MFP and fostering a health relationship with food

_noob_
_noob_ Posts: 3,306 Member
in Motivation and Support
...easily the biggest contribution of this site for me.

I used to be that "orthorexic" who would OBSESS over the health and purpose of everything in my diet. I did eat "clean" (well, minus the overly restrictive organic this, freerange that), but I'd have weekends where one bad decision would lead to 5000-7500 calorie binges an me spending 2 weeks in the gym to offset that.

I was never in a position where I could eat certain unhealthy foods in moderation. Moderation just wasn't a concept that worked for me. THIS IS NOT HEALTHY OR SUSTAINABLE TO BE/THINK LIKE THAT.

Thanks to this site and IIFYM priniciples, I've got a newfound healthy relationship with food where I allow myself to eat moderate amounts of foods that keep me sane. Like yesterday, all joking on the thread aside, I ate hotdogs and birthday cake (in reasonable amounts) and didn't derail anything with my health or diet.

Anyway, thanks MFP.

Replies

  • tekwriter
    tekwriter Posts: 923 Member
    I agree the app and support are amazing. I refuse to diet ever again.
  • dellaquilaa
    dellaquilaa Posts: 230 Member
    I completely agree :)


    I had lost 60 pounds on a weight loss supplement a few years ago - but I learned absolutely NOTHING about making healthy choices or accountability. It just curbed my hunger to the point that I didn't have to think about eating, because I wasn't doing much of it, anyway.

    I love this site - well, the whole concept of tracking - because it makes me review my choices, and I can see all the junk that I eat and I'm forced to find more nutritious alternatives (or go to bed hungry).
  • aelunyu
    aelunyu Posts: 486 Member
    I'm glad you found your way to a healthier and better version of yourself!
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    Awesome dude...I feel ya!
  • KANGOOJUMPS
    KANGOOJUMPS Posts: 6,474 Member
    nice!
  • pushyourself14
    pushyourself14 Posts: 275 Member
    Yay! That's awesome.
  • EmilyOfTheSun
    EmilyOfTheSun Posts: 1,548 Member
    When I first started here, I became obsessed with burning 500+ calories every evening after work. Maybe one rest day per week, if that. I also became obsessed with my diary entries and not seeing those red numbers on any category in my diary. I thought that I should cut out certain foods, and I did for the most part, which just sucked because food is awesome. So I was kinda bummed out.

    I’ll also admit that I sometimes have pretty terrible binges as well. This has always been somewhat of a problem for me but seemed to get worse when I was first starting on MFP. It became a lot easier for me when I realized a couple things.

    As I mentioned above, seeing the red number on your diary because of going over on calories used to be somewhat of a trigger for me. I’d be over by a small amount, maybe 100-200 over, and I’d just be like, “Welp, you’re already over your calories, you screwed up. May as well eat like a total pig for the rest of the night.” Stupidest attitude ever. Just because you’re a couple hundred over doesn’t mean you’re going to gain weight. Try changing your settings to maintenance and you’d probably have even more. So that’s what I did…on days when dinner turned out to be a bit bigger than I’d planned, or if I just felt like eating something extra, I’d change my settings to maintenance for that day so that stupid red number wouldn’t get to me. After doing that for a short time, I didn’t need to anymore. I just know that if I’m a few hundred over, it doesn’t mean I’m going to gain weight. I’m still at a deficit, and there’s a bonus cuz you get extra nutrients, yay!

    I don’t workout every single day of the week anymore, or obsess with getting at least a 500 calorie burn. I stopped cutting out “bad” foods and instead focused on hitting my target protein and fat numbers (or exceeding them).

    It’s a lot less stressful now and I’m a lot happier.
  • ferocityturbine
    ferocityturbine Posts: 110 Member
    ...easily the biggest contribution of this site for me.

    I used to be that "orthorexic" who would OBSESS over the health and purpose of everything in my diet. I did eat "clean" (well, minus the overly restrictive organic this, freerange that), but I'd have weekends where one bad decision would lead to 5000-7500 calorie binges an me spending 2 weeks in the gym to offset that.

    I was never in a position where I could eat certain unhealthy foods in moderation. Moderation just wasn't a concept that worked for me. THIS IS NOT HEALTHY OR SUSTAINABLE TO BE/THINK LIKE THAT.

    Thanks to this site and IIFYM priniciples, I've got a newfound healthy relationship with food where I allow myself to eat moderate amounts of foods that keep me sane. Like yesterday, all joking on the thread aside, I ate hotdogs and birthday cake (in reasonable amounts) and didn't derail anything with my health or diet.

    Anyway, thanks MFP.

    That's absolutely brilliant! Attitude really is half the battle :D
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  • firstloveyourself
    firstloveyourself Posts: 149 Member
    I have yet to establish a healthy relationship with food.

    I had an EDNOS (eating disorder not otherwise specified) in high school--I exhibited all traits of being anorexic without the low BMI. I eat a lot more now than I did, and I've gained a bunch of weight since then (probably 60 pounds) because I went from hating food to becoming addicted to it. I honestly don't know how to approach eating with a healthy mindset.

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