Obsessive About Counting EVERY calorie

bump at least i'm not alone...

I am the same way.. If I have no clue what's in it I will not eat it.! I count EVERYTHING. Isn't that the point?

Well, if this is your very first time counting calories, your attitude seems pretty normal. I like to cook at home, and I like to eat good food. When I first started counting calories, I got myself a CalorieKing book, and I added up all of the ingredients to my favorite recipes, figured out the calories and fat, etc, then I looked at ways to make them healthier. When we were planning to go out, I looked up everything in my book ahead of time, planned what I was going to order, or what my husband and I were going to share, then went out. After a while, I started being able to estimate the calorie content of things I didn't have info for, and it really helped me to relax about the stats. Don't worry too much about being obsessive for the first couple of weeks, but don't obsess beyond that, because it just isn't a fun way to live. It looks like you just joined this month, so it could be that it is just fairly new to you. Getting a book might help you to feel better about eating things out/samples/etc. And, if you can't find something, but you eat it anyway, just do a little extra exercise =-).

The question would be if you can or even want to spend the rest of your life this way... ?
And yes, I had this issue when I was anorexic and wrote down everything I ate, which was not much.
There is a middle ground there somewhere. Being this obsessive will eventually drive you so mad that you may well end up quitting altogether and end up back at square one. I suggest being a bit more lenient on yourself.

Counting calories can definitely turn into an obsession. Just know that you have worked hard to get where you are and one or two mishaps won't change that. If I can't log something, I don't like to eat it either, but if I choose to, I just overshoot the calories by estimating what I think it is and adding more. There are generalized foods in the database that help with that. I think the only way to stop it is to know that you are in control of your body. If you gain weight, you can work out harder. If you eat too much sodium, you can drink more water. Nobody is perfect and we learn from our mistakes. If it's starting to scare you or interfere with your life, taking a break and talking to your doctor may be a good idea.

Good luck!

I was consumed with the accuracy thing at first. After a few months it settled down into better estimation skills.

I was obsessed also. And got too thin for my frame. I actually fainted at work and finally had my wake up call. I quit MFP for several months, gained some weight and became a lot healthier. Not I only log 4-6 days a week. It works for me and I'm healthy It's hard though!

I was just talking to my boyfriend about this. I feel like I am obsessing over food and I feel envy and jealousy towards those who just eat whatever they want to eat and don't think about it at all. Don't get me wrong, I don't want to gain the weight back - but I just want to be normal. I want to enjoy something and not worry and fret about the calories in it. I understand that calories in/calories out are important, but after nearly 2 years in maintenance (with little fluctuation in weight), I realize that I can not (and will not) live my life like this. I worked hard to get here, but I'm clearly not enjoying it because I'm constantly worrying.

I've given up calorie counting totally. I eat well 80% of the time, I know what I can eat and how much and maintain my weight. Being obsessive is no way to live. Plain and simple. I feel like if I continue on this road, I'll have an unhealthy relationship with food and that's not what I want from this.

its to the point where if there is a food there that i cant find a nutrition label for i won't eat it (if its not a fruit or veggie). I won't even sample anything at the supermarket.

I log every ounce and if I eat something that I cant account for I panic.

Literally.

How can I get over this obsession? Has anyone ever had this issue?

It's just until you reach your goal, you are being watchful, that is all.

I count everything as well!

Almost every single bite...but I thought that's what 'calorie count' meant...? I didn't think there was anything wrong with it...

I mean, I've lost 40 pounds counting EVERY calorie...

Is the fact that I don't think it's absurd make me crazy?

LOL.

I was sort of like that at the beginning. Once I noticed the whole tracking food thing actually worked in helping me lose weight I didn't want to go back to randomly snacking on cookies, cake, bread, etc. Honestly, I think it takes time to really know what's going to HONESTLY mess up your entire "plan" and what isn't. I am more relaxed now than I was when I started counting. I don't go randomly eating bites of food every day, but when I do I think of it in reason. I go through the, ok, now is a tiny, tiny piece of food X really going to ruin my calorie count for the day? I don't let the little things stand in my way. I'll enjoy a small, small piece of whatever sample is out at the grocery store or whatnot and try not to hyperventilate over it.

The only time I can think of where eating a small bite of something completely screwed me over was when I had ice cream that had been sitting in the freezer for a while and I went to take ONE bite. That one bite turned into a cup or more of ice cream and I felt horrible about it afterward because I went on to eating cookies.

I think it's ok to have a taste of something here and there as long as you know you have the willpower to not overindulge (that for me is sweets).

Remember, the reason for logging in the first place is to be more AWARE of what you're eating, don't let it consume you. Obviously if you've made any kind of success you're learning SOMETHING about what you should be eating in the first place.

I'm exactly the same. Counseling can make it better

When you're eating healthier stuff, calories don't really matter.

It's when you're eating random garbage, and one meal is like 1500, that you run into a problem.

Find healthier food choices, that are reasonably low-cal and you'll be safe.

There's a few thousand threads on here with healthy food choices, one guy posted a list of 100 foods at 100 calories.

Start there. From then on, you'll KNOW how much is in everything, and you won't have to worry about looking it up or recording it.

Stray away from foods you don't know the nutrition for.

I only eat like 8 things a day.

I'm not fat anymore.