The fine line between healthy and obsessive...

frankiesats

I'm really interested to hear people's opinions on this.

I've noticed that the longer people i'm 'friends' with are on this site for they go one of three ways:

A) They either give up, believing they are affected by hormone conditions/genetics and will never be skinny (truth being they tend to be oner estimating exercise calories, under estimating food or eating rubbish)

They lose the weight and manage a healthy lifestyle and are content with themselves

C) They become obsessed - nothing is ever good enough.

I'm concerned that I'm steering towards option C. I'm currently suffering from tonsillitis and have been bed bound for the last three days. I attempted the gym the day before but just couldn't manage anything because of how rotten I was feeling - since then i've been beating myself up and every time I catch my reflection i'm convinced i've gained half a stone - which I KNOW is near impossible when i'm hardly eating!

How do you step away from the obsession? How do you teach yourself that you are doing well and you are good enough? If it isn't that my stomach isn't flat enough, my arms are too bulky or even that I'm gaining weight in my face and getting uglier.

I'm just wondering if I'm alone with this or if anyone else has experienced something similar and how you got through it?

brandyquinn918

I had this very problem the first time I joined this site. I got very obsessive had to start weighing absolutley everything that went into my mouth and if I thought I was gonna be over even by a few calories I would go for a brisk 2 mile walk in the evening "just to make sure." I started this site while my hubby was deployed overseas to help take off some weight after having a bad stomach infection. What helped me thru was I had to drive from one coast to the other to pick him up and had no computer to take with me so I was out of touch for 2 1/2weeks and couldn't log in. It was a breath of fresh air, I caught a glimpse of myself in a mirror when I was washing up in a restroom and was like good heavens I dont remember seeing cheekbones at home. Sometimes it just takes taking a step back and really looking at yourself in the mirror and celebrating all your accomplishments not just the scale ones. You are sick right now take the time to get healthy and try to worry less about the lack of exercise while you are down with illness. Eat what you can and celebrate you.

JenAiMarres

I'm "c" and it's ok imo...I'm obsessed with working out, eating clean...logging on etc... I could be obsessed with worse things, right?!?!?!

frankiesats

I think this is where the problem lies. It isn't healthy to be 'obsessed' with your body image. But it depends how obsessed you really are

Sidesteal

It isn't healthy to be 'obsessed' with your body image. But it depends how obsessed you really are

I agree, OP. I think this is a good thread. I really don't have any answers, but I think you're asking valuable questions.

Sharon909

I have always been an 'A' and am striving to be a "B'. I dont think you are obsessive just because you feel like your losing steam from an illness. When you are active, and you step away from your routine, of course its gonna feel weird and your body is gonna crave the endorphins of working out. Its not obsessive to be body concious either. Especially this time of year when summer is coming and swimsuits are in the stores.
I say, while your recovering and unable to work out, you should get your hair done, mani/pedi, maybe a spray tan, to get your mood back up. Buy some awesome shoes. And get back to the gym (slowly) when you can handle it.

JenAiMarres

I think this is where the problem lies. It isn't healthy to be 'obsessed' with your body image. But it depends how obsessed you really are

I tend to throw the word obsessive / obsessed around...if its unhealthy ..resulting in negative emotions, self destructive behaviors, reclusiveness...yes u have gone too far...

However if your focus is health and u get cranky if u miss a gym session or feel guilt for splurging occasionally it's ok. It happens to all of us...the underlying issue is how do u deal with the guilt or crankiness?? Do u move on or do you start to self destruct.

Self destruction is bad, having focus and a clear goal of what you want is good.

sdrawkcabynot

I suffered from an eating disorder from the time I was 14 until I got help when i was 24. I wouldn't say I am obsessed now, but I went from one extreme (eating 300 calories a day and working out for 2 hours) to the other end of the spectrum of not thinking I cared and gaining weight and eating all things horrible.

Now I am at a happy median. I wouldn't call it obsessive. Just more "aware"... I pay 50 dollars a month... and the classes are normally 6 bucks each - so I think of it as getting my money's worth and try not to skip. As far as eating... I eat what I want, just healthier versions of what I like...and I do still indulge in the bad stuff ... just in moderation.

So I have been an A, B, and a C... now I think I am just realistic and enjoy the aspect of trying to get healthy and trying to get into great shape.

caramammal

Can totally relate to this...i'm definately a 'C' with a lots of tendancies to feel crap about myself if I eat 1 'bad' thing.

And so, this realisation spurred me into dropping the diet and exercise regime for 3 months over winter.

I gained 10lbs..which horrified me when i finally got on the scales - i'm still a UK size 8-10 so it should not have horrified me! I'm now in a place where I want to drop those 10lbs, and i feel so much more relaxed about it now. The sky did not cave in when I gained weight, a few days 'off piste' with the diet is not going to matter. I've realised that I was creeping toward a disorder and am happy I was able to break the pattern.