Fed up of counting/planning

nataliedanielleneale

I'm so ridiculously fed up of calorie counting- it's taking over my life. I feel that everything I eat has to be planned in advance and I find it so, so hard to eat anything that I don't know the calories of. I often find myself spending hours logging my meals for the week in advance .
It's took me a tremendous amount of effort to increase from the 500 calorie mark that I adopted when I first started dieting in April to the 1400 that I am consuming now. Because of my stupidly restrictive amount, I have had a period since July, and I REALLY can't stand the idea of forcing myself to gain until it comes back- it is not like I'm underweight I don't have a problem with eating 1400 calories- that's fine, it's just that I feel that I HAVE to stick to that as a regiment (the same applies to whatever number I increase to on a weekly basis). I'm trying to find my maintenance level but I just want to get to the point where I don't have to count a single frigging calorie Nobody else I know even counts calories at all, let alone weighs out every morsel that they eat- I just want to eat what I want, when I want and not have to feel any remorse. I really don't think it helps that I feel like I am eating a lot more than the other girls that I live with even though I am sticking to a rigid amount- yes they eat cake and chocolates and pretty much whatever they damn well like, so why, when I sit down to my meals, do I feel so fat?

But there's always that thought in the back of my head telling me not to eat without planning because that will get me back the 12 stone that I started at. If I stop counting and planning, I just expect the 51 lbs that I have lost will just pile back on I don't know what to do anymore. Part of me is saying stuff it- eat freely, yet the other suggests that I should force myself to carry on with the strict counting and upping by 50/100 calories each week until I reach the 1610 calorie goal that MFP has set me for maintenance. But what if that is not right?

I'm sorry if this just seems like a lot of rambling, but I really needed to get it off my chest and it's just that it's getting closer and closer to Christmas now and I really want to be able to eat whatever and not give a damn like I have done every other year. I guess I'm just looking for advice really.

tegalicious

I really think you should see a doctor. It sounds to me like you may have developed a disordered eating problem.

Serah87

Why does it take hours to log your food? Takes me about 5-10 minutes to do a days worth of food. Your making this more complicating than it really needs to be.

nlb1106

Why does it take hours to log your food? Takes me about 5-10 minutes to do a days worth of food. Your making this more complicating than it really needs to be.

And I only spend 2 minutes

SherryTeach

I agree that you may have developed an eating disorder. It's not healthy to have such resentment toward food. I can see that you are miserable. Please find a professional with whom you can talk about these issues.

MyFoodGod

I agree that you may have developed an eating disorder. It's not healthy to have such resentment toward food. I can see that you are miserable. Please find a professional with whom you can talk about these issues.

Agree. Good luck.

khoshgeleh16

I hate to say it, but this definitely sounds like you've developed an eating disorder, or at the very least some very disordered eating behaviors. The constant fixation on numbers and inability to eat things that you can't account for, even if just once in a while - sounds like orthorexia to me, plus the body dysmorphia and amenorrhea (not having a period) are textbook symptoms of anorexia. This is something to see a doctor about.

nataliedanielleneale

Why does it take hours to log your food? Takes me about 5-10 minutes to do a days worth of food. Your making this more complicating than it really needs to be.

And I only spend 2 minutes

I usually log a week in advance. The reason it takes so long is that if I'm not happy with a days worth of food, I will start again- I struggle to keep the level of carbs down.

lripson28

I think you need to go see someone to talk to about this, does not sound healthy to me. I hope you get everything worked out and get to a healthy place.

Myhaloslipped

I think the anxiety you are experiencing will be a hurdle in maintaining your weight, but it seems like calorie counting isn't your biggest problem right now, especially if it is taking you hours to do it. Every few weeks I will say "eff this" and stop counting my calories for a few days, but that is because I am naturally defiant and get irritated with routines sometimes. Remember that this is supposed to be a tool to make your life easier. It shouldn't be causing you this much stress.

Rocbola

Easy answer: stop counting.

Your body is very good at deciding the perfect amount of calories to eat, but it only works properly if you eliminate artificial foods, because your body doesn't register them properly.

Please check out the work of Dr. Doug Lisle, he does a great presentation on this subject, called "The Pleasure Trap"

I think you would also like Kristina Carrillo-Bucaram. She is a young woman who had similar problems, and she has inspired many people through her social media communications and her work starting an organic food co-op. Please check out her page on youtube, or her other social media. Here is her page.
http://www.youtube.com/user/FullyRawKristina

JNettie73

I agree with what everyone else said about speaking to someone about this professionally. I would also like to add if you have had a period since July you should also visit your gyno just to be sure there are no underlying issues going on and that you are healthy.

I hope you don't mind me asking but what is your reasoning for logging a week in advance? I would imagine logging everything that far in advance makes it very difficult to stick to because you are not allowing any room for daily life happenings. You also aren't allowing room for normal cravings. I log day to day, meal to meal. I have the app loaded onto my phone so I can log quickly and easily if I am not at home. If I am at home I log from my computer because I prefer the website to the app. It doesn't take me very long at all to log my foods. The longest it takes is if I am creating a recipe and that only takes approximately 5 minutes.

Best of luck to you. I hope it all works out. :flowerforyou:

jamiesillimandunn

Agree with other posters ....you seem to have become more obsessive about it than you need to be ...maybe try logging as you go follow your body .....and make sure your eating enough not depriving yourself ....your driving yourself crazy over calories ...not good and your right if you just wing it without good judgment ( counting ) you will most likely end up back where you were ...just don't be so hard on yourself good luck ! And enjoy your holidays maybe take those few days off !! But get back on track afterwards

martyqueen52

You really need to educate yourself about carbs, because it sounds TO ME at least, that you don't understand them.

If you're trying to lose weight it's as simple as calories out / calories in..... not carbs in/out

Try a week WITHOUT worrying so much about carbs and then see how you feel about it. Does this mean go hog wild and eat cookies, cake, etc? No. But if you enjoy a sweet like I do, try to fit it into your daily intake.... IIFYM / Flexible Dieting


Before you go see a doctor to talk to, like a lot of people suggest, try what I said. Don't log in advance either. This morning for example, I made 8 egg whites / 3 slices of toast / and a cup of turkey sausage crumbles.... I used the app and scanned the barcodes with my iPhone.... no typing involved. Log your food when you eat it.

But again, if you stay UNDER your caloric maintenance level, even if it's only 100 calories for a single day... YOU WILL LOSE WEIGHT.

WalkingAlong

I would say stop counting, eat freely but aim for healthful foods and portions, and just weigh yourself once a week. The 51 lbs. you lost won't come back in a week. If you gain more than 4-5 lbs., start counting again just until you lose it, unless you're still amenorrhic, then you probably need to gain more for general health.

L4gym

You really need to educate yourself about carbs, because it sounds TO ME at least, that you don't understand them.

If you're trying to lose weight it's as simple as calories out / calories in..... not carbs in/out

Try a week WITHOUT worrying so much about carbs and then see how you feel about it. Does this mean go hog wild and eat cookies, cake, etc? No. But if you enjoy a sweet like I do, try to fit it into your daily intake.... IIFYM / Flexible Dieting


Before you go see a doctor to talk to, like a lot of people suggest, try what I said. Don't log in advance either. This morning for example, I made 8 egg whites / 3 slices of toast / and a cup of turkey sausage crumbles.... I used the app and scanned the barcodes with my iPhone.... no typing involved. Log your food when you eat it.

But again, if you stay UNDER your caloric maintenance level, even if it's only 100 calories for a single day... YOU WILL LOSE WEIGHT.

I concur.

janicebinva

I don't think it's abnormal to feel fed up with all the planning and the constant discipline it takes to lose weight. That holds especially when those around you look like they just eat whenever they want, whatever they want. It's natural to just want to relax. It doesn't seem fair that they don't have to worry about the same things you do, and they are happy with their weight. I get that.

It's also natural to be afraid that if you do relax, you'll go back to the behaviors that got you fat.

Perhaps the solution is to relax just a little, in certain areas. You can decide what those are. Maybe you don't replan so much. Maybe you don't worry so much about carbs as such, but just total calorie intake. Whatever it is, you can figure it out. Don't relax about everything, all of a sudden, or you will feel adrift and out of control.

It does look like you are driving yourself crazy. If you continue to feel so stressed, maybe talking to someone professional about it would be a good idea.

emilyisbonkers

try to be abit more flexible with yourself, I would say keep logging though, you don't want to ruin all the hardwork so far... if you want to start eating more calories, add them in slowly.
also i must say, well done on increasing your calories from 500 to 1400, that must have been hard, and it is so much better now you are eating more...
consider that too, you have safely increased calories before, you could do it again just slowly and surely

nytrifisoul

Wow OP got some serious OCD issues. Your probably better off doing with one of th meal plan companys like nutri system.

emilyisbonkers

Wow OP got some serious OCD issues. Your probably better off doing with one of th meal plan companys like nutri system.

don't be a ****

nytrifisoul

Wow OP got some serious OCD issues. Your probably better off doing with one of th meal plan companys like nutri system.

don't be a ****

How so? Im not the only one that pointed this out. If someone is that OCD that they are stressed out because they feel the compulsion to plan there meals way in advance then a meal plan company like nutri system..ect..ect is probably a good idea even mental health wise.

ElizabethFuller

I think that most of us have gone down the very low calorie route at some point, that's how we find out it's not a good idea.
Do you exercise at all? If you exercise and eat back your calories it gives you more scope for eating the sorts of things that seem to be making you nervous, you will be far less likely to worry about accidentally going over your limit. I find that exercise also helps to keep me calmer.
As for planning, if you repeat a meal you can always directly copy it from one day to another, even if it's not exactly the same it's often quicker to edit rather than start from scratch.
Good luck! :flowerforyou:

tworthen79

Stop logging a week at a time.
I believe people can have an addiction to food. And like with any addiction......take it a day at a time. I wouldn't plan more then a day in advance. Breathe! And just take baby steps. Good luck!

LilRedRooster

I really think you should see a doctor. It sounds to me like you may have developed a disordered eating problem.

Agreed. Good luck.

lewandt

You really need to educate yourself about carbs, because it sounds TO ME at least, that you don't understand them.

If you're trying to lose weight it's as simple as calories out / calories in..... not carbs in/out

Try a week WITHOUT worrying so much about carbs and then see how you feel about it. Does this mean go hog wild and eat cookies, cake, etc? No. But if you enjoy a sweet like I do, try to fit it into your daily intake.... IIFYM / Flexible Dieting


Before you go see a doctor to talk to, like a lot of people suggest, try what I said. Don't log in advance either. This morning for example, I made 8 egg whites / 3 slices of toast / and a cup of turkey sausage crumbles.... I used the app and scanned the barcodes with my iPhone.... no typing involved. Log your food when you eat it.

But again, if you stay UNDER your caloric maintenance level, even if it's only 100 calories for a single day... YOU WILL LOSE WEIGHT.

I concur.

Me too. Keep it simple

QuietBloom

Wow OP got some serious OCD issues. Your probably better off doing with one of th meal plan companys like nutri system.

don't be a ****

How so? Im not the only one that pointed this out. If someone is that OCD that they are stressed out because they feel the compulsion to plan there meals way in advance then a meal plan company like nutri system..ect..ect is probably a good idea even mental health wise.

Nutrisystem is a good way to get yourself malnourished. This is a woman who is trying to establish healthy eating goals, after a history of severe self restriction. Did you even read her post?

ndj1979

Why does it take hours to log your food? Takes me about 5-10 minutes to do a days worth of food. Your making this more complicating than it really needs to be.

And I only spend 2 minutes

I usually log a week in advance. The reason it takes so long is that if I'm not happy with a days worth of food, I will start again- I struggle to keep the level of carbs down.

why are you trying to keep carbs down?

I agree with others, it sounds like you have developed an unhealthy relationship with food...

takes me about 10 minutes to log...

MysteriousMerlin

I agree that you may have developed an eating disorder. It's not healthy to have such resentment toward food. I can see that you are miserable. Please find a professional with whom you can talk about these issues.

This. THIS. Please, see a professional. You're miserable now, and obsessing over something design to help, not hurt. Please see someone, it's not supposed to be this unpleasant or difficult.

devil_in_a_blue_dress

I would see a professional too. Cognitive behavior therapy can really give you tools to re-frame how you see food. It will go from your enemy (that causes weight gain/fat) to your friend (giving you fuel to be strong). It's not an easy road, but going to 500 to 1,400 calories is a GREAT achievement, so you're off to very good start. Be proud of yourself and love yourself,

enidite

I can understand that you get tired of counting calories. But remember we are not perfect. There will be days where you may eat something you have not planned for , but that is ok , you can eat everything in moderation. Have you thought about trying to log as you eat as others have suggested? Or have you considered about not logging and weighing yourself to make sure you don't gain? Like others said carbs are not evil, you need them just as other nutritional elements, a piece of cake isn't evil either, you probably get more bang for your bucks by eating unrefined carbs, as they will keep you full longer, but a treat once in a while won't hurt you. If you deprive yourself too much, it will be difficult to maintain your new lifestyle and weight. Having lost weight before and regained it and much more; I can tell you that losing was the easier part. I did not realize that I had to make permanent lifestyle changes to maintain the loss. I had not shed the diet mentality and thought 'well after I'm done I'll go back to normal' , well after losing there is a new normal and we will have to learn to live the new lifestyle to maintain. People that are naturally slim do some of the things we have to learn just intuitively.. But I believe we will one day too as we get accustomed to the new lifestyle and the new weight.
You can do this , just remember that you will learn as you go. Counseling can be a big help too. I am glad I did go and seek out professional help because the physical part is only one side of weight loss, the emotional side is just as important.
I wish you all the best. Don't give up.

zoeysasha37

I would personally go talk to a doctor or therapist..I think you may be developing an eating disorder and should talk to someone as soon as possible before it becomes worse.it takes me about ten mins to plan out my meals and if I'm over sometimes, it's no big deal! It shouldn't consume your life.