Trading one obsession for another it seems? HELP.....

Jill_newimprovedversion

:ohwell:
I'm so totally confused= 4 months ago, I wouldn't have paid ANY attention NOR cared about how much I was eating- or how many calories/fat grams/carbs/sodium was in anything I ate.
And I ate like this for YEARS, slowly putting on extra weight.
2 days of eating way above the minimum intake, and I can gain 5 pounds almost overnight.......
( and wonderin' why I'm not hundreds of pounds overweight when I did this for so long?)

Feelin' very defeated right now....Wonderin' if I'm trading one bondage for another?

Going from always thinkin' about what I'm going to shove in my mouth next (JUNK)
to thinkin' about whether or not I can eat this or that...
which STILL makes me think about food all the time......UGH.......
Geesh, I need some insight from those of you who are further down the road in this journey.
[Insert words of wisdom here]

Jeneba

I know, I know...... Just like you, I tend to go overboard sometimes. But the way I look at it - IF I am going to be obsessed about "something," isn't it better that the "something" be health & healing instead of toxic substances or relationships? Once the victories, scale and non-scale, start coming alive, your entire outlook on life will change - even if your entire life seems to revolve around FOOD, it's more like an artist or athlete feels about their Work & less about fear & self-loathing. Hope this helps! :flowerforyou:

babydull

You need to not be weighing yourself more than once a week. If you wait a week, that gain should even out as it was probably water weight from increased sodium.

But moreover, you need to stop stressing. Only by doing that will you be able to sustain the healthy lifestyle. You need to find the middle ground.

homeport51

Until your new eating becomes second nature, you are going to have to think about it. As you said, it was the mindless eating that got you where you are, and now you need mindFUL eating to get where you want to be. As time goes on, you will not think about it so much. It might help you to plan your food for the day in the morning. Fill out your diary and then you don't have to think about it for the rest of the day.

arewethereyet

My way of thinking is that this new obsession won't KILL you! It took about a year for me to get the new thought process in my brain, and not be obsessive about logging. After a year of maint. cals I went through a lot of things this past year and gained back a lot of it.

I want the obsession back, NOW!! :laugh: That is how I lost 36 pounds and got off all the meds!!

:drinker: Arewethereyet

lstnlondry

Im with you! Infact i was thinking it is like the greatest game ever to balance everything! The slightest bit over sodium matters! And it does affect the scale even when you're under calorie and have worked out! But i agree with your other replies,it is a new thought changes process and will take time.

MiladyMetal

Until your new eating becomes second nature, you are going to have to think about it. As you said, it was the mindless eating that got you where you are, and now you need mindFUL eating to get where you want to be. As time goes on, you will not think about it so much. It might help you to plan your food for the day in the morning. Fill out your diary and then you don't have to think about it for the rest of the day.

I whole heartedly agree with this!! I have noticed when I grab a bag of anything and sit with it open I can devour the whole thing just about, now on here I am holding myself accountable by using a scale. I use to think that is so obsessive and I will become a slave to my scale and so on, but you know what? I prepare homemade breakfast cereals and salads a lot ahead of time sometimes a couple days in advance and already weighed it so I don't need to obsess over it. If you can put in what you think you will eat the night before for the next day it will help a lot. That way you try to stick to what you posted. Also, we all tend to obsess but it is best to relax . However, we all never know how to, so find something that will help you on your journey like a healthy obsession a physical hobby like yoga or dancing! Make it a fun obsession! You can do it!!

Janworkingitout

I"m of the school of thought that knowledge is power! Knowing what I put in my mouth gives me power and control over my body and I love it! Is it trading one obsession for another, possibly....but it's not a bad obsession to have!

I think you need to stop sweating the scale and start listening to your body. Do you have more energy, is your health improved, are your clothes fitting better....these are the things that matter most in this journey!

If you are going through a stressful time in your life switch your goals to lose 1/2 lbs or maintenace for a week or two. Although it's good to set goals (lose XXlbs by bday, etc.), this is a lifetime journey. Give yourself permission to walk to the finish line and not run! Don't be so hard on yourself, you are doing a terrific job!

dls06

I have made this my hobby. People obsess over couponing, scrapbooking, golf, fishing, bowling.... so why not your health!

broadsword7

I don't know if this will help or not, but for whatever it's worth, here are my thoughts:

1.) Our brain is our best body part. Use it to plan meals, plan exercises, plan a healthy lifestyle, not a diet, then--use that very same brain to execute your plans.

2.) Think positive thoughts.

3.) Believe in yourself--always.

4.) Accept the realization that most people eat WAY MORE than they need to, and apply that realization to your own life, within reason. Focus on needs not wants, and simplify.

5.) Respect your own body enough to eat only the HIGHEST QUALITY food that is available.

6.) Love your body--not in a conceited way. Love it like you would love the mother and father who gave life to it. Appreciate it, listen to it, and sometimes, even give it some "tough love," but by all means, love it. If you don't, you will NEVER follow through on point number five above.

7.) When it comes to exercise, commit to doing it and then DO IT. Read as much as you can, educate yourself on what you need to do, seek advice, find an exercise partner if you can, start light, don't overdo it, but above all else, keep moving! As always, check with a physician before you try anything you are not familiar with or have a concern about.

8.) When it comes to food, I recommend investigating a book called "Food Rules," by Michael Pollan. Very simple book, easy to read paperback, Amazon has it for like seven bucks or something. Best thing I have done for myself in a long time.

9. Don't sweat setbacks, but generate as much sweat as you can in a healthy way.

10.) Be fearless as you move through life.

All the stuff above has helped me, and I continue to work on it. If I could think of more stuff I would, but this is what came into my head just now. Good luck and good health to you!