It's a real disorder, I'm sure of it.... (Read 787 times)

first off, I don't run to lose weight so I can't help with the ins and outs of that. But. I can say that my weight fluctuates 3-5 lbs either direction...whether I run or not. I find days where I just. can't. eat. even after a long grueling run...can't eat. The scale doesn't move. Then there are days where I can eat anything that's not locked down and I gorge myself. I'll actually drop weight. Either which way, I probably couldn't lose 5 lbs to save my life. My body just won't go outside of the range of normal for me. So, I'll just regurgitate old faithful: listen to your body. When it's time to feed the neverending hunger, just try to make good choices and don't fall into Willy Wonka's Chocolate lake.

Secondly, does anyone have any strategies I can use to stop eating like a pig on the days I run?

It's going to sound like trite advice, but here it is: Run more. Despite the common myths, if you eat less and move more, you lose or maintain weight. Period. If you can't control the eating, just run more. Slowly build up the mileage, but run more. I'm pretty convinced that the body will find its own regulatory scheme if you let it. At 20 miles per week, I experienced those same cravings you're having. At 40 miles a week, running 5-7 days a week, they vanished. I still eat whatever the hell I want, but upping the mileage simply lowered my appetite. And, of course, I'm also burning ridiculous amounts of calories. At 50-60 mpw, still eating whatever I want, I've dropped to a weight not seen since the last century. All from mileage. Run more. Running is like beer. It cures everything, and more is generally better, as long as you're not operating heavy machinery.

Thanks for the great advice everyone! So I think what I've learned from this thread is that beer is the cure to Voracious Ravenitis! Whew - and to think that I thought it was incurable. Lifesabeach - I agree with this in concept (listening to my body) - but I have to ask myself, isn't that how I ended up with the 40 extra pounds to start with? Good advice, I think, for me in the long term, but in the short term -- while my body is still adapting to quitting smoking, running again, and eating healthier than I ever have -- listening to my body isn't something I'm sure I trust yet - if you know what I mean. With what Trent is saying, it sounds like my calorie intake plan is too high to start with. I also noticed in the thread that was linked about diet drinks being a problem too. My name is Mike, and I'm a Diet Coke Addict. Hmm, I'll have to read up on that topic some more. And I like JK's advice about running more - doesn't sound trite at all. Doubling my mileage sounds easier than giving up the Diet Coke anyway. I wonder if I can replace the Diet Cokes with beer on a one for one basis

Muse. You need to run more. Ain't there a pace bunny tickling your nose?

I'm in the same boat and used to be able to wolf down an entire bag of potato chips is one sitting. Yum! Now I'm less able or willing to surrender to those impulses. A few things that have worked for me are: Drink a full 8-12 oz glass of water when I start to feel hungry when I shouldn't. Fills me up a bit and if I end up caving anyway, I'll eat less since I'm already partially full. Make sure I get plenty of protein, since it satisfies my appetite longer and reduces the chance of an in-between-meal binge. YMMV. I'm also switching to low-glycemic carbs (fibrous vegetables, basically) from high-glycemics like crackers, fruit juice, and Wavy Lays JK may be right in advocating more miles. I don't feel hungry after a long run until much later. I guess just want water and a full body massage (I usually only get one of the two - you can guess which). Otherwise, I try to eat when I'm hungry, slowly , and stop when I'm not. I don't eat until I'm full. That seems to be helping me feel what it's like to be in between hungry and full.