How to stop an obsession with calorie counting?

tonia_xo
tonia_xo Posts: 8 Member
in Goal: Maintaining Weight
I've been on a diet and have achieved my goal weight of 125 pounds, down from 150 pounds. However, now I am obsessed with food and counting calories. I weigh everything I eat so I can count every single calorie as accurately as possible. I feel stressed whenever I eat something without nutrition info on meaning I often avoid eating out etc. I obsess with weighing myself and do so at least once a day, sometimes up to 4 times. I try to not drink much in case that makes me put on weight.. Every day I feel like I'm getting worse but I just can't stop. Today I told myself to relax so I had a chocolate bar and cake but now I feel so guilty and can't stop thinking about it. I need to know how I can stop this obsession before it turns into an eating disorder.. It's not just a case of stopping the obsessions because I want to do it as I'm so worried about going back into my old eating habits and putting all the weight on again. Does anyone have any advice please? Thanks.
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Replies

  • ladypitek
    ladypitek Posts: 91 Member
    I don't want to hurt your feelings and I mean no offense, but it sounds to me like you already have an eating disorder. I suggest you see a therapist who specialises in eating disorders as soon as possible before this obsession gets even more out of control.
  • SomewhatCool
    SomewhatCool Posts: 78
    What you need to do is force yourself to quit worrying so much. Learn to better eyeball your portions, but don't freak out. Go out for meals when you want or when it's just easier. I'm still in weight loss mode, and even I do that. As for the scale, hide it maybe? And only bring it out once in a great while to make sure you've not strayed from your desired weight.
  • MzManiak
    MzManiak Posts: 1,361 Member
    Delete the app. Get rid of the scale. Make an appointment with the doctor.

    or

    Eat out. Log it. See that you can maintain weight even if not 100% accurate. Lots of people do it all the time. You're not going to suddenly gain 20 pounds. You see that the scale is slowly (and consistently- not overnight) going up, you cut back on the eating. You see it going down, you have an extra snack. Embrace the fluctuations. They're normal. Stop making yourself crazy.
  • SomewhatCool
    SomewhatCool Posts: 78
    I don't want to hurt your feelings and I mean no offense, but it sounds to me like you already have an eating disorder. I suggest you see a therapist who specialises in eating disorders as soon as possible before this obsession gets even more out of control.

    And, this. Talk to somebody.
  • vet272
    vet272 Posts: 183
    I don't want to hurt your feelings and I mean no offense, but it sounds to me like you already have an eating disorder. I suggest you see a therapist who specialises in eating disorders as soon as possible before this obsession gets even more out of control.

    And, this. Talk to somebody.

    This^^^^

    Please see your GP and nip this in the bud.
  • casy84
    casy84 Posts: 290 Member
    I just aproximated what I ate, had lunch at a restaurant every day and still lost weight. Unfortunately I'm kinda in the same situation as you, just a bit better I guess. I'm not that scared to go over my calories, I'm just afraid to increase them to maintainance. Because of my aproximation of food I stay on the safe side and keep them maintainance-100. The thing is I'm still losing weight and I don't want to.
  • MzManiak
    MzManiak Posts: 1,361 Member
    I just aproximated what I ate, had lunch at a restaurant every day and still lost weight. Unfortunately I'm kinda in the same situation as you, just a bit better I guess. I'm not that scared to go over my calories, I'm just afraid to increase them to maintainance. Because of my aproximation of food I stay on the safe side and keep them maintainance-100. The thing is I'm still losing weight and I don't want to.

    Then why are you afraid to increase them? If you're losing weight, and don't want to.. logic dictates that you would increase calories... 100 calories a day is not going to turn you into anything negative overnight. Increase your calories, watch your weight for a few weeks. Still going down? Increase your calories a bit more. Going up? Decrease them a bit. Staying roughly the same, with a few fluctuations? Perfect! You're doing it right.
  • cbear__
    cbear__ Posts: 5
    Try not to .

    Its so hard though. I have an ED and MFP keeps me sain but also drives me crazy.
  • caramammal
    caramammal Posts: 147 Member
    This happened to me and i took the decision to have a year 'off'' because i was obsessed and not enjoying life. The only thing that was different from you was that i decided to gain 7lbs. And let me tell you, it's hard to gain 7lbs. I thought it would go on straight away and all it would take was a few 'bad' days. but nope, it took 3 months. So i guess what im saying is that even when you do go over your calories, the weight wont just pile on, like you think it will.

    well done on reaching your goal and good luck with your maintenance.
  • sleepingtodream
    sleepingtodream Posts: 304 Member
    I think it is great that you are recognizing that your view on counting calories/measuring isn't a healthy attitude toward food. In some ways I can relate to you. I took a break from logging and measuring for almost a month for a few reasons...one of which that trying to maintain my weight was making me a bit crazy about calorie counting. While I did gain a few lbs I realized that I have to be happy at the weight I am (whether I'm losing or maintaining) instead of worrying about what could happen. When I started on MFP I lost my weight and got down to my goal weight of 125 imo faster than I should have. I've got a few lbs to lose now but am going to go slow and steady. My suggestion would be to take a step back from counting and measuring for a bit....figure out why you have such guilt over a candy bar because maybe there are other stressors in your life that are affecting you. I wish you the best of luck! Feel free to add me if you'd like some support!
  • Seesawboomerang
    Seesawboomerang Posts: 296 Member
    It took about 18 months to slowly gain back 13lbs, when I wasn't paying attention. It took about 6 months to lose 30lbs when I made an effort.

    I think if you mind what you eat but enjoy your life, it can be easy to maintain a healthy weight range.
  • nxd10
    nxd10 Posts: 4,570 Member
    I don't want to hurt your feelings and I mean no offense, but it sounds to me like you already have an eating disorder. I suggest you see a therapist who specialises in eating disorders as soon as possible before this obsession gets even more out of control.

    And, this. Talk to somebody.


    This^^^^

    Please see your GP and nip this in the bud.

    I agree. Obsession, guilt, and compulsion are really different from just conscientiously watching your weight. It's easy for some people to get caught up in it. It can be anything. For you it sounds like it's calories.

    Talk to someone. I would go to a behavioral cognitive therapist (psychologist) not a GP, because they have some really good strategies to help you let go. Sometimes you can't just say 'I'm going to stop.' You tried that yesterday.

    Good luck!
  • autumndjones
    autumndjones Posts: 4
    I have also been obsessing over my calories and now... Macros. I'm terrified that I'm going to gain weight (as rapidly as I did the first time). I went from being 5'7 120lbs to 155lbs in a little over a year. I am now flip flopping from 125-130lbs (lost 25lbs in 8 months from using this app, love it). I don't know how to drop (and keep off) those last few lbs. it's driving me crazy. Should I start running 30 minutes a day? 5 days a week? Would that help? (I don't work out anymore...).

    Didn't mean to randomly drop in. I just don't know who to ask.
  • nxd10
    nxd10 Posts: 4,570 Member
    Why can't you have MFP calculate your calories for a pound a week and stick to that (plus eat your exercise calories?) I'm not being faceteous, I'm serious. As you get close to an ideal weight your weight loss slows down. But it will come off.
  • eat_run_play
    eat_run_play Posts: 30 Member
    Unfortunately, this website is not for everyone. For some, it can turn into obsession or make an eating disorder. For others, they don't have that problem. We are all different. My only advice is if it's bothering you, step away from it and try to do something else that will help you feel good about yourself.
  • dalguard
    dalguard Posts: 36
    It's interesting that people often advise increasing calories by 100 a day. 100 calories a day is 10 pounds a year. If my weight drops below my low point for 2 days in a row, I increase my goal 20 calories a day. That feels much safer to me.
  • erickirb
    erickirb Posts: 12,294 Member
    It's interesting that people often advise increasing calories by 100 a day. 100 calories a day is 10 pounds a year. If my weight drops below my low point for 2 days in a row, I increase my goal 20 calories a day. That feels much safer to me.

    They mean 100/day for 2-3 weeks, not 100day everyday. So if your goal is 1500 today, change it to 1600 for a few weeks, weight still going down, increase to 1700 for another 2-3 weeks.
  • determined_erin
    determined_erin Posts: 571 Member
    It might be a matter of if you slip up on something, you will gain weight. A few ideas I have for you is to lose 5 lbs and then eat normally, not tracking anything. That way you have a buffer of 5 lbs in case you do gain anything while you get yourself back on track (of not using MFP, not measuring, etc). Eat in moderation and have a fun treat once in a while.

    After you do this, check in with your scale one month later. You may've gained back those 5 lbs back, but now you are able to stay at that stable weight without measuring and obsessing over the weight.

    From here, weigh yourself only once a month just to check in.
  • splixi
    splixi Posts: 86 Member
    What starts of as a harmless bid to lose a few pounds on this site can turn into so much more.

    If you are an obsessional person/perfectionist/have great self worth or self esteem issues - MFP can be a bad mix with them.

    I lost heaps of weight when I first came on MFP and was loving it and loving my new found "control"- little did I realise that come a time when I had to stop losing weight (after my heart almost stopped from electrolyte disturbance)- I couldn't. And it was then I realised I was dangerously out of control and it scared me.

    My best advice would be to get off MFP now. I still do not log a food diary anymore on here or put my exercise in (but my head is always doing the math on its own).

    Get professional help now- don't put your life at risk- it isn't worth it. The longer you leave it the harder it gets....

    Feel free to PM me if you want someone to talk to.
  • daniellabella986
    daniellabella986 Posts: 325 Member
    I've been in this position and I hate to say it, but it's a form of an eating disorder and can lead to binge eating disorder if you're not careful. Please go see your doctor and talk to someone.

    I agree with everyone else in getting rid of the scale, app, etc. I think it might help, even if it's for 3 days up to 1 week, to just try to not count calories but eat healthy. By the end of that week, if you don't see that your weight isn't fluctuating as drastically as you imagine it will, hopefully it'll help the obsession some. But either way, I definitely recommend talking to someone because it can get out of hand and completely consume your life. Stay strong, anything is possible.
  • spoiledpuppies
    spoiledpuppies Posts: 675 Member
    It does sound like you might want to talk to a professional already. But to go it alone, I would recommend setting your MFP goal to maintenance and really eat that (including eating back exercise calories). Then you can still log/track in the detail you want but get the calories you need. I think that after working hard for your goal, it's only natural to fear backsliding. Also, you said that you decided to relax, so you had cake and a cookie. Maybe instead of that, make yourself estimate a *healthy* meal each day--or maybe even just once per week. That way, you'll get used to estimating and see that it doesn't make you gain a ton of weight.
  • Sabine_Stroehm
    Sabine_Stroehm Posts: 19,263 Member
    Unfortunately, this website is not for everyone. For some, it can turn into obsession or make an eating disorder. For others, they don't have that problem. We are all different. My only advice is if it's bothering you, step away from it and try to do something else that will help you feel good about yourself.
    This. You've got to consider whether counting and weighing and measuring is getting you to your ultimate goal: a healthy maintainable lifestyle.
  • stephenryan758
    stephenryan758 Posts: 72 Member
    What you are suffering from is the fear that you will gain back the weight you worked so hard to lose. As long as you stick to a 2000 calorie day diet you will be fine maintaining your weight. Nothing wrong with having sweets during the week as long as you stay within your calories. There is nothing wrong with being careful of what you eat, but also do not keep yourself from rewarding yourself here and there. Counting calories with My Fitness Pal and things such as Sodium and Saturated fat on labels is a healthy way to live. But you also have to set a night where you allow yourself to enjoy the foods you really like to reward yourself with. That's why you work hard every day and then reward yourself for it once a week. If someone wants to treat themselves to a Pizza and a couple beers or a pop on Fridays there is nothing wrong with that. Because the rest of the time you exercise and eat well. The only time you start gaining weight back is when you get into the old daily habits that caused you to be heavier than you are now. Key words here are "old daily habits." No you are not going to gain weight if you work out regularly and eat well 99 % of the time. If you eat a piece of cake once a week for dessert then so be it. It won't hurt you. Just don't eat the entire cake! LOL

    Everyone is entitled to a cheat day! For example myself. I give myself one cheat day a week and the rest of the week I stay within my calorie limit of 1700 a day and I work out 6 days per week. Now on my cheat days do I go all out and eat two large pizzas and drink a case of beer? No. I reward myself with one or two drinks and a couple slices of pizza. I have lost over 50 pounds and am going to drop another 20. Over indulgence is never a good thing. But allowing yourself to enjoy your favorite things in moderation is fine.

    Also do not weigh yourself 4 times a day. Weigh yourself once a week in the morning. Choose that day at the end of the week after you have worked hard and made sure to eat well. I recommend doing this on Friday Mornings right when you get out of bed. Do not drink water or eat anything before you do so. Then when you see that you are at your weight goal and maintaining the weight you want to, reward yourself! Have a little dessert and eat it with a smile on your face holding your head high and knowing that your hard work is paying off. Then the next day its back to exercising and eating the things that have caused you to be happy! Be proud and feel beautiful when you look in the mirror because you are doing a great job! :)
  • Vegan_85
    Vegan_85 Posts: 40 Member
    I was like that for a while, after I lost 35lb and reached my goal weight. Although I only weighed myself once a day, rather than four times, like yourself. To be honest, I had to go to therapy to get over it. One hour a week, for a few months last summer. Then I met my boyfriend, and he encouraged me to talk about it, and gradually eat in restaurants etc. again.

    Have you tried any medications? I started lithium a few weeks ago, and it's definitely reduced my OCD traits.

    Edit: I stopped using MFP for a few months, until I was over it. Now I'm back just to make sure I'm getting enough protein, calcium and so on. I'm aiming to eat between 1,400 - 1,700 calories every day.
  • pkw58
    pkw58 Posts: 2,038 Member
    I have also been obsessing over my calories and now... Macros. I'm terrified that I'm going to gain weight (as rapidly as I did the first time). I went from being 5'7 120lbs to 155lbs in a little over a year. I am now flip flopping from 125-130lbs (lost 25lbs in 8 months from using this app, love it). I don't know how to drop (and keep off) those last few lbs. it's driving me crazy. Should I start running 30 minutes a day? 5 days a week? Would that help? (I don't work out anymore...).

    Didn't mean to randomly drop in. I just don't know who to ask.

    Sounds like you are doing fine - maintaining a healthy weight in a 5 pound range. Just add some activity back in your life - maybe 30 minutes or so. Wear a fit bit or nike fuel band or pedometer. Just a thought.
  • cammade
    cammade Posts: 11 Member
    My fitness pall helps you! You can still keep your obsession with calorie counting, just set your goal to maintain your weight. My fitness pal will set how many calories you need to maintain it and make sure you have those calories, you can still be obsessed, but in a healthy way! :)
  • WhisperAnne
    WhisperAnne Posts: 453 Member
    I've been on a diet and have achieved my goal weight of 125 pounds, down from 150 pounds. However, now I am obsessed with food and counting calories. I weigh everything I eat so I can count every single calorie as accurately as possible. I feel stressed whenever I eat something without nutrition info on meaning I often avoid eating out etc. I obsess with weighing myself and do so at least once a day, sometimes up to 4 times. I try to not drink much in case that makes me put on weight.. Every day I feel like I'm getting worse but I just can't stop. Today I told myself to relax so I had a chocolate bar and cake but now I feel so guilty and can't stop thinking about it. I need to know how I can stop this obsession before it turns into an eating disorder.. It's not just a case of stopping the obsessions because I want to do it as I'm so worried about going back into my old eating habits and putting all the weight on again. Does anyone have any advice please? Thanks.

    You sound EXACTLY like me.
  • Riemersma4
    Riemersma4 Posts: 400 Member
    My counselor tells me to replace negative activities with positive ones or the negative ones will never go away.

    Thought for you: when temped to count the calories, worry about the weight, do something fun or good for you. Try going for a quick walk around the house, neighborhood or office. Read a book. Call a friend. Send am email with a joke.

    My jeans tell me everything I need to know about my weight and conditioning.

    Good luck.

    If creating healthy alternatives doesn't work, I agree with several other posts. See a doc.

    Best!
  • mamahannick
    mamahannick Posts: 322 Member
    My fitness pall helps you! You can still keep your obsession with calorie counting, just set your goal to maintain your weight. My fitness pal will set how many calories you need to maintain it and make sure you have those calories, you can still be obsessed, but in a healthy way! :)

    No advice for the actual issue since I struggle with the same obsessiveness, just wanted to say that "obsession" is generally never healthy.
  • AdrianLBM3
    AdrianLBM3 Posts: 3 Member
    Do a break without counting anything and eat what you like. I did this with me and this helped me.

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