Weight Loss

I have been dieting hard for about a year and a half to be a lighter/faster runner and I successfully lost 25 pounds.  However, I did that last summer and on a no fat diet.  Big mistake.  this pattern of eating left me suddenly depressed and never full.  I quickly gained all the weight right back! what a nightmare.  Since then I make sure to get 2-3 tablespoons of olive oil each day which has helped me lose 7 pounds so far.  I need to lose about 17 more the healthy way.   I usually run a lot but cannot for a few weeks from being injured.  I swim at least an hour each day and usually do the elliptical for at least another 30 to 40 minutes.  Otherwise i run anywhere from 8 miles up to 12 miles.  I am very fit just overweight.

It is so hard to stick to a diet that will show weightloss.   For example most days I eat 1300 calories no problem but today I had 1500 by two o clock.  I am not hungry now for the rest of the day.  Is it ok to skip dinner? did i ruin my weight loss for the day? What will stop these binges? how much should i eat daily to lose weight? I weigh 137 and am 5'7", dont tell me i am a fine weight because that is not an elite runner's bodytype.

Is it ok to skip dinner? Skipping meals will not help you lose weight, it'll set you back even more, harm you in the long run and deprive your body. 

Did i ruin my weight loss for the day? Whether or not your diet gives you results is not a question of the day; if you get back on track, you haven't ruined anything.

What will stop these binges? Eat small meals 5 or six times a day so your blood sugar stays elevated, you feel full and you'll be less tempted to binge. You could try planning your meals in advance to avoid getting too many calories too early in the day. If a certain type of food causes you to binge, add small amounts of it to your diet so you can satisfy that craving without compromising your diet, or alternatively get rid it.

How much should i eat daily to lose weight? Calorie Count has great tools for determining your daily burn and calorie needs. The basic idea is to consume roughly 500 calories less than you burn each day.

I agree with eveliina.  One day will never make or break a diet.  Try to keep consistent with your calorie intake and work-outs but if you have one bad day, or even one particularly great day, it isn't going to tip the scale that much in either direction.

Also, about how much you should eat a day.. If your an 'elite runner' remember that you will need more calories than someone your age/height who doesn't excercise the way you do- it's important to stay fueled!

Since you're already in such good shape it's going to take you longer to lose the weight (I have a bit of the same problem) but stay patient and hang in there! It will happen!

Good luck and don't give up!

If you're approximately 25, I calculate your BMR at 1375. 

Take your calories spent exercising + 1375 = Maintenance intake

Maintenance intake - 500 = how much you eat to loose weight.

I'm just guessing but you're probably bingeing because you're not eating enough. Running at 10/minutes per mile is about 900 calories/hour.  Swimming is another 650 calories per hour. Elliptical is another 900 cal/hr. 

Since you said you swim an hour a day, that works out to:

650 (hour swimming)  + 594 (40 minutes on the elliptical) + 1200 to 1800 (for the daily run) = 2444 to 3044 just from exercise. 

2444 + 1375 (your BMR) = 3819

3044 + 1375 = 4419

That means you should be eating 3319 to 3919 per day, NOT 1300 per day.  No wonder you binge.  YOU NEED TO EAT MORE.  You're hungry because you're really freaking hungry.  Go feed yourself.

You'd think an "elite runner" would know a little more about nutrition. Read morrighu's post, then re-read it.

I guess my topic wasnt clear enough.  I dont do all those exercises in one day.  I am currently swimming/ellipticaling because i currently AM NOT RUNNING.  I do those exercises or else I run.  My daily exercise expenditure is at most 1000 calories, which makes my total 1350+1000=2350. 

all I really meant by this topic is that i get frusterated when I eat my daily allowance before dinner time. 

and I am close to elite. i am a Division 1 college runner who finished in the top 100 of the D1 NCAA Cross Country Nationals last year.  I appreciate your input.

That's awesome and I can't even imagine the work you put into getting to that level. I guess you could have just said was this one sentence: all I really meant by this topic is that i get frusterated when I eat my daily allowance before dinner time.

You got into a lot of convoluted detail and made some comment about "don't tell me blah blah blah elite runner"

If you're hungry, eat a little more. Eat light things like veggies or fruits. When I'm over my calories but hungry I'll stir fry some veggies. It adds on another 50cals tops, and it's filling. Have some broth. Totally boring but sometimes it works. Fruit is a last line of defense; the sugars sometimes make me more hungry

Try using this plan 1500 Calories in Six Meals-a-Day
You can increase the calories by increasing the portion sizes.

Original Post by sub17:

I swim at least an hour each day and usually do the elliptical for at least another 30 to 40 minutes.  Otherwise i run anywhere from 8 miles up to 12 miles.  I am very fit just overweight.

You can still adjust the forumla I gave you to figure out how much you need to eat.  Honestly, you said you swim for an hour every day.  That's an extra 650 calories.  That's more than you're entire caloric deficit should be for the day.  In short, you need to be eating more.  That's why you keep binging.  Don't wait for it to become a full blown eating disorder.  You're hungry, hon, because you need more calories to keep working your body like you have been.  If what you posted originally isn't accurate, you need give accurate information when you post or we can't help you. 

Even at 1000 cal. per day from exercise, you should still be eating about 1800 and loosing weight. 

1375 (BMR) + 1000 = 2375 (Maintenace Intake)

2375 - 500 = 1875

You're still bingeing because you're not eating enough.  It's your body's way of demanding the fuel it needs to operate at the level you force it to function at.