Can I be too obsessive over healthy eating???

FitnessLover001
FitnessLover001 Posts: 188 Member
edited February 17 in Health and Weight Loss
I know we all measure everything and eat right, and I love it don't get me wrong I make my healthy food choices, but can you be too obsessed over it? I find myself looking at the calories in everything and choose not to eat certain foods because of the calories in it, and before I put anything in my mouth, I'll check MFP for calorie input and even if I am going out to eat with friends, I will search the nutritional information in the car for the restaurant and choose my meals based on that. Like, I'm happy with what I do and all and love that I do care about my body enough to watch what I eat, but I was just wondering if you could ever be a little too obsessed with it? Like you can't eat something unhealthy because you'll have nothing but regret right after? Kind of like you can't escape from not looking at calories

Replies

  • Iknowsaur
    Iknowsaur Posts: 777 Member
    There's a fear of eating foods that an individual deems "unclean" or "unhealthy" that can be categorized as an eating disorder (someone here will know what I'm talking about or what it's called.)
    But it really depends on what extreme you're going to.
    It just sounds like you're very rigid with your eating, and that isn't always a bad thing.
  • easjer
    easjer Posts: 219 Member
    Quick answer - one can be obsessive over anything, particularly if one has an obsessive personality. What you describe, to me, falls more in the hyper-awareness category than the obsessive category, but only you or a professional psychologist could accurately answer whether or not it is genuinely obsessive. If it feels like it is taking over your life or that you must compulsively check ingredients multiple times or that you are becoming overly restrictive as a result of your interaction with MFP/Calorie counting, then it's worth talking to a professional or reviewing your behaviors.

    It doesn't sound like you are there, but it is the reason I choose not to weigh my food, because I *do* have an obsessive personality and that takes me to an uncomfortable place.
  • mortuseon
    mortuseon Posts: 579 Member
    There's a fear of eating foods that an individual deems "unclean" or "unhealthy" that can be categorized as an eating disorder (someone here will know what I'm talking about or what it's called.)
    But it really depends on what extreme you're going to.
    It just sounds like you're very rigid with your eating, and that isn't always a bad thing.

    Orthorexia!
    If it's getting in the way of your life and/or is negatively affecting your mental health, that's when it is a problem.
  • PunkyDucky
    PunkyDucky Posts: 283 Member
    You call obsessive i call dedication :tongue:

    No, But really..Sometimes you have to do these things to get what you really want. I find myself doing the same things but if it'll help me focus on my goal, i'm doing it.
  • ChrisM8971
    ChrisM8971 Posts: 1,067 Member
    There's a fear of eating foods that an individual deems "unclean" or "unhealthy" that can be categorized as an eating disorder (someone here will know what I'm talking about or what it's called.)
    But it really depends on what extreme you're going to.
    It just sounds like you're very rigid with your eating, and that isn't always a bad thing.

    I think that is the orthorexia thats been in the news a lot recently.

    There is probably a point where healthy counting becomes an unhealthy obsession but I have no idea where that limit is
  • krennie8
    krennie8 Posts: 301 Member
    you can definitely be obsessed, but there is a difference between obsessed and informed. I look up everything as well b/c otherwise how will I know when I go out whether to get the fajitas or the hamburger? Sure the fajitas sound like the healthier option, but the website says it has more calories than the hamburger + fries!

    Informed is good. Obsessed is when you take a food scale to the restaurant to make sure everything is exactly as the restaurant stated.
  • Iknowsaur
    Iknowsaur Posts: 777 Member
    There's a fear of eating foods that an individual deems "unclean" or "unhealthy" that can be categorized as an eating disorder (someone here will know what I'm talking about or what it's called.)
    But it really depends on what extreme you're going to.
    It just sounds like you're very rigid with your eating, and that isn't always a bad thing.

    Orthorexia!
    If it's getting in the way of your life and/or is negatively affecting your mental health, that's when it is a problem.

    ^
    Thank you.
  • SueInAz
    SueInAz Posts: 6,592 Member
    Anything can be taken to extremes. Take your cues from the people in your life. If they're telling you you're being obsessive about it, perhaps you are. Of course, many of them might not "get it" when it comes to eating healthy but they are usually a little more objective about our behavior than we are since they are just observing it and not wrapped up in it.
  • diannethegeek
    diannethegeek Posts: 14,776 Member
    I reached a point while dieting when I actually broke into tears because the restaurant I'd gone to with my family was out of quinoa burgers. Yes, there is such a thing as being too obsessive. If it interferes with your life or your emotional well-being then it's time to reassess. Until then you're probably okay.
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