How to stop obsessing and calorie counting

cmbauer99 · May 2014

First... big congrats on your weight loss. Don't lose sight of all of the hard work you have put in to accomplish that.

As I get closer to my weight loss goal I have been thinking a lot about this topic. Here are my two cents worth. One of the main reasons I got overweight to begin with is because I did not have any control over what I was eating. Many times I ate just to be eating.

For me, I have had to change my mindset about counting calories. I don't look at it as an obsession, but more like I am taking control of my life instead of letting food control my life. Counting calories puts ME in control.

Good luck. Hope you find that balance that will help you maintain without driving yourself crazy.

This right here!!!! Change your thoughts change your world. You are making a life choice, you have done amazing so far, guilt and fear are causing you to obsess over this.

Each day is a new day. Slip, get back up, Slip, Getback up

bciloveme2014 · May 2014

bump

raegrove · May 2014

I'm in the same boat. I have been in maintenance mode since mid January and still feel very obsessed with counting and planning meals. I tried to not think about it and just log at the end of the day, but then I find I am a few hundred calories above maintenance and have put a few lbs back on. I think I will have to go back to counting at least until I feel I have a good feeling of what I can consume and still remain at maintenance

HLindsayA · May 2014

Interested in continuing to read this thread later when I have more time! Thanks for asking your question.

bethfartman · May 2014

It's really hard. Throughout my weight loss I've taken breaks from MFP and just let myself live. I will weight myself about once a week and if the scale starts to go up more than five pounds, I reign it in and start tracking again. At first it was hard to maintain, but I've gotten to the point I can take months off of MFP and stay at the same weight and even lose a few pounds. I'm still not at my goal weight, so I'm back to tracking for a while, but I'll take a break again once I lose another 10 pounds or so. I don't take a break from exercising if I take a break from MFP, though, and I still try to eat properly. I would suggest to anyone who is losing a bunch of weight to take breaks from calorie counting occasionally and work on maintaining even if they aren't to their goal weight just yet- it's helped me tons. Just stop and see what happens and develop a strategy from there- you might find you do just fine on your own. You know what's healthy and what's not by now, you know it feels crummy to overeat for days on end. Just listen to your mind and not your stomach :-)

CorvusCorax77 · May 2014

I think that the fact you feel guilty for eating something you normally wouldn't, shows that you might have an unhealthy relationship to food after paying such close attention to it for so long (BIG congrats on your success btw.)...

I agree with this. Though I think personally that my unhealthy relationship with food is what made me obese in the first place.

I believe personally from studies i have listened to NPR talk about (cuz NPR) that staying at maintenance involves keeping a food log. I believe the mistake you are making is not adjusting your goals for maintenance. You *SHOULD NOT* be eating low calorie, or beating yourself up if you eat something "bad" now and again. You ate at a deficit with the goal of losing for so long, you probably can't imagine eating more and having a bit more freedom...but you are not trying to lose anymore.

I think you need to readjust your caloric goals, and I also think you need to do some work on rewiring your brain's attitude. You lost all that weight so you could be healthy and live life. Now be healthy and live life!

rosnicholls · May 2014

Hi Gillian

well done on your weight loss. I also obsess about my weight,food and excersise ! I'm predisposed to compulsive thinking and obsessional thoughts (I was bulimic for 20 years) I struggle with the same 10lbs - gaining it loosing it i've decided it's not food thats the problem but my head lol. I've not been bulimic for 13 years but it's left it's mark! I've just discovered this app (3 days ago) and already obsessed ! So although it looks excellent not sure it would be good for my mental health lol. The thing that helps me is buying a pretty journal and writing my thoughts and feelings down plus what I eat and exercise done. I know its still tracking but more casual if that makes sense? I've read the post's and they very helpful. For me trying to love myself and appreciate how I am is key (hard to do though). Good luck with it all and enjoy your new weight

x

Teenie71 · May 2014

Congrats on your weight loss! If other posters haven't already said it, may i suggest stop logging for a while? I was with MFP a while back and quit because i was getting soooo obsessed with the numbers, always thinking about food, etc. Since i only have a few pounds to lose i quit logging and just focus on making healthy eating choices. Sometimes i might log if I'm going out to dinner and i want to calculate the meal i'm going to order. I know this wont work for everyone and i know this is a calorie counting site and all but so far not logging is working for me. If i find that i'm not losing I will go back to logging to get back on track.

gillian211179 · May 2014

Thank you so much. You offered a small amount of advice but it hit a part of me. I have in the past brought food back up and been very scared get I have gone to that dark place. It has only been the odd occasion but enough to scare the living day lights out of me. I have kept a journal over the lags year, writing in it periodically and I feel it helps but when I am in the moment of no way out I do not know where to turn.

I think you are right. For mental health mfp is not the best place but t the same time it is because if I log I know I m good and in control. I am actually off work this weekend so going to try and not track for the weekend and see where it gets me. I am in control,of what I eat but want to think about it less. Since I am off I want to have a little indulgence and enjoy a little of what I want but knowing me that does not happen. What I do know is that I will be back in control next week and I will be able to get any pounds gained back off, but for my conscience and sense of achievement I would like to try portion control without the tracking and enjoy a little of what I fancy.

Well done on your journey so far. If nothing else this blog is supportive and motivational:)))

kimacduff · May 2014

I think if you are eating REAL foods that you fix yourself w/o tons of starches, it should be OK most of the time. Not processed foods . If you just have to have that pizza, spaghetti, cheesesteak sub, chocolate cake, Pina colada, etc. Eat it, drink it, enjoy it. Make sure it is really what you want. I've eaten things that didn't taste that good & were full of calories & junk. THOSE I really regretted. I always weigh in at the end of the week to keep track of where I am. the I can catch it when I am creeping up. 1 or 2 pounds isn't that big a deal.
I read or heard somewhere that obsessing with calories can be detrimental to your weight loss. I'm not sure why that would be. But, Our minds are powerful things.

tremroy1 · May 2014

Calorie counting is necesarry for proper maintenance. I consider myself as being out of control about eating. Counting eliminates the sadness you get when you have gained weight. Remember what got you there. Tracking is a better word for counting. Your goal for maintenance should be your guide to maintaining your weight. Responsible eating requires effort if you have been overweight. I am 65, and have had weight issues all my life. I have been over 200 at my heaviest and as low as 135. I have kept most of it off over the years but have dieted..several times.....I am now and have been tracking and excercising. I am 152.....going to 145 and want to hold at that number......we must be responsible when we eat......portion control helps....tracking....good luck

allana1111 · May 2014

completely relate

fitfabforties · May 2014

I know just how you feel......I have just accepted the fact that I will be counting calories for the rest of my life.....I'm so terrified that I will go backwards and gain all the weight back if I don't....I don't really enjoy eating anymore.....I live alone and I've basically given up cooking from scratch because it is so hard to accurately figure out all the calories....I eat salads, sandwiches, soups (not home made), protein bars, fruit and raw veges that all get weighed....I don't bake anything anymore because there would only be me here to eat it, and that obviously is out of the question....I got down to 118lb from 172lb and I loved it....but I hadn't started lifting so I guess I was what people call "skinny fat"....I started lifting and have seen not a lot of change in my measurements AND the scale went up 12lb!!!!!.....both of which is driving me crazy....so now I'm trying to get that off to 120lb.....it definitely seems to be an obsession for lots of us.....I feel for you because I've been there too.....

im_all_in · May 2014

Firstly, congratulations on all your hard work and effort to get where you are today! That's truly amazing! Be proud!!!

Secondly, I too was getting so stressed out over counting everything that I think my cortisol levels were sabotaging me just by constantly feeling stressed over the next meal...and the one after that....and the one after that. I stopped. I decided to prepare clean healthy food (a big container of sliced mixed veggies: bell peppers, cukes, tomatoes, mushrooms, onions tossed with a little EVOO and lemon) and having one day a week to cook meat (chicken breast, turkey muffins, pork). While this does take some time on that one day I cook all the meat and rice or quinoa, plus 2x a week I chop the veggies, I have way more time with my kids. You can pack a small cooler full of the stuff you need for the day. Just grab and go. I only pre-portion starchy carbs because they're my downfall. Use one day a week to think about it so that you can relax for the other six days by being prepared. I use those veggies on their own or added to greens for a salad. They are the first thing I see when I open the fridge. I put them right at eye level to keep me focused. Planning everything down to the last calorie is extremely stressful. I'm having a blast not counting at all...and losing.

I wish you luck with this...with all the great feedback you're getting from everyone I'm sure you will find a way that will work for you and make you happy and comfortable. Congrats again!:happy:

How to stop obsessing and calorie counting

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