Cautiously optimistic but need a reality check

SJM1066
SJM1066 Posts: 6
in Health and Weight Loss
I've been doing the program for about a month and I've recently purchased a Tread Climber. My results are very pleasing to me without being drastic. My problem is this: I sometimes get so hung up on the numbers. The number of calories. The number of exercise calories. The number of calories I'm alloted (I was doing so well the system dropped 70 calories a day). It's like a mardi Gras of numbers rolling around in my head 24/7. Will this eventually go away or am I the only crazy person with this problem? LOL! I also get wigged out if I go over my daily calorie goal. Doesn't matter if it's a few calories or 2-- hundred. It's like a panic! This could just be ME...but if anyone has any "words of wisdom" or something to help me get a realistic grip on this I would greatly appreicate it. THANK YOU!

12 pounds so far!!!!! (but scared it will all come flying back if I mess up)

Replies

  • mfpcopine
    mfpcopine Posts: 3,093 Member
    I personally don't pay any attention to numbers related to exercise because they're unlikely to be accurate. The most benefit is to be gained from tracking food calories and understanding that you are likely to underestimate what you eat.

    Some day you will internalize the information and may no longer need to track what you eat every day. I only do it when I'm intent on being strict because I have little margin for error.

    Think of the tracking as part of your food and health education. With exercise, have a general idea of frequency of exercise sessions, intensity and length of the session.
  • Koldnomore
    Koldnomore Posts: 1,613 Member
    I was like that for the first couple of months then I managed to settle down for my long term voyage :)

    It's really exciting to start seeing the first few pounds coming off and all I could do for a while was obsess over everything.. I'd weigh myself every day sometimes more then once and finally my boyfriend had to hide the scale. It's come back out but I'm managing to control myself better now.

    I used to have to weight everything..even that little tiny sliver of onion that went in my salad. I'm a little more realistic now. I still weight mostly everything but also realize that couple of calories here and there aren't going to cause me to gain massive weight. I found that reading all the 'newbie' information really helped me to understand better what I should be doing and also allowed me not to have to be so dependent all the time in asking a million questions about the program. When I was more confident that I was going to keep losing weight, it got a little easier.

    You aren't crazy..I think it's a normal reaction - else I'm crazy as you are!

Categories