Counting calories & OCD/Perfectionism?

lose25togain
lose25togain Posts: 9
in Health and Weight Loss
If you're a perfectionist, does counting calories drive you crazy??? I find that i drive myself crazy when measuring. I get frustrated because i think i am for sure doing it wrong. I think my numbers are all off. This is why I measure/count for like 2 days and give up.

I'm not alone in this lol?
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Replies

  • WalkingAlong
    WalkingAlong Posts: 4,926 Member
    I think it's common. You don't have to be perfect. It's all estimates anyway. :smile:
  • malibu927
    malibu927 Posts: 17,562 Member
    Only with cereal/shredded cheese. If I go over, I'll put the excess back into the package. And yes, I'm the only one that eats those particular items.
  • vismal
    vismal Posts: 2,463 Member
    In order to not drive yourself crazy with counting you must constantly remind yourself that the FDA allows companies a 20% margin of error on nutritional facts. So even if you are perfect, your count is still +/- 20% which is a pretty big margin of error. This why consistency is much more important then accuracy.
  • Sabine_Stroehm
    Sabine_Stroehm Posts: 19,263 Member
    If you find that counting makes you nuts? DON'T DO IT.
    Choose another method.


    seriously.
  • SonicDeathMonkey80
    SonicDeathMonkey80 Posts: 4,489 Member
    A life without Chipotle is not worth living
  • RET68
    RET68 Posts: 88
    In order to not drive yourself crazy with counting you must constantly remind yourself that the FDA allows companies a 20% margin of error on nutritional facts. So even if you are perfect, your count is still +/- 20% which is a pretty big margin of error. This why consistency is much more important then accuracy.
    oh my gosh, that's horrible:grumble:
  • ana3067
    ana3067 Posts: 5,623 Member
    Idk if this has been my problem, but I've switched my calorie goals veeery often. I have averaged anywhere from 2000 to 2100 on monthly bases lol. So now I'm just going to stick to 2000 as my goal and I might not weigh myself for another month... mostly because I think part of the issue is wanting to change cals when not INSTANTLY seeing results because last time I lost weight (every time actually) it's been pretty quick. Now I'm going slow so... it's more frustrating :/
  • ILiftHeavyAcrylics
    ILiftHeavyAcrylics Posts: 27,732 Member
    Couple of thoughts.

    1. You get better at it with time

    2. As others stated, it's all estimates. What I try to do is to be as accurate as is possible without driving myself crazy, and then adjust based on results.

    3. If you do find that counting drives you crazy there are other ways. I don't care for them and prefer the precision of calorie counting, but it's not the only way.
  • Beezil
    Beezil Posts: 1,677 Member
    Calories aren't an exact science, anyways... they're just a tangible representation of the energy that comes from and is stored within the foods we consume. This can differ from serving to serving, and even bite to bite, and everyone's metabolism utilizes the energy from food in a slightly different rate / way. It's more of a guideline, as is calorie counting. You find a number that works and stick with it, don't freak out if everything isn't EXACTLY measured, because it doesn't really matter that much anyway. 1g over or .1 ounce over isn't going to make you gain / lose any more or less than if it were measured exactly.
  • marissanik
    marissanik Posts: 344 Member
    Depends what it is. If I go over my peanut butter a couple grams, meh.. And I lick the spoon ;)

    If I go over my broccoli though, I might put some of that back. Hahaha.
  • ana3067
    ana3067 Posts: 5,623 Member
    In order to not drive yourself crazy with counting you must constantly remind yourself that the FDA allows companies a 20% margin of error on nutritional facts. So even if you are perfect, your count is still +/- 20% which is a pretty big margin of error. This why consistency is much more important then accuracy.

    Spokesperson here for not being consistent with calorie counts lol. I'm guessing it IS a mental thing of some kind then for me.
  • lose25togain
    lose25togain Posts: 9
    lol yea put that that extra broccoli back.
  • lose25togain
    lose25togain Posts: 9
    In order to not drive yourself crazy with counting you must constantly remind yourself that the FDA allows companies a 20% margin of error on nutritional facts. So even if you are perfect, your count is still +/- 20% which is a pretty big margin of error. This why consistency is much more important then accuracy.

    I've heard this before. Thanks for the reminder. I'm probably off anyway. I just have to teach myself to not care so much.
  • bvifun
    bvifun Posts: 237 Member
    I get frustrated because i think i am for sure doing it wrong.

    What is it you think you are doing wrong?

    Perfectionism for me means I often do not get things done or even started but in the case of MFP this has worked in my favor. I accept that calories eaten or used can only be estimates. Also the calorie limits are based on averages so are not exact for an individual. But where I can control things is by recording everything that passes through my lips. This has worked well for me and has kept me accountable.

    I have a note taped to my computer that says: Done IS perfect.
  • northbanu
    northbanu Posts: 366 Member
    Only with cereal/shredded cheese. If I go over, I'll put the excess back into the package. And yes, I'm the only one that eats those particular items.

    The other day I was weighing out 2 ounces of cheese, the first hunk I cut of the block weighed 2.25 ounces. I cut off a slice, reweighed and bingo! two ounces. Happy with my perfect 2 ounce hunk of cheese, I popped that little quarter ounce slice into mouth and ate it! WTF! Why bother? Holy crap.:huh:
  • Liftng4Lis
    Liftng4Lis Posts: 15,151 Member
    Total OCD here and use to it. Gotta love the digital scale!!
  • GertrudeHorse
    GertrudeHorse Posts: 646 Member
    In order to not drive yourself crazy with counting you must constantly remind yourself that the FDA allows companies a 20% margin of error on nutritional facts. So even if you are perfect, your count is still +/- 20% which is a pretty big margin of error. This why consistency is much more important then accuracy.

    This is the best advice.

    Ultimately only worry about yourself. Monitor calorie intake and what you expend for 6 weeks, assess results. Revise input/output up or down to achieve results you prefer. Rinse and repeat.
  • WalkingAlong
    WalkingAlong Posts: 4,926 Member
    If it makes you feel better about estimating, I weigh almost nothing and I post-log my eating and lose pretty much on track with what I should.

    Many people here tend to want to micromanage it all and worry so much over potentially under-eating, even for one day. It doesn't have to be that hard. Pick an intake level, log, note how fast you lose weight. If it's slower than you like, lower your intake level.
  • Camo_xxx
    Camo_xxx Posts: 1,082 Member
    Turn your weakness into a strength.

    I have OCD and I love counting calories. It suits my methodical and aynalitical tendicies .

    Ever watch The BIg Bang Therory on TV ? Sheldon always knocking 3 times is me weighing food. LoL

    Yes I put the extra gram of cheese back in the bag !!!

    Hitting my daily Marco percentages exactly makes me chuckle and I try to do it just for fun every day.
    Hitting my daily micro nutrient numbers has become my shopping and meal planning challenge. I am constantly looking for the perfect meal plan to hit my numbers.

    Basically I just use my OCD as a way to keep me motivated to lose fat. don't let OCD be your excuse to stay fat.
  • seltzermint555
    seltzermint555 Posts: 10,740 Member
    I guess I do have a pretty good amount of "faith" in my estimates and measurements being accurate...but I honestly believe my OCD tendencies and lifelong perfectionism are the REASON that this particular method of weight loss has worked so well for me. For me to never eat junk food again is not realistic. For me to give up all carbs is not realistic. But for me to log every bite, every sip, every day...totally my thing. I act like it's the damn LAW for me to log every single bite - including that 1/4 tbsp of whatever sauce on my breakfast taco.
  • mzbek24
    mzbek24 Posts: 436 Member
    I'm pretty OCD and love counting calories also, makes me feel a bit more in control of things lol. I'll sometimes literally have a weird amount like 7g of almonds if it means I will be all in the green with my calories and macro's (I can get a little perfectionist with that and I of course feel a bit annoyed if anything is red) but yeah apart from that, calorie counting and measuring and weighing things makes me feel happier than guessing or worse-not paying attention to my portion sizes and just thinking "Oh why not eat this gigantic bowl, couldn't be that many calories right?"

    Ultimately its given me better results and satisfaction than other methods and over time I find it takes me only a short time to plan out a days food...pre plan and things are pretty stress free :)
  • 970Mikaela1
    970Mikaela1 Posts: 2,013 Member
    It's seriously so habitual now. people Say I'm ocd. I dont care. perfect I'm not because I know what I can let slip by. it works if you can do it.
  • veeve1
    veeve1 Posts: 13
    FDA allows companies a 20% margin of error on nutritional facts

    Really? Argggh.

    Ocd = Obsessive Calorie Deliberation

    .. for me too. Although its only been 16days now lol. I may get sick of it soon & actually preplan a diet so I dont have to spend so much time entering stuff & seeing if I can/cant that day.
  • Sabine_Stroehm
    Sabine_Stroehm Posts: 19,263 Member
    If it makes you feel better about estimating, I weigh almost nothing and I post-log my eating and lose pretty much on track with what I should.

    Many people here tend to want to micromanage it all and worry so much over potentially under-eating, even for one day. It doesn't have to be that hard. Pick an intake level, log, note how fast you lose weight. If it's slower than you like, lower your intake level.
    nice
  • sympha01
    sympha01 Posts: 942 Member
    I tend to weigh pretty precisely (or try to anyway) but I don't find it hard to do a quick reality check.

    Getting my apple off by 10 grams? A couple of calories, NBD.
    Getting my peanut butter off by 10 grams? LOLWUT that's over 50 calories. And yet. At the end of the day, 50 calories is nothing. But if I measured all my higher calorie foods carelessly, it might add up to a few hundred.

    Keep a sense of proportion regarding the type of food it is and whether it's super calorie dense is all.
  • cassique
    cassique Posts: 164 Member
    If it makes you feel better about estimating, I weigh almost nothing and I post-log my eating and lose pretty much on track with what I should.

    Many people here tend to want to micromanage it all and worry so much over potentially under-eating, even for one day. It doesn't have to be that hard. Pick an intake level, log, note how fast you lose weight. If it's slower than you like, lower your intake level.
    Me too. And the only time I felt like I was hitting a plateau was when I was doing a diet bet and was freaking out as I got nearer to the end. It seemed like the more a stressed and obsessed the less I lost. I managed to hit my goal and win the money, and after the deadline I gave myself a two day break. I still logged, but I was back to my casual after the fact or as I was eating sort of way and the weight started falling off again--after a few high calorie low activity days. I needed to relax to kickstart myself into losing again.

    I like to take the "least amount of effort" approach to things that I want to stick with for the long term. I start by making one small change. Assessing the results, and tweaking as a go along. I know what a portion looks like on my flatware at home so i feel comfortable eyeballing. I weigh or measure when I feel like I could use a recheck but certainly not all the time. I usually will weigh pasta if I am using a larger bowl or plate than usual, but I don't go crazy about exact numbers. All I want is a decent enough estimate so that the next time I use that bowl or plate I know what a serving size should look like. If I'm happy with the results I continue as is, if not than I might spend some time focusing on accuracy so I can make appropriate adjustments with the goal being to go back to a more relaxed approach.
    If you are in this for the long haul, then you have to accept that being perfect will be more of a road block than allowing yourself to be flexible.
  • maidentl
    maidentl Posts: 3,203 Member
    If you're a perfectionist, does counting calories drive you crazy??? I find that i drive myself crazy when measuring. I get frustrated because i think i am for sure doing it wrong. I think my numbers are all off. This is why I measure/count for like 2 days and give up.

    I'm not alone in this lol?

    The first time I used MFP it did indeed drive me crazy and I eventually threw up my hands in frustration and stayed fat a while longer. For some reason, this time I have been able to be much more relaxed about it. I guesstimate the best i can when eating something not easily accounted for and when I have a really crazy day, I may not log at all. But I have continued to lose weight so it's shown me that perfectionism really isn't necessary.
  • brittvas55
    brittvas55 Posts: 15 Member
    In order to not drive yourself crazy with counting you must constantly remind yourself that the FDA allows companies a 20% margin of error on nutritional facts. So even if you are perfect, your count is still +/- 20% which is a pretty big margin of error. This why consistency is much more important then accuracy.

    Sooo true. Consistency will get you there. Also, get a food scale and just go off grams. Way easier and food scales are fairly cheap.
  • ceron1234
    ceron1234 Posts: 19 Member
    If you're a perfectionist, does counting calories drive you crazy??? I find that i drive myself crazy when measuring. I get frustrated because i think i am for sure doing it wrong. I think my numbers are all off. This is why I measure/count for like 2 days and give up.

    I'm not alone in this lol?

    I have looked into a percentage based diet instead of counting calories.

    50/25/25: 50% Veggie, 25% Carb and 25% Protein. Use this formula if you need to lose major weight.

    40/30/30 of moderate weight loss and 33/33/33 for maintenance

    I knowledge of calories is still needed but you don't have to count as much.

    Just an idea
  • Sabine_Stroehm
    Sabine_Stroehm Posts: 19,263 Member
    If you're a perfectionist, does counting calories drive you crazy??? I find that i drive myself crazy when measuring. I get frustrated because i think i am for sure doing it wrong. I think my numbers are all off. This is why I measure/count for like 2 days and give up.

    I'm not alone in this lol?

    I have looked into a percentage based diet instead of counting calories.

    50/25/25: 50% Veggie, 25% Carb and 25% Protein. Use this formula if you need to lose major weight.

    40/30/30 of moderate weight loss and 33/33/33 for maintenance

    I knowledge of calories is still needed but you don't have to count as much.

    Just an idea
    Veggies ARE carbs. And where's the FAT?

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