Giving Up Calorie Counting After 5 Years?
Replies
-
Undereating always leads to overeating.
I personally enjoyed counting calories, but I never had a goal to undereat and/or become underweight. I actually learnt to eat properly, which means not eating too much, but also not eat too little, and find ways to make eating appropriately enjoyable. Now I use that knowledge to plan meals in a spreadsheet, and I mostly stick to that plan - because it's enough food, and enjoyable to eat.
I also weigh myself daily, but I don't attach emotions to the number on the scale, which is only a snapshot, I just use the row of numbers as slow but reliable feedback to stick to my course and if necessary, adjust it.
I would advice you NOT to try going vegan to lose weight. Not only are you at a healthy weight for your height, your mindset is also restrictive enough as it is. What you need now is to get into a habit where you feed yourself sufficiently and reliably, and get rid of the fear. HOW to do that, depends on what will speak to you. I had a difficult relationship with food, and got what I needed just from counting calories and reading and discussing and thinking and paying attention and exprimenting. But you may be needing some additional help, like a dietician and/or psychologist. It's good that you're getting help. But you are the one who'll be doing the hard work - in your case, that will be facing the fear of eating enough on the daily, and learning to accept and love your body.5 -
Dieting is the leading cause of binge eating, it's a fact. Please read Brain Over Binge by Kathryn Hansen and check out Life With Lydia on You Tube. Good luck, you can overcome this.1
-
You're binging because you're starving yourself. It has nothing to do with calorie counting IMO. Does your counselor know how little you are eating? If you pick a REASONABLE goal, you'll be much less likely to go over and end up in the 'I've screwed up anyway, whatever' mentality.1
-
That needs nuancing. Dieting is just willfully eating less with the purpose of losing weight. It can be done healthily and unhealthily. Many people diet irresponibly, by eating too little. Eating too little is starving. Starving oneself is always unhealthy. Starving always leads to binging.AudreyJDuke wrote: »Dieting is the leading cause of binge eating, it's a fact.3 -
seashellbabe wrote: »emailmehere1122 wrote: »How many calories do you allow yourself?
Are you working out...and if so are you eating those calories back?
1400-1500, and no I'm not working out but I applied for a gym membership. I think in a lot of ways I'm scared of working out because I don't want to see the scale go up, even if it's muscle. It's irrational and makes little sense
I'm roughly the same size as you, 6' 175lbs, and I'm eating at least 2,500 net calories per day (I'm also 47, so my metabolism is (allegedly) slower)! I don't know if abandoning calorie counting would be the best long term solution, because ultimately, having complete control over your calories and macros should lend to a comfort zone with your eating and the confidence to eat a reasonable amount without fearing that you will lapse back into gaining unwanted weight again.3 -
Thank you everyone for all of the amazing feedback. I really appreciate so much genuine support & knowledge rather than just screaming at me to "get help." I am fully aware of the dangers of mental health disorders, it's actually something I'm involved in (in high school I started a human rights/youth empowerment group that focused on mental health) so I definitely have been trying to take advantage of the resources & knowledge I've obtained. I had a session with my therapist this morning, and I came up with a few ideas that take into mind what I know will work for me/not trigger me, what my therapist said, and some of the ideas on here:
1. Working Out: I got a muscle building gym guide from my buddy so I'll start that as soon as possible once I can get a gym membership (I just moved to a pretty small city so I'm trying to explore the area & find a gym). Once I find somewhere, I will be getting help from a personal trainer.
2. Food Journal: So this is strange, but one of the big triggers of calorie counting, at least for me, is the app itself. Mainly three things: the fact that certain foods weren't in it so it gave my brain uncertainty if I ate those foods, the calorie "goal" for the day and if I surpass that goal I know I'd binge, and how attached I became to it. I deleted the app and I've instead been writing everything down with good old pen & paper & so far I really like. I feel much more in control.
I'll be updating this thread on how this goes, and if anyone has any other recommendations please leave them. I'm not the type to just log on and beg the world for pity over my issues, I'd rather actually fix them (I'm trying to get into Cal Poly for the political science program, I don't have time to cry about my weight
) so once again thank you for trying to help me achieve my goal 
4 -
seashellbabe wrote: »Thank you everyone for all of the amazing feedback. I really appreciate so much genuine support & knowledge rather than just screaming at me to "get help." I am fully aware of the dangers of mental health disorders, it's actually something I'm involved in (in high school I started a human rights/youth empowerment group that focused on mental health) so I definitely have been trying to take advantage of the resources & knowledge I've obtained. I had a session with my therapist this morning, and I came up with a few ideas that take into mind what I know will work for me/not trigger me, what my therapist said, and some of the ideas on here:
1. Working Out: I got a muscle building gym guide from my buddy so I'll start that as soon as possible once I can get a gym membership (I just moved to a pretty small city so I'm trying to explore the area & find a gym). Once I find somewhere, I will be getting help from a personal trainer.
2. Food Journal: So this is strange, but one of the big triggers of calorie counting, at least for me, is the app itself. Mainly three things: the fact that certain foods weren't in it so it gave my brain uncertainty if I ate those foods, the calorie "goal" for the day and if I surpass that goal I know I'd binge, and how attached I became to it. I deleted the app and I've instead been writing everything down with good old pen & paper & so far I really like. I feel much more in control.
I'll be updating this thread on how this goes, and if anyone has any other recommendations please leave them. I'm not the type to just log on and beg the world for pity over my issues, I'd rather actually fix them (I'm trying to get into Cal Poly for the political science program, I don't have time to cry about my weight ) so once again thank you for trying to help me achieve my goal
Okay, this sounds good, Trevor. I'd like to know that you are going to try to eat a healthy amount too though. You are honestly going to feel so much better mentally with proper nourishment. Undereating to the extent you have been really messes with your mind (again, I know of what I speak!).
Re the MFP calorie goal, I have always maintained that the fact it turns red the instant you go one calorie over is f'ing triggering for many people who have a history of eating disorders, so good for you for recognising that that's an issue for you
Also, you can start your muscle building at home with body weight exercises (check out Nerd Fitness beginners bodyweight, You Are Your Own Gym, etc), or my personal favourite overall body conditioner - yoga! This is my favourite Youtube yogi: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFKE7WVJfvaHW5q283SxchA If you've never done yoga before, start with the beginners practices (under playlists).2 -
Nony_Mouse wrote: »Okay, this sounds good, Trevor. I'd like to know that you are going to try to eat a healthy amount too though. You are honestly going to feel so much better mentally with proper nourishment. Undereating to the extent you have been really messes with your mind (again, I know of what I speak!).
+1.
Your current "goal", is, in all probability, a good 1000 Cal deficit for a healthy 19 yo 6ft male. 1000 Cal deficit. That is a huge deficit. ED type ideation CAUSED by the DEFICIT is entirely possible.2
This discussion has been closed.
Categories
- All Categories
- 1.4M Health, Wellness and Goals
- 393.4K Introduce Yourself
- 43.8K Getting Started
- 260.2K Health and Weight Loss
- 175.9K Food and Nutrition
- 47.4K Recipes
- 232.5K Fitness and Exercise
- 426 Sleep, Mindfulness and Overall Wellness
- 6.5K Goal: Maintaining Weight
- 8.5K Goal: Gaining Weight and Body Building
- 153K Motivation and Support
- 8K Challenges
- 1.3K Debate Club
- 96.3K Chit-Chat
- 2.5K Fun and Games
- 3.7K MyFitnessPal Information
- 24 News and Announcements
- 1.1K Feature Suggestions and Ideas
- 2.6K MyFitnessPal Tech Support Questions