Ignorance about calorie counting.
gabrielleelliott90
Posts: 854 Member
Tonight, I had my first ever experience of calorie counting ignorance. Now, let's face it, people who don't calorie count, have no idea about it. They don't realise, that getting the exact amount of calories is quite important, no we wouldn't gain weight going over, but we do like to get right. And a lot of foods, peanut butter for example, can be quite high in calories, and if you don't weigh it, you could set yourself up for disaster.
I had onion rings for dinner. 12, I could not find the exact amount of calories for them, so I went and looked at the nutritional info, 100g= 233cal. I decided to weigh them just in case they were over, they were nearly 300. Not a big deal, but you know, I had to do it. I know I wouldn't gain weight from adding the wrong amount, but you guys know what it's like. My mum suggested I am on my way to an eating disorder, and acted rudely towards me weighing the onion rings. She had anorexia in the past, but yeah, I'm not wanting to go down that route, or planning to.
We really need to stop the ignorance and the stigma towards calorie counting. We don't have eating disorders just because we want to lose weight, maintain weight. Unless you do calorie counting, you won't get it. It's so annoying, never do I EVER want to be labelled as having an eating disorder, I love my food, I don't eat healthy at all (hence the onion rings), I eat 1615 calories each day. I even like to snack at night...
I had onion rings for dinner. 12, I could not find the exact amount of calories for them, so I went and looked at the nutritional info, 100g= 233cal. I decided to weigh them just in case they were over, they were nearly 300. Not a big deal, but you know, I had to do it. I know I wouldn't gain weight from adding the wrong amount, but you guys know what it's like. My mum suggested I am on my way to an eating disorder, and acted rudely towards me weighing the onion rings. She had anorexia in the past, but yeah, I'm not wanting to go down that route, or planning to.
We really need to stop the ignorance and the stigma towards calorie counting. We don't have eating disorders just because we want to lose weight, maintain weight. Unless you do calorie counting, you won't get it. It's so annoying, never do I EVER want to be labelled as having an eating disorder, I love my food, I don't eat healthy at all (hence the onion rings), I eat 1615 calories each day. I even like to snack at night...
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words are words. people can call me all sorts of names, think anything they want about me, i know who i am, what is right for me, and oh, i also know whats best for you. lol0
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In0
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I weigh everything, and I've had people tell me I have OCD lol. I have a goal and I will do anything to reach that goal. I am not haphazard about it, being haphazard about a goal is the first step to failure.0
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I weigh everything, and I've had people tell me I have OCD lol. I have a goal and I will do anything to reach that goal. I am not haphazard about it, being haphazard about a goal is the first step to failure.
I actually have OCD, diagnosed since 10, been disordered with it for 11 years. Tell them to shut up, the have NO CLUE what they are talking about. OCD is so much different to how it is portrayed, and although weighing food could be a ritual of OCD, I think you'd have to have more symptoms to be diagnosed with it. Good on you for wanting to reach your goal, and going for it.0 -
I weigh and measure EVERYTHING!! No one says anything because I needed to lose the weight and it worked!! I am also 49. I will be totally honest, if my 22 year old did this and did not HAVE to, it may worry me a bit. It's a mom thing!
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I pretty much weigh everything, unless I am out at a restaurant...and I don't give a damn what anyone thinks about it ....0
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I used to carry a pocket scale to weigh food when I was out. The only reason I stopped was because I couldn't lift more than 10 pounds after a surgery so I took it out of my purse along with almost everything else "nonessential". I had it out so long I have just gotten out of the habit. I still weight everything I eat at home.
I don't think there's anything wrong with wanting to know how much you're eating. You have to be strict now so you can learn what a serving actually is. Years from now you may not need it but for the time being, you do so don't feel bad about it.0 -
farfromthetree wrote: »I weigh and measure EVERYTHING!! No one says anything because I needed to lose the weight and it worked!! I am also 49. I will be totally honest, if my 22 year old did this and did not HAVE to, it may worry me a bit. It's a mom thing!
I know, but I'm 5'4 (163cm), I literally only just reached a healthy weight, although I look quite thin, I want to lose a tiny bit more then I shall stop. My goal is 130lb. 12lb away. 0 -
Knowledge is power. If you don't know, weighing is very important. You could have eaten 3 times what you thought and that is the problem with most of us. Stay healthy. 0
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gabrielleelliott90 wrote: »I weigh everything, and I've had people tell me I have OCD lol. I have a goal and I will do anything to reach that goal. I am not haphazard about it, being haphazard about a goal is the first step to failure.
I actually have OCD, diagnosed since 10, been disordered with it for 11 years. Tell them to shut up, the have NO CLUE what they are talking about. OCD is so much different to how it is portrayed, and although weighing food could be a ritual of OCD, I think you'd have to have more symptoms to be diagnosed with it. Good on you for wanting to reach your goal, and going for it.
I also have OCD and I hate when it's used for people being anal retentive.
OCD involves obsessions and compulsions. Checking, cleaning, counting, etc. It's followed by an overwhelming sense of guilt/fear/anxiety which compels you to perform an act.
For example, I locked my house and get into my car to go out. I get an overwhelming sense of fear that I forgot to lock my door, or didn't lock it right. I might go check it 10-20 times before I can leave. The thought pattern is "if I forgot to lock the door someone might break in, and if they break in they'll steal everything I own, and if they do then I'll lose everything I have and it'll be my fault, and the I won't have money to replace everything, and then I'll lose my house, and then I'll be homeless." People with OCD realize that their obsessions are not rooted in reality and are irrational yet they still feel an overwhelming anxiety that something terrible will happen and it'll be their fault.
Like, driving home after a 45 minute commute to work just because you need to make sure that your oven is off.
Or making sure your radio is on the right station when you start the car otherwise you'll get into a fiery car crash and place financial burden on your family.
I could go on... It's an anxiety disorder and a terrible one to deal with.
In regards to the OP, there's nothing you can do about people being ignorant when it comes to counting calories. It sounds like your mom is projecting her past issues of an eating disorder on you. Just let them know why you're doing it and let them think what they will.
The amount of people who are completely ignorant about calories is too high. "Well I'm having a salad so it's healthy!" 1,200 calorie salad from McDonald's,
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Weighing every bite you take is much more obsessive than most people want or need to be.
If it works for you, don't worry about what other people think. But you have to expect that people will find it odd. It is odd. I do it a lot! But I don't forget that the vast majority of people - fat and thin - do not weight their food.
It is so the kind of thing anorexics would do. It could be an OCD thing, too.
Eating healthy food and/or counting calories doesn't make you anorexic. Being underweight and feeling the need to continue losing weight makes you anorexic.0 -
Weighing every bite you take is much more obsessive than most people want or need to be.
If it works for you, don't worry about what other people think. But you have to expect that people will find it odd. It is odd. I do it a lot! But I don't forget that the vast majority of people - fat and thin - do not weight their food.
It is so the kind of thing anorexics would do. It could be an OCD thing, too.
Eating healthy food and/or counting calories doesn't make you anorexic. Being underweight and feeling the need to continue losing weight makes you anorexic.
I won't even go into why it's NOT an OCD thing.... But I don't think there's anything wrong with being accurate in your counting. Especially if you don't have much to lose or are not losing by regular logging (I.e. Cups, measuring spoons, etc.)
It's also important to point out that in countries other than the u.s. All nutritional Info on packaging is done by cals/100 grams. There's no way to measure that other than by weighing.
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I only weight the things I cannot guess with any accuracy like meat or loose veggies I pack to eat with my hummus. Otherwise measuring cups and spoons are used but other than that? I don't stress too much.0
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Unless you owe someone a living, people have no right to comment on your lifestyle choices. Do what you're comfortable with, and what you think works best for you. I can empathise, because my family thinks I'm nuts for weighing my food, whenever I can. It's difficult to ignore, but it's also easy to remind myself that weighing my food can ensure that all my hard work in getting to a weight I think is healthy is maintained and sustained. Don't take things to heart, OP! If it works for you, weigh away. 0
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Honestly, the only way it would be an ocd thing is if it became obsessive and compulsive, therefore turning into a ritual. Yeah, some anorexics calorie count, but you have to understand they also count grams of fat etc, they get really into it. They try and eat as little as possible, as that is what the disease makes them do.0
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I can see how your mother might be concerned if it reminds her of something she used to do when she had an ED. You know you aren't headed in that direction, maybe she needs more reassurance?
I am finally getting a kitchen scale. My husband ordered one last night. Right now, I have a lot to lose but I know when I get closer to my goal I will have less wiggle room and will want to be more accurate. Most people don't weigh and measure their food so they don't understand.
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I don't weight my food simply because I generally calculate to eat less calories than MFP has allotted. If I get hungry, then I eat more but usually protein and fiber dense foods. I guess I've had a caloric deficit because I have been losing weight and I haven't had to many hungry days. I imagine I'll have to get more strict about it the closer I get to my goal though.0
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rainbowbow wrote: »Weighing every bite you take is much more obsessive than most people want or need to be.
If it works for you, don't worry about what other people think. But you have to expect that people will find it odd. It is odd. I do it a lot! But I don't forget that the vast majority of people - fat and thin - do not weight their food.
It is so the kind of thing anorexics would do. It could be an OCD thing, too.
Eating healthy food and/or counting calories doesn't make you anorexic. Being underweight and feeling the need to continue losing weight makes you anorexic.
I won't even go into why it's NOT an OCD thing.... But I don't think there's anything wrong with being accurate in your counting. Especially if you don't have much to lose or are not losing by regular logging (I.e. Cups, measuring spoons, etc.)
It's also important to point out that in countries other than the u.s. All nutritional Info on packaging is done by cals/100 grams. There's no way to measure that other than by weighing.
Since you're not going to go into why an OCD person couldn't get worked up about weighing food (which I totally can - I can even see them splitting a raspberry in half to get the number to be 15 instead of 14 or 16, lol), I will simply point out that I didn't say there was anything wrong with it.
I think everyone knows that different countries use different forms of measuring.0 -
I'm lucky in a way since mom had to weigh her stuff for meals at work when her diabetes showed up. Still getting them to help me out by weighing stuff can be an uphill battle.0
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rainbowbow wrote: »Weighing every bite you take is much more obsessive than most people want or need to be.
If it works for you, don't worry about what other people think. But you have to expect that people will find it odd. It is odd. I do it a lot! But I don't forget that the vast majority of people - fat and thin - do not weight their food.
It is so the kind of thing anorexics would do. It could be an OCD thing, too.
Eating healthy food and/or counting calories doesn't make you anorexic. Being underweight and feeling the need to continue losing weight makes you anorexic.
I won't even go into why it's NOT an OCD thing.... But I don't think there's anything wrong with being accurate in your counting. Especially if you don't have much to lose or are not losing by regular logging (I.e. Cups, measuring spoons, etc.)
It's also important to point out that in countries other than the u.s. All nutritional Info on packaging is done by cals/100 grams. There's no way to measure that other than by weighing.
Since you're not going to go I to why an OCD person couldn't get worked up about weighing food (which I totally can - I can even see them splitting a raspberry in half to get the number to be 15 instead of 14 or 16, lol), I will simply point out that I didn't say there was anything wrong with it.
I think everyone knows that different countries use different forms of measuring.
If you think that OCD is like that please do some research. Come back when you're better informed.
Here's a simple guide to get started:
http://www.ocduk.org/types-ocd
You'll notice that what happens after an obsession...a great deal of anxiety...and then a compulsion. Atleast judging by op's response this isn't something that's causing anxiety, she feels compelled to do, and it's not something illogical that she has to do to make it "just right".
Counting calories accurately or wanting to be accurate in your counting is not obsessive.
Whether you're saying it's wrong on not, I'm just pointing out that you are lacking a great deal of understanding about a mental disorder which effectively makes life a living hell.
My point of mentioning the cals/100 gram is that you have NO CHOICE but to weigh if you want to be remotely accurate in calorie counting.0 -
rainbowbow wrote: »Weighing every bite you take is much more obsessive than most people want or need to be.
If it works for you, don't worry about what other people think. But you have to expect that people will find it odd. It is odd. I do it a lot! But I don't forget that the vast majority of people - fat and thin - do not weight their food.
It is so the kind of thing anorexics would do. It could be an OCD thing, too.
Eating healthy food and/or counting calories doesn't make you anorexic. Being underweight and feeling the need to continue losing weight makes you anorexic.
I won't even go into why it's NOT an OCD thing.... But I don't think there's anything wrong with being accurate in your counting. Especially if you don't have much to lose or are not losing by regular logging (I.e. Cups, measuring spoons, etc.)
It's also important to point out that in countries other than the u.s. All nutritional Info on packaging is done by cals/100 grams. There's no way to measure that other than by weighing.
Since you're not going to go into why an OCD person couldn't get worked up about weighing food (which I totally can - I can even see them splitting a raspberry in half to get the number to be 15 instead of 14 or 16, lol), I will simply point out that I didn't say there was anything wrong with it.
I think everyone knows that different countries use different forms of measuring.
Seriously, that splitting the raspberry into a certain number, is the type of stereotype we are trying to demolish. It's actually hurtful in a way, because it's a misunderstanding. Yes, there can be OCD related food issues, OCD related almost anything, but not in that way. It would more be like having your brain tell you that you must weigh this or that. It's quite hard to explain, maybe youtube can help.
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rainbowbow wrote: »Weighing every bite you take is much more obsessive than most people want or need to be.
If it works for you, don't worry about what other people think. But you have to expect that people will find it odd. It is odd. I do it a lot! But I don't forget that the vast majority of people - fat and thin - do not weight their food.
It is so the kind of thing anorexics would do. It could be an OCD thing, too.
Eating healthy food and/or counting calories doesn't make you anorexic. Being underweight and feeling the need to continue losing weight makes you anorexic.
I won't even go into why it's NOT an OCD thing.... But I don't think there's anything wrong with being accurate in your counting. Especially if you don't have much to lose or are not losing by regular logging (I.e. Cups, measuring spoons, etc.)
It's also important to point out that in countries other than the u.s. All nutritional Info on packaging is done by cals/100 grams. There's no way to measure that other than by weighing.
Since you're not going to go into why an OCD person couldn't get worked up about weighing food (which I totally can - I can even see them splitting a raspberry in half to get the number to be 15 instead of 14 or 16, lol), I will simply point out that I didn't say there was anything wrong with it.
I think everyone knows that different countries use different forms of measuring.
rainbowbow, I know you are more informed about OCD than I am, but I agree with Kalikel here
Here is one checklist for OCD
http://hope4ocd.com/checklist.php
Obsessions with Food and Weight
Preoccupation with foods or food measurements
Rituals involving food (for example making sure that every bite is the same size, not letting foods touch on plate, etc.)
Irrational fears that some foods are bad or must be avoided
Being overly concerned about one's weight (for example weighing one's self several times a day)
Not that it has anything to do with the OP but people may wonder why you are weighing/measuring food.0 -
I mean, I love the number 9, something feels right about it to me, and I have done things like fluff my pillow 9 times, otherwise it won't be right, so there is a fixation about numbers there but yeah. Anyway this post is going off topic.0
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When it comes to my food, there are really only two numbers I'm concerned about. 1.) My overall calories and 2.) my protein intake. Other than that, I don't really care too much. I weigh my food consistently to ensure I'm hitting my numbers in those two areas.0
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Have you washed your hands today? Keyboards and mice can get dirty in no time.rainbowbow wrote: »You'll notice that what happens after an obsession...a great deal of anxiety...and then a compulsion.
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rainbowbow wrote: »Weighing every bite you take is much more obsessive than most people want or need to be.
If it works for you, don't worry about what other people think. But you have to expect that people will find it odd. It is odd. I do it a lot! But I don't forget that the vast majority of people - fat and thin - do not weight their food.
It is so the kind of thing anorexics would do. It could be an OCD thing, too.
Eating healthy food and/or counting calories doesn't make you anorexic. Being underweight and feeling the need to continue losing weight makes you anorexic.
I won't even go into why it's NOT an OCD thing.... But I don't think there's anything wrong with being accurate in your counting. Especially if you don't have much to lose or are not losing by regular logging (I.e. Cups, measuring spoons, etc.)
It's also important to point out that in countries other than the u.s. All nutritional Info on packaging is done by cals/100 grams. There's no way to measure that other than by weighing.
Since you're not going to go into why an OCD person couldn't get worked up about weighing food (which I totally can - I can even see them splitting a raspberry in half to get the number to be 15 instead of 14 or 16, lol), I will simply point out that I didn't say there was anything wrong with it.
I think everyone knows that different countries use different forms of measuring.
rainbowbow, I know you are more informed about OCD than I am, but I agree with Kalikel here
Here is one checklist for OCD
http://hope4ocd.com/checklist.php
Obsessions with Food and Weight
Preoccupation with foods or food measurements
Rituals involving food (for example making sure that every bite is the same size, not letting foods touch on plate, etc.)
Irrational fears that some foods are bad or must be avoided
Being overly concerned about one's weight (for example weighing one's self several times a day)
Not that it has anything to do with the OP but people may wonder why you are weighing/measuring food.
I was referring to the OP specifically. Unless she mentioned that it was causing her stress, anxiety, compelled to perform the task of weighing, etc. In my mind it wasn't an OCD behavior.
That's what I was referring to. But I shall not derail her thread beyond this point.
Good luck, OP!
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OP - she's your mother, it's her job to worry about you, say you're too thin, and overfeed you!0
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Hey OP sorry you went through that! I'm posting because I just went through a similar thing! Up until a week ago, ridiculously, I was hiding the calorie counting from my family incase they thought I was OCD/eating disorder etc etc. My mum saw me weigh out a snack yesterday and totally flipped and accused me of all of the above. And my family wonder why I am a closed book :P0
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rainbowbow wrote: »rainbowbow wrote: »Weighing every bite you take is much more obsessive than most people want or need to be.
If it works for you, don't worry about what other people think. But you have to expect that people will find it odd. It is odd. I do it a lot! But I don't forget that the vast majority of people - fat and thin - do not weight their food.
It is so the kind of thing anorexics would do. It could be an OCD thing, too.
Eating healthy food and/or counting calories doesn't make you anorexic. Being underweight and feeling the need to continue losing weight makes you anorexic.
I won't even go into why it's NOT an OCD thing.... But I don't think there's anything wrong with being accurate in your counting. Especially if you don't have much to lose or are not losing by regular logging (I.e. Cups, measuring spoons, etc.)
It's also important to point out that in countries other than the u.s. All nutritional Info on packaging is done by cals/100 grams. There's no way to measure that other than by weighing.
Since you're not going to go into why an OCD person couldn't get worked up about weighing food (which I totally can - I can even see them splitting a raspberry in half to get the number to be 15 instead of 14 or 16, lol), I will simply point out that I didn't say there was anything wrong with it.
I think everyone knows that different countries use different forms of measuring.
rainbowbow, I know you are more informed about OCD than I am, but I agree with Kalikel here
Here is one checklist for OCD
http://hope4ocd.com/checklist.php
Obsessions with Food and Weight
Preoccupation with foods or food measurements
Rituals involving food (for example making sure that every bite is the same size, not letting foods touch on plate, etc.)
Irrational fears that some foods are bad or must be avoided
Being overly concerned about one's weight (for example weighing one's self several times a day)
Not that it has anything to do with the OP but people may wonder why you are weighing/measuring food.
I was referring to the OP specifically. Unless she mentioned that it was causing her stress, anxiety, compelled to perform the task of weighing, etc. In my mind it wasn't an OCD behavior.
That's what I was referring to. But I shall not derail her thread beyond this point.
Good luck, OP!
Thanks, yeah it got OT. Sorry 0 -
rainbowbow wrote: »Weighing every bite you take is much more obsessive than most people want or need to be.
If it works for you, don't worry about what other people think. But you have to expect that people will find it odd. It is odd. I do it a lot! But I don't forget that the vast majority of people - fat and thin - do not weight their food.
It is so the kind of thing anorexics would do. It could be an OCD thing, too.
Eating healthy food and/or counting calories doesn't make you anorexic. Being underweight and feeling the need to continue losing weight makes you anorexic.
I won't even go into why it's NOT an OCD thing.... But I don't think there's anything wrong with being accurate in your counting. Especially if you don't have much to lose or are not losing by regular logging (I.e. Cups, measuring spoons, etc.)
It's also important to point out that in countries other than the u.s. All nutritional Info on packaging is done by cals/100 grams. There's no way to measure that other than by weighing.
Since you're not going to go into why an OCD person couldn't get worked up about weighing food (which I totally can - I can even see them splitting a raspberry in half to get the number to be 15 instead of 14 or 16, lol), I will simply point out that I didn't say there was anything wrong with it.
I think everyone knows that different countries use different forms of measuring.
I split a green bean on my food scale just last night to get exactly 85 grams...
hope it's not bad! I've been doing stuff like that a lot these past 2 weeks.
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