Food and Exercise guilt

Tillyecl1

Hi,
I was just after some thoughts on food and exercise guilt. For some reason as soon as I start logging my food (I weigh and log EVERY mouthful) I start to feel very guilty about what I do eat (I am always under my calorie goal). It also seems to make me feel guilty when I don't exercise for a day and pushes me into prolonging my workouts to burn more calories (for example 21km cycle and 10km run last night when I know that 30 mins on the bike and a 5km run would have been a more normal amount of exercise for a weekday evening). But I know keeping a food diary works for me in terms of losing weight which is why I keep at it.
So my question is really this; does keeping a food diary bring out the obsessive in people? And if so is there any techniques that people use to help them overcome the feelings of guilt?
Best wishes
Claire

ValGogo

The only thing I can say is to not over-think it. It's not soemthing to overcome. Just catch yourself and say "I haven't done anything wrong. If I haven't exercised today, I will exercise tomorroe."

Listen, as a person who has been plagued with self torture and low self esteem, I was glad to turn it over when I realized that what I worried about, what I stressed myself out over, no matter what it was, just was never really important enough to warrant guilt over. Granted I was in my early 40's when I realized I was punishing myself for nothing.

Not exercising or eating something "bad" once in a while is definitely not in the realm of life endangering or harmful. I think it's just residual societal effects that we put on ourselves.

So, once again, keep it simple, take it easy and realize that there are far worse things you can do. Guilt is a wasted emotion that serves us no purpose.

mesia33

I feel the same way! I've been on MFP for over a year now but the last two weeks I've joined the gym and have cracked down on logging everything and I know exactly how you feel. I sit at the dinner table figuring out how many ounces of food I'm eating and obsess over having at least 800 calories left at the end of the day after food and exercise and if I don't have 800 left, I feel incredibly guilty. Today is the first day of the last 8 I'm not going to the gym and I feel bad about that too. I feel like I'm being lazy for not going. I have no reason for not going except for to give myself a break. It's been two weeks and I've budged about 2 pounds and I feel like I'm getting nowhere which makes the feeling of guilt of not going to the gym or having a 4 ounce glass of soda for the first time in weeks even worse..so I'm with you!!

QuietBloom

This kind of thinking worries me. No one should be under-eating or over-exercising to avoid feeling guilty. I suggest you find someone to talk to, because this sounds like a disordered relationship with food and exercise.

cwolfman13

This kind of thinking worries me. No one should be under-eating or over-exercising to avoid feeling guilty. I suggest you find someone to talk to, because this sounds like a disordered relationship with food and exercise.

I agree...

OP, do you understand the relationship between your activity and your body's energy (calorie) requirements? Calories aren't the devil...food isn't the devil...it is fuel for the machine that is your body. You don't have to exercise every calorie away...the vast majority of your body's energy requirements are just to keep you alive and all systems functioning properly...then you have energy needs for your day to day type of stuff. Exercise further increases your body's calorie requirements...and should be done for the sake of fitness, not just to burn calories.

Lizzy622

Guilt is not a good thing. You may be even counter productive by creating more cortisol (stress hormone). I have been logging for about 3 years with a couple of short breaks. What it does for me is make me accountable. Yes I did have that brownie but I also ate healthy food and my macros stayed in line even with the brownie. Also your body needs rest days. You need time to heal and regenerate and refuel. The important thing is to be patient and change your lifestyle with something you can live with for a long time.

happysherri

Don't build an unhealthy relationship with food and exercise!

Also if you're new at this, you may be a little obsessed at first (like a new toy) some of that may go away over time. I still log every day but not as obsessed with everything.

deksgrl

Food = Fuel.

There should be no guilt around food. You need calories for fuel, and you need nutrients to be healthy.

mesia33

I do eat. A typical day for me is a homemade granola bar for breakfast, a banana for a mid-morning snack, a veggie burger for lunch, a handful of almonds for a pre-workout snack and a meat with veggies and a starch for dinner.

I'm a big dessert person so cutting back on that has been difficult but I've been able to conquer most of those cravings.

I also have to eat gluten and dairy free which limits some of my choices of foods. But as I said above, I do eat..that's usually everyday for me..plus I do a Les Mills class almost everyday.

I've gained 30 pounds since I met my husband 4 years ago and I'm tired of having that extra weight. I was never this big and want to get back to where I was 4 years ago. I'm also going through a quarter life crisis (which I promised myself I'd never do!) which is making me feel even more pressure to get this weight off so I'm not that mid-20 something kicking herself for not getting healthier and in better shape sooner.

Thanks everyone! I need the motivation! It's hard going this alone! (Well..not alone..I have my husband..but beyond that, I'm alone on this!)

_HeartsOnFire_

Food = Fuel.

There should be no guilt around food. You need calories for fuel, and you need nutrients to be healthy.

happysherri

I've gained 30 pounds since I met my husband 4 years ago and I'm tired of having that extra weight. I was never this big and want to get back to where I was 4 years ago. I'm also going through a quarter life crisis (which I promised myself I'd never do!) which is making me feel even more pressure to get this weight off so I'm not that mid-20 something kicking herself for not getting healthier and in better shape sooner.

Thanks everyone! I need the motivation! It's hard going this alone! (Well..not alone..I have my husband..but beyond that, I'm alone on this!)

^^^ Also don't be too hard on yourself. I am 38 yrs old and weigh what I did when I was an athlete in highschool and believe me things just don't look the same! LOL

Tillyecl1

Thanks all :-). I do understand the biology of everything (I actually have a PhD in molecular biology) and I completely know that exercise is for health not just to burn calories. If for some reason I couldn't do my triathlons and other fun things it would break my heart. However, you could be the most logical, intelligent person in the world and it won't stop your mind playing games with you sometimes. The last time I did a food diary I dropped from 90kgs to 55kg. This time I only need to lose about 10kg but still the guilt persists. I am very lucky that I have a wonderful boyfriend who stops me from going totally mad but I am glad that there are people who control what they eat without losing their marbles in the process! There is hope for me yet, I will try to just not worry about it so much, although it's probably easier said than done.

_HeartsOnFire_

Thanks all :-). I do understand the biology of everything (I actually have a PhD in molecular biology) and I completely know that exercise is for health not just to burn calories. If for some reason I couldn't do my triathlons and other fun things it would break my heart. However, you could be the most logical, intelligent person in the world and it won't stop your mind playing games with you sometimes. The last time I did a food diary I dropped from 90kgs to 55kg. This time I only need to lose about 10kg but still the guilt persists. I am very lucky that I have a wonderful boyfriend who stops me from going totally mad but I am glad that there are people who control what they eat without losing their marbles in the process! There is hope for me yet, I will try to just not worry about it so much, although it's probably easier said than done.

"There is no try, only do or do not." Yoda.

You CAN do it. Believe that you can. It's hard, but take it day to day. One bite at a time if you have to.

You're right, you can be the smartest person in the world, your mind will still play games with you. Just tell that evil voice to shut it. :flowerforyou: