Getting obsessed

rogergps

Any one out there struggling with the feelings of obsession with this thing?

I've just about hit my target weight and feel great, but I have really been starting to obsess about food. It's like I'm going through a constant obsession/punishment cycle and it doesn't feel (mentally) healthy. There is nothing I have banned myself from eating, I haven't gone ridiculously low calorie. I've been working on a 750 cal deficit for 4 months, been doing lots of exercise and generally eating back my exercise cals and hitting target.

I'm really worried about putting weight back on and sometimes the sight of food fills me with dread and other times I can't stop myself from troughing whatever I can get my hands on. Clearly it's not a good place to be. Just wondering if there's anyone else out there experiencing the same?

vmelo1968

Yes, you've definitely described me to a T---especially since I've started maintenance calories a couple months back. Even though I'm eating a lot more calories, I feel hungrier than ever. The MOST I should be eating is 2100-2200 a day, but this week, I even exceeded that.

I don't have a solution for you, but I just wanted to let you know that I know what you mean. You may be interested in reading an article called "The Fat Trap," which was written a few weeks ago in the NY Times. It discusses hormonal reasons that it is so difficult for people who have lost weight to actually maintain that weight loss.

kimtpa1417

I am in the same boat.... i have reach goal but have a fear of eating higher calories and gaining the weight. But my sweet tooth has been out of control lately

rogergps

Nice to know there are others out there feeling the same. I'm in the best shape I've been in since I was 20. I run half marathons, am hugely active, feel great, but still obsess about it all.

I just read that NY Times article - very interesting. I've committed to using MFP for a year of maintenance to try and make sure all the new good habits don't slowly get forgotten (which seems to have happened every few years for the last 17 years).

Thanks again

goldfinger88

Any one out there struggling with the feelings of obsession with this thing?

I've just about hit my target weight and feel great, but I have really been starting to obsess about food. It's like I'm going through a constant obsession/punishment cycle and it doesn't feel (mentally) healthy. There is nothing I have banned myself from eating, I haven't gone ridiculously low calorie. I've been working on a 750 cal deficit for 4 months, been doing lots of exercise and generally eating back my exercise cals and hitting target.

I'm really worried about putting weight back on and sometimes the sight of food fills me with dread and other times I can't stop myself from troughing whatever I can get my hands on. Clearly it's not a good place to be. Just wondering if there's anyone else out there experiencing the same?

Now that I'm older and, I think, wiser, I am not at all obsessed about taking off weight or dieting. When I was in my forties, I was so obsessed that I was totaling calories while I was visiting my dying mother in the hospital. Rather than talk with her, spend what little time was left, with her, I obsessed about my weight. How I regret that now!

If you feel you're obsessing, you need to back off. Trading being overweight for a dangerous obsession is not a good thing and it makes a person very unattractive to others. Just approach losing weight naturally and with ease. Of course it's important. And for your health you perhaps need to lose weight. I don't know your situation so I don't know that, of course.

But if you feel you're starting to obsess, you need to take yourself in hand.

MaximalLife

I can sure relate to the troughing whatever I can get my hands on obsession.
I've had 3 unscheduled "re-feed days" ie CHEAT days due to me lack of self-control.

We must not let food rule us!

janvcooper

Thank you for bringing up "The Fat Trap" which I had been meaning to google for weeks. Mainenance is trickier than losing!

rogergps

Thank you all again - Gold finger, I know you're right - I need to back off.

And Maximal, now I have got to target, my goal for this year is to get rid of my food demons - small steps and we'll get there!

BelleHeart

Yesssss.... lol

I am always thinking about what imma eat and how much imma exercise. But I never exercise more than once a day because i have too much other stuff to do

Bikini27

We must not let food rule us!

This, totally.

It's amazing how stressful it all can get. Take a day, get your head straight, and read some nutritional articles that talk about QUALITY calories. And look at what is driving you. Obsessions can be curbed and made healthy habits.

Good luck!!

mixedfeelings

I was like that years ago, I ignored it and I became worse, barely eating, I would work out just before eating, even at my friends house - subtle things like running up and down their stairs - even push-ups and sit-ups in their bathroom - I would then "forget" to eat meals the next day so that I would eat normal food in front of my friends. I would refuse to go in to supermarkets, I would get upset if other people were eating. I cut out so much stuff I was left eating quorn fake ham, tomatoes, bananas, eggs and peas, nothing else. I've always struggled with my weight I really pushed myself, eventually I was exhausted, I made myself so ill, the weight piled on. The obsession only really began when I'd hit my target weight it just took over.

This time round I'm determined to not obsess over food in the way I did. It is a slippery slope though.

gregpack

I'm obsessed with the app also. I've been overweight my entire life and this little app has helped me out. I know I've got to learn to eat without consulting it one day. I'm hoping that after a year or so the habits become so ingrained in me that it's not a problem.

I have been on caloric maintenance about five weeks and am finding that my appetite has decreased. But I would still eat a few too many calories if I freelanced. I'm hoping that my body adjusts to the new caloric intake and begins to see that amount of food as enough.

Kymmu

I'm obsessed with the logging!
Maintenance is a balancing act.

DQMD

Well I would have been at goal had I not goofed around and gained 20 lbs back. Now I have to lose 20 lbs again and the last 15ish that I want to lose.

smileybooliz

I'm not at my maintenance yet but I've lost and gained weight for many years and it is hard not to think about gaining the weight back. I'm wondering if it might be a good idea to seek the advice of a professional to help with the obsessive feelings. Losing weight isn't just a physical thing but also a mental thing. Sometimes we all need help dealing with our emotions and need to learn new coping skills.

Athijade

Now try fighting the urges when you have OCD and an obsessive personality. My big OCD trigger is organization and scheduling. If things do not go exactly right it is not a pretty sight. That is why I allow myself a range of calories to hit instead of an exact number. If I focused only on one exact number, it would not be good for me on days I didn't hit it. I get anxiety about everything being perfect (well, my mind's version of perfect).

Luckily I have friends that I trust 100% that are able to get through that obsession and anxiety to remind me to refocus.

ddiestler

I saw this post and I could have cried.. Totally obsessed and I'm not at goal yet. For as long as I can remeber I would say that I had a food addiction. Food has been my drug of choice for many years. By far the one thing I could NOT control.. I am 4'11 and started out at 195.. I've since lost 35 pounds. I started cutting calories slowly..and adding in exercise. Now, I eat 1200 a day and engage in high intensive cardio 5 days a week.. the problem is, I dont think I'm eating enough to refuel my body which in turn is causing it to stop losing.

With that said.. I almost dread food now. For the first time I feel like I have control to some extent. If I want something bad enough, I eat some of it and move on. However, I do find myself almost in a panic when someone asks me to go out.. I immediatly think..oh no, I'm going to have to eat something and I will gain a pound. If my scale during the week is up I sit and analyze what I ate and what I should have cut out.

I don't in anyway think its normal thinking..but, not sure how to stop it either. Its a viscious cycle.. the mental part of food and weight loss is just as hard if not harder than the physical part.

Thanks for posting this topic..makes me feel not alone in this journey..

rogergps

Wow - what great responses. It would be interesting to hear from people that have turned their bad relationship with food into a good, respectful and enjoyable one.