Want to make healthy changes, don't want to obsess

strawberrylemonade92

Part of the reason I want to use MFP to lose weight is so that i can enjoy life and not worry about my weight anymore. I tend to obsess about things when I get interested in a new hobby or website etc etc and i feel like I'm always thinking about my food and my meals and logging them. I do pre log which helps. I just don't want to be that young woman that is always thinking about her "diet" (I'm not really thinking of it as a diet, but for lack of a better word) and missing out on her life and all the things going on around her. Will that go away as the novelty of the website and all it's fun stuff goes away and it becomes a normal routine? I am hoping that's the case. Any thoughts? Thanks!

Sarah

PinkCoconut

When I first started out I just focused on ONE thing at a time. That was it. I just tossed out all the junk food I had in the house and told myself that I would no longer be buying it. After a few weeks of that I got rid of any liquid in the fridge that wasn't water. Then I started to go for a walk a few times per week.

Making these small changes - switching out 1-2 unhealthy habits for healthier ones every couple of weeks not only helped me to get the weight off but it also wasn't a diet. I was still able to eat the things I liked, I just SLOWLY started to phase the unhealthier things out of my life. I didn't even start tracking my food until I found myself in a plateau at the 50 lbs lost mark and needed to see if there was something going on.

Now I log (well, not RIGHT now as I'm two weeks from my pregnancy due date) but I can manage it better because I'm focusing more on my eating PATTERNS more than calories. I want to know when and what I overeat on and whether I need more macronutrients than calories (which is what made me plateau at the 50 lbs lost - my calories were fine, I just wasn't eating nearly as much fat or protein as I should be).

I hope that helps a bit! Feel free to friend me!

strawberrylemonade92

Those are great ideas!

I have switched over to water mostly, and Lipton green tea with citrus and things like that when I want something besides water. I do need to add in exercise more consistently. Luckily, that is the part I like most!

I guess I just feel like I'm always thinking about it. For example, I am going to a wings place tomorrow with my boyfriend and a couple of our friends. I want to enjoy the food and fun without obsessing tonight and tomorrow about what to order and what to do if they get appetizers. It's the strangest thing.

I spent a lot of energy today during my work day thinking about how I didn't want to count calories, but how at the same time, I seem to do much better when I do. I feel like I am always on edge and on the defense... Can I have that? Do I have the calories for it? I need to eat something healthy, what's available? This is all carbs I need a protein!

I guess my problem is that I feel that I need more rules or structure in order to not overeat. I really like the idea of taking it one thing at a time like you described.... and I did somewhat. I lost 25 pounds without logging or anything. Just eating less in general. I don't know if I'm at a point where I need to start logging, or if there is another way. I have been diagnosed with obsessive compulsive disorder, and I think that part of my brain is what is obsessing and making this difficult instead of freeing.

Dewymorning

After a while you do think about it less because you know what you can fit into your calories.

The thing is, no matter what you eat, you still have to decide what you eat. Now you are just thinking about healthy things to eat.

I agree with pinkcoconut, make small changes one at a time. It is much less of a burden that way and more sustainable.

I myself have now gotten to a point where I don't think too much about what I eat, I mostly just log it, I know how to eat to stay under, and if I don't and go over, oh well, move on.

As for exercise, I am trying new things and thinking of events that I can start training towards to help keep me motivated and not get bored.


Also, this is just based on my experience and one article I found, but eating about 40% carbs, 40% fat and 20% protein means you can still eat a wide range of food, and feel satisfied while staying within calories. This is only my opinion and everyone else has there own ideas about optimum macros. In a sense you don't have to worry about your macros too much, just fwork out what works for you in terms of making you feel satisfied/minimising cravings.

Also, allow yourself to have some kind of treat on a regular basis. My regular treat is dark (75%) chocolate, I have at least 25 grams almost everyday. That way you don't feel like you are depriving yourself so much.

PinkCoconut

I may have an idea for you! I'm going to friend you!

strawberrylemonade92

That would be great! I just friended you! That would be great! let me know your idea!!