Been told to stop counting calories??

Rebeccaaa1
Rebeccaaa1 Posts: 3
in Food and Nutrition
My boyfriend says that I need to stop logging, cos counting calories is not a way of life. He says that I can't do it forever and it is ridiculous to have to weigh out everything (rice, pasta etc) before I eat it. Is he right? Is it better to eventually just listen to hunger signals or is it ok to continue to count everything as a lifestyle forever?

Replies

  • elyelyse
    elyelyse Posts: 1,454 Member
    considering your profile mention of being in recovery from an eating disorder, I'd check with your Doctor to see what his/her opinion on that is. Unless your BF is a specialist, his opinion on this isn't nearly as relevant as a professional's.
  • shadus
    shadus Posts: 424 Member
    Were you and have you been long term successful at managing your weight without calorie counting? That's the real question.

    Some people are lucky and never have to mess with any kind of calorie counting, weight watching, etc... I'm not one of those people. To be entirely honest, not many people are since 36% of the US is obese and including the obese 64% are overweight (above 25 bmi.)

    It's no more absurd to measure your food than it is to decide to eat only half of the item on your plate. Both are a method of managing your portions.

    Do what works for you.

    Edit: Reading your profile, "This really helps things stay in control so that I feel less anxiety & guilt about food." Says to me that, for you at least, calorie counting is a good solution. There is definitely NOTHING wrong with it. Being a healthy weight is about control and not being anxious and guilty. I concur with the above person's opinion, if in doubt, seek a professionals counsel.
  • Katrinadionne1808
    Katrinadionne1808 Posts: 95
    I've been counting calories for 135 days now. People may think that's obsessive but I find it quick and easy to do especially with the app and it keeps me on the right track.

    I will continue to log until I have met my GW and then continue for a bit whilst I am on maintenance so I can get used to portion control, how much I should be eating and so on.

    Counting calories is working for me so if other people don't like it then tough
  • mcibty
    mcibty Posts: 1,252 Member
    No, he's not right. I presume he doesn't watch what he eats? The more you do it now, you'll find that you'll have to do it less and less, because you'll remember/know what's what. Don't let him put you off. As long as you're eating the right amount of calories that you need, or you eat when you're hungry. He's not being supportive.
  • DYfive
    DYfive Posts: 491 Member
    I could see maybe one day down the line stopping once you got used to it. But I'd definitely say there's no reason to stop because your bf said it wasn't a "way of life". Do what helps!
  • astronomicals
    astronomicals Posts: 1,537 Member
    are you losing weight or trying to gain weight?
  • 2013sk
    2013sk Posts: 1,318 Member
    You don't want to count calories and weigh food for the rest of your life surely???

    You want to eat food, and not have to worry!!!!!!!
  • Rebeccaaa1
    Rebeccaaa1 Posts: 3
    I just want to maintain weight :)
  • misschip1983
    misschip1983 Posts: 67 Member
    my bf has also told me the same, hes also told me to stop working out as much to. I cant not count calories otherwise I would way over eat x
  • Rebeccaaa1
    Rebeccaaa1 Posts: 3
    my bf has also told me the same, hes also told me to stop working out as much to. I cant not count calories otherwise I would way over eat x

    exactly! i just find it too difficult to be sensible around food unless I count...but then again I wonder whether i can eventually learn to be sensible without counting x
  • grimendale
    grimendale Posts: 2,153 Member
    I can't speak for everyone, but I know that I have a terrible gauge for portion sizes, and due to years of chronic overeating and then crash dieting, I don't have a good sense of when I'm truly full or when I have eaten enough. I wander across both ends of the spectrum and can easily end up dangerously over- or undereating. For me, it's a relatively painless way to make sure that I stay healthy. If I reach a point where I can feel confident that I don't need this site, I'll likely stop, but I don't forsee that in the near future. This seems obsessive to most of my family; they are all at healthy weights and have never struggled with weight (nor have they had parents forcing food on them to try and bulk them up for sports, so they learned to stop eating when they were full). If it's helping you stay healthy, then it isn't obsessive, it's beneficial.
  • sianquin
    sianquin Posts: 86 Member
    MY inlaws do slimming world, they think calorie counting and logging is stupid but really it's no different to syns.

    I think there is nothing wrong with calorie counting and it helps keep you on track, eventually you will relise what a portion of rice/pasta/meat looks like and not weigh it.

    I would also like to say you should always listen to your body even now when your logging, if your hungry then eat, if you go over your calories but alot go for a run or to the gym to make up for it, no-one should even go hungry so that numbers on a screen tally.
  • ms_leanne
    ms_leanne Posts: 523 Member
    The good thing about weighing is it gives you an idea as to what portion sizes should be and also helps you balance your eating by showing you the levels of fibre, protein, carbs etc in food.

    When I get down to maintenance I have a feeling that I will still need to weigh food to get an idea as to how much I'm eating as I'm not very good at estimating through eyesight.
  • xampx
    xampx Posts: 323 Member
    If it is taking over your life, then you need to address it. Consider speaking to your GP if you are in recovery from an ED.

    However, counting calories is not for life, for me at least. I only weigh new stuff, as by now I know what 100g of my usual foods look like without weighing them. I think its good practice in the beginning, but I don't plan on doing it forever.
  • dan_boisvert_sub5x50
    dan_boisvert_sub5x50 Posts: 44 Member
    Is your boyfriend is a professional in the field of what you've been dealing with? If not, talk to those you have been working with, not your boyfriend.
  • JewelleryByMandy
    JewelleryByMandy Posts: 43 Member
    You carry on what you're doing. its working! I think that's a total lack of support. :flowerforyou:
  • SilverLotusGirl
    SilverLotusGirl Posts: 537 Member
    Your body, your life, your rules

    As long as you are getting enough calories and maintaining a healthy weight and aren't exhibiting symptoms of your ED, I say keep counting and weighing. You can do it for as long as you like.

    Sure one day you might get to a place where you can eyeball portions, and if not, no worries, but until then, keep measuring and if you start to feel like you're relapsing into your ED consult your dr and let your bf worry about his own eating.
  • C12254
    C12254 Posts: 198
    considering your profile mention of being in recovery from an eating disorder, I'd check with your Doctor to see what his/her opinion on that is. Unless your BF is a specialist, his opinion on this isn't nearly as relevant as a professional's.
    I agree with this. However *PERSONALLY* I log when I feel like im slipping. It gives me that reminder I need to stay aware of what is going into my mouth. Ive always hated tracking every calorie. I dont own a food scale, and I rarely bother with even trying. I did in the past and it became an obsession. I dont like being tied down to the phone or computer because "I might forget to log something."

    I eat when im hungry, and dont when im not.
  • Marie047
    Marie047 Posts: 240 Member
    I weigh everything regardless how long Ive been eating it, just gives me a sanity check on what I am eating, My fiance thought I was crazy at the beginning but her saw the benifits of me doing this, as he lost weight and got fitter and healthier.

    Whatever you do, do what is right for you, not him. Its about how you feel and look, and if it makes you feel in control and counting calories work it doesnt matter what anyone else says.
  • LeanneGoingThin
    LeanneGoingThin Posts: 215 Member
    I've been told the same thing. But now those people see results and they stopped saying it.

    I don't think you need to calorie count all your life, but apart from the weight loss, it also helps with knowing how much calories are in certain products and what normal portion sizes are. This will benefit you the rest of your life as you make food decisions.
  • Claire_x90
    Claire_x90 Posts: 94
    I am pretty much addicted to it and try so hard to stop, things like buying different brands and hiding scales from myself and putting stickers over nutritional info, measuring the amount for the week and trying to not do it daily... I can't stop... if you can stop I would recommend it! or at least something like no count tuesdays or something

    (I am recovering from an eating disorder but it started through calorie counting that I felt was harmless until I started having panic attacks when I was unsure, probably took about a year to get to that stage)
  • ktdiddy
    ktdiddy Posts: 43 Member
    I am a routine person. The more I have in my life, the better my mental state. Even when I eat not so good food, I log it but I never beat myself up over it and because of this, I could see myself doing this a very long time!
  • sdonovan4
    sdonovan4 Posts: 155 Member
    I find it helpful to log how much you eat. Plus it helps you keep track of what your eating. I know on the days I don't log anything I find myself over eating.
  • hrtchoco
    hrtchoco Posts: 156 Member
    you can always just estimate and add them up in your mind instead of counting calories. tbh, i never had any problems maintaining my weight (other than freshman year in college, but i lost the weight over the summer.)

    i think you should just weight yourself everyday in the morning. if your weight increased, eat a little less that day and you will be fine. there is really no need to be obsessing over it especially when you are trying to recover from eating disorders and just maintaining.

    i do log calories for my husband cuz he actually is trying to lose weight.
  • NonnyMary
    NonnyMary Posts: 982 Member
    I say - do not listen to your boyfriend. The fact that it bothers you so that you wrote about it, I think you should listen to your own self. He is just probably viewing it as some obsession and he does not understand. But you have to do what is right for you - whether anyone else agrees with you or not.

    It's YOUR life.
  • myofibril
    myofibril Posts: 4,500 Member
    He says that I can't do it forever and it is ridiculous to have to weigh out everything (rice, pasta etc) before I eat it. Is he right?

    No, for the simple reason that conscious competence can lead to unconscious competence.

    What I mean by this is that if you do calorie counting well (conscious competence) you teach yourself about many positive things: suitable food intake (meeting your calorie goal) portion size (by weighing) good diet (balancing your macros) health (tracking your micros) understanding your hunger cues (meal frequency).

    It is like a set of training wheels to ingrain good habits.

    Then when those habits are ingrained you can maintain your weight quite naturally without counting calories (unconscious competence.)
  • momzeeee
    momzeeee Posts: 475 Member
    My boyfriend says that I need to stop logging, cos counting calories is not a way of life. He says that I can't do it forever and it is ridiculous to have to weigh out everything (rice, pasta etc) before I eat it. Is he right? Is it better to eventually just listen to hunger signals or is it ok to continue to count everything as a lifestyle forever?

    I didn't count calories everyday when I was losing weight and I don't count or measure anything now that I'm in maintenance. But, I did alternate day intermittent fasting for weight loss and over the course of 6 months I learned how to have a healthy relationship with food, for the first time in my life. Now I maintain with 8:16 IF and stay within a .5lb of my goal weight, without even thinking about it :) Some need/want to count calories long term and others don't. You just have to find what works for you.
  • JustJennie1
    JustJennie1 Posts: 3,749 Member
    It's up to you. If you feel like you need to count calories forever then go for it.

    I find that when I count calories 1) I get obsessive about it 2) It gets to be time consuming 3)It starts taking over my life.

    I stopped counting a few months ago for the above reasons and haven't had any negative side effects like weight gain.Truth be told I lost a bit more once I stopped the obsessive counting. I will still weigh and measure things and I have gotten really good about eye balling but I am not too concerned about the calories I consume because they're healthy calories. I listen to my hunger signals and just live my life.
  • yksdoris
    yksdoris Posts: 327 Member
    Not only am I still counting calories almost 500 days in a row; every day (though ok, on some days I guesstimate) - now that I'm on maintenance I also enter my weight every day, because females have certain monthly fluctuations and I want to be able to tell myself rationally: look, you went through this a month ago and two months ago, do not panic, do NOT eat that whole bucket of Ben & Jerry's
  • Athena53
    Athena53 Posts: 717 Member
    What I mean by this is that if you do calorie counting well (conscious competence) you teach yourself about many positive things: suitable food intake (meeting your calorie goal) portion size (by weighing) good diet (balancing your macros) health (tracking your micros) understanding your hunger cues (meal frequency).

    It is like a set of training wheels to ingrain good habits.

    Then when those habits are ingrained you can maintain your weight quite naturally without counting calories (unconscious competence.)

    This. I'm at that point; I know what's loaded with calories and what isn't, and eat mostly low-cal and enjoy the high-cal in moderation. You may get to that point, especially if you tend to eat the same thing a lot like I do, but right now calorie counting works for you, so keep it up and don't let your boyfriend give you nutritional advice.

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