Do you ever just get tired of thinking about calories?

when is the last time you had a cheat meal? most don't recommend this and i say "meal" because for me i only have self control for a meal not for the day....you cant count calories constantly without a break once and awhile. I typically have my cheat meal once a week. i don't count calories i just enjoy my meal, have a drink or two and get geared up for the rest of the week.

I got tired of it and I gained about 25 lbs back. I will never not count calories again. Yes, it is a pain in the rear, but the disappointment of gaining all that back and the crappy way you feel when you do is not worth giving up.

I got tired of counting calories too. So I quit. Now I am back at it again because I gained 25 pounds back. I am very disappointed in myself.

I pre-log every single day...and you best believe I include some yummy treats in there! Some days I don't actually want them so I delete them and add other food, sometimes I replace the unhealthy pre-logged snacks for healthier ones because that's what I'm craving. It's easier to remove the "bad" foods and replace them with "good" foods then it is to try to squeeze in the "bad" after the fact.

Why are you eating an orange? Have something fun too. I'm in a deficit and ate a whole pint of frozen yogurt tonight. Maybe I can't do that every night but a serving of ice cream, some dark chocolate-not a lot of calories.

You know what I think is crazy that we have to constantly count calories and macros but yet there's guys and girls I work with who don't and they're in great shape. One guy doesn't count calories he just eats clean makes sure he gets enough protein and he is ripped! Did I say guy I mean he is 21 hrs been lifting for a few years but it was him who told me don't go by macros and calories go by how you feel and the mirror. I've still. It got my head around to doing that. The sheer fact that this place has made me kind of worried to not log calories or check macros sucks!!

For years I was also very resentful that I put on weight so easily. I have always eaten much less than my friends to stay at a normal weight but it got really out of hand during my pregnancies and I practically never lost that weight. Now, I just accept the fact that it is what it is. If I want to reduce my weight, I have to count kcals. My husband does not - he is very much in tune with his body. He eats accordingly and never puts on weight. So yeah, we are all different but have to accept what we are. You can think of a car that does not need much gaz to function properly ... would you complain about this ?

I think the problem arises when we start thinking we don't have a choice. You have a choice. You can eat all the rubbish and be overweight and unhealthy but then your thoughts will not resent calorie counting and the fact that your husband can eat things you can't, instead they will be resenting the fact that you do eat all those things and 'why can't i have any self control and why am i overweight' etc. etc. Remember you have a choice. Reign that inner child in that thinks 'I want it all' - to eat crap and be fit and healthy, because you can't! I do believe you should fit treats into your calories, it's not sustainable otherwise - but you can't just eat rubbish all the time and have it all. Is your husband lean and healthy? If so, it will catch up on him! You can do this, own your decision to lose weight and be healthy, own it and when you are eating your orange be grateful that that decision is getting you closer to your goal!! We are so conditioned to believe that we should be able to eat whatever we want but we just can't - the human body was not designed to have such an abundance of food!! You will get to your goal weight and you will not turn around and say 'oh i'm so upset i missed out on those cupcakes' you will be SO PROUD OF YOURSELF!!!!!! The moment will pass, just make sure it's not passing your lips
If worse comes to worse re-evaluate. Why are you doing this? What does it mean to you? What if you don't achieve your goals? How will you feel if you stop counting and end up putting on more weight? Where will you be in 5 years if you don't make changes now?
I know it's hard - if necessary have a few days off calorie counting and just eat real food - nothing from a packet. You can eat however much you want (be prepared to not lose any weight) but as long as you're paying attention to your appetite you should really just maintain. Then pick it up again in a few days!! x

I also have an OH who eats whatever he likes whenever he likes. He's Type 1 diabetic so we always have things like small chocolate bars or jelly sweets in the house in case his glucose gets low (which probably wouldn't be neccesary if he managed his condition better but he won't be told) so temptation is always within reach. He loves ice cream as well so for ages I was resentful that he could munch on ice creams and chocolate bars while I was weighing every last gram of everything. Then I did what everyone else here has suggested and found some snacks that satisfy my sweet tooth but only 'cost' 50-100 calories and I darn well make sure I have enough calories for them every night My favourite is Solero ice cream (95 cals).

macgurlnet wrote: »

Let's say there's 60 calories in your orange.

You could also have a piece of chocolate for the same number of calories - you may have to do less than a full portion, depending on what it is, but you can still have chocolate.

If you want those things, work them in! Go for a longer walk and earn some extra calories.

I have treats every single day. I did that while I was losing and still do it while I'm maintaining for a while. I try to limit candies and such to just after dinner, but some days are just stressful and I go for something earlier. I log it, I stay within goal, I mostly meet my macros.

If you're miserable, you won't stick with this. Don't do that to yourself.

~Lyssa

This. I find having a bite or two of the white chocolate cheesecake (or the brownie or whatever) gets me my fix--I don't need to have the whole piece.

Even if I decide to have the whole piece, I just cool it for the rest of the day or earn some calories back.

The other day, I was driving from an appointment. It was lunchtime, and I decided I wanted a Big Mac. No guilt, no guessing, just had the craving and bought one. Fantastic going down, didn't feel particularly good afterwards, but I was able to adjust for the rest of the day and was still under my calorie goal. It can be that simple. Good luck!

TimothyFish wrote: »

There are ways to control one's weight without weighing everything or counting calories. Some people love to weight stuff and they feel like counting calories gives them control, but if you really hate it, find a method that you like.

Got to comment on this - I don't think it's possible to lose weight without thinking about calories. I think it's what OP meant... not necessarily the counting, but the fact that, well, you're very aware of how many calories are in things and that you just can't eat too many brownies or too much ice cream or you will gain weight. And that has nothing to do with calorie counting.

Heck, I'd argue that if anything, if you don't count calories, it's even harder not to think about the calories in the brownie you really want to eat, as you have no way to know if it actually fits in your day or if it's going to set you back. I'd guess that people who don't count calories eat less sweets than I do.

OP, I honestly believe it's not counting calories, it's the way you look at it. For me logging here has been freeing.

I used to try to eat "clean" or "light" throughout the day, avoiding foods i loved because they would probably make me gain weight. And then after dinner I would want a little piece of chocolate or a small bowl of ice cream and I would stress out - could I afford it? Had I been good enough today? Would it put me over? And if I ate it, I would feel guilty.

Now that I count, I know how I did. I know if I have enough calories left for a bowl of ice cream or maybe just a small bite of chocolate instead. I can plan my day to allow for a restaurant meal or a couple of drinks after work. And if I do go over, I know I did, and I don't feel guilty because I know I can do better tomorrow.

Try pre-planning your day and leaving calories for a treat every day. Don't feel guilty if you go over one day, just us it as motivation to do better tomorrow. And if you are set to lose 2 lbs a week, back off a little and give yourself some extra calories. Life is too short to not enjoy a bowl of ice cream every once and awhile . good luck!