I need some advice!

Listeninguponyou
Listeninguponyou Posts: 507 Member
edited November 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
Hello, lately calorie counting has lead to some stress and anxiety. I don't really understand why, but it just has been the past few weeks. I've been thinking about taking a week (or more) off from counting, but I am afraid that I will gain the weight (26 lbs) I have lost back on if I do it.

I'm still going to be on MFP for motivation and such, but I want to focus more on mile and exercise goals that make me feel better. I'll still be in groups, I just will not count anymore or at least in a less particular manner.

Is this a good idea? Should I stop, because it is really stressing me out lately? Would it be a bad idea to focus mainly on exercise and fitness goals rather than weight related goals?

Advice?

Replies

  • Liftng4Lis
    Liftng4Lis Posts: 15,151 Member
    I'm on day 11 of my 2 week diet break after over 5 months of logging- Its fantastic! The first couple of days I was unglued, because when you've done this this long, you still do it in your head. I had to step away from looking at everything as a calorie and focus on my exercise. I'm actually looking forward to Monday (first day back of logging), I like the structure.
    - Would I do this again? Absolutely!
  • Kalikel
    Kalikel Posts: 9,603 Member
    edited October 2014
    If you need the break, take the break!! Just don't forget that you can't let it become a permanent thing.

    Maybe you could use the break to practice how you'll eat when you're no longer losing?

    The calorie counting gets to be more than I feel like doing sometimes, so I stop. I don't change my eating - I just don't weigh every stupid bite and log it all. I think it's great practice for when I'm done losing. :)

    Get on the scale, though! Don't stop that. :)

    Good luck!
  • teagirlmedium
    teagirlmedium Posts: 679 Member
    Depends on how long you stop counting calories for. If you stop for a long time you may gain the weight back or at least some of the weight back. If you need a break then you should take a break. I would say that stopping for a week or a few weeks should not be that much of an issue for your diet. It may not be an issue at all. If you are worried about gaining the weight back just do a random weight check while you are on you break.
  • hhmb8k
    hhmb8k Posts: 49
    I always considered the calorie counting thing as a tool to help me learn where the errors in my diet lay as I start the process. I mean, eventually would the need for calorie counting not fade away a bit as you have learned how much of what food you can eat from habit and experience gained from previous calorie counting?

    I don't know the answer to this since I'm not there yet, but when I do count calories it is more of a lesson. Like, "Oh, so that's how much of that stuff I should eat." and then I try to remember that for next time. I'm still in the learning phase.




    By the way, congratulations on being the first post I have come across that even acknowledges there is more to weight loss than decreasing caloric intake (and therefore more to weight gain than overeating). I admit I haven't read every post, so I hope I don't offend anybody by saying that. I've mostly been sticking to the "Recent Discussion" section.

    Decreased mobility after two injuries was the main source of my weight gain, not junk food addiction and poor eating habits, but I think I am probably the only one on this forum in that boat. At least it feels that way.
  • CariJean64
    CariJean64 Posts: 297 Member
    Listeninguponyou wrote: »
    Hello, lately calorie counting has lead to some stress and anxiety. I don't really understand why, but it just has been the past few weeks.

    I'd be interested to know what has changed in the past few weeks that has caused the stress. It might be good to explore this a little more, and figure out why it stresses you.

    You could do this whether you take a break or not.

  • SLLRunner
    SLLRunner Posts: 12,942 Member
    Do what's best for you. Some people don't actually count calories to lose weight, they just find a way to eat less and lose weight and keep it off.

    I choose to continue counting because it works for me, but that is just my thing.

    You won't know until you try, and if you don't try you'll never know.

    Please let us know how it goes for you. :)
  • SLLRunner
    SLLRunner Posts: 12,942 Member
    hhmb8k wrote: »
    By the way, congratulations on being the first post I have come across that even acknowledges there is more to weight loss than decreasing caloric intake (and therefore more to weight gain than overeating).
    Well, there's always more to the story when it comes to anything, but I think you are misinterpreting something. ;)

    The OP is saying she wants to stop counting calories, as in no more weighing food and/or logging, not that she wants to stop eating in moderation or doing what it takes to keep the weight off and/or to lose more. She wants to give it a try without counting everything she eats.

    True fact is if you eat at a calorie deficit you will lose weight, and if you eat at a calorie surplus you will gain weight.

    Eating at a calorie deficit without actual counting can be difficult, but it can be mastered. Plenty of people do it.

  • Listeninguponyou
    Listeninguponyou Posts: 507 Member
    Thank you for the replies! I will try it! :)
    I will reply in 2-3 weeks after my break with emotions and weight changes. Thank you all again!
  • hhmb8k
    hhmb8k Posts: 49
    SLLRunner wrote: »
    hhmb8k wrote: »
    By the way, congratulations on being the first post I have come across that even acknowledges there is more to weight loss than decreasing caloric intake (and therefore more to weight gain than overeating).
    Well, there's always more to the story when it comes to anything, but I think you are misinterpreting something. ;)

    The OP is saying she wants to stop counting calories, as in no more weighing food and/or logging, not that she wants to stop eating in moderation or doing what it takes to keep the weight off and/or to lose more. She wants to give it a try without counting everything she eats.

    True fact is if you eat at a calorie deficit you will lose weight, and if you eat at a calorie surplus you will gain weight.

    Eating at a calorie deficit without actual counting can be difficult, but it can be mastered. Plenty of people do it.

    Well, I may very well be misinterpreting something, but I think you missed the point I was making entirely.

    I hate to derail this thread on a tangent like this. I was just venting my frustration.

    I was specifically commenting on the part about exercise. It is weird how little that is discussed in any of the active posts. The fact that you mistook my comment about the lack of balance (in including more discussion about activity level as it relates to weight loss) as somehow being a comment about eating in moderation only illustrates what I'm talking about.




  • 2013sk
    2013sk Posts: 1,318 Member
    I think its a good idea to have a little break - But all means get back to it when your ready!

    Try and listen to your body when your hungry, pick healthy options, and I am sure your be fine!

    Good luck!

    Well done on the weight loss so far :smile:
  • galprincess
    galprincess Posts: 683 Member
    Depends how much self control you have and how self motivated and honest to yourself you are good luck im sure a break wont hurt though and if it does get back on only trying it out will tell
  • Listeninguponyou
    Listeninguponyou Posts: 507 Member
    Almost forgot to post back on my results.

    I feel so much better and I am ready to get back at it! Didn't really gain all that much back after I stopped counting, but would love to get back to losing weight! All in all it was a good break and great idea! :D
  • Kalikel
    Kalikel Posts: 9,603 Member
    edited November 2014
    Listeninguponyou wrote: »
    Almost forgot to post back on my results.

    I feel so much better and I am ready to get back at it! Didn't really gain all that much back after I stopped counting, but would love to get back to losing weight! All in all it was a good break and great idea! :D

    Lol, I am now on my first diet break since I began. I thought I'd gain a ton and pig out for a week or two, but even with Thanksgiving, I'm up only a pound.

    It's so nice to just grab a cherry or two out of the fridge and eat them without all the crap. :)

    I'm enjoying it and glad you enjoyed yours!!
  • lemurcat12
    lemurcat12 Posts: 30,886 Member
    hhmb8k wrote: »
    I was specifically commenting on the part about exercise. It is weird how little that is discussed in any of the active posts. The fact that you mistook my comment about the lack of balance (in including more discussion about activity level as it relates to weight loss) as somehow being a comment about eating in moderation only illustrates what I'm talking about.

    There's a forum on Fitness specifically and a ton of groups on various fitness topics. Other than browsing the posts in the Fitness sections, I mostly discuss fitness/exercise stuff in specific groups, as well as challenges that include that as a part of it, and I wouldn't be surprised if others do too. You are jumping to conclusions a bit too fast, I think.
  • dbmata
    dbmata Posts: 12,950 Member
    Listeninguponyou wrote: »
    Almost forgot to post back on my results.

    I feel so much better and I am ready to get back at it! Didn't really gain all that much back after I stopped counting, but would love to get back to losing weight! All in all it was a good break and great idea! :D

    Good for you. Sometimes a break is what's needed to revitalize the mind.
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