Let me first say that I understand what you're going through. The problem with binge eating, and intense food cravings is because you're restricting your food intake. Food is probably on your mind constantly now, which was my problem a while back. And this behavior is perfectly normal, and very hard for someone who hasn't had it before to understand.

The problem is rather simple: you started off with good intentions, you want to lose weight, so you count calories, and it works for a while. After so long of this, you begin to have intense cravings, and begin binge eating behavior - the reason for this is such a drastic life change. I believe the facts state that this happens to about 2/3 of the population who tries to diet - thus the reason why diets (even good diets and not crash diets) have such high failure rates and can happen in a few days of the changed eating behavior or in a few years after the changed eating behavior. You might have already started ways to "burn" off the excess calories by eating less or intense exercise. This is a natural cycle of human. Your body likes what it had, and it's going to fight you to get it. Food is not only for the nourishment of your body, but it's also a method to ease your mind from thinking about it. Sort of a double edge sword: even though you just ate, your body may really want to favor something else.

The solution to this problem is rather simple: throw away your calorie counting behavior, and focus in on food you want to eat. At first, you might feel panic because you think without counting calories and eating the food you like will result in you becoming fat. That might be true initially, but over time, when you finally get a hold of yourself again, you'll find that you can balance eating healthy and eating the food you want. I highly recommend dropping the calories counting behavior before it turns into a serious problem such as a eating disorder.

I also highly recommend this book, which helped me greatly and after reading it, I never had any binges and I've felt better than ever: Intuitive Eating: A Recovery Book For The Chronic Dieter; Rediscover The Pleasures Of Eating And Rebuild Your Body Image by Evelyn Tribole and Elyse Resch. This book was recommended to me by another forum member right here. I found this book to be a real gem, but I think a lot of people misunderstand what this book is trying to say. But overall, I think if you read the book, and truly understand what it is trying to say, then you will feel at ease. I know I did and it's only been about 2 months since I've read it.

I should also say that binge eating behavior is exhibited in starving people as well as people who been away from home for a long time --- not just someone who is "trying to live a healthy life."

A good example, and I'm sure a lot of soldiers can relate to, is that return to home after a long deployment. You begin to miss the food you are accustom to and when you get home, you typically eat all the things you missed but haven't really thought of before. Also, people in post-WW2, who been POWs, employ this behavior due to lack of food - there are numerous researches in this field and the one thing scientists found was that whenever food is restricted or the same food is given daily that isn't part of the person's normal diet, binge eating occurs afterwards and typically food is a constant thought - and even in some cases non-food item is eaten (in those who are starving).

The bottom line is that you shouldn't force yourself not to eat, but don't force yourself to eat. This is a hard concept to master, and the more you think about it, the harder it becomes to do one or the other. Typically, the best way to overcome this, is to first enjoy the things you were once accustom to, and slowly work your way up and eventually you'll begin to follow an automatic 90-10 rule without even thinking about (90% of your diet will be good, healthy food, while the remaining 10% can be considered junk).

So from what you saying Dallen is that I should eat foods that I enjoy eating but as long as they are not greasy, salty, fatty, sugary, and all that junk and therefore I shouldnt really have to worry about counting calories all that much?

No, I'm saying you should enjoy food whenever you wish, however you wish, and for how ever many you wish. The key to weight lost – thus a healthy you - is to enjoy everything you want while keeping in mind of moderation, variety, and balance. When you start thinking stuff like, "Uh-oh, I can't eat this because it has fat in it." You begin to stress out about food and thus the cycle of diet and binge eating and all that other trouble you had resurfaces. You should throw away the method of calorie counting, weight lost, and so fort, and instead concern yourself with the values of health and happiness. When you can achieve this in its pure form, you can maintain your healthy weight, be happy, and enjoy the food you want to enjoy without worrying about how many calories it has, how many fat grams it has, how many of whatever it has.

When you eat something, and afterwards think like this: "Man, that was good and I'm completely satisfied and my hunger has been satisfied." Then you have achieved greatness; something many before you failed to see.

When you eat something, and afterwards (or before) think like this: “Man, I already ate two hours ago, I shouldn’t be hungry, and this has a lot of fat and calories and if I eat it I’m going to never be able to keep this weight off.” Then you have failed to see the truth in yourself, and your failure is the same failure millions before you failed to see.

When your list of good/bad food is: “Good Food: Any food I like. Bad Food: Any food that is rotten or don't like.” Then you have achieved what many could not, and you achieved true health in food.

When your list of good/bad food is: “Good Food: Fat-free, trans-fat free, low calories, etc. Bad: Oily food, candy, cookies, fast food, etc.” Then you have failed to see the truth in yourself, and your failure is the same failure millions before you failed to see.

Note: I’m not saying go crazy and eat every single thing in sight. I’m saying use yourself as a guide to eating, and use yourself to know when you had enough, and use yourself to know when you should or should not be satisfied. If you go to a store and see “fat-free” product and it has the same taste of the regular product you like, then by all means go with the fat free one (ex. Fat free milk vs regular milk). Don’t worry about calories and that deal. Concentrate on working out hard, enjoy eating while keeping in mind of moderation, variety, and balance, and you’ll lead a wonderful rich life happy with yourself, and happy with what you can do.

i think I get what your saying, I already know you need carbs, prtoein, and essential fatty acids in you, but I hope your not telling me to go ahead and eat cupcakes and drink beer and all that bad stuff

I'm not telling you. I'm asking you to tell yourself. If those are the things that satisfy you and those are the things you eat in your binge crazes, then yes, you should determine if those items are required for your diet. If they are, then by all means, you should eat them when you have the cravings for it. Satisfying yourself is more important than upholding a pseudo diet.

Let me show you an example, perhaps through this example, you can see what I'm talking about.

Let's say you're walking along, minding your own business and suddenly you see an ad on the screen of a cupcake. You suddenly get an urge for a cupcake by seeing an ad for a cupcake. You sit back and realize that you're not really craving for a cupcake, you're only craving for it because you seen it. Thus, there is no need to eat a cupcake to satisfy your hunger.

Let's say you're at home, and grandma baked you a cupcake. You ask yourself, "Man, I really love grandma's cupcake, and I'm really craving for one, so I'm going to eat one." You eat one, think it's the best thing ever, and you forget about it and enjoy your time with grandma.

Now, let's say you're on your "diet" and you're confronted with a cupcake. You say to yourself, "I really want a cupcake, badly. But since I'm on my diet, I can't eat it. I don't want it." You go do something, but your mind is still on that cupcake. You tell yourself, "No, I'll just eat something else." You do. That cupcake is still on your mind. You drink some water. The cupcake is still on your mind. Finally, instead of having one cupcake, you have five cupcakes and you sit by yourself feeling guilt and anger.

Look I'm trying to lose fat by summer time. Don't get me wrong I understand what your saying about the cupcake but still I should just stay focused on exercise and good but healthy eating without the worry of counting calories and now I wont limit myself to much if I have pizza I'll have it, if I have chinese food same thing, and same goes for other types of foods I just wont make it an everyday thing

Well I wish you good luck on that. Not to sound mean or negative, I very much doubt you will achieve that based on what you have already said and it's more than possible that by the time summer comes, you would have already given up on the whole deal (most people give up way beforehand). But only time will tell, and I hope you do make it. But even more so, I hope that instead of giving yourself a time limit of summer, that you give yourself a timelimit of "the rest of your life."

I suppose I'm lucky...

I guess I don't have a lot of strong issues with food like so many people so I have a hard time relating. I gave up a lot of foods I loved, but I really don't miss them now. I used to love Chipotle burritos. Now if I see a Chipotle ad I'll make a joke or something to my wife like "let's go there, and finish with a chocolate shake!" I'd never even consider eating that stuff now.

Look I wont quit I'm not like that trial and error my friend trial and error. I've already come so far and I wont quit I've already gotten my body fat down to 11%(not exactly ripped abs material you know what I mean) and who knows maybe it might take me till longer then summer I don't know for sure. I will not limit myself that's for sure and besides I enjoy healthy foods alot. The main problem with me was the counting calories part. It's everywhere man(not to sound like a hippie) all people tell you is to count calories I know the benefits and what not but I assure you that I'm done with the binging and going to do something about it.

Cool. It sounds like you're on the right path. Perhaps the sudden season change got to you or maybe you were just having a bad week. Counting calories crazy and it becomes frustrating, I know. But hopefully you can get what you want and best out of it. Good luck, and come back with pictures!!

There are certain food that I don't miss. Most of the food I realize I crave are home food --- mainly something my mom cooked or something like that. I used to eat a ton of fast food --- I never even think about it now. As a matter of fact, it looks pretty horrible to me.

I guess it really differs from person to person. Some has it really bad, while others do not. Perhaps my theory is wrong. I know from looking at your pictures that you work really hard. I'm not really trying to achieve that with my body, so perhaps my way of thinking applies to someone who isn't trying to push their body in some new direction / shape.

My calorie problems with losing weight are that I don't eat enough. Often times that will lead to binge eating or slowing your metabolism. That's why I say YES until you get a pretty good idea of what and how much you should eat. Good luck, Greg

Dude, just count calories until you don't think you need to anymore. You'll probably know have a pretty good idea of when that is.