Do thin people think about food as much as I do?

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Replies

  • tigersword
    tigersword Posts: 8,059 Member
    Thanks all for the different points of view. I wonder if I am not eating enough calories each day? I am eating a balanced diet with whole grains, fruit, veg, and protein but about 1200 calories per day. I am 5'7" and 302 pounds. I have had a headache for 48 hours so I wonder if need more daily calories? All I have been drinking is water and plain tea, then again maybe the headache is form the caffiene?

    The amount of calories you are eating needs to be an appropriate reflection of the weight you are currently, your activity level, and your deficit goals. It can be counter-productive to decrease your calorie intake too rapidly or too drastically.

    However, I would say that the cause of your headache is probably caffeine withdrawal. Depending on the amount you used to consume, this could last for almost a week. Just power through (or take Advil) and remember: if you "cheat" and drink soda or coffee again, you will have this headache again at some point. Always motivates me to stay away from it!
    Tea has more caffeine than a typical soda, and slightly less than coffee, so there's no withdrawal there.
  • mfpcopine
    mfpcopine Posts: 3,093 Member
    I've always been thin. Up until the age of 30 I could eat anything I wanted and I love food so it wasn't an issue. As my metabolism has slowed over the years I've had to think carefully about how I eat in order not to become overweight. Although my weight has crept up over the years -- today I'm 101.5, and I've been a few pounds higher some years -- it's nothing to what it would have been if I hadn't considered what I ate.

    I tend to think about food most (when not hungry) mostly when I'm bored and sedentary. I did notice that one of my siblings, who has gained a lot of weight seemed obsessed with food. As soon as we'd finished a healthy brunch and were planning to walk around the city she was concerned about where we were going to have lunch. We were in NYC, there's plenty of food everywhere at all hours. She also couldn't walk as far as in the past and I couldn't but wonder if that her weight had contributed. She's starting to lose again.

    Sometimes it seems like a curse to live in a town that has some of the best food in the world and to be able to indulge so seldom. But feeling and looking good and boosting (I hope) my health are more important.

    Some models and actors are naturally thin when young, but many have to diet. I'm sure some of them think about food quite a bit.
  • animatorswearbras
    animatorswearbras Posts: 1,001 Member
    Thanks all for the different points of view. I wonder if I am not eating enough calories each day? I am eating a balanced diet with whole grains, fruit, veg, and protein but about 1200 calories per day. I am 5'7" and 302 pounds. I have had a headache for 48 hours so I wonder if need more daily calories? All I have been drinking is water and plain tea, then again maybe the headache is form the caffiene?

    I think you're definatley eating too little I've just done a calculation of your BMR and TDEE from the stats you gave on the thread (height weight age) and your BMR (what your body burns just making your organs function) is roughly 2000 and your maintenanceTDEE (what you burn going about your day to day life I imput sedentary ie a desk job) is 2500.

    Most people on here say you should not eat below your BMR as that is the minimum your body needs to function if you were in a coma, so you can safely eat at 2000cals and lose you will still have a defeceit of 500 cals a day (hopefully you won't feel half as starved and poorly either) :) If you go under 2000 I would probably speak to your doctor. If you want to lose quicker you could always add some walking exercises, a few minutes extra walking a day will make a big difference. Good luck xxxx
  • Lost240
    Lost240 Posts: 8
    Girl! Food is ALL I think about. It drives me nuts. I am 5'6. I was 150lbs 2 weeks ago. I was 130lbs a year ago! I've slowly been gaining more weight because I am so out of control with trying to feed my appetite. For the past week and a half I have been forcing myself not to give in, and when I do I just eat fruits and veggies, but that still leaves me incredibly unsatisfied. Last night I'm pretty sure I would have killed someone for a nutty bar. I've lost 5lbs over the past week and a half so I guess what I'm doing now is working. Now if only the emotional side could catch up with that. I just keep telling myself that when I remember what it's like to fit into my wardrobe, and to be happy when I look in the mirror, that I will lose the cravings. I know there are other reasons I am obsessing over food though. Food is my drug. I, without a doubt, eat away any emotion or problem that I have. Sitting around, watching tv, and eating something delicious always makes me feel better... for 5 minutes.. until I remember how miserable I feel about myself. I also have acid reflux so I tend to convince myself that eating will make me feel better there too. Anyways... it's nice to know that someone else out there thinks of food constantly too. I wish you good luck on your fitness goals!!
  • neverstray
    neverstray Posts: 3,845 Member
    I think about food a lot. Maybe too much. But, in many ways, it's because I have to plan. Eating healthy takes tremendous effort. This is why most people don't do it. To eat right and ensure you are eating proper fruits and veggies, getting all your vitamins and staying on track with your macros is mind-numbing. It does take some planning and thinking. I'm way more relaxed about it on weekends when I'm home because I can eat whatever I want when I want. But, during the week, I'm stuck at work, and I have to think about all my meals in advance plus snacks. But, this isn't bad. It's a different way of living. It means you are considering and thinking about your meals and you are not just spazzing out and eating a box of cookies.

    Thanks I like this view point, I guess if I didn't plan then I might end up eating more than I should. It feels a bit obsessive but maybe it will start to feel like a routine soon.

    It's not obsession. It's thinking purposefully about nutrition. It feels different because you aren't used to it. I think about exercise the same way. I post my schedule on my frdige. I don't always stick to it, but I force make up sessions when I miss, and things like that. It's simply being accountable to yourself. That's what it feels like to make a promise to yourself and follow through with it. It takes committment and drive and a lot of thought to change the way you previously behaved when it came to food and nutrition.

    Eventually, you will get used to it and feel like its normal. You will be reminded sometimes by family and friends that it's not normal, excrpt you will notice that they are fat and you are not. So, you're right and they aren't. It's healthy and good.

    An obsession is more like something that s bad. Like being obsessed with alcohol or something. Obsessing about health and nutrition is not necessarily bad. As long as you are living your life normally and fitting excerise and nutrition into that.
  • arifrancesca
    arifrancesca Posts: 56
    Thanks all for the different points of view. I wonder if I am not eating enough calories each day? I am eating a balanced diet with whole grains, fruit, veg, and protein but about 1200 calories per day. I am 5'7" and 302 pounds. I have had a headache for 48 hours so I wonder if need more daily calories? All I have been drinking is water and plain tea, then again maybe the headache is form the caffiene?

    I think you're definatley eating too little I've just done a calculation of your BMR and TDEE from the stats you gave on the thread (height weight age) and your BMR (what your body burns just making your organs function) is roughly 2000 and your maintenanceTDEE (what you burn going about your day to day life I imput sedentary ie a desk job) is 2500.

    Most people on here say you should not eat below your BMR as that is the minimum your body needs to function if you were in a coma, so you can safely eat at 2000cals and lose you will still have a defeceit of 500 cals a day (hopefully you won't feel half as starved and poorly either) :) If you go under 2000 I would probably speak to your doctor. If you want to lose quicker you could always add some walking exercises, a few minutes extra walking a day will make a big difference. Good luck xxxx

    Looks like I need to speak to my doctor, I would be very happy to eat more than 1200 calories a day and lose weight, thanks for the info.
  • arifrancesca
    arifrancesca Posts: 56
    I think about food a lot. Maybe too much. But, in many ways, it's because I have to plan. Eating healthy takes tremendous effort. This is why most people don't do it. To eat right and ensure you are eating proper fruits and veggies, getting all your vitamins and staying on track with your macros is mind-numbing. It does take some planning and thinking. I'm way more relaxed about it on weekends when I'm home because I can eat whatever I want when I want. But, during the week, I'm stuck at work, and I have to think about all my meals in advance plus snacks. But, this isn't bad. It's a different way of living. It means you are considering and thinking about your meals and you are not just spazzing out and eating a box of cookies.

    Thank you - you are right, I have never planned meals like this before and counted every calorie that goes into my mouth. Everyone has an opinion about weightloss so for now I am going to count calories and try to be more active since this is the only weightloss method I haven't tried lol!

    Thanks I like this view point, I guess if I didn't plan then I might end up eating more than I should. It feels a bit obsessive but maybe it will start to feel like a routine soon.

    It's not obsession. It's thinking purposefully about nutrition. It feels different because you aren't used to it. I think about exercise the same way. I post my schedule on my frdige. I don't always stick to it, but I force make up sessions when I miss, and things like that. It's simply being accountable to yourself. That's what it feels like to make a promise to yourself and follow through with it. It takes committment and drive and a lot of thought to change the way you previously behaved when it came to food and nutrition.

    Eventually, you will get used to it and feel like its normal. You will be reminded sometimes by family and friends that it's not normal, excrpt you will notice that they are fat and you are not. So, you're right and they aren't. It's healthy and good.

    An obsession is more like something that s bad. Like being obsessed with alcohol or something. Obsessing about health and nutrition is not necessarily bad. As long as you are living your life normally and fitting excerise and nutrition into that.
  • arifrancesca
    arifrancesca Posts: 56
    Girl! Food is ALL I think about. It drives me nuts. I am 5'6. I was 150lbs 2 weeks ago. I was 130lbs a year ago! I've slowly been gaining more weight because I am so out of control with trying to feed my appetite. For the past week and a half I have been forcing myself not to give in, and when I do I just eat fruits and veggies, but that still leaves me incredibly unsatisfied. Last night I'm pretty sure I would have killed someone for a nutty bar. I've lost 5lbs over the past week and a half so I guess what I'm doing now is working. Now if only the emotional side could catch up with that. I just keep telling myself that when I remember what it's like to fit into my wardrobe, and to be happy when I look in the mirror, that I will lose the cravings. I know there are other reasons I am obsessing over food though. Food is my drug. I, without a doubt, eat away any emotion or problem that I have. Sitting around, watching tv, and eating something delicious always makes me feel better... for 5 minutes.. until I remember how miserable I feel about myself. I also have acid reflux so I tend to convince myself that eating will make me feel better there too. Anyways... it's nice to know that someone else out there thinks of food constantly too. I wish you good luck on your fitness goals!!

    Thanks - same to you and thanks for sharing, I love the fact that someone who weighs far less than me understands!
  • apokorn
    apokorn Posts: 5
    I was always thin and athletic before I had children, but I do not remember a time when I did not constantly think about food. I think a brain can be obsessive and unhealthy no matter what the body looks like. I am trying to change my thought patterns now, by distracting myself, but it is hard.

    My mom goes to compulsive eaters anonymous, because she is really addicted to food and obsessed. They give her a really strict food plan and there is absolutely no eating between meals, so she can't think about it the same way. She lost 100 pounds, and is no longer fat, she is a healthy weight, but in her mind she is still an addict. Once again the mind doesn't match the body.

    I think it depends on the person. Even at 120 pounds I could not understand someone who forgot to eat.

    Angie
  • apokorn
    apokorn Posts: 5
    Also, you probably do need more calories. 1200 is very low, so you may want to look at that. It is very hard to stay on an eating plan and lose wait consistently when you are starving.
  • arifrancesca
    arifrancesca Posts: 56
    Also, you probably do need more calories. 1200 is very low, so you may want to look at that. It is very hard to stay on an eating plan and lose wait consistently when you are starving.

    Yes I ate 1400 today and feel a lot better. I am going to see my doctor to talk about how many calories I should be eating each day. Congrats to your Mom, I am looking forward to the day I can say I lost 100 pounds. I guess no matter how much I weigh I will think about food because the bottom line is I really like to eat!! I am starting to realize though that I can still enjoy food without stuffing my face.
  • PHLLLY
    PHLLLY Posts: 160 Member
    I think about food 24/7. Ask my coworkers. I work in the food industry as a cook so I'm constantly around food all day and mostly everyday. From the moment I wake up and the moment I go to sleep I'm always thinking what I'm going to eat next. If I finally eat something I think of what workouts I gotta do and what my next meal is gonna be. It's so consuming my obsessive personality can't almost handle it sometimes. LOL But I take enough vacations to not give a damn what I eat so I don't suffer too bad.
  • Copaiba
    Copaiba Posts: 75 Member
    Can you afford to talk to a nutritionist? Maybe your local hospital has a free program that could set you up?
    I think about food all the time because if I want healthy food, I have to cook it. And if I want my healthy food to taste halfway decent, I have to read recipes (wholefoodnutrition.com)
    You've done GREAT on your own!
    I agree that you could probably up your calories. You might be doing some damage to your body by being so strict. Even if you just went up to 1500.
  • NCchar130
    NCchar130 Posts: 955 Member
    Thanks all for the different points of view. I wonder if I am not eating enough calories each day? I am eating a balanced diet with whole grains, fruit, veg, and protein but about 1200 calories per day. I am 5'7" and 302 pounds. I have had a headache for 48 hours so I wonder if need more daily calories? All I have been drinking is water and plain tea, then again maybe the headache is form the caffiene?

    I think you could for sure. I'm 5'6" currently at 196 pounds and I eat around 1700 per day. I had the constant headache/food obsession (along with feeling generally weak, tired, and irritable) when I dropped to net 1300 for only about 3 days. Could be a coincidence, but it definitely went away when I got back up to normal.
  • thatjulesgirl
    thatjulesgirl Posts: 200 Member
    on the plan I am following it said I should eat 1200 a day for 2 weeks and then up it to 1400 calories a day.

    I thought if I ate more than that I wouldn't lose weight.

    Unless you are 5'0", 110lbs and completely, forever sedentary you should *ALWAYS* eat more than 1200 calories. Barring some catastrophic medical issue that is being closely supervised by one or more specialised doctors, you *NEED* food to fuel your body. You are not losing FAT when you are eating this little... you're losing yourself. You're losing your lean body mass - muscle and connective tissues etc. The average, mid-sized female should have between 1700 - 2000 calories a day *minimum*. Please, please, please learn about your BMR, TDEE and if possible invest in some body composition scales and get your body fat%. You want to be losing body FAT not just body weight.
  • raeleek
    raeleek Posts: 414 Member
    I go through phases.

    Right now I think about food constantly and it gets annoying. I used to smoke and I liken it to that (for me anyway). Just waiting for the next meal.

    Other times it doesn't really bother me. I eat, I'm good, and then it dawns on me that I probably should eat something.

    I think there is a natural ebb and flow especially when you first start, have to readjust your goals, start a new routine, or build muscle.

    The beauty of it all is that you don't have to be perfect. Some days you'll eat more and some days you'll eat less. If you keep pushing forward and keep working at some deficit you will lose weight.

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