Obsessed with Counting Calories
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neiltillbrook
Posts: 26 Member
I've used MyFitnessPal.com for a while, on and off, with my most recent stint seeing me drop 3.5 stone over the last six months. However, family and friends are starting to imply I've become obsessed with counting calories.
Obviously, I need to count them in order to make sure I'm staying on track, but I also don't want to let calorie counting consume me. For example: If I can't find the nutritional information for something, a majority of the time I won't eat it.
What do people do when you can't find the information on something, do you put it down and walk away, or do you just accept it's not going to be 100% right all the time and just enjoy it - even though the difference could be 10-100 calories difference in some cases.
Obviously, I need to count them in order to make sure I'm staying on track, but I also don't want to let calorie counting consume me. For example: If I can't find the nutritional information for something, a majority of the time I won't eat it.
What do people do when you can't find the information on something, do you put it down and walk away, or do you just accept it's not going to be 100% right all the time and just enjoy it - even though the difference could be 10-100 calories difference in some cases.
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Replies
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Counting calories is unusual behavior in our society so it's easy for people to see it and think that we're obsessed.
Do you feel like you're obsessed? Would you be happier if you sometimes allowed yourself to estimate things when you didn't have a calorie count?
I am not going to live the whole rest of my life never eating things unless I know the exact information so I sometimes estimate. That's what happiness looks like to me. I log exactly as I can when I can so that I have room for the times when I want to make an estimate.20 -
Yeah, what jane said.
Even if you are entering every single bite, there's always room for estimating. I prepare most of my meals myself and that's easy enough to be fairly accurate, using my food scale and logging.
For those meals "out" I estimate.
Oh, and I've learned by experience not to discuss calories, nutrition, and logging etc. with people who are not on this site.
It just makes life easier.15 -
@janejellyroll: I don't think I'm obsessed, and I'll occasionally estimate the calories of something, but it tends to play in the back of my mind how close I was to the right value. I know a value isn't right all of the time, and even the values on packets average out over time, but I feel as though I have a figure to stick to and I should stick to it as close as possible.
I won't be counting for the rest of my life either, so I should be more lenient; I guess allowing myself to have a couple of weeks off of tracking over Christmas has made me think sternly about counting again.
@cmriverside: I know what you mean when it comes to discussing it, haha. I don't tend to say much to other people, but when someone mentions to topic of calorie counting and how they've done it before it's hard to get me to shut up.3 -
neiltillbrook wrote: »I don't think I'm obsessed, and I'll occasionally estimate the calories of something, but it tends to play in the back of my mind how close I was to the right value. I know a value isn't right all of the time, and even the values on packets average out over time, but I feel as though I have a figure to stick to and I should stick to it as close as possible.
I won't be counting for the rest of my life either, so I should be more lenient; I guess allowing myself to have a couple of weeks off of tracking over Christmas has made me think sternly about counting again.
I'm over ten years into "counting." It's the only thing that works for me. I can look at a meal and pretty much guess at this point - and I do have many days where I just go way over. It all works out. It's not an exact science. Stepping on the body-weight scale a couple times a week tends to keep me in line.
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@cmriverside Like most people I've tried several diets, but calorie counting is the only thing that's ever really worked for me, too. See, I've never really prepared my own foods that aren't either a ready meal or frozen things that I can throw in the oven. I know that's because they've nutritional information on and at least that way I know what I'm eating is the right information.0
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cmriverside wrote: »Yeah, what jane said.
Even if you are entering every single bite, there's always room for estimating. I prepare most of my meals myself and that's easy enough to be fairly accurate, using my food scale and logging.
For those meals "out" I estimate.
Oh, and I've learned by experience not to discuss calories, nutrition, and logging etc. with people who are not on this site.
It just makes life easier.
Yes -- honestly, only a small handful of the people in my life know that I count calories. There are a couple reasons I keep to the policy of keeping it to myself -- first, talking about diet/weight control/fitness is deadly dull to most people unless they happen to be into it and second, I don't feel like justifying/explaining it to has a pet weight control theory that disregards CICO.
If someone asks me straight up about my personal methods, I'm happy to share and answer any questions that they have. Other than that, I keep it to myself.
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neiltillbrook wrote: »@janejellyroll: I don't think I'm obsessed, and I'll occasionally estimate the calories of something, but it tends to play in the back of my mind how close I was to the right value. I know a value isn't right all of the time, and even the values on packets average out over time, but I feel as though I have a figure to stick to and I should stick to it as close as possible.
I won't be counting for the rest of my life either, so I should be more lenient; I guess allowing myself to have a couple of weeks off of tracking over Christmas has made me think sternly about counting again.
@cmriverside: I know what you mean when it comes to discussing it, haha. I don't tend to say much to other people, but when someone mentions to topic of calorie counting and how they've done it before it's hard to get me to shut up.
As much as you can tell about a stranger on the internet from a couple of posts, it doesn't sound like you have a problem. It sounds like you have a method that works for you. If you feel like you'd be happier letting go a bit more, practice it. Otherwise, why change what is working?3 -
@janejellyroll: Thanks, I appreciate that. Yeah, I'd say I'm fine with calorie counting, I guess I just wish I could be a bit more lenient with foods I can't find the exact details for. New Year's resolution perhaps? 2
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If I can weigh it and guess at the percentage of carb, protein, and fat in it, I can calculate a good guess at a calorie value for it. 80% carb and protein * 4 oz is 112 * 4 * .8 which is 320 * 32 + 6, so the carb content of it is 326 calories, and if the other 20% is fat so another 112 * 9 * .2 which is 180 + 18 + 2, so another 200 calories and a total of 526 calories. That's in 4 ounces of a pastry. So, I'll have half that much.3
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Have you tried not logging for a couple of days?0
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@TavistockToad: A few weeks ago I spent some time reading up on 'diet breaks'. I've been logging regularly for the last six months so decided a couple of weeks ago that I'd take a two week controlled break over Christmas.
The first week I stuck to my TDEE minus 5% to stay in a slight deficit, however the second week over Christmas has been a free for all. I'll be going back to my normal routine as of 01/01/2018 (when the two weeks is over).
I think my issue is with wanting to make sure the items I'm logging are exact, rather than the fact I'm logging.1 -
neiltillbrook wrote: »I've used MyFitnessPal.com for a while, on and off, with my most recent stint seeing me drop 3.5 stone over the last six months. However, family and friends are starting to imply I've become obsessed with counting calories.
Obviously, I need to count them in order to make sure I'm staying on track, but I also don't want to let calorie counting consume me. For example: If I can't find the nutritional information for something, a majority of the time I won't eat it.
What do people do when you can't find the information on something, do you put it down and walk away, or do you just accept it's not going to be 100% right all the time and just enjoy it - even though the difference could be 10-100 calories difference in some cases.
In my book, that (bolded) is being obsessive, so you may need to really work on that before it consumes your eating habits.
As far as your question of what to do when I can't find the information on line or in the MFP database. I just eat less. I don't log or estimate the calories because know that it would not be accurate. Just increase exercise, don't eat all the exercise calories and/or carry a bigger deficit during the week to compensate for more caloric intake during the weekend.
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neiltillbrook wrote: »I've used MyFitnessPal.com for a while, on and off, with my most recent stint seeing me drop 3.5 stone over the last six months. However, family and friends are starting to imply I've become obsessed with counting calories.
Obviously, I need to count them in order to make sure I'm staying on track, but I also don't want to let calorie counting consume me. For example: If I can't find the nutritional information for something, a majority of the time I won't eat it.
What do people do when you can't find the information on something, do you put it down and walk away, or do you just accept it's not going to be 100% right all the time and just enjoy it - even though the difference could be 10-100 calories difference in some cases.
In my book, that (bolded) is being obsessive, so you may need to really work on that before it consumes your eating habits.
As far as your question of what to do when I can't find the information on line or in the MFP database. I just eat less. I don't log or estimate the calories because know that it would not be accurate. Just increase exercise, don't eat all the exercise calories and/or carry a bigger deficit during the week to compensate for more caloric intake during the weekend.
Question: wouldn't you want to log *something* even as a placeholder value so it doesn't look like you're way under for the day in question? Your log is your log, obviously, but I like having something there at least. My estimate is still going to be more accurate than "0."0 -
@Gisel2015: I will occasionally have a meal that I haven't been able to calculate for definite, but I'll have that nagging doubt in the back of my mind as to whether or not I've been able to guestimate properly. You're right, though, I think it's something that I need to come to terms with.
This is a lifestyle change, after all, and I haven't got a specific date that I need to have lost weight by. Having the odd item or meal where I haven't been able to be strict isn't the be all and end all. It's just something I'll need to work on.0 -
For me the logging helps me to be more conscious of what I am consuming. Sometimes I tend to think that oh its just a sandwich.. until I log it and say whoa wait.. this is a meal! It helps me to be alert and make wiser decisions. Not saying all the choices are healthy.. but being aware lets me know how to meal prep and also try new ideas of healthier eating choices.3
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I can throw a huge wrench in all this, I think
Those packages? Yeah - the exact calorie count can be off by as much as 20%, by law. Are you weighing everything? Even those prepared meals? Breads? Cereals? Everything? Doubtful.
I don't buy a lot of pre-prepared foods other than yogurt, bread, and some dressings. I weigh out all my home-prepared recipes and meals on a food scale, etc. I think it's a good thing to learn to do so that you can gauge a serving of any type meal.
It isn't an exact science. When you accept that - errors and all - you'll be better able to look at the Big Picture. I accept that I am making a couple hundred calories worth of errors on any given day, and that is how it is. Even using a food scale. I forget a bite here and there, add too much or too little to the food diary. Whatever. I'm still the same weight.
I do remember in the beginning of this I wanted so badly to get everything exactly right. It just isn't that way, doesn't need to be, and isn't possible.
Relax. Jump on the body-weight scale, do the best you can.7 -
neiltillbrook wrote: »@TavistockToad: A few weeks ago I spent some time reading up on 'diet breaks'. I've been logging regularly for the last six months so decided a couple of weeks ago that I'd take a two week controlled break over Christmas.
The first week I stuck to my TDEE minus 5% to stay in a slight deficit, however the second week over Christmas has been a free for all. I'll be going back to my normal routine as of 01/01/2018 (when the two weeks is over).
I think my issue is with wanting to make sure the items I'm logging are exact, rather than the fact I'm logging.
So Christmas week you didn't log?
What happens if you're not accurate? If you weigh in at least weekly then you'll know if you've overestimated over time?0 -
@cmriverside: Yeah, I remember reading and seeing on some programs that the information on packages can legally be off to a certain degree, and that they average out over time. I weight things like cereal, frozen veg, and anything that can be portioned (chips, etc.) not slices of bread, ready meals or things already in a portion (chicken burger).
I think that's the mentally I need to focus on. I need to accept that, though I weight a good 90%+ of the things I eat, that the details aren't always going to be accurate and day-to-day I'm likely to be a little up, then down.
@TavistockToad: I logged in the first week, but I haven't since Christmas Day. In the first week I'd put on a couple of lbs, but I expected that to happen. On a regular week I might lose, or not, or put on a 1lb, so it varies from week to week, but all in all it's a steady decrease over the six months I've been logging this year.
Before you say anything, I know that points to me doing all the right things, and I know I know that - it's just the niggling doubts in the back of my mind that stop me from focusing on it.
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neiltillbrook wrote: »@Gisel2015: I will occasionally have a meal that I haven't been able to calculate for definite, but I'll have that nagging doubt in the back of my mind as to whether or not I've been able to guestimate properly. You're right, though, I think it's something that I need to come to terms with.
This is a lifestyle change, after all, and I haven't got a specific date that I need to have lost weight by. Having the odd item or meal where I haven't been able to be strict isn't the be all and end all. It's just something I'll need to work on.
The thing is, no matter how accurate you think you're being, there are all kinds of inaccuracies built into the process of getting that nutritional info on the package. Calorie counting doesn't have to be 100%, or even 80%, accurate. You judge your accuracy by what you see when you weigh yourself over several weeks and adjust accordingly.
While I think logging/counting can be a not-obsessive lifetime habit, I would say that the nagging doubt and the not ever eating foods you can't be accurate with could become problems over time.- The doubt is unnecessary - judge how you're doing by your weight, and adjust if necessary, no biggie.
- Making smart choices to facilitate logging and reaching your goal is good. Depriving yourself of pleasurable or social experiences to ensure "accuracy" is not, at least in my opinion. Sometimes figuring out where that line is can be a challenge.
- The good news is that as you get more experience logging, it actually will make you better at estimating portion sizes and ingredients, so you can venture out more often with less risk.
I've been logging for @ 3 years. I eat dinner at my parents twice a week and estimate what I log. I eat fast food once or twice a week and don't weigh it, just use the posted info. I use the food scale most of the time at home. I lost weight as expected.
I normally agree with the fact that calorie counting is not a widely accepted or understood practice, so do what you need to do. But if a lot of people who know you well are concerned, I wouldn't dismiss it out of hand either. Are you seeing family and friends less often in an effort to avoid "guessing"? Do you talk about calories a lot? These are things you can work around while still logging well and maintaining a healthy weight :drinker:3 -
janejellyroll wrote: »neiltillbrook wrote: »I've used MyFitnessPal.com for a while, on and off, with my most recent stint seeing me drop 3.5 stone over the last six months. However, family and friends are starting to imply I've become obsessed with counting calories.
Obviously, I need to count them in order to make sure I'm staying on track, but I also don't want to let calorie counting consume me. For example: If I can't find the nutritional information for something, a majority of the time I won't eat it.
What do people do when you can't find the information on something, do you put it down and walk away, or do you just accept it's not going to be 100% right all the time and just enjoy it - even though the difference could be 10-100 calories difference in some cases.
In my book, that (bolded) is being obsessive, so you may need to really work on that before it consumes your eating habits.
As far as your question of what to do when I can't find the information on line or in the MFP database. I just eat less. I don't log or estimate the calories because know that it would not be accurate. Just increase exercise, don't eat all the exercise calories and/or carry a bigger deficit during the week to compensate for more caloric intake during the weekend.
Question: wouldn't you want to log *something* even as a placeholder value so it doesn't look like you're way under for the day in question? Your log is your log, obviously, but I like having something there at least. My estimate is still going to be more accurate than "0."
Nope! Since I am in maintenance estimates don't mean much to me. And honestly, I had the same approach before maintenance. I do write in the comment section of my food diary what I had and where I ate, but that is all. For the most part, I do know if I am under or over and as long as the scale and my clothes are good to me, I am fine with this approach.0
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