake during the day. Once I get home, I honestly eat about 80% of my calories. It works for me. I guess it's almost a form of intermittent fasting?

It honestly sounds like a form of binge eating that you manage harm reduction for.

Maybe? But I'm just not hungry early in the day, and I don't like going to sleep hungry. Different strokes for different folks! If I've maintained for a decade, then it clearly works well for me.

For sure. It just goes to show that even a self-described success story has to engage in disordered behaviors to maintain. Which is totally consistent with the long term data for weight loss maintainers, of course.

Eating once a day is not disordered. Everyone is not the same. Nobody should eat when they aren’t hungry. That’s what is disordered.

Hmm. Binge eating once at night rather than fueling your body throughout the day is a big red flag for disordered eating. Paired with a history of disordered eating (overeating/obesity) that’s a strong indicator of an ongoing eating disorder. Of course anyone engaging in these behaviors should discuss it with a qualified eating disorder specialist and not self-diagnose.

OP eating 80% of her calories in the evening is not binge eating. If she's eating 80% of 1500 calories, that's a large meal, but only 1200 calories.

Respectfully, OP is describing a daily bingeing episode after spending all day able to “control” her food then losing that control after work. Classic description of disordered eating:

I'm a late-day eater/snacker. Because I work out of the house, it's easy for me to control food intake during the day. Once I get home, I honestly eat about 80% of my calories.

I eat like this too. I'm a healthy weight but I it's easier for me to control my eating early in the day. I generally eat 500-600 calories combined over breakfast and lunch and then save 1000 for dinner and dessert. It helps me manage my tendency to over-eat at night because I have the calorie budget to eat a decent portion of what my family is eating, and have a dessert.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am a new poster. I lost 40 pounds and have kept it off for 20 years. My BMI is around 21. I rarely think of food and also typically eat one large meal a day around lunch time for efficiency purposes.

Honestly losing weight was one of the best things I have done in my life. Of course there is always the possibility that I will gain in the future, but I take it one day at a time.

Other than timing of the meal, this sounds like what OP does. I don't understand the harm in either case?

Agree thanks. I just wanted to post because so many people are speculating that OP has a binge eating disorder, which is really beyond ridiculous. As the PP mentioned there are criteria for binge eating disorder and eating one large primary meal per day is not one of them. Different things work for different people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am a new poster. I lost 40 pounds and have kept it off for 20 years. My BMI is around 21. I rarely think of food and also typically eat one large meal a day around lunch time for efficiency purposes.

Honestly losing weight was one of the best things I have done in my life. Of course there is always the possibility that I will gain in the future, but I take it one day at a time.

Other than timing of the meal, this sounds like what OP does. I don't understand the harm in either case?

There is no harm. The people calling this disordered eating seem to have a disordered view of food themselves.

x1000

that one pp calling OP a "binge eater" with an "eating disorder" sounds like they are massively, royally projecting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am a new poster. I lost 40 pounds and have kept it off for 20 years. My BMI is around 21. I rarely think of food and also typically eat one large meal a day around lunch time for efficiency purposes.

Honestly losing weight was one of the best things I have done in my life. Of course there is always the possibility that I will gain in the future, but I take it one day at a time.

Other than timing of the meal, this sounds like what OP does. I don't understand the harm in either case?

There is no harm. The people calling this disordered eating seem to have a disordered view of food themselves.

x1000

that one pp calling OP a "binge eater" with an "eating disorder" sounds like they are massively, royally projecting.

Agreed.