Being Obsessive = Only Way to Truely Succeed

battybecks

i am obsessed. i have to be.

i am obsessed because even if i was not thinking about food from a healthy standpoint, i would be still be thinking about food.

i am an addict. food was always on a mind much like heroin clouds the mind of a junkie. food took control for years, gave me a place to escape, a place to hide and ultimately a place to destruct.

so i think about it all the time, but now i think about food with laser focus in terms of intake, output, energy and nourishment.

so until my mind has won all rights to my thought process, i will be remain obsessed, vigilant and acutely aware that while addiction lurks quiet inside of me, my will is much louder, incredibly stronger and currently dominating the *kitten* out of this battle.

Oh yes. This.

I think probably everyone who is looking at the forum posts rather than merely logging food and going off and doing other things is a little obsessed! But obsession = focus = motivation. It depends what mood you're in when you describe it I guess!

I find that if I get absorbed in something else, and my eating and exercising habits slip my mind for a bit then I pile the weight on. I've never got to the stage when this kind of lifestyle change becomes habit - I will this time. But I wonder how long that will take - everyone is different!

So yes - obsess. Why not? And when you're describing it to others, call it 'focus' or 'motivation' so that they understand it's a good thing

dangerousdumpling

How it works for me. I obsess during the early stages until what I'm doing becomes natural.

Same here. Logging and exercising are just a part of my life now. They're habits that I'm comfortable with. Lazing about and eating too much make me uncomfortable now and that's how I know I've made lasting changes. I don't have that obsessive high alert feeling anymore. This is the new normal.

simsburyjet

I have been called obsessed by larger people, Manarexic by larger people and have no life by the larger people..
If you read my diary, I eat a lot of food daily but do think about it as I reach my calorie intake number for the day.

FindingAmy77

yes, its all I can think or talk about.

shan_0517

It feels like obsession, but is part of my everyday life now.. I've made some good progess this time around and whatever it is, I'm sticking with it.

Whatever it takes to make progress.. Congrats on yours so far :drinker:

TX_Rhon

i agree.. to a degree......
obsessed is a very powerful word/.

Glad its not just me. I know I am driving my coworkers (well, the ones I like) crazy with my meal planning! I do call it my new obsession but I do not like that word - it is too powerful. Yet "hobby" doesn't sound determined enough!

amoffatt

My obsession when it comes to what I eat and even exercise is good but also can be bad. It is good because I am aware now of what I eat, whats good, whats not and to become more conscience about the whole food thing. Same with exercise, obsessive, but it makes me do it when I feel like not.

The bad is.... I am developing a bad relationship with food in the opposite way (before, ate it all the time) now, scared to eat anything! (Had previous eating disorders in high school and fear reverting back to that). I spend all day obsessing about food and exercise to where it is the only thing on my mind and can disrupt my whole day.

I am still learning, after 2 years of "New and improved Lifestyle change" and knowing there will always be ups and downs and not everyone is perfect with these habits. :happy:

CanGirl40

I was obsessed more when I was eating too low cal, trying to resist EVERYTHING, and then bingeing on weekends, celebrations, etc.
Since MFP I have gone from obsessed, to educated and vigilant, and then gradually to "aware" if that makes sense. I still often log my food but it doesn't "consume" me and I no longer "obsess" about every little morsel, social function, etc.

It's a very freeing feeling to feel in control and balanced.

Deipneus

I am off to a good start so far, but there is one thing I have noticed that has kept me successful so far.

I am constantly "thinking" about what I am eating and what I am going to eat every second of every day. It has become my obsession. I guess you can say this is a good thing but this is till food. I am still obsessed by food but in a good way.

I've been at this quite a while now. I've been on maintenance sinc May 2012. Obsessiveness nearly drove me mad. It was okay at first to keep me on track, but after a while it fatigued me mentally.

red869

For me, being obsessive always leads to failure - hence why I'm fat. I'm always obsessive when I try to lose weight. I can continue with it for months on end (4-10 months usually). I worry about everything I eat and avoiding anything that hasn't being weighed beforehand but then I snap, I go back to old eating habits and regain all the weight lost. I am trying my hardest to avoid the obsessiveness and to be more relaxed about what I can and can't eat and any exercise that I do. I'm still obsessive, but am learning to change.

Wantingslim

Bump

likitisplit

For me, being obsessive always leads to failure - hence why I'm fat. I'm always obsessive when I try to lose weight. I can continue with it for months on end (4-10 months usually). I worry about everything I eat and avoiding anything that hasn't being weighed beforehand but then I snap, I go back to old eating habits and regain all the weight lost. I am trying my hardest to avoid the obsessiveness and to be more relaxed about what I can and can't eat and any exercise that I do. I'm still obsessive, but am learning to change.

In my opinion, small sustainable changes that get you moving in the right direction are better than lifestyle changes that get you to "lose the weight"

red869

For me, being obsessive always leads to failure - hence why I'm fat. I'm always obsessive when I try to lose weight. I can continue with it for months on end (4-10 months usually). I worry about everything I eat and avoiding anything that hasn't being weighed beforehand but then I snap, I go back to old eating habits and regain all the weight lost. I am trying my hardest to avoid the obsessiveness and to be more relaxed about what I can and can't eat and any exercise that I do. I'm still obsessive, but am learning to change.

In my opinion, small sustainable changes that get you moving in the right direction are better than lifestyle changes that get you to "lose the weight"

I agree completely. However, it's just very difficult trying to convince myself to follow through with smaller changes. I know that's the best way to lose weight and keep it off, but somehow it is extremely difficult to do.

SLLRunner

So my question is, has anyone else noticed that with their success comes obsession, and better yet, can you sue your obsession with food (in a bad way, how I got fat) to channel it to a "good" obsession?

Absolutely. I plan ahead by logging my meals through dinner for that day. I stay conscious of what I do and do not want to put in my body. it's all about taking care of myself and seeing food as something good, as fuel for my body, and eating what I like in moderation.

Unknown

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alisonlynn1976

Completely disagree. I don't count calories or obsess about food and I'm succeeding anyway.

Pretty much any statement that defines a "one true way" for something is going to be false. People vary.

bunbunzee44

obsessed is such a strong word. sure, I think about food a lot, and going to gym is something I want and feel like I should do, it makes me happy once I can get my butt there. I wouldn't call it obsessing though..

Kim55555

some people think im obssessed. i like to call it dedication