Food Guilt?

tsstarr

Anyone else feel guilty about eating? Seems like since I started doing this new life style of eating healthy and trying to get into shape, I have guilt over anything I eat. Like," I should have saved those calories for something else," or, "now that's just more calories to burn off later." Rarely do I ever reach the max of my calories the way it is. Just seeing if anyone else feels the same way.

elphie754

No I don't. To be honest that sounds like the begining of a path that leads to disordered eating. If you feel that way, perhaps you should speak to someone about it. If its an everyday things I'd seek some profession help before it gets too far down that path. If its a once in while thing, like ohhh on thanksgiving I ate too big a piece of pumpkin pie, or today I over indulged on the snacks that's different. Everyday? Recipe for disaster.

obscuremusicreference

Would writing a plan of your day or pre-logging help? Don't feel guilty. That's going to lead to shame and giving up.

sheepotato

I did at first, some things just didn't seem worth it anymore. If you budget your calories (as someone has mentioned pre-logging will help) then you should be able to enjoy and savor what will fit. If you find that it gets to be obsessive thoughts then back off and lower your goals for a little while and try again with a clearer head. Or consider getting counseling or working with a support group if it starts to take up a large percentage of your day. Off-hand thoughts can accumulate into disordered thinking if you don't keep them in check.

Kalikel

I think most dieters have had those, "God, that wasn't worth it" moments. Its not a bad thing. Next the we see a the candy or a donut, we say, "Not worth it." That's a good thing. Thinking about how many calories are in the food we eat and making healthier, less fattening choices is kind of the point of calorie counting!

Feeling guilt every time you eat, though, that's not good or normal.

There is a big difference between learning to make healthier choices and feeling guilty over eating food. The line between dieting and an eating disorder is fine line, though...and a blurry one.

Go see your doctor if you haven't done that. Get a good goal weight and a daily calorie limit, so you can be confident that you aren't eating too much or too little. Get cleared to exercise. Get a referral to a dietician! Tell them about your concerns regarding food and then stick to the plans they work out for you.

You'll know what kind of food you should and shouldn't worry about eating, how much, all that jazz.

You want to lose! But you want to do it in a healthy way. Don't go from one extreme to other. Find the healthy, happy middle ground.

brightresolve

I used to feel a lot of guilt about eating and worked with a telephone based health coach - benefit of my work - who helped me. She said food is a huge source of pleasure to us humans and any sustainable healthy eating plan takes that into account. She said if I ate something because I really, truly, JUST LOVED IT and savored and enjoyed every single taste and sensation, it was ok. And that I needed to practice doing that WITHOUT GUILT.

It was all that mindless eating I was doing - bored, upset, wanting the work day to go faster, distressed about something that someone I love was going through -- all THAT eating was what tucked on the extra pounds.

Eating treats alone caused guilt. She said, plan for a treat as a social event.

Personally I have a bit of a hard time with sugar, love it too much but it doesn't love me back. So I find I can eat a treat now and then without guilt, enjoy every bite, pay the price in increased cravings and maybe a sugar hangover, and then go on not eating sugar as my everyday thing.

SORRY SO LONG, I just really identified. Hope any of this helps you -

Lounmoun

I haven't felt any guilt.
I've been pre-logging most of what I eat for the whole day and I guess I view it a bit like a game... Like how much food can I fit within my calorie goal, how much exercise would I need to do if I eat x vs y food.

concordancia

tsstarr wrote: »

Anyone else feel guilty about eating? Seems like since I started doing this new life style of eating healthy and trying to get into shape, I have guilt over anything I eat. Like," I should have saved those calories for something else," or, "now that's just more calories to burn off later." Rarely do I ever reach the max of my calories the way it is. Just seeing if anyone else feels the same way.

As others have said, please talk to a professional about these feelings.

Liftng4Lis

Heck no, I love the eating part.