has weight loss taken over your life?

First of all. I do not think of "weight loss" but "getting rid of weight", like good riddance.
You may think it is a semantics issue but not for me. If I lose something I try to find it or replace it. I do not want the extra weight back. I do not need it in my life.

Being healthy is a journey and it requires my dedication, time and focus. Yes to all that.
I want to be healthy and my time and energy are well invested on keeping myself healthy. I believe that it is cheaper to be healthy than the alternative.

Keep in mind the "alternative". Do I really want to be overweight, pre diabetic, with high cholesterol, and other ailments ?

Good luck in your journey

It definitely has taken over my life but I didn't quit living..I eat out and indulge every now and then. Don't deprive yourself. Just watch what you eat, split meals in half..

Don't stop living and having fun.. you just have to find a balance..

So when does a diet become an eating disorder??

This is called an eating disorder. Any kind of obsession with food, yes, and everyone has just admitte to having one. I know because I have had it. The difference is I was never big and got very skinny, so it was noticeable. But even if your not technically 'underweight' that doesn't change the fact that diet has become an obsession and is controlling your life. If you can't losen up a little bit I would seriously recommend getting help.
You can still eat healthily without havin to count calories

I drive by York Barbell all the time. I like the spinning guy lifting the big weights. It makes me happy.

I feel like weight gain has taken over my life. I just think about the next time I can go heavier. Its an addiction I don't think I can stop it. I'm not sure I want to stop it. I don't even care about losing weight anymore. Oh god what have I become. Time for pop tarts and ice cream tonight again.

*gasp* Becareful, I think you're becoming addicted! Everytime you add even 5 pounds to that squat bar you slide further and further down the slope to complete junkie. Your testosterone is going to shoot through the roof and you'll be overly aggressive.

Soon you're going to be like Crankstr...strutting around the forums and yelling "NO!" or "SQUAT B*TCH"

This is called an eating disorder. Any kind of obsession with food, yes, and everyone has just admitte to having one. I know because I have had it. The difference is I was never big and got very skinny, so it was noticeable. But even if your not technically 'underweight' that doesn't change the fact that diet has become an obsession and is controlling your life. If you can't losen up a little bit I would seriously recommend getting help.
You can still eat healthily without havin to count calories

I'm sorry but I think that's an incredible oversimplification of a very complex and serious issue. Thinking a lot about weight loss and making regular changes that control your life does not automatically mean an eating disorder. Many of us are going from living largely sedentary lifestyles where we put no thought in to what we ate, no idea what calories were in anything.

Counting calories is necessary in order to see what calories are in our food choices, and making changes to those choices. Trying to change habits set over many years is going to require a large amount of brain power in order to stop doing things automatically, and that can lead to thinking about weight loss a lot. Similarly, reading up on health and nutritional information can go a little crazy when you come across conflicting advice, so trying to search for correct advice often occurs too. Like I said, it's like a new hobby full of things I've never actually thought about in my daily life.

There may be several factors that are similar to an eating disorder - like I said, being preoccupied with food will happen if you're used to eating anything, and then trying to think of a more healthier meal. Weighing yourself on a regular basis will occur because you want to see if your choices are having an affect. Other people who are not well educated on healthy weight loss may worry about your weight. Having a family with no interest in healthy foods may mean that, if you cook their meals, you will cook meals for them but cook a different meal for yourself. Living with an unsupported family may also affect how you eat meals, and how secretive you are about your new lifestyle. Having spent time eating at a low calorie amount and then realizing if you want to lose more you need to up your calories may mean you feel like you're over-eating for a bit and having to eat when you're not hungry.

Many of these things are then similar, but don't equate in my mind to an eating disorder. It can certainly get out of hand and move nearer to becoming one, but nothing anyone has said so far is indicative of an out and out 'eating disorder'.

Completely! I am so boring nowadays. All I think about it calories in and calories out! On the upside, my partner is loving the extra friskiness! hehe, My best friends are MFP, tape measure and weighing scales... Nothing goes in my mouth unless it´s been weighed and measured.

Oh and anyone wishing to state this is an eating disorder, that´s ridiculous.. I´m still very overweight and the reason I´m so motivated is because of a hospital appointment I have in July. If I want to go out and eat Sushi and drink 3 bottles of wine, I will but I´m not going to ruin my progress over it by being gluttonous!

Life is about what you do...not what you don't do.

I have never thought that focusing on weight loss was "deterring" from other aspects of life, but rather that I am "choosing" to better my health, and if it means other parts of my life aren't as prevalent....so be it.

My two cents- you need to figure out how to make this a lifestyle change. You don't sound like you can do this forever. Maybe start looking at your weekly calories and go do fun outdoor workouts with friends- hiking, swimming, skiing in winter, biking. I know i use to go out dancing I would seriously burn some calories! (i didn't drink so that helped). You don't have to be at the gym all the time (unless you like it). Maybe check into eating TDEE-15%- might give you more room to indulge sometimes. I can see myself eating and working out this way in ten years (eating at maintenance of course). That is why it will work.