All calories may not be equal
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For me, personally, low cab was far more OCD and stress inducing than weighing food. Weighing food is not a compulsive need for me, just something I prefer to do and find easy. When I tried low carb I was obsessively counting every gram of carb, including carbs in eggs and some cheeses, even coffee - I counted coffee as 1 gram of sugar. I even skipped coffee sometimes in order to be able to have an extra 1/4 of a tomato.5
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Do people not cook from recipes anymore? Is that not basically basically counting calories? Or is just the input of the food into the app the OCD part?6
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I admit that I have a layman's grasp of the term, but isn't OCD characterized more by the thought processes behind the actions and the degree to which they affect your ability to live your life? I count calories and use a food scale. I have used a food scale even in maintenance (though I wasn't logging) because I found it easier than measuring cups. That doesn't negatively impact my life.
I have also stressed about what's in food and how to log it to the point that it kept me from socializing and caused me to break into tears in restaurants at times. This happened and was treated before I ever bought a food scale. This was not obsessive compulsive disorder, though. I don't have an official diagnosis, but if anything the symptoms fit better with orthorexia than OCD. It too, though, was far more about the mindset than the actual actions being taken.
tl;dr version: can we maybe step back from internet diagnosing people?12 -
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diannethegeek wrote: »I admit that I have a layman's grasp of the term, but isn't OCD characterized more by the thought processes behind the actions and the degree to which they affect your ability to live your life? I count calories and use a food scale. I have used a food scale even in maintenance (though I wasn't logging) because I found it easier than measuring cups. That doesn't negatively impact my life.
I have also stressed about what's in food and how to log it to the point that it kept me from socializing and caused me to break into tears in restaurants at times. This happened and was treated before I ever bought a food scale. This was not obsessive compulsive disorder, though. I don't have an official diagnosis, but if anything the symptoms fit better with orthorexia than OCD. It too, though, was far more about the mindset than the actual actions being taken.
tl;dr version: can we maybe step back from internet diagnosing people?
Hey there, don't bring the definition of OCD in here and be all logical about how it affects people. MFP doesn't need that sort of thing. You're being sensible.
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stevencloser wrote: »
Weighing ingredients to make a cake is about consistency of a product since the weight of the exact same volume of flour (needed in the precise chemical reaction that is baking) can be different every time due to factors such as the current humidity. But that is an entirely different conversation.
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xjessicaxrx wrote: »I think if a "Newbie" was to read this thread it would scare and put them off straight away! So many judgemental, rude, aggressive people getting their back up!!
I also noticed that a lot of people on here may have developed OCD with weighing and numbers, weighing a pre packaged yogurt haha come on REALLY!
I dont take a food scale out of the house and carry it around with with me, that is just sad.
I have and I am still losing weight just fine.
Wow. Judgmental much?
I have to weigh all my food. My deficit is tiny. If I won't weigh everything, I won't lose any weight. Simple.9 -
gonetothedogs19 wrote: »bethannien wrote: »gonetothedogs19 wrote: »stevencloser wrote: »gonetothedogs19 wrote: »xjessicaxrx wrote: »I think if a "Newbie" was to read this thread it would scare and put them off straight away! So many judgemental, rude, aggressive people getting their back up!!
I also noticed that a lot of people on here may have developed OCD with weighing and numbers, weighing a pre packaged yogurt haha come on REALLY!
I dont take a food scale out of the house and carry it around with with me, that is just sad.
I have and I am still losing weight just fine.
I was really stunned to learn that people take the yogurt out of the container and weigh it. The container says 120 calories, but that's not good enough. Like I said, if you are that concerned that it is an under-count, just log 135 calories.
And I agree with you. It gets to the point where it is OCD. The OCD response could be, "how can you log 135 calories when it could be 141 calories?"
Nah.......this is plain silly, and a bit on the judgmental side as well. Just because someone uses a certain tool that works for them does not mean OCD is involved.
If I went around and said in a low carb thread they're all OCD with their fear for carbs, I'd be behind bars before I could say "double standard".
You don't know the definition of OCD. They are not counting and agonizing over each little single carb. They are just avoiding them (other than from green veggies). Big difference between that, and obssessing over the fear that the calories on the label could be 10% lower than the actual number of calories.
I'm not sure you know the definition of OCD either. It's not just one behavior that you perceive as obsessive because you personally wouldn't do it.
Literally everyone is going to do something trying to lose weight that someone else will think is a little out there. But throwing around a term used to describe a very real and often debilitating mental health issue for those who actually deal with it isn't exactly making your point for you.
There are plenty of people with OCD who have spouses and children, and successful careers. I know a few who are so pathologically neat that they could be classified as OCD. Other OCD's are much more debilitating.
Counting every single calorie, years after you met your weight goal, is OCD. Not a debilitating OCD. Not an OCD that requires therapy. Just and OCD like the pathological neat-freak who can't leave a crumb on the kitchen counter, or has to make the bed no matter what.
Seriously, you don't understand what OCD means.
Consistently doing something every day because it improves your life is not OCD.
OCD is when you HAVE to do something, even when it makes no sense to do it, even if it adversely affects your life, and you become distressed when you don't do it.
I go out to eat a couple of times a week and don't weigh my food. I don't avoid ever going out and I don't feel panicky or distressed if I eat something I can't be sure of the calories. Please stop throwing around medical terms casually. It belittles the real disorder and devalues your argument.16 -
gonetothedogs19 wrote: »bethannien wrote: »gonetothedogs19 wrote: »stevencloser wrote: »gonetothedogs19 wrote: »xjessicaxrx wrote: »I think if a "Newbie" was to read this thread it would scare and put them off straight away! So many judgemental, rude, aggressive people getting their back up!!
I also noticed that a lot of people on here may have developed OCD with weighing and numbers, weighing a pre packaged yogurt haha come on REALLY!
I dont take a food scale out of the house and carry it around with with me, that is just sad.
I have and I am still losing weight just fine.
I was really stunned to learn that people take the yogurt out of the container and weigh it. The container says 120 calories, but that's not good enough. Like I said, if you are that concerned that it is an under-count, just log 135 calories.
And I agree with you. It gets to the point where it is OCD. The OCD response could be, "how can you log 135 calories when it could be 141 calories?"
Nah.......this is plain silly, and a bit on the judgmental side as well. Just because someone uses a certain tool that works for them does not mean OCD is involved.
If I went around and said in a low carb thread they're all OCD with their fear for carbs, I'd be behind bars before I could say "double standard".
You don't know the definition of OCD. They are not counting and agonizing over each little single carb. They are just avoiding them (other than from green veggies). Big difference between that, and obssessing over the fear that the calories on the label could be 10% lower than the actual number of calories.
I'm not sure you know the definition of OCD either. It's not just one behavior that you perceive as obsessive because you personally wouldn't do it.
Literally everyone is going to do something trying to lose weight that someone else will think is a little out there. But throwing around a term used to describe a very real and often debilitating mental health issue for those who actually deal with it isn't exactly making your point for you.
There are plenty of people with OCD who have spouses and children, and successful careers. I know a few who are so pathologically neat that they could be classified as OCD. Other OCD's are much more debilitating.
Counting every single calorie, years after you met your weight goal, is OCD. Not a debilitating OCD. Not an OCD that requires therapy. Just and OCD like the pathological neat-freak who can't leave a crumb on the kitchen counter, or has to make the bed no matter what.gonetothedogs19 wrote: »stevencloser wrote: »gonetothedogs19 wrote: »stevencloser wrote: »gonetothedogs19 wrote: »xjessicaxrx wrote: »I think if a "Newbie" was to read this thread it would scare and put them off straight away! So many judgemental, rude, aggressive people getting their back up!!
I also noticed that a lot of people on here may have developed OCD with weighing and numbers, weighing a pre packaged yogurt haha come on REALLY!
I dont take a food scale out of the house and carry it around with with me, that is just sad.
I have and I am still losing weight just fine.
I was really stunned to learn that people take the yogurt out of the container and weigh it. The container says 120 calories, but that's not good enough. Like I said, if you are that concerned that it is an under-count, just log 135 calories.
And I agree with you. It gets to the point where it is OCD. The OCD response could be, "how can you log 135 calories when it could be 141 calories?"
Nah.......this is plain silly, and a bit on the judgmental side as well. Just because someone uses a certain tool that works for them does not mean OCD is involved.
If I went around and said in a low carb thread they're all OCD with their fear for carbs, I'd be behind bars before I could say "double standard".
You don't know the definition of OCD. They are not counting and agonizing over each little single carb. They are just avoiding them (other than from green veggies). Big difference between that, and obssessing over the fear that the calories on the label could be 10% lower than the actual number of calories.
So someone who tells others to meticulously look on ingredient lists for "hidden carbs" ranging in the low single digits and avoid them at all costs is not OCD? Good to know only the people you personally disagree with may be accused of mental illness.
There is nothing OCD about removing grains from your diet to reduce your carbohydrate intake. Just like there is nothing OCD about being a vegan.
OCD means you are doing something active, like counting and obsessing over every calorie years after you met your weight goal. Removing something from your diet (grains, or sugar, or animal fats) is not OCD.
Ya know...how you choose to label people's behavior is really within your own perception only. You are just throwing generalizations that make no sense in a world where calorie counting is used as a tool.13 -
I lost over 50 pounds and recomp'd before even calorie counting or joining MFP. Just saying... Honestly, MFP seems to have made it stressful, not gonna lie. Calorie counting + OCD = bad combo.1
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VividVegan wrote: »I lost over 50 pounds and recomp'd before even calorie counting or joining MFP. Just saying... Honestly, MFP seems to have made it stressful, not gonna lie. Calorie counting + OCD = bad combo.
Congrats on your weight loss. You chose one of the many ways to lose weight and maintain, which is to not count calories. That's wonderful.
How has MFP made calorie counting stressful for you? I ask because calorie counting is not stressful for a whole boatload of people who visit here, including me. 9 -
I'd even say it's LESS stressful, as it gives you a data point. Not a guess. Knowledge is power.16
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gonetothedogs19 wrote: »gonetothedogs19 wrote: »bethannien wrote: »gonetothedogs19 wrote: »hjlourenshj wrote: »
'tgonetothedogs19 wrote: »Bottom line - if you are counting calories, weighing, measuring and logging religiously, and cannot lose weight (a common complaint on this site), try this approach. Why not? And why would you continue doing something that is not working?
Its just impossible to not lose weight when you are in a deficit. So the common complaint on this site is 100% the cause of mistakes in counting. Its that simple. Don't spin it towards something else
How hard is it to count calories? One ounce of cereal with skim milk (the amount is stated on the cereal box) for breakfast. Two cans of tuna fish and whatever the portion of mayonnaise is on the label for lunch. 100-calorie pre-packaged snack. A couple of pre-made burgers on a bun for dinner with a salad and a low-cal dressing.
This is not exactly rocket science.
It's not rocket science but if people are using the 1 cup or 1/4 cup suggestions for the measurement instead of weighing it, they're almost definitely eating more than they think. For example. I have some granola I mix into my Greek yogurt. The Greek yogurt says a serving is 1 cup (227 g) and the granola says a serving is 1/4 cup (27g). That's what the packaging gives as a serving size.
I put my 1/2 cup on my scale to eat half a serving and I filled it about 2/3 full before I reached 113 g. If I had filled it to the top, I'd be eating more than I thought. And when I weighed the granola, 1/4 cup was 1.5 servings.
So it may not be rocket science but if people are using measuring cups and wondering why they aren't losing weight, it's not what they're eating. It's how much.
This is exactly what most newbies SHOULD NOT be doing.
I am eating a Chobani yogurt right now. It contains 140 calories. Not 150 calories and not 130 caloires. There is nothing to weigh and nothing to measure. Forget about weighing granola. It just makes life difficult
And Chobani has some product where you mix in things (one of them may be granola) into the yogurt. That may contain 200 calories. Not 210 calories and not 190 calories.
I say KISS (with affection) to all newbies - Keep It Simple Stupid.
Seriously, have you actually weighed the yogurt before determining it has 140 calories, not 139 or 141?
Are you being serious?gonetothedogs19 wrote: »bethannien wrote: »gonetothedogs19 wrote: »hjlourenshj wrote: »
'tgonetothedogs19 wrote: »Bottom line - if you are counting calories, weighing, measuring and logging religiously, and cannot lose weight (a common complaint on this site), try this approach. Why not? And why would you continue doing something that is not working?
Its just impossible to not lose weight when you are in a deficit. So the common complaint on this site is 100% the cause of mistakes in counting. Its that simple. Don't spin it towards something else
How hard is it to count calories? One ounce of cereal with skim milk (the amount is stated on the cereal box) for breakfast. Two cans of tuna fish and whatever the portion of mayonnaise is on the label for lunch. 100-calorie pre-packaged snack. A couple of pre-made burgers on a bun for dinner with a salad and a low-cal dressing.
This is not exactly rocket science.
It's not rocket science but if people are using the 1 cup or 1/4 cup suggestions for the measurement instead of weighing it, they're almost definitely eating more than they think. For example. I have some granola I mix into my Greek yogurt. The Greek yogurt says a serving is 1 cup (227 g) and the granola says a serving is 1/4 cup (27g). That's what the packaging gives as a serving size.
I put my 1/2 cup on my scale to eat half a serving and I filled it about 2/3 full before I reached 113 g. If I had filled it to the top, I'd be eating more than I thought. And when I weighed the granola, 1/4 cup was 1.5 servings.
So it may not be rocket science but if people are using measuring cups and wondering why they aren't losing weight, it's not what they're eating. It's how much.
This is exactly what most newbies SHOULD NOT be doing.
I am eating a Chobani yogurt right now. It contains 140 calories. Not 150 calories and not 130 caloires. There is nothing to weigh and nothing to measure. Forget about weighing granola. It just makes life difficult
And Chobani has some product where you mix in things (one of them may be granola) into the yogurt. That may contain 200 calories. Not 210 calories and not 190 calories.
I say KISS (with affection) to all newbies - Keep It Simple Stupid.
THIS IS NOT TRUE.
Repeat: THIS IS NOT TRUE. Your yogurt is not guaranteed to contain 140 calories. In fact, in the US it can be up to 20% off ("the label is considered to be out of compliance if the nutrient content of a composite of the product is greater than 20% above the value declared on the label", Title 21 of the Code of Federal Regulations (21 CFR 101.9(g))). That yogurt might be 112 calories....or, more likely, that yogurt may be 168 calories. Now expand that to a frozen dinner, one that's, say....600 calories. That could actually be up to 720. If you eat all your calories from prepackaged food, without weighing the portions, and eat up to your deficit, then you will very likely be consuming more calories than you think, cutting into or stalling your weight loss.
Seriously, have you actually weighed the yogurt before determining it has 140 calories, not 139 or 141?
You can't be serious about the calories in the yogurt.
OK, so here's what you do. The label says 140 calories. To be safe, add 10%, and now it's 154 calories. Problem solved. Or, you can make a breakfast with four or five ingredients where you have to weight and measure, weigh and measure. I would advise sticking with the yogurt.
but I don't like yogurt
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I lost weight on weight watchers once. About 49lns. I ate McDonald's and drank Starbucks frappuccinos, along with some healthy stuff. Moderation at its finest!
After 3 months I fell off the wagon, slowly regained the 40lbs...and then some. Looking back, I didn't eat enough calories or protein to keep me satisfied. So yes, CICO works. I lost weight. However, there is SO much more to the picture - like eating in a way that you know you'll still be able to maintain in ten years time, or on vacation, or when you're out to dinner! Some people do best with a calorie counting approach, where no food is off limits. Others do best focusing on healthy foods and minimising unhealthy ones. That's how they get their calorie deficit and sustain it over time. It's not questioning the CICO method, it's just taking a different mental approach to get there.3 -
xjessicaxrx wrote: »I think if a "Newbie" was to read this thread it would scare and put them off straight away! So many judgemental, rude, aggressive people getting their back up!!
I also noticed that a lot of people on here may have developed OCD with weighing and numbers, weighing a pre packaged yogurt haha come on REALLY!
I dont take a food scale out of the house and carry it around with with me, that is just sad.
I have and I am still losing weight just fine.
Wait a minute, now......
As to the bold statements: While you are pointing that finger out, there are three more pointing back at you. Rude judgemental and aggressive are all in the perception.
That said....
What is wrong with weighing pre-packaged food? The nutrition information on the package often does not match up with how much a food weighs. Weighing food is just one tool for personal accountability.
What is sad about carrying a scale around in your purse? It is just another tool for personal accountability.
Everybody has to do what works for them. I don't weigh my food when I eat out at a restaurant or at other people's houses, but but I have a scale I keep at work in case I want a small snack not on my plan.
The reason you are losing weight is because whatever you are doing is creating a calorie deficit. In fact, it does not matter what you do to eat less than you bun, what matter is you eat less than you burn because it's the only way to lose weight.
All this does not negate the fact that a calorie is a calorie.
Does anyone actually do this?1 -
VividVegan wrote: »I lost over 50 pounds and recomp'd before even calorie counting or joining MFP. Just saying... Honestly, MFP seems to have made it stressful, not gonna lie. Calorie counting + OCD = bad combo.
Congrats on your weight loss. You chose one of the many ways to lose weight and maintain, which is to not count calories. That's wonderful.
How has MFP made calorie counting stressful for you? I ask because calorie counting is not stressful for a whole boatload of people who visit here, including me.
Exactly. Not to mention that not everyone calorie counts to lose weight. Before I got a food scale, I was actually overestimating my portions and undereating. There is this perception that every person who joins here is morbidly obese and knows nothing about nutrition. My "high" weight before starting here was 139 pounds which is normally the goal weight for most women my height and the only reason my weight got that high was because I went through a period of months where I didn't even get out of bed. I'm 108 pounds now and I use my food scale and calorie count to make sure I maintain my weight. I've been trying intuitive eating and some days I'm spot on, but other days I'm under by several hundred calories and the last thing I need is a deficit. I poured out what I thought a serving of cereal was and it was half a serving. Peanut butter? I assumed around 1 tbsp was 2. If I have tools that let me know I can eat more food, I'm using the crap out of them.2 -
xjessicaxrx wrote: »I think if a "Newbie" was to read this thread it would scare and put them off straight away! So many judgemental, rude, aggressive people getting their back up!!
I also noticed that a lot of people on here may have developed OCD with weighing and numbers, weighing a pre packaged yogurt haha come on REALLY!
I dont take a food scale out of the house and carry it around with with me, that is just sad.
I have and I am still losing weight just fine.
Wait a minute, now......
As to the bold statements: While you are pointing that finger out, there are three more pointing back at you. Rude judgemental and aggressive are all in the perception.
That said....
What is wrong with weighing pre-packaged food? The nutrition information on the package often does not match up with how much a food weighs. Weighing food is just one tool for personal accountability.
What is sad about carrying a scale around in your purse? It is just another tool for personal accountability.
Everybody has to do what works for them. I don't weigh my food when I eat out at a restaurant or at other people's houses, but but I have a scale I keep at work in case I want a small snack not on my plan.
The reason you are losing weight is because whatever you are doing is creating a calorie deficit. In fact, it does not matter what you do to eat less than you bun, what matter is you eat less than you burn because it's the only way to lose weight.
All this does not negate the fact that a calorie is a calorie.
Does anyone actually do this?
inb4 I get called out for having OCD and disordered eating.10 -
Let me be clear, the OCD comment was aimed at those who stress over weighing a pre-packaged, single serving yogurt just incase the calories are off by +/- 5-10kcal. Those who weigh restaurant food and pick apart meals "just incase".
Counting calories is one thing but that is just not normal behaviour.0 -
xjessicaxrx wrote: »Let me be clear, the OCD comment was aimed at those who stress over weighing a pre-packaged, single serving yogurt just incase the calories are off by +/- 5-10kcal. Those who weigh restaurant food and pick apart meals "just incase".
Counting calories is one thing but that is just not normal behaviour.
When something prepackaged labelled as 200 grams can be 250 grams that stuff can wipe out your deficit.19 -
stevencloser wrote: »xjessicaxrx wrote: »Let me be clear, the OCD comment was aimed at those who stress over weighing a pre-packaged, single serving yogurt just incase the calories are off by +/- 5-10kcal. Those who weigh restaurant food and pick apart meals "just incase".
Counting calories is one thing but that is just not normal behaviour.
When something prepackaged labelled as 200 grams can be 250 grams that stuff can wipe out your deficit.
It definitely can, especially if you have a small deficit.8
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