Calorie counting taking over life

kellycarbone14
kellycarbone14 Posts: 16
in Health and Weight Loss
I've been calorie counting for a few months now. At first I didn't always keep up with it everyday, but now I'm getting obbssesed with tracking every single thing I eat. I don't even enjoy what I eat anymore I feel like I'm just eating for the amount of calories. Also no matter what I eat I feel guilty after and feel the need to burn it off or I'm going to gain wait .. What's wrong with me? It's taken over my life

Replies

  • monolith66
    monolith66 Posts: 168 Member
    Give yourself a break here and there.
  • skippo1234
    skippo1234 Posts: 1
    You could be developing an eating disorder, if you are concerned I would consult a doctor.
  • shadow2soul
    shadow2soul Posts: 7,692 Member
    You should never feel guilty about eating food. Food = fuel

    From the sounds of it, you might want to take a step back and re-assess how you feel. Maybe even talk to a professional about it. It really doesn't sound healthy.
  • chilly1470
    chilly1470 Posts: 178 Member
    I know what you mean about the guilt, I have like a 750 calorie dinner and feel like the fat is just blubbering all around my gut and butt. But wait, this is science, and if you are doing it right, it will work. Enjoy yourself, relax, let up a bit. Eat slowly and savor each bite, put down the fork in between bites. I actually have rediscovered the tastes of food. And I am eating stuff I had shunned before in favor of junk. Once you get good at it, you won't have to count as much.
  • mrschains
    mrschains Posts: 12
    I've recently been through the same thing. I was told that I have an eating disorder because of how obsessively I track. So for right now, I'm not allowed to track for a month. =( I am finding that I'm moving more since I don't know exactly how many calories I'm taking in.
  • StaciMarie1974
    StaciMarie1974 Posts: 4,138 Member
    Look for ways you can take back control. I have a crazy hectic schedule coming soon as school starts back. Work, kids in 3 different schools as one starts college, one starts high school. And I start back on my MBA classes. Yikes.

    So this week I've turned down my deficit to 250, and I'm 'letting' myself estimate more and be less neurotic. Actual goal right now is maintenance so the 250 deficit is to make up for any estimating errors. This is a trial run. If it goes well I'll go back to weighing calorie dense foods, and aim for a real 250-350/day deficit.
  • DeterminedBex
    DeterminedBex Posts: 97 Member
    Take a break from counting.
  • tremroy1
    tremroy1 Posts: 90 Member
    You have to trust the system....just enjoy what you are eating and keep on tracking. I often calculate and record prior to eating, then I can eat without guilt. good luck
  • wizzybeth
    wizzybeth Posts: 3,578 Member
    There is NO NEED to feel guilty and if you track everything you have nothing to fear. It's like feeling guilty for putting gas in your car. :)
  • nicklippa
    nicklippa Posts: 31 Member
    I have a different take on things as I too have been told that I may have become obsessive with calorie counting. Let me first say that I have never accomplished anything in my life without being obsessed by that goal. Perhaps most of you can just go after a goal as you tiptoe through the tulips, but I cannot. Everything from winning sale rep of the year to becoming sales manager, from quitting smoking to losing 60lbs, my goal had to consume me until I achieved it. My only regret is that I wasn't this "obsessed" when I was in my teens and 20's as I could have gone farther in school.

    To the OP, if your goal is to lose weight then keeping track of your calories is the whole point behind myfitnesspal. When you incorporate exercise into calorie counting, it becomes fun - not obsessive. If I go out to dinner with my wife and kids, I enjoy it, I don't feel guilty if I have an extra beer or dessert or a side of fries. I know next day I will just have to ride, run, lift, pump a little longer. If you call that obsessive go ahead, I call it fun!
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    I really don't understand feeling guilty about hitting your goals...I really don't. Personally, that suggest to me that you have some issues with food that you may want talk about with a professional. This is classic disordered thinking.
  • Cortelli
    Cortelli Posts: 1,369 Member
    You have an interesting challenge ahead of you. I have been counting very closely for almost a year, but I count to record what I've consumed, and for good or bad I don't really feel bad if I've totally F'ed up a goal for the day. It sounds like you're tying counting to how you feel about yourself or your efforts. I think counting is good - data is good - but if it is dictating how you feel about yourself, perhaps it is time to take a step back. Good luck!
  • GummyBears7779
    GummyBears7779 Posts: 35 Member
    Get off the site for a while, you need a break. I had a problem with that as well, feeling bad every time i go over my limit even though i know that it won't make me gain weight or anything...which is why i havent started tracking again. Just eat healthy and make the right choices, but try not to track your calorie content, it can get really frustrating
  • squishprincess
    squishprincess Posts: 371 Member
    coming from someone who has had/has eating disorders, it sounds like the start of an eating disorder, or disordered eating thought process. however you prefer to word it. it's easy to get obsessive about food and calories to try and get fit or stay healthy and it can transform into something worse if you're not careful.. just don't let it take over your life, it's not worth it!! just be mindful of portions and maybe don't even log your calories for a while. eat when you're hungry, eat healthy enough and get the right nutrients you need. don't feel guilty, enjoy food and be well! :~)

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