my rant for the day..anyone else feeling the same way?

Part of me can't wait to get to the point where I don't have to do minute calculations of calories - a time when I'll have been doing this for long enough that it's second nature in my head and I can make easier decisions about what to eat without going over. Right now it's frustrating yeah but I feel like I have to learn what slim/fit people already know - how to eat 'normally'.

I know I get that feeling and I'm pretty sure most people must at some point, if not all the time! Sometimes, I even cave into it for a day or two, but the feeling of my clothes getting loose or noticing a pudgy part getting a little less pudgy...WAY more satisfying than careless eating. To me anyway. I just try and power through those time periods where I just want to eat with abandon again...

Well, a handful of chips is ok as long as you have just a handful or whatever the serving size is. I still eat pizza, I just have one slice and maybe a salad or something else. I haven't deprived myself of really anything during this process and that is why it has worked for me.

I can relate to you. Losing weight becomes all-encompassing, it is all that consumes your thoughts any time you think about what to eat, or whether you should be exercising instead of doing something else. But I think it gets better. I find that it is something that you grow out of. You are 'obsessed' right now because it is new and you haven't conquered this skill or process yet. I think that over time when you are more comfortable and confident in your choices and you understand the way your body responds to certain things, you will relax and just know what's going in without analyzing the heck out of it.

I understand this. I enjoy baking, and recently it's been hard to think about my favorite recipes without going to the recipe counter and cringing at the amount of calories in all that butter.....I've baked things recently, and I end up eating one serving and putting the rest in the freezer. My freezer is starting to fill up haha.

I think that the fact that I can no longer absentmindedly reach for a handful of chips is a positive thing though-- one of my goals in getting on MFP was to curb that mindless snacking and it's good to feel that it is working. I am hoping that as these healthier habits become ingrained that I'll be able to feel less consumed by calorie counting.

It will get better and you will be able to wean yourself off as you lean to "read" your food. You will know when you have eaten too much or that you need to burn a little bit more that day as you get further into your normal. You have changed your way of life and your way of thinking to a healthy one. Food is fuel yes, but you need to enjoy it too.

Remember that "just grabbing a handful of chips" and so forth got you to where you were, and you dont want to go back to that.

you're not alone! i sometimes feel this way.

i think it is very important to be mindful of the calories/nutrients that you put in your body. that being said, obsessive calorie logging can be time-consuming and even isolating. if you are starting to feel like calorie counting is taking over your life, try taking a couple days off a week. i'm not saying go hog-wild... just eat mindfully, stop when you are satisfied, and drink your water. especially when life becomes hectic, it is not always possible to count calories.

i hope you'll be able to acheive the balance that you need!!

I think for some, counting calories can be an obsession and a stressful event because you can't just eat anything, you have to make sure the calories fit, that it's not too high in this or that or has something that might sabotage your day. I felt like that the first month I was here, I thought I was never going to enjoy food because all they were, were calorie numbers to me, macros I couldn't go over. But considering I have a clinical anxiety issue, I've eased up and now it's not such a big deal. Yes I'm looking at calorie counts, looking up menus before I even leave the house, and I don't get to eat a lot of what I used to but I'm not miserable. To me it's become just something I do the same way someone checks the expiration date on milk before taking a swig.

That being said, it's not something that works for everyone. If it makes you honest to God miserable and you've given it time to work into your life and be less at the forefront, then find another way. There always is.

I too became OCD about logging and counting calories. I decided one day that I needed to do it on my own and not rely on MFP. 8 months later ive maintained my weight without logging or counting everyday. I am aware of what I eat and how much. I eat what I want and dont deprive myself of anything. Because I do this I dont have cravings or days that there isnt enough food in sight. This is a lifestyle change not a diet. If you deprive yourself you are more likely to go over board. Start slow and trust yourself to make the right decisions with food.

Not alone... sometimes I wish I could go back to not caring about what I ate... wishing I was one of those folks that was never concerned about my metabolism... but that was never me. So charting and working hard and staying focused is my charge. This morning, I moved one hole in on my belt... a small victory, but that little thing made the last month's work worth it to me... so go ahead Alli... scream this one out... get it out of your system... then keep it moving forward. :happy: