Constantly thinking about FOOD

What exactly are you thinking about? Are you just focused on "bad" food because you feel hungry all the time, or are you constantly thinking of meal plans for the week? How to eat less? I think it kind of depends on what your thoughts are as to what you should do about it or how serious it might be. How long have you been at this? It says you only have 5 pounds to lose so if you're always feeling hungry and thinking about food because of that then maybe you aren't eating enough? When you have such little weight to lose you don't want to eat at too large of a deficit. I've had eating disorders since I was 9 years old and I've spent a lot of time thinking about food and letting it control my life so if you are going in that direction then I agree to get help, but recently I don't think about food in such a negative way. I think about it because I'm interested in it and trying to find new things to make and planning out my meals which I don't think is bad. I guess it all depends on what way you are thinking about food and what you would need to do to help that.

Take a 2 weeks break and eat at maintenance

phxhiker wrote: »

Someone help me plase to stop thinking about my diet, I'm obsessed and it's getting out of control. I don't need to be thinking about fool 24:7 and I'm pretty sure if I keep this up I'm going to end up snapping and screwing everything up so anyone has any advice on getting this head in check please do share. Thanks in advance.

I agree: with a goal to lose 5lbs you probably don't need to be thinking about food or even being on a "diet" which may be what is leading your to think about food all the time in the first place. Trying to get your body to lose weight has side-effects. you may be better off at maintenance trying for a body recomp.

I think about food all the time too. Which landed me in the losing weight boat

OP what's your daily calorie goal? If it's too low it would possibly make you obsess over your next meal...

TheOwlhouseDesigns wrote: »

My opinion is that you need professional help when you think your thinking is obsessed about food.

Ehhh.... Not necessarily.

I think especially when you first start logging, you tend to be excessively focused on food as you're constantly planning what you can eat and fit into your day.

I find that once I hit my groove with calorie counting and logging, the food thoughts tend to fade into the background. It just takes a little while to figure out what meal schedule and foods will keep you feeling full and energized throughout your day.

Maybe your calories are too low ?

Yes, eat your calories. And I agree too that I'm much happier when I have 3 meals instead of snacks, typically, because I'm content and not hungry and not thinking about food then... it just doesn't always work out that way for me.

phxhiker wrote: »

Thanks for all the responses, you know I mostly feel guilty for being hungry. I feel like I shouldn't be hungry and then I feel a bit guilty for eating. I would like to eat less the. My daily goal but I guess I don't have to. I just have to have faith In this process I guess. I don't really eat any large meals, instead I'm constantly eating little things throughout the day.

Snacking makes my scale go up. High fat, high protein, low carb makes me feel full for 4-5 hours after breakfast. Give it a try.
Oh, and if you pre-log your food in the morning you won't have to think about it anymore.

I'm a planner and I love to eat, so I always think about food. I plan and cook all of my family's meals and make the grocery list. I take pride in my cooking so I am always trying to learn some new skill or try out a new recipe or gadget (immersion blender - amazing creamy soups in minutes? you bet!)

Maybe instead of worrying about how much you think about food, you should change the way you think about food. It certainly makes the process more enjoyable than white-knuckling it through.

Machka9 wrote: »

phxhiker wrote: »

Thanks for all the responses, you know I mostly feel guilty for being hungry. I feel like I shouldn't be hungry and then I feel a bit guilty for eating. I would like to eat less the. My daily goal but I guess I don't have to. I just have to have faith In this process I guess. I don't really eat any large meals, instead I'm constantly eating little things throughout the day.

Just stay at or under the recommended calories MFP gives you ... and take up a hobby that doesn't involve food.

Take a class, get some exercise, start painting or knitting, pick up a part-time job and save for a holiday somewhere warm and tropical in the middle of winter.

Much of the reason I think about food is because I'm bored. When I'm busy, I can go hours without much more than a passing thought that I might be hungry.

This (minus the wanting to save up for somewhere warm for a trip - Phoenix is plenty warm, and pretty tropical at times, lol - OP, is your avatar pic on top of Piestewa peak or??? Gorgeous view!)

When I'm busy doing something I enjoy, I have to remind myself to eat sometimes. Is there something in particular that you're depriving yourself of that you really want? That would make me obsess. If so, enjoy it within reason. The hardest part of eating healthy is getting past the society driven need to deprive yourself of all goodies. I hate it when I'm eating pretty much anything in public and someone nearby says something snide about it. We all have to eat, and yeah, we all have to treat ourselves once in awhile... just try to keep it a healthy portion!

Guilting yourself into deprivation isn't the answer - it's only what Sister Mary Bernardine would expect (yep, I was raised Catholic and am an expert on guilt!) As for having faith, truly believe you will succeed and do all the right things to make it happen - no faith required.

Good luck, fellow Phoenician!