Stressing over calories

I feel like this site helped me develop habits that were leaning very strongly towards having an eating disorder. I was 3 pounds away from being underwieght on here, and I would exercise to burn off 1,000+ calories a day, and I would freak out if I ever went even close to being "over"....

If you are really concerned about it, TAKE A BREAK. After telling someone about my problem, I woke up the next day, and I realized that I am in control, and I am healthy. You don't want this to develop into a problem for you. I did not even allow myself to hang out with friends for 3 months because I was afraid of eating... You don't want too much of a good thing if you know what I mean... Losing weight is great, but when it becomes a life obsession, it can be deadly...

Perhaps just let lose for a few days... or just stop counting calories... =] !

I do this too. I am EXTREMELY hard on myself and a perfectionist, on everything in my life. I'm not that way with others though. You'll see a lot of cheerleading and encouragement from me on here. But when it comes to me, I refuse to give myself any slack at all. It all comes from my self-image, which is pretty bad. What I do is never good enough in my mind.

I went over by 380 last Friday night -- my goal is 1250 so that's a very high overage -- and became very upset and guilt-ridden over it for days. I over-exercised the next day to "undo the damage" and had a really low net too. I very much see going over my calorie goal as a failure.

To me, I'm such a perfectionist on myself (and, again, not others) that an overage of >50 is absolutely unacceptable for any reason. I think I've done this twice unintentionally since April and once intentionally. So, yes, I sympathize. I am unable to enjoy events with friends, eating out, or anything else because of the fear I'll go over my calorie limit and everyone will see how much of a big fat failure I truly am. It's hard. I just want to have a good time, but I feel I don't really deserve it. Fun and good food are for people that aren't losers like I am. Not really true, probably, but that's how I see it in my mind.

You are ME, lol. I bust my *kitten* all week and then feel shifty eyed and devious all weekend if I want to enjoy what everyone else has. I feel like crap if I don't get any, and I feel like crap if I go over my calories. I've learned here that what I do this upcoming week will absolutely negate my poor eating today, but it's hard to not feel guilty!!
I think I'm gonna think long and hard about what barbiex3 is saying, maybe you should too!

It's ok...I feel this ALL the time. Even if my friends bring popcorn to movie nights, I don't allow myself any. And on special occassions, I always feel guilty regardless. Just remember that you are human, and everyone deserves a treat sometimes!

I completely agree with this, but even if I decide to take a break I know enough about the regular foods I eat to know roughly the calories and fat and sugars in them. So even when I don't log I still stress about my 400 calorie cheese toastie or whatever!

The best way not to beat yourself up is to plan for it. If I know I'm going to a party like that, I eat extra light during the day so that I can safely enjoy a small slice of cake and scoop of ice cream. It's figuring out how to plan and incorporate these types of events into your life that will make this a lifestyle change and not a diet. After all, this isn't the last birthday party you'll attend or the last event where there will be cake and ice cream.

Can't say this enough. People who are "paranoid" about eating all the time and do "mental jumping jacks" on each and every meal, are MORE than likely going to gain the weight back because one cave in could literally be deemed as failure.

LIFE IS TO SHORT to worry about a petty matter. As long as you don't do it daily or every other day, you can eat foods you like. Ask most of the "skinny" people here who are successful............................they all pretty much have food that they cave to in moderation.