I'm Out Of Control. Please HELP!

[EagleRider]

In reading posts from other users, I see I'm not the only one struggling with food. I've read the advice offered to some of you and I'm wondering if any of you found anything that actually worked to get control of your appetite?

My eating got out of control when I quit smoking, but that was back in April. I was binging on junk so I stopped buying it.

Now I binge on healthy foods. For instance, peanut butter, whole wheat bread, tuna, chicken, cottage cheese, etc. I thought the appetite would've calmed down by now but I think it's worse. I'm craving everything, especially fat and carbohydrates.

I've gone from an energetic 120 lbs to a fat, lethargic 160 lbs. Started working out a few weeks ago and now I weigh 162. So, I've gained a couple more pounds.

My workout consists of Yoga for a better back. Some core Yoga stretching, and a combo target toning routine (arms, buns, legs). No equipment except for my 10 lb ankle weights which I use for overhead triceps. It takes between 45 minutes to 90 minutes. Usually an hour. I won't say how many pushups I could do when I started, (humiliating) but I will say, after 3 weeks, I'm able to do one less pushup than when I started. What the hell is happening? Why am I getting weaker and hungrier? I'm obviously doing something very wrong.

[tim_mcf]

As far as the diet, I'm no expert but it seems to me that your binge eating is probably due to some emotional or psychological issues. How's your work life, love life, family life? Binge eating is often a response to stress, not actually related to hunger at all.

Workout-wise, I think you need cardio, and lots of it. High-intensity, brief workouts will work a whole lot better than what you're doing now. If you searched for "HIIT" or "Guerrilla cardio" you would get more hits than you know what to do with. Basically, I would try this: tie on some running shoes and go outside. Jog / walk gently for about 5 minutes to warm up. Then, SPRINT all out for 20 seconds - as though a bear were chasing you - and jog / walk gently for 10 seconds. Repeat for a total of 8 times...congratulations, you just completed a round of Tabata sprints. The entire thing will only take 10 minutes and will benefit you far more than an hour of a "target toning routine".

[Mary98]

Make sure to keep your metabolism up and eat many SMALL meals a day.