Can this be obsessive?

JessieNeutronGirlGenius

When I was first here on MFP I was OBSESSED with counting calories. I mean, I lost the weight but now here I am because I've gained it back. I thought that maybe this time around I won't be so obsessive, and I WANT to reach my goals. The problem is, I think I'm becoming obsessive again..I am constantly thinking about what has what calories, so I am trying to count macros, well now THATS becoming overwhelming, I just don't really know what to do, I love being on here because I've made friends and have learned a lot but I just don't want to be obsessed. I also don't want to stop because I don't want to go overboard and fall off the wagon even though I don't think I will...what do you all think?

xo

Jaxsonjess

I am the same way but I think we have to be if this is going to be a dedication. I have ALOT to lose so I feel I have to be on point 24-7 if I am not then I fail. I am the type of person that has to give 110 %. I am dedicated this time so I can't go away from here cause I will gain it all back like I have many times before.

JessieNeutronGirlGenius

I feel the same way but it so stresses me out, I feel like counting calories or macros or a healthy lifestyle shouldn't be like that

Iknowsaur

I don't think it's obsessive.
And losing the weight doesn't mean that you stop counting calories.

JessieNeutronGirlGenius

Duh..I know that I'm just saying for my own reasons I find this obsessive, just wanted to know if anyone else felt the same lol.

AliceDark

I feel the same way but it so stresses me out, I feel like counting calories or macros or a healthy lifestyle shouldn't be like that

It shouldn't have to be. If it's bothering you and is causing you stress, it's not right for you. Could you give yourself a target range for calories and macros, and figure as long as you're in the ballpark, you're doing okay? You might be able to lose weight a tiny bit faster if you weighed/measured everything and made every day perfect, but is reaching your goal weight a few weeks earlier really worth feeling stressed out the whole time?

Think of it another way: unless you want to obsessively count and track everything for the rest of your life, at some point you'll need to learn how to stay within a general maintenence range. Why not learn that skill now, and just stay within a weight loss range?

pensfan1

I can totally relate. The past few times that I've lost weight, I've been neurotic about counting. This time, I'm being very mindful of what I eat, logging and planning meals, but not being quite as picky as last time. Last time, I weighed absolutely everything. Obviously that's a more effective way of being accurate with how much I'm eating, but it's just not realistic for me to do that as a lifestyle change. I periodically weigh a portion to make sure that I'm still close to what I should be eating, but no need to go crazy.

If I'm losing weight, I'm happy. If I eat an extra 1/2 ounce of peanuts, oh well. It won't kill me. I think that being mindful of what I'm eating is far more important and less overwhelming. Others might think I'm crazy, but it works for me.

JessieNeutronGirlGenius

I think what I might do is change my calorie goal to maintenance (2,000 for me) and just make sure I eat over 1,200 but under 1,800 and on days I have a cheat meal I won't feel as bad as logging it. What stinks is that it changes your macros when you do that and it is quite annoying since I still want them to be at a losing weight not maintenance level but I'll just keep in mind what I want, maybe that'll help! Thank you all for your input and support :-) Please feel free to add mee!

Francl27

I don't think I'm obsessed about it. I'm using it as a guideline. I don't meet my macros most days but I don't stress it out... I mean, if I know I have 300 calories for dinner, if I'm low on protein I'll go for chicken breast, for example, instead of a muffin pizza or something. But I'm not going to eat 300 calories worth of chicken breast just to get the 15g of protein I'm missing, for example.

And now close to maintenance it's easier, I'm trying to stay under my TDEE most days but I don't care too much if I go over my goal by 200 (it's still pretty low, 400-500 under maintenance, to make up for the days I go over).