Goodbye, Myfitnesspal: The dangers of calorie counting (personally)

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  • MissyCHF
    MissyCHF Posts: 337 Member
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    MostlyWater wrote: »
    I've been here for years and that has not been my experience.
    Horses for courses. The OP has made a wise decision for herself. Good luck to her, I say.

  • mbaker566
    mbaker566 Posts: 11,233 Member
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    MFP is a tool. the OP added her own issues to it.
    eating mcdonalds isn't bad
    going over calorie allotments isn't call to berate oneself.

  • Kfrase83
    Kfrase83 Posts: 42 Member
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    I get the mindset of the OP - not the 900-1,000 calories though, that is dangerous.
    It was my birthday weekend last weekend, and when people asked me how it was, I said "Great, I ate whatever I wanted", and that scared me a little, because I should always be eating whatever I want... I get it OP.
  • zeejane03
    zeejane03 Posts: 993 Member
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    elisa123gal wrote: »
    I was just reading on the Internet about why most people regain weight. The articles are over all pretty depressing. One mentioned that it really doesn't matter what diet you choose they all have pretty much the same results.. and in the end....it is hard to keep the weight off. They even mention that calorie counting slows the metabolism so much that your body works through hunger hormones to regain the weight.

    I too don't count calories... restrictive nature diets are not for me. I do much better just trying to eat healthy, clean, and move more. It works for me...and hopefully will for the long term. I hope I'm one of the lucky ones.

    I am one of the 'lucky' ones (participant of the NWCR etc), and part of my weight management plan is being mindful of my calorie intake. 7ish years into the process and I haven't experienced anything like what OP is describing. Hopefully she gets the help that she needs and can move past the struggles that she's dealing with.
  • CSARdiver
    CSARdiver Posts: 6,252 Member
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    AshleyWallace3 wrote: »
    Hi guys, I appreciate everything that's said, SO so so so so so much - and there hasn't been a single poster who has been wrong. A lot of you are saying to seek professional help. To be honest, I'm a little scared to do so. One of my reasons is that I've had friends approach GP's, who range around 5'4" and 21 stone, and suffer from suffer binge eating... Their GP's response?

    "Learn some self-restraint."

    I'm not sure how to approach this. However, I -will- find a way around it to get help, or just man up and take a risk of being rejected by my GP.

    HOWEVER: There's a point here I want to underline.

    I'm not here to attack MyFitnessPal. I hate to sound aggressive, but it made me roll my eyes that there was a post exclusively saying 'It's not MFP's fault.'

    In my post, I'm sorry if it sounded like I blame MFP. The way I use MFP is a symptom, not the cause. The community s beyond fantastic, and counting calories is a safe way to do things - in fact, a post earlier pointed out the way you are MEANT to use calories which made me go 'ooooooh....!'. So for every one of you using it as a healthy means to lose weight, you're doing a fantastic job. <3.

    But for the post saying that this has 'nothing' to do with MFP. That's just so incorrect. Again, MFP is wonderful - the hammer analogy used is perfect. A hammer can't be harmful by itself. But if someone's repeatedly smashing their thumb with the hammer, then until they can use it correctly, THEY HAVE TO PUT THE HAMMER DOWN.

    Hope that clears things up! I don't want to discourage anyone from using MFP; I just want people who read this and maybe don't realize that something is wrong to be aware.

    Cheers guys, I appreciate what I'm reading so much. :)

    Don't base an entire group based upon one crappy GP with poor bedside manner.

    There is not a single individual who could not do better seeking some counseling. This is one stigma which needs a quick and deliberate death.

    I agree with your assessment and that this is a clear matter of priorities. Address your mindset and behaviors first. You'll likely find that the weight addresses itself when you address this emotional connection.

    Best regards and I look forward to hearing a success story in the future.
  • zeejane03
    zeejane03 Posts: 993 Member
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    MikePTY wrote: »
    AshleyWallace3 wrote: »
    Hi guys, I appreciate everything that's said, SO so so so so so much - and there hasn't been a single poster who has been wrong. A lot of you are saying to seek professional help. To be honest, I'm a little scared to do so. One of my reasons is that I've had friends approach GP's, who range around 5'4" and 21 stone, and suffer from suffer binge eating... Their GP's response?

    "Learn some self-restraint."

    I'm not sure how to approach this. However, I -will- find a way around it to get help, or just man up and take a risk of being rejected by my GP.

    You would want to speak to a therapist or mental health specialist, ideally someone who has experience in eating disorders/unhealthy eating habits. Most GPs don't know the first thing about EDs/nutrition, etc. If you need to go to a GP for a referral, I would go ahead and try it. Just be very clear about wanting to talk with a mental health specialist.

    This.

    OP your GP can give you a referral to a specialist. Your insurance may also be able to give you a list of local specialists in your area.
  • vanityy99
    vanityy99 Posts: 2,583 Member
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    jlgmfp wrote: »
    AshleyWallace3 wrote: »
    Counting calories will help you lose weight. And if that's what you need, you go for that. I lost 3 stone off SW and then another stone and a half using MyFitnessPal. It does work.

    And then I became obsessed. I even put up a post here berating myself for - gasp - eating a McDonalds after I had spent the week before on around 900/1000 calories, stating I felt so disappointed and guilty with myself, addressing it as a 'major' set back... Maybe some of you guys who commented remember me, haha! I think every single person that commented pointed out how bizarre and how unhealthy that was. And sadly, those posts hit against a brick wall. For anyone reading, they're probably shrugging and thinking 'So? You're trying to lose weight, aren't you?'

    I feel like I can't convey it. Weighing myself twice a day - I was so desperate to see how the day before had impacted me that I shot up out of bed, went to the bathroom so that it didn't affect the numbers, and sped to those scales before anything else. I could lose 5/6 pound in a week. If I lost a pound, I was reinforced, and hooked all over again. If I gained, I immediately made a mental plan to punish myself with my diet.

    I declined social nights out because I was scared about gaining weight.

    I missed out entire meals so I could finally have some chocolate and still lose a pound. How bloody unhealthy is that?

    A few times, I felt so bad about eating big portions on social events that I forced myself to vomit in the bathroom. There were also the unsuccessful attempts.

    I didn't exercise excessively, but I did exercise for the sole reason of burning off one of my very limited meals. So I made matters a bit worse that way.

    I examined/examine myself twice or three times a day in the mirror, trying to figure out if I'm fat or not.

    A few friends and family said to me that I was going too far with things.

    It was a very beloved friend of mine who sat me down very recently and told me that I'm on the way towards developing an eating disorder. And he had warned me about this before, but I have this wall up - he worked in a mental ward, has three family members fighting against anorexia and has at least two female friends who are suffering it.

    If I do have an eating disorder... You'd never guess by looking at me. I'm 5'5" and 148-ish pounds. This... is fat to me. But only when I think about myself. I'm not saying I definitely an eating disorder have one, but whatever is going on...

    I'm ready to change my lifestyle. Today, I felt immense guilt because I had a packet of crisps. This was the only thing I had for lunch, with a slice of toast and banana for breakfast. This should NOT spark guilt!? I read articles on how to stop feeling guilty about food, and while I didn't eat anything else, I managed to overcome the shame. I felt SO happy that I had managed. For the first time in two years, I didn't feel guilty about having an 'off-limit' food and it felt so, so so wonderful!

    I don't want to lose weight now. I want to become HEALTHY, in both body and mind.

    *I've stopped weighing myself, but the constant want to do so is still there.

    *I'm doing half an hour of hot yoga in the morning, and at least 20 minutes of cardio per day. Not for the calorie burning, just for treating my body right. I'm trying to work on increasing what I eat to compensate for this, but it usually ends up just being a banana. So, big work in progress here!

    *If I'm hungry, I'm going to eat. This is another work in progress that I haven't conquered yet.

    *NO MORE CALORIE COUNTING! LISTEN TO MY BODY! If I feel a sugar craving, have some fruit. If I want a chocolate bar every once in a while? Hey. That's fine. :)

    *THREE MEALS A DAY, and try to have either fruit/vegetable, protein, healthy fat, and complex carbs with them! Again, this is something I'm working on. It's part of the reason I felt so guilty about my lunch today. I don't look at them in calories anymore, I look at them and think positively. Whereas before, a baked potato with tuna (and full-fat mayo) would have made me dread the calories in them, I'm now going to think about the goodness in them. <3

    I've deleted MyFitnessPal from my shortcuts and favorite list. However... The fact I haven't deleted my account tells me something important. I still want it there. The voice that's fat-shaming me, and obsessing about calories and making me feel bad about food... She's not ready to let this go yet. But it'll come.

    I think, guys, if you had to choose between them:

    Be happy and healthy and a few pounds overweight,
    Rather than the 'ideal' weight and a prisoner to calories.

    Hey, just wanted to say I found your post so relatable. The same thing happened to me. It just gradually spiralled to the point where it became my whole focus. The calorie goal became stricter and stricter, and anything over it would make me feel so much guilt and shame. It was exhausting.

    This time I’m setting myself much more reasonable goals. I’m in no rush, and my focus now is on getting fitter and healthier.

    I recently read a book called Body Positive Power by Megan Crabbe. Would highly recommend. It explains all of this so well. So so so so so relatable and completely changed my perspective on things.

    Glad you’re doing better.

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