My choice is not to obsess...

jessgrey2

I've been at this for 2 months, and I know myself regarding what works and what will not work. My choice is not to obsess. About:

- Macros. Yes, they are important, but I am not going to flip out if I go over a few grams on fat etc.

- Skinny girls that I will never be: I see them everywhere. I see so many body types and think to myself "HEY! I would LOVE to look like her", but, knowing my shape, I know that I will never be the girl without broad shoulders or with pencil stick legs. It's not going to happen, even with the strictest diet or exercise routines. I'm ok with that.

- Carbs: Yes, they can really eff me up if I eat a ton of white starchy pasta or potatoes or chips. What works for me is to not buy bread or chips, and to eat an occasional white potato or flax cracker. This just works for me, I think there are so many individual body types that respond differently to carbs or gluten or pasta. My bad snacking habit is salty snacks, chips, bread, etc. But yours may be quite different.

- Sugar: this one is not really fair because I have never had a sweet tooth. But, if I am going to have something sweet, it is going to be fruit, most likely my favorite fruit which is melon. If I have a chocolate craving, I eat one small square of an 80 percent dark chocolate bar (usually Lindt brand)



I do obsess about:

- Calories. The numbers matter. This formula has worked well for me: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/538381-in-place-of-a-road-map

- What I keep in the house: eggs, cheese. veggies (kale, cucumber, carrots, green onions, red onions, raw cauli and broccoli, kale dip made w/yogurt, almond milk, fish, shrimp from the Gulf, meat (mostly homemade turkey, chicken, pork, sirloin). Nut butters: peanut and almond. Snacky foods are flax seed crackers, seaweed snacks, homemade kale chips. Fresh herbs: Cilantro, basil, dill. Fresh citrus: limes and lemons. For cooking, I always use olive oil or coconut oil.

Again, this is just what works for me! I do have a medical background and love reading diet plans and research but in the long run, what works for one person may very well not work for another.

I just feel that so many of us are stressing about the numbers. And often, that can lead to failure. There may be a moderate means to where you want to be, without obsession. Just food for thought....

PrinnyBomb

I agree with this completely.

Macros really annoy me. I try so hard but I've gotten to the stage where I just don't let them bug me anymore. The calories are more important to me at the moment.

I do eat quite a healthy diet but do still like my naughty foods. As long as I'm within my limit, I don't let it concern me.


Good for you for figuring out what works for you. Though for someone unknown reason you are bound to get some on here complaining soon.

good luck

Pilcrow_

Just wanted to let you know, I think that's awesome that you're able to make a point of what you will not obsess about. I really do worry about our generation of food and nutrition obsession. I think the main thing is to have a broad education on what's healthy and unhealthy, what works for your body, and from there on try to aim for a more intuitive sense of eating. I'm here to work on bad habits and emotional eating but once I feel more stable I want to be able to be confident enough to eat without worrying about every single detail and to be content with my decisions, to choose food by intuition and good practice instead of putting it on a pedestal. I think with the right education it's entirely feasible to live healthily without the need for constant scrutiny of meals and while I think MFP is awesome for helping us get there, my ultimate goal is to move past logging of foods so I can focus on the things that really matter in life, food is just the fuel to help us achieve and enjoy all those things!

Hope that makes sense!

MissMormie

I totally understand. Calories are important, as is the nutritional value of the stuff you eat. But as long as you're getting an ok amount of nutritional value that's enough. You don't need to hit perfect numbers there.

For me this means I get to eat my bread with chocolate sprinkles, no matter how much carbs, or sugar, or whatever is in there. (Chocolate sprinkles is actually a normal thing to eat on bread here)

But I don't go over my calories on a weekly basis. So if I eat too much on a bbq on Saturday, i'll eat a bit less the few days after.

jessgrey2

I agree with this completely.

Macros really annoy me. I try so hard but I've gotten to the stage where I just don't let them bug me anymore. The calories are more important to me at the moment.

I do eat quite a healthy diet but do still like my naughty foods. As long as I'm within my limit, I don't let it concern me.


Good for you for figuring out what works for you. Though for someone unknown reason you are bound to get some on here complaining soon.

good luck

Nice work girl! According to your ticker you have done quite well yourself!

I am a big fan of moderation, and for me, moderation was a problem. Knowing what works for your self is a huge big deal, as cheesey as that sounds For some it may be boredom eating, others, not moving enough, others eating horrid foods. It takes time to MacGyver the answers or the questions.

jessgrey2

Just wanted to let you know, I think that's awesome that you're able to make a point of what you will not obsess about. I really do worry about our generation of food and nutrition obsession. I think the main thing is to have a broad education on what's healthy and unhealthy, what works for your body, and from there on try to aim for a more intuitive sense of eating. I'm here to work on bad habits and emotional eating but once I feel more stable I want to be able to be confident enough to eat without worrying about every single detail and to be content with my decisions, to choose food by intuition and good practice instead of putting it on a pedestal. I think with the right education it's entirely feasible to live healthily without the need for constant scrutiny of meals and while I think MFP is awesome for helping us get there, my ultimate goal is to move past logging of foods so I can focus on the things that really matter in life, food is just the fuel to help us achieve and enjoy all those things!

Hope that makes sense!

I like the way you think! Intuituitive eating, as gorgeous as it sounds, for me does not work (but I wish it would). MFP has been such a great reality check on what I was eating, and why my weight was not decreasing. Simple ins and outs, pluses and minuses! Every day was a plus and every week was pound ons. Just numbers, and horrid eating. MFP is great for accountability in that respect.

jessgrey2

I totally understand. Calories are important, as is the nutritional value of the stuff you eat. But as long as you're getting an ok amount of nutritional value that's enough. You don't need to hit perfect numbers there.

For me this means I get to eat my bread with chocolate sprinkles, no matter how much carbs, or sugar, or whatever is in there. (Chocolate sprinkles is actually a normal thing to eat on bread here)

But I don't go over my calories on a weekly basis. So if I eat too much on a bbq on Saturday, i'll eat a bit less the few days after.

Such a great example of moderation! Not giving up your favorites completely while keeping within your overall goals. I like that.

Pilcrow_

I agree with this completely.

Macros really annoy me. I try so hard but I've gotten to the stage where I just don't let them bug me anymore. The calories are more important to me at the moment.

I do eat quite a healthy diet but do still like my naughty foods. As long as I'm within my limit, I don't let it concern me.


Good for you for figuring out what works for you. Though for someone unknown reason you are bound to get some on here complaining soon.

good luck

Nice work girl! According to your ticker you have done quite well yourself!

I am a big fan of moderation, and for me, moderation was a problem. Knowing what works for your self is a huge big deal, as cheesey as that sounds For some it may be boredom eating, others, not moving enough, others eating horrid foods. It takes time to MacGyver the answers or the questions.

It doesn't work for me either! But I live in hope! Y'know, like if I put in the work, and be accountable here, then maybe in time I can build upon the tools from being accountable on MFP and putting the numbers in perspective and adapt to living and either better without constantly worrying about it.