Do People Get Annoyed With You Because You Count Calories?

My husband asks me "don't you ever put that thing down" when I pick up my phone to log. He also starts giving me crazy looks if I hold off serving a meal while I take a minute to log. I just roll my eyes back at him and tell him how many calories are in whatever he's shoving in his face as revenge. Most of the time, when I tell people that I've started keeping a food journal, they ask me how many calories are in the meal they're about to consume.

It's the people who have never struggled with their weight or the people who don't have the discipline to count calories or get healthy that it bothers the most.

As someone who has struggled with weight her whole adult life, I would never judge someone for recording calories. It doesn't mean you are "counting calories". It's simply keeping track so you can keep a perspective. Whether trying to lose weight or just maintaining, it shouldn't be considered an obsession. Some people smoke. Would you call that an obsession? No. It's not an obsession- It's a habit. I'd point out one of your friend's habits (good or bad) and tell them "i won't give you grief over that if you don't give me grief about this ".. regardless of the situation, friendship as a general rule commands respect and they aren't offering you their respect.

The rule round here seems to be to only eat in public, so it appears you can stuff your face but maintain a perfect figure. To admit to counting calories would be like admitting you eat babies.

OMG that made me LOL!!!

Can anybody confirm this? I have the iPhone APP no barcode scanner on here as far as I know

I'm sure the iPhone app has the barcode scanner, too (I have the Android app). That blows people away. They see me scanning parts of my lunch in the breakroom and then ask why I don't just read the label. "Because it just automatically adds it to my log." This wows them. I've got a few people to grab MFP based on that feature alone.

as far as the subject matter- my answer is it's only a problem if you let it become one... if a situation requires discretion it becomes quite easy to be a stealth calorie counter (even without any app!) once you live the lifestyle long enough. Unless the 'counter' is being a complete jerk about it, (e.g. evangelically getting in somebody else's face and preaching about how wrong what THEY are eating is, etc) the people who are uncomfortable or threatened with other people counting are obviously just a little less enlightened, poor souls! Go easy on them

It's probably too soon to tell as I'm only a few weeks into it. That said, most of the people I know don't get too bothered by it because a) they know I'm going to do it anyways and b) because they understand that this is entirely a personal thing. I don't expect anyone else to take part or do anything different than what they do.

Besides, it's working, so they can't really argue with results.

I have an Android phone, and it has the scanner. My dad's iphone does not have it. At least we can't find it.

Absolutely! My husband and I took a vacation to see his cousin in Florida. My cousin and his girlfriend came along. I could definitely see the eye-ball rolls every time I pulled out my phone to log my calories or to see how many calories a certain food would cost. But, you know what? I don't care. I'm the one enjoying the success of keeping track of my calorie intake and I feel GREAT! Too bad if they don't like it.

I may be annoying them but not nearly as they annoy me with their constant temptations. How many times do I have to tell them I can't eat the junk food they are eating.

Completely agree.

For the most part I am pretty private about it. I just say that I am "eating healthier" but I am definitely aware of what goes in and what comes out. I switched recently to writing it in a journal because I have been busy lately and tend to burn out trying to make sure its all written down online as well. BUT when push comes to shove if they can't handle it, it most likely that they are dealing with some eating battle themselves.

Well, I don't make it the center or focus of conversation. If I'm eating with friends, I mentally do some rough calculations in my head, make the best choices I can, and then add things in later. Nobody wants to hear about anyone else's diet. That's rule #1.

agreed. if you talk about it then expect them to comment.

just keep it to yourself, smile, record your calories later.

Sometimes my boyfriend makes fun of me and makes snide comments about it and it really hurts my feelings. I am trying very hard to stick to this plan, and that makes it a little difficult. Support would be nice.

That's really too bad
A lack of support could make it easier to give up. Try not to listen to him

That's so true... ugh... if he can't support you, then who can?

Well... WE ALL CAN OF COURSE

Don't give up and whenever I feel down about trying to stick to my plan... I always look through the Success Stories. :P

He is getting better about it, now that he is noticing the difference. But we went out a few weeks ago, and ordered a sandwich to split and some rice and beans. I started eating my half of the sandwich, and then set it back on the plate, and he picked it up. I got a little upset, how am I supposed to keep track of how much I ate if he ate some of my half? Anyway, then he asked me how many bites of rice and beans I could eat, and if I was really going to count them. I decided I wasn't hungry anymore.

I am trying to remember that I am doing this for me, but sometimes its really hard.