calorie counting is impossible in the long run
Replies
-
Whatever excuse floats your boat.
This.0 -
call me obsessive. I've been doing it for years
:flowerforyou:0 -
OK......Give me your opinion.
calorie counting leads to obsession.It is not ideal for permanent fatloss.Instead one should focus on nourishing ones body and use
progressive strength training to get stronger .Fatloss will be a byproduct of getting healthy...
"Obsessed is a word the lazy use to describe the dedicated"
/thread0 -
Rather than count every calorie, try rounding once you get an idea of what a portion looks like and how many cals in it. I do that all day when I'm not near my pc, and at the end of the day I log it into mfp. I'm usually really close.
After doing Weight Watcher's in the late 90's I found that I couldn't get through the maintenance phase because I no longer logged my calories. I'm one of the average people who hit goal and begin creeping back into old poor habits. So I know that once I hit my goal again, I'll need to log - likely for the rest of my life.0 -
it takes 10 min/ day
i have been doing it for 2 years and plan to continue for the rest of my life, so no, i don't agree0 -
This content has been removed.
-
go back into your cave little troll .......
I thought trolls live under bridges?
Cave Troll:
0 -
"Obsessed is a word the lazy use to describe the dedicated"
I love that^^^^
I will count calories for the rest of my life. I have proven time and again I can not be trusted otherwise.0 -
I'd rather take a chance on becoming "obsessed" than stay an unhealthy fatty who will probably die young of diseases.
:huh:0 -
Much like exercise; if you don't write it down, how do you know what you did? If you don't know what you did; how do you improve upon what you did? This has to be a lifestyle change; most people can't make that change without actually seeing on paper or computer log in this case, exactly what is what. Even in the long term, it is a good idea to track calories in and calories out.0
-
You don't need to do it forever, but it is important to learn how many calories some foods have. Many times we don't know hidden calories in foods and we allow ourselves to overeat. Counting calories helps us learn, and we can make better choices in the future without obsessing about it. So even if you stop counting calories, you can make better food choices because you have more knowledge and pick up better eating habits.0
-
To me, calorie counting/logging along with keeping track of my exercise is much like a business keeping track of its accounting. Bills, income, payroll, etc,...if you don't keep track in some way , how can you know for sure and keep the balance? Logging is just a way of accounting. Your body (business) will tell you either way...but I like that I found such a SIMPLE way to manage my body!!
0 -
It CAN lead to obsession in those predisposed to that behavior. But, we are the masters of our own realm, and no one has to let that happen.0
-
I'm one of the average people who hit goal and begin creeping back into old poor habits. So I know that once I hit my goal again, I'll need to log - likely for the rest of my life.
^^^^ I hit goal logging here a few months ago, continued logging in maintenance for a month or so, then stopped logging and gained back 3 pounds. So I'm back on here logging again. I don't consider it obsessive, I consider it smart :drinker:0 -
I plan on calorie counting for the rest of my life in order to maintain after I have reached my goal. If I don't, it will creep back up on me like it always does. I am going to HAVE to do it, or I will have the same problem I always have.0
-
False choice.
I have logged here and other sites for 10 years. Not obsessed at all -- dedicated to making sure I at least TRY to eat in a way that promotes good health most of the time.0 -
Wearing eyeglasses or contact lenses is not ideal for permanent vision correction and leads to obsession.OK......Give me your opinion.
calorie counting leads to obsession.It is not ideal for permanent fatloss.Instead one should focus on nourishing ones body and use
progressive strength training to get stronger .Fatloss will be a byproduct of getting healthy...
Not losing one's car keys and wallet and phone leads to obsession.
Paying one's bills on time every month and showing up to work on time is just obsessive behavior.
Obeekaybee.0 -
OK......Give me your opinion.
calorie counting leads to obsession.It is not ideal for permanent fatloss.Instead one should focus on nourishing ones body and use
progressive strength training to get stronger .Fatloss will be a byproduct of getting healthy...
LET ME REPLACE OBSESSION WITH DISORDERED EATING PATTERN0 -
I have two thoughts. Well three actually--
1. There needs to be a focus on staying mentally as well as physically healthy. I can't say for others but for me calorie counting doesn't lead to obsession if I don't let it. I log as accurately as I can, while keeping in mind that it's not going to be completely 100% accurate, so there's no need to bring a food scale out to eat with me, etc. I also find that I need occasional days off from logging. I don't take them often-- generally 3 or 4 per year tops-- but they help me to reset mentally and prevent burn-out.
2. You don't have to focus on just fitness and nourishment or just calorie counting. I do all of the above.
3. Nourishing foods can still be eaten in excess. I know that I have a tendency to eat just slightly too much. Calorie counting is like wearing glasses for me. It helps to correct my perception of how much I'm eating, just like wearing glasses corrects my vision. And yes, I plan to do it forever.
^^^This, for the most part^^^ I don't plan to take time off, though if it happens, it happens.
I have my phone with me a good chunk of the time, and log on to my computer occasionally throughout the day. I like the scanning ability on my phone as well, and the memory function of it. It really isn't that difficult, and helps me to plan out my meals for the day, or even couple of days at a time. Will I be perfect every day, no. But I use it as a nutritional tool, not being obsessive about it.0 -
I think you're correct in thinking that focusing on strength training and building the body you want is really the key....and fat loss will come along with that if you're staying consistent and focused. I agree with that bit, but I don't think calorie counting is necessarily obsessive. It certainly can be for some, but I don't find it so. And yes, I can definitely overeat healthy food, so logging is important for me. If it works out better for you to not log, then don't log.0
-
Option 1: Lose weight by logging calories to ensure caloric deficit, when weight is off, stop logging as to not become obsessed. Fall back into old habits and put weight back on.
Option 2: Lose weight by logging calories to ensure caloric deficit, when weight is off, eat and log maintenance calories and keep weight off.
Hmmm, is a tricky one, for sure.0 -
If you have struggled with your weight your entire life and truly have to watch your intake to stay healthy then this is a no brainer ! What is so hard about calorie counting, especially when you have the right tools to help you. This is by far the easiest thing I have done to lose weight and I will forever be aware of the calories I consume. After you do this for a while you become geared for it. You have made yourself aware of the calories you consume for so long that it is second nature to do so. You know what you can have and not have and it becomes habit. This is just healthy living ... No obsession. I don't log on the weekends but I am still mentally aware of what I eat and I still lost weight.:bigsmile:0
-
Anything can lead to obsession.0
-
OK......Give me your opinion.
calorie counting leads to obsession.It is not ideal for permanent fatloss.Instead one should focus on nourishing ones body and use
progressive strength training to get stronger .Fatloss will be a byproduct of getting healthy...
LET ME REPLACE OBSESSION WITH DISORDERED EATING PATTERN
:huh:0 -
This content has been removed.
-
Whatever excuse floats your boat.
Yeah, pretty much this. It took me til 49 to finally grow up and accept the fact that if I wanted to lose the weight, I was going to HAVE to count my calories accurately. Do I obsess over it? Perhaps a little. Especially in the beginning. But NOT obsessing over it is why I always quit within a few days or weeks of starting. I lied to myself, firmly believing that I NEVER ate over a certain amount.
I also falsely believed that I needed more calories than I actually did. Accurately logging my calories over time, was proof of exactly how many calories I could maintain or lose on.
For many people, they don't have to count calories. If that works for them, then fine. But anyone that has NOT been successful in losing their weight, and starts playing the 'I don't think it is mentally healthy' card. Might just be using that as an excuse.
I do agree that it is more than JUST counting calories. Consistent exercise and eating a balanced, healthy diet, is important for good health and sustaining your weight loss.0 -
Option 1: Lose weight by logging calories to ensure caloric deficit, when weight is off, stop logging as to not become obsessed. Fall back into old habits and put weight back on.
Option 2: Lose weight by logging calories to ensure caloric deficit, when weight is off, eat and log maintenance calories and keep weight off.
Option 3: Lose weight by logging calories to ensure caloric deficit...while you are doing this, focus on proper eating habits and making overall better nutritional decisions...learning portion control and moderation of not so healthy choices...make healthy eating a "habit" and get your fitness on. Stop logging at maintenance because it's no longer necessary given your new and improved eating and fitness habits that have truly become a "lifestyle" and maintain easily.
That would be me...IMHO, calorie counting isn't the "lifestyle"...the decisions you make are. If you go back to old eating habits and drop your fitness regimen it is because you've failed to actually adopt a sustainable dietary and fitness "lifestyle." Now if you'll excuse me, I have cyclocross practice to attend...0 -
NOW DON'T GET ME WRONG.NOT EVERYBODY WANTS TO BE A FITNESS MODEL.EATING CLEAN AND SERIOUS WEIGHT TRAINING WILL DEFINITELY STEER YOU IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.IT WILL PROBABLY TAKE MORE TIME.BUT IT WILL SAVE MANY FEMALES FROM GETTING AN EATING DISORDER.ALL I WANT TO SAY IS THAT IT CAN BE A GREAT PLACE FOR A PERSON TO START.THEN ONE CAN TAKE THE NEXT STEP.I HAVE SEEN PEOPLE DESTROYING THEIR LIVES AND RELATIONSHIPS DUE TO DISORDERED EATING.0
-
OK, the caps lock needs to go.
I have been that person that got all obsessive and whipped out her pocket scale and picked apart her restaurant meal ingredient by ingredient, and it led to binging and gaining back a lot of weight.
I am now dedicated to getting back to health. Real health without obsession or putting my head in the sand about how much I ate. I know I will, in fact, be logging for the rest of my life, because data collection and analysis is the only way I can review my calories in versus weight change. I can't know my total daily energy expenditure over time without the daily calories eaten and body weight data points! You can't fly a plane for very long without checking the instruments either. That doesn't make it obsessive, it's just prudent.0 -
If you want to avoid disordered eating patterns, it's probably best to avoid orthorexic terms like "eating clean" too.EATING CLEAN0
Categories
- All Categories
- 1.4M Health, Wellness and Goals
- 393.4K Introduce Yourself
- 43.8K Getting Started
- 260.2K Health and Weight Loss
- 175.9K Food and Nutrition
- 47.4K Recipes
- 232.5K Fitness and Exercise
- 427 Sleep, Mindfulness and Overall Wellness
- 6.5K Goal: Maintaining Weight
- 8.5K Goal: Gaining Weight and Body Building
- 153K Motivation and Support
- 8K Challenges
- 1.3K Debate Club
- 96.3K Chit-Chat
- 2.5K Fun and Games
- 3.7K MyFitnessPal Information
- 24 News and Announcements
- 1.1K Feature Suggestions and Ideas
- 2.6K MyFitnessPal Tech Support Questions