Thanks, Christina, for getting back to me and for the solid advice. I used to be completely obsessed with calorie counting myself, though I wouldn't say I am anymore—I still track them, but it’s not this all-consuming fixation. In other words, I can actually go out to eat somewhere without immediately spiraling into a mental calculation of how many calories are in the dish, checking the grain content, guessing the weight, and doing math in my head (yeah, I really did used to do that), but now I just look at something and think, "Well, this is definitely loaded with calories," laugh it off, and just dig in. It’s not like I do that every single day, so I figure having an occasional indulgence with some "unhealthy" food isn't going to kill me. I deal with quite a few digestive issues, and I’m pretty certain that overstuffing myself plays a huge part in that, since my stomach really wasn't built to handle massive amounts of food all at once.
I suppose my biggest struggle is just that I don't know how to be moderate; I haven't figured out how to find that middle ground. I tend to swing from one extreme to the other, and honestly, that can feel pretty overwhelming sometimes.
It really all comes down to what you’re putting on your plate. Like, vegetables have such incredibly low calorie counts—for instance, you could probably scarf down a whole pound of carrots and only hit about 410 calories, or a massive pound of salad would barely be 130. I don't really go to those kinds of extremes myself since I try to maintain some sort of balance, but just as an example.
The thing is, I find myself eating even when I'm completely stuffed, even when my stomach actually hurts, because I just know that if I don't finish everything I prepared, my calorie count will be too low and I'll end up starving or even start shaking and stuff like that.
Yeah, okay, I realize I'm obsessed with it, but I honestly don't know how to make it stop. And it's not like anyone around me thinks this looks like an issue, even though it pretty much torments me most of the time—well, maybe not always, but usually when I'm feeling okay, it doesn't bother me quite as much.
The title pretty much sums it all up. I am not fat. I don't consider myself fat, and honestly, I have zero desire to lose weight. The thing is, I eat massive portions. Even when I stick to about 1,800 calories—which, based on my math, is exactly where my weight just stays totally stagnant—I still struggle. I eat three meals a day, but I don't actually stop eating when I feel full or satisfied. Instead, I find myself thinking things like, "Oh, come on, it’s not even that much," or "I might as well get full now so I don't end up feeling ravenous later." I guess I should mention that late at night, usually after 9 PM, I rarely eat anything, even if I'm feeling abnormally hungry. During the day, though, I'm rarely ever truly "hungry" in the traditional sense; more often than not, I start getting the shakes—maybe some kind of hypoglycemic shock?—and I know it's happening because it kicks in about two or three hours after a meal if I haven't eaten something substantial. I realize I'm probably overtaxing my digestive system. I don't really do snacks or smaller meals during the day, partly because I'm juggling a ton of homeopathic remedies that I have to take three or four times a day—some half an hour before eating, some an hour before... it's a whole complicated ordeal. Another reason I avoid snacking is this nagging fear that if I start, I won't be able to control it, and I'll end up five pounds heavier because I know myself well enough to know I'd just graze constantly. When I sit down for those three main meals, I'm actually quite happy and content; it's just that sometimes I definitely overdo it on the volume (even if the calories stay the same). And there is absolutely no way I'm skipping a meal; I just need to eat every four or five hours to function like a normal person.
So, why am I overeating like this, and how can I actually fix it?
I honestly think it’s just awful when there's a total mismatch in sex drive within a relationship—like, one person is super high libido and the other just isn't interested at all. It puts this massive amount of pressure on the partner who actually wants intimacy, and in my case, it felt absolutely miserable. I don't mean this lasted for maybe a few weeks, either; we're talking more than six months of this going on, so naturally, I started getting really worried about where we stood. That's why I feel like such a huge weight has finally been lifted off my shoulders.
It's just like Walter Myers4 was saying, what really helped me was when I finally managed to just... relax. But man, that is easier said than done when you're dealing with that constant, heavy pressure I mentioned earlier.
Kenneth Hernandez67, look, I get it, you probably know a thing or two about this stuff and have way more experience under your belt. I'm still pretty young and definitely inexperienced, which is exactly why I let myself get so worked up about the whole thing.
Well, I am taking steps. I actually went to see a therapist back when I was actively looking for help, and honestly, it really did make a difference for me. I guess I just wanted to reach out and see if anyone here has gone through something similar—if you could maybe share your own experiences or how you managed to pull through it all. That’s really all I’m looking for.
Look, Kenneth Hernandez67, yeah, maybe I am a mess. What can I even say? I’ve got my own issues that are my business, and while someone else might find them hilarious, they’re mine to deal with. At least I’m actually trying to work on myself, I guess. Now everyone is just going to walk away thinking I’m some kind of total psychopath. But I really am not. thanks a lot
Frigidity isn't just about being unable to reach an orgasm.
I mean, I honestly believe there are plenty of women out there who have never even experienced an orgasm, yet they still have a perfectly healthy desire for sex.
Look, I just don't have any interest in sex. I really don't want it. Honestly, even the mere thought of it feels pretty repulsive to me. It's not that I don't crave physical contact—I actually have this massive, constant need for touch—but I don't want anything sexual attached to it. I’ve actually started turning down touches and kisses lately, mostly because I know exactly where those things are headed if I let them happen. There are times when I feel a physical necessity (and I mean a necessity, not some kind of "desire") to take care of myself, so I just do it. But even then, there isn't any sexual imagery or thoughts running through my head. Another thing is that I don't really link sex with reaching an orgasm. I’ve never actually experienced an orgasm during sex, though that was never really an issue for me before. I used to enjoy being intimate and feeling that closeness, knowing full well that I could always just handle the climax on my own whenever I felt like it.
I suppose I function perfectly fine without sex.
The real headache is that I am in a relationship, and things have become pretty tense because of all this. I end up feeling guilty because I don't want to have sex, and he ends up feeling guilty whenever he does decide to initiate it.
So, my cycle is completely all over the place, and honestly, I have no clue why. Even my doctor couldn't give me a straight answer, which is just great. I was on birth control for about four years, and once I finally quit, things got weird. I had two pretty light periods over maybe a four-month stretch, then nothing at all for seven months. So, I started taking medication—I've been on Dabras for about five months now—just to get my period back. It works, I guess, but even though I'm bleeding again, it seems to show up a little later every time and feels a bit lighter than the one before, which is starting to worry me a little. Now, it’s supposed to start coming back on its own naturally, so we'll just have to wait and see in about twenty days or so. For what it's worth, I already had blood work done to check my hormone levels, and everything came back totally fine. My gynecologist told me that this kind of thing can happen after you stop using hormonal contraceptives, suggesting that things usually settle down within a few months. Well, clearly, that wasn't the case for me. It's not like I've suddenly dropped a bunch of weight or anything, and generally speaking, I feel perfectly fine. In fact, I actually felt okay during those months when I wasn't getting my period. Aside from having some sort of PMS symptoms during those first couple of months—where I was just incredibly irritable and on edge for a few days—nothing else really happened.
I want my period back so bad!!!! 🙂 🙂 (Ugh, I never thought I'd actually find myself saying that!)
I honestly feel like I’m just completely frigid 🙂 🙂 What am I even supposed to do about this? 😕 Does anyone actually have experience dealing with this kind of thing (though I really hope 😢 doesn't) ? And look, I’m not being dramatic or messing around here, this is—unfortunately—the actual truth 😢
Hey there, I'm velvetwolf92, and honestly, I used to be totally addicted to chewing gum. It was mostly Orbit, though I can't quite remember which specific flavor. I was going through an entire pack every single day, even though I wasn't actually chewing much—just holding a piece in my mouth for a few minutes at a time. I’d usually pop two pieces in at once. Eventually, I started looking into homeopathy to help me kick the habit, and just like that, everything sweet was gone—bye-bye! 😢 It didn't matter if it had actual sugar or just artificial sweeteners... I was done. And look at me now, I haven't touched a piece of gum in over a year. But, I guess the trade-off is that I'm constantly lugging a toothbrush around everywhere I go. 😛 👎 😠
Most of the time I just stick to boxers or briefs, but once summer hits, I definitely prefer wearing thongs. To be honest, I’ve dealt with my fair share of infections in the past, but since I started wearing thongs, things have been pretty much fine, nothing more and nothing less. A lot of them are actually comfortable enough, but I honestly cannot wrap my head around why women would buy thongs that are way too small—the ones that just dig in and cause so much discomfort—I really don't get it!
I don't touch anything carbonated. It just wreaks havoc on my digestion, and I have to stay away from sugar anyway. Yeah, I’ll have a donut in the morning, but I usually heat it up first, so I guess it isn't quite as heavy. Honestly though, it tastes pretty revolting. Just gross. But, I suppose it helps.
I actually own one, though I don't really find myself using it much. I tried messing around with it a little bit when I was dealing with some herpes outbreaks, but honestly, I didn't notice any real improvement... I mean, what do I know? It probably works for someone out there. I just didn't see any significant effect myself, but then again, I haven't really put it to the test enough to be sure.
It’s actually not in my stomach, but down in my large intestine. And honestly, the doctors didn't really figure anything out; it was actually my homeopathic practitioner who helped me out. Ever since I started following her advice, I've been feeling so much better.
I wouldn't say I have a particularly disciplined personality when it comes to food, and it took me forever to finally learn how to stop snacking between meals. Once I get going, I just can't seem to quit (I guess I have some issues there, hm 🙄), so I eventually decided that it’s just way easier—at least mentally—if I stick to three solid meals a day. And that's pretty much it. Nothing in between, just plenty of water.
My recommended zone, or rather my macronutrient ratio—carbs, protein, and fats—is set at 40:30:30.
Now, I don't have all the exact numbers memorized, but I’ve sat down and crunched all the math myself, and honestly, if I actually ate that little food every day, I think I’d just be starving. If I eat enough meat to actually feel satisfied—say, around five or six ounces—then I’d basically have to shovel an enormous amount of leafy greens into my mouth, not to mention eating way more fat. I’d need at least a tablespoon of olive oil with both lunch and dinner, plus all the seeds, olives, cheese, bacon, and whatever else...
The second issue I'm running into is that the whole idea of eating five small meals a day just doesn't work for me; I'd much rather just cram everything into three larger meals.
Then there's the third problem, which is that my food choices are pretty limited right now because I'm dealing with candida, so I don't really have much of a selection to work with.
And look, I don't even need this zone for weight loss; I'm just trying to maintain my current weight.
So, I'm mostly just trying to find a way to blend the zone concept with a Mediterranean diet and some smart food pairing.