"calorie counting will get you no where"
kate_mariebug
Posts: 60
says my 100 pound roommate. I snapped back at her. I couldn't help it, I got defensive. That comment alone was enough to shut down my entire day, and I'm convinced it was the reason I wandered up to the counter at panera and ordered a brownie without even thinking about what I was doing. I've been doing MFP for a while and I've seen little to no results. Half of it is that I can't seem to disconnect the emotional connection I have to food. Also, working out every day almost never happens. However, even weeks when I manage it somehow and eat right, the numbers barely go down and if they do, they go right back up again. Is it true.. will calorie counting really get me no where? I dont know. feeling defeated.
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Replies
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You know, I think you are on the verge of a big break thru if you let it happen.........I just said this in another thread, your mental and emotional state is Just As IMPORTANT as what you eat and how much you work out. You recognize that you have a negative emotional connection with food........the next step is tackling that so you can be successful and be who you DESERVE to be.0
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You know, I think you are on the verge of a big break thru if you let it happen.........I just said this in another thread, your mental and emotional state is Just As IMPORTANT as what you eat and how much you work out. You recognize that you have a negative emotional connection with food........the next step is tackling that so you can be successful and be who you DESERVE to be.
Yeah.. well I realized I had an emotional connection to food years ago haha, can't seem to get to the root of it though. and I can't stop.. I'm scared it will never change and will always stop me from being who I want to be.0 -
Have you considered asking someone to hold you accountable? Maybe send them a text when you're feeling down, and you know that it could lead to emotional eating? Once you recognize the emotion(s) that can trigger the behavior, it becomes easier to prevent it.
Afterwards,think about how you were feeling, and promise yourself when it happens again you will call your accountability buddy and tell them that you might overeat. Especially if it's someone who understands how important your diet is to you (I wouldn't recommend your roommate ha...). Let go of the guilt! And just look at it as a challenge for the net time it happens.
I personally do this all the time with my mom, because she gives good support and encouragement and she is counting calories too so I know she understands ^_^
As far as exercising goes.. trust me I know how hard it can be to have time for it!! Sometimes I feel like my grades are suffering bc I spend a lot of free time going to the gym when I should be studying.. but what I've found are the best times to workout are when you have five or ten minutes here and there. Like, in the morning before breakfast do some ab workouts and push ups, whatever floats your boat. That takes no time at all! I think the only way to effectively lose weight AND stay motivated is by counting calories and exercising. I couldn't imagine just doing one or the other.0 -
I understand your frustration. Maybe forget about the number on the scale for a bit and just eat healthy to be healthy?
Change your goal from losing weight to being healthy. Might change how you "feel" about the whole journey. And may help with emotional eating.0 -
Here's part of the problem. You believe that someone else's actions control whether or not you eat a brownie.That comment alone was enough to shut down my entire day, and I'm convinced it was the reason I wandered up to the counter at panera and ordered a brownie without even thinking about what I was doing.
Calorie counting works only if you follow it. If you are still having emotional issues with food, that's probably going to keep you from following it properly. From what you said, "even weeks when I manage it somehow and eat right", it sounds like you aren't really sticking to it most of the time.0 -
That statement is so not true!!! I am living proof of it. I have been at this for over 16 months now and have lost over 60 lbs (I put 8 lbs back on due to a new med). It is A PROCESS which is something you have to remember. You want the weight to come off slow because it will stay off that way. When I first started, people told me that same thing because I have said multiple times I am going to lose weight, but this time I did it.
My motto is slow and steady wins the race. It takes dedication and willpower. Don't allow someone else words/actions to control you. I partly did it out of determination to prove a point, and it worked. We are here for you and now that YOU CAN DO THIS!!!0 -
If a 95% failure rate is any evidence, then counting calories doesn't work.
Wellt thats encouraging....0 -
If a 95% failure rate is any evidence, then counting calories doesn't work.
Huh? Did I miss something? Where did '95% failure rate' come from? There are thousands of ppl here who prove that counting calories does work!0 -
For how long?If a 95% failure rate is any evidence, then counting calories doesn't work.
Huh? Did I miss something? Where did '95% failure rate' come from? There are thousands of ppl here who prove that counting calories does work!0 -
well, you can always look at it the other way, not counting calories has brought us all to where we are today so apparently not knowing what you are consuming is not working either so something has to change.0
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Yes, something fundamental has to change......dieting and counting calories is a fail.well, you can always look at it the other way, not counting calories has brought us all to where we are today so apparently not knowing what you are consuming is not working either so something has to change.0 -
you have to ignore her.. Not counting calories caused us to be here, sure I love MFP but it's sad the reasons I had to come here in the first place. Counting calories has got me 32.2lbs lighter and I say if that's "no where" then I'm happy being "no where"! Don't let that get you down, prove to her and yourself that it does work and that you CAN and WILL do this!0
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Please don't listen to or even compare yourself to your "100 pound roommate". Your roommate probably has no clue what its like to be overweight but that does not mean that they are not miserable. Misery likes company! Don't let yourself gt pulled into that. Counting calories is so important! If you don't think so then try this, eat as you normally would but still write down everything and how much of everything you consume try it for one day. The next day decide what your calorie goal should be and then eat with that in mind while writing everything down. You will see a difference! Best of luck you can do this!0
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You and I sound a lot a like in how we view food. I have found that what works for me is having a plan. Every Sunday morning I sit down and write out my menu for the week. I figure out what I am going to eat, day by day, meal by meal, snack by snack. Am I successfull 100% of the time... no.. but I will take 95%!!! It really has made the biggest difference with my will power. It takes the last minute choice away from me.
I use that list to grocery shop and do as much prep for the week as I can.(bake or grill chicken for lunches during the week, measure snacks into snack baggies, chop up fruit which will keep) I then post it on a dry erase board in the kitchen so I can easily pack lunches and snacks and take out the appropriate meats for dinners.0 -
For me, the calorie counting really just helps me track the food I eat and help inform me about what I am eating. It is a tool to use your weight loss. It is not the be all end all. That being said it does help tremendously. As for your exercise, what are you doing for that? You need to do strength training as well as the cardio. MFP doesn't track the calories too well for that strength training, but you will see the results at the bottom line. You just have to decide if you are willing to stick to YOUR program no matter what someone else says and be consistent. If you have done the research for your program, run it by some people you trust maybe even a doctor, then stick to it. It is all simple math. Taking in less calories than you expend will make you lose weight.0
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Look at the bottom of my post. Go ahead - I will wait.
Ok - did ya see that? That little ticker that shows a near 30 pound loss... that is a result of counting calories and adding exercise to my life. One of the great things about this site - there are SO MANY OTHERS with even bigger numbers on their ticker. You've found the forums... scroll through some posts and just check them out for tickers. Do not let your friends talk you out of your choice to get healthy.
As far as the emotional eating... oh my do I know what you are going through! I started MFP a little over a year ago. My ticker number should be way bigger but emotional eating and a plateau have stalled me out!! There is a book that has been recommended to me... I think it is called 'When Food is Food and Love is Love'. I really need to read it!! Maybe you could too.
The point is - stick with it. It does work. You may have weak moments and you may have to tweak some things here and there - but stick with it!! :flowerforyou:0 -
For how long?If a 95% failure rate is any evidence, then counting calories doesn't work.
Huh? Did I miss something? Where did '95% failure rate' come from? There are thousands of ppl here who prove that counting calories does work!
Until you stop putting in the effort and stuff your face with a ridiculous amount of food again, I would imagine. How does that translate to "counting calories doesn't work"?0 -
For how long?If a 95% failure rate is any evidence, then counting calories doesn't work.
Huh? Did I miss something? Where did '95% failure rate' come from? There are thousands of ppl here who prove that counting calories does work!
It's not a diet, it's a lifestyle change. It will work as long as you allow it to.0 -
I agree with the changing your mindset idea...eat to be healthy, not to lose weight. I have done this and I believe it works. Instead of grabbing the donut in the lounge as a snack, I bring a fruit or veggie with a protein for a snack. FAR less calories and FAR more filling, making it FAR healthier for me. I have been adding a fruit and/or veggie to every meal and snack and it works. I like knowing I'm getting healthier by making better choices, and the weight is coming off. One pound at a time.0
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well, you can always look at it the other way, not counting calories has brought us all to where we are today so apparently not knowing what you are consuming is not working either so something has to change.
Thank you for this statement! I was getting depressed and starting to feel defeated reading some of the comments on here.. and then I read your post.. WA-LA.. Thank you for bringing everything back into the light!0 -
Im sorry your friend isnt being supportive:( I had my second baby 4 months ago and desperatly wanted to lose weight. Ive been using mfp for two motnhs and am down 15 lbs, i walk when i can but that free time doesnt happen more than twice a week. I measure evvvverything. Salad dressing and coffee creamer especially. Every calorie counts. Measure measure measure, document document document. It WILL work. It WILL!!!!0
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Voilàwell, you can always look at it the other way, not counting calories has brought us all to where we are today so apparently not knowing what you are consuming is not working either so something has to change.
Thank you for this statement! I was getting depressed and starting to feel defeated reading some of the comments on here.. and then I read your post.. WA-LA.. Thank you for bringing everything back into the light!0 -
If a 95% failure rate is any evidence, then counting calories doesn't work.
So if you aren't counting calories, why are you on MFP where the biggest thing is logging food and keeping track of calories, among other things.0 -
There may come a day when your 100 pound roomie may need to make changes in her lifestyle for her own health. Karma is a *****! There are plenty of people in this world that have made huge strides in health by changing their LIFESTYLE.
You are not on a diet. A diet is a quick fix, this is a lifestyle change. Slow and steady is good if you want to comfortably keep off the weight you are working on losing. Read through the forums and take notes of the things that you can use.
Keep your chin up and dedicate yourself to your lifestyle change and it gets easier. I wish you the best!0 -
For how long?If a 95% failure rate is any evidence, then counting calories doesn't work.
Huh? Did I miss something? Where did '95% failure rate' come from? There are thousands of ppl here who prove that counting calories does work!
It's not a diet, it's a lifestyle change. It will work as long as you allow it to.
^^^^^^THIS0 -
Ive landed is right - the biggest hurdle is in your head! Your housemate has an opinion that calorie counting doesn't work - they are entitled to that opinion. What they are not entitled to do is force that opinion onto you! You are also entitled to make your own choice whether to agree with it or not!
I've been here (actually I don't know how long until I've finished this post!) a while now and fundamentally I'm not convinced that calorie counting on its own is the answer. What I am convinced about is that this site works for me because I get to be concious and accountable for what I put in my mouth if I log it every day and because when I'm having a tough week (like this week!) I can come onto the message boards and find some support from other members or help support them and that makes the difference.
I have sifted through the mountains of differing views on nutrition out there over the years and come to this conclusion - its about MY relationship with food and what I believe is healthy for me! My housemate means well when she labels items in our fridge and cupboard with the percentage fat content - it annoys the hell out of me because in my belief system the fat content is not always as important as the carbohydrate content for example - but then what do I know, I'm only 2 stone lighter than I was 7 months ago!!
One of my big breakthroughs was understanding that urge to go for the brownie - I realised that when I wanted to do that I wasn't actually hungry - I was having anxiety or stress of some form and I wanted it to go away. That realisation alone has made such a difference as understanding that meant I could find other techniques to deal with the anxiety and therefore I stopped snacking. Another little trick that helps me is using basic NLP principles - I don't talk about losing weight any more, I'm shedding weight or I'm becoming slimmer. If I lost my car keys then I'd want to find them again - I don't want the weight back so I'm not losing it - I'm sending it away forever!
Hang in there and be gentle with yourself :-)0 -
Well said!
Sorry forgot the quote!0 -
Well there are two ways to look at it. There is the cause of obesity and the treatment for it.
There are two competing scientific hypotheses out there on what causes obesity, and neither of them have much to do with mental state or willpower. One is that the food most commonly eaten today is overly rewarding to the brain, and that combined with the hypothalamus and leptin signaling from fat tissue is what leads to overeating and obesity. The other is that the food most commonly eaten today leads to over-production of insulin and damage to cells that leads to chronically high insulin levels which in turn causes overeating and obesity. Both of these are neither fully proven or disproven, and scientists are at war with each other over which one is actually correct. So for this reason, calorie counting isn't all that effective long term because the body will defeat willpower any day because the body controls BOTH Calories IN and OUT no matter how much you try to win that battle.
But as far as treatment goes, there really aren't too many options. You either go low-calorie and hope your hormones don't reject this approach, or you go low-carb and hope for the same. If either one is successful, the end result is a caloric deficit. I think down the road there might be drugs to help manage the negative hormonal responses.0 -
well, you can always look at it the other way, not counting calories has brought us all to where we are today so apparently not knowing what you are consuming is not working either so something has to change.
Well said!0 -
I enjoy this site and it makes me accountable to not just myself but all my buddies on here. Also if I am having a emotional day and have a brownie or yesterday it was a apple fritter finding out it was 300 calories shocked me. But I knew apples and other fruit fills me up with less calories and so that is what I did snacked on fruit. At the end of the day I still had enough calories to eat a little icecream. Now yesterday I used up most of my calories but I don't every day. It takes 3,500 calories to lose or gain a pound. so if you cut your calories by 500 a day you will lose a pound a week.
But if you don't eat enough your body will hold every calorie, Also salt and water retention will make you gain at times which is why you should weigh only once a week. Muscle weighs more than fat so you might be losing inches and not losing weight which is ok as well. Pick one thing at a time to work on, eating healthy and staying with in your calories for a day. If it is a emotional day work on one meal at a time. Take your calories and divided them into 3 small meals and 2-3 snacks. So say you can eat 2,000, each meal can be 400 - 500 calories and each snack 250 - 400 calories.
The one exercise that worked really well years back before I got sick was strapping on a pedometer and slowly aim for 10,000 steps a day. PM me if you want to know the basics I lost 60 pounds over 1.5 years with only walking. Then I got sick and gained it back and now I am working on it again.0
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