obsessed........

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readyforchange
readyforchange Posts: 34 Member
in Motivation and Support
I'm starting to wonder if I'm spending to much time planning meals, logging food, counting calories, calculating every morsel of food I conume, ect ect.... And should maybe start enjoying life. Ive been told by a few friends that this weight loss journey has become an obsession and that I'm missing out on the really great thing that ife has to offer. I kinda wonder if they are right??
Any thoughts would be greatly accepted!
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  • nolachick
    nolachick Posts: 3,278 Member
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    obsession is the wellspring of genius and madness
  • MercuryBlue
    MercuryBlue Posts: 886 Member
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    I wouldn't say 'obsessed', I'd say 'focused'. I've been the same way for the past two weeks. I have avoided talking about weight loss to my family and friends for the most part (because someone always has something smart to say that brings me down and spoils the entire process, causing me to fall off the bandwagon), but I HAVE been on MFP, like, constantly. It has to be at the forefront of my mind ALL THE TIME, or I WILL slip.

    I know that it will get better in time, as these life-changes are more official. It's a lot easier to eat well and take care of yourself when it's just a part your life and routine. Like brushing your teeth or showering. At that time, things will probably get more 'normal'- and your friends will ease off. In the meantime, I think it's important to stay focused because that's how you'll find success. At least, that's what I think in my case.
  • kimber607
    kimber607 Posts: 7,128 Member
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    Are these naturally thin friends giving you this advice
    FOR ME, I NEED to keep track of what I eat and how many cals I consume etc DAILY or I will gain weight......It's a fact that I don't have a normal handle on eating.....just a fact of life
    I don't think writing down what I eat and logging cals is taking away from my life...I think it keeps me healthier and happier overall

    Kim
  • tdbear
    tdbear Posts: 13
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    Loved your answer. If we don't obsess do we have a chance at winning at this losing game. I just can't budge the scale and I think it is because I am eating really healthy good food and not obsessing about it. When I did weird diets--Pepsi and apples all day, no carbs, etc., I did so much better.
  • mtrebuck
    mtrebuck Posts: 2
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    i'd say that if it makes you happy, then you are doing something joyful and that is worthy. if, however, you are unhappy, then this little experiment is likely little more than filler for deeper issues. a short but meanginful missive for the difference between a distraction and something that is joyful can be found at www.blogspot.lib-o-meter.com.
  • CrystalT
    CrystalT Posts: 862 Member
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    My sister is trying to lose weight, too. She talked to her doctor about the fact that if she doesn't obsess, she doesn't lose weight. He basically told her that if that is what she has to do, then obsess away!!

    I know I obsess, I don't really care. This is what works, so I'll keep doing it. I just have to hope that once I get all the weight off, I can relax about it a bit. If not, oh well!!! I find more joy in life now than I did before I started losing weight and that's all that really matters.
  • silvertears
    silvertears Posts: 106 Member
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    My sister is trying to lose weight, too. She talked to her doctor about the fact that if she doesn't obsess, she doesn't lose weight. He basically told her that if that is what she has to do, then obsess away!!

    I know I obsess, I don't really care. This is what works, so I'll keep doing it. I just have to hope that once I get all the weight off, I can relax about it a bit. If not, oh well!!! I find more joy in life now than I did before I started losing weight and that's all that really matters.

    Yeah, what my sister said. LOL!
  • pawprint061
    pawprint061 Posts: 640
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    I obsess and I loose the weight. I stay in range of my calories, and I pay attention to what I'm doing. I stop obsessing and I lose track and fall off the wagon. It's a life style change, you have to re train your mind to look at some things differently then it is use too... by all means obsess. If it gets the job done, then do it. Don't let others discourage you from you are doing to make a better you and more healthy you.
  • samantha115
    samantha115 Posts: 371
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    obsession is the wellspring of genius and madness

    well said
  • CrystalT
    CrystalT Posts: 862 Member
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    My sister is trying to lose weight, too. She talked to her doctor about the fact that if she doesn't obsess, she doesn't lose weight. He basically told her that if that is what she has to do, then obsess away!!

    I know I obsess, I don't really care. This is what works, so I'll keep doing it. I just have to hope that once I get all the weight off, I can relax about it a bit. If not, oh well!!! I find more joy in life now than I did before I started losing weight and that's all that really matters.

    Yeah, what my sister said. LOL!

    :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:
  • Crunchytxmama
    Crunchytxmama Posts: 169 Member
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    I disagree with whoever is telling you that! I know I have to completely focus on a goal if I want to attain it. That is just my personality. If you want to acheive something, it takes focus and discipline. I don't think there is anything wrong with that. Now if once you've reached your weight loss goals, and are years beyond that and are still focusing on it, then yes I'd call that obsession. There is no better feeling that reaching the end when you've worked hard to acheive a goal! I'd say your friends don't know what they are missing out on :tongue:
  • lulubenmom
    lulubenmom Posts: 45
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    I'm totally obsessed er rather, focused too. When I'm not I gain weight. I'm only losing it when I focus on my food here. I've found I've had to totally stop talking and boring people about it though, especially as I'm not obese, but I do want to lose 10 more pounds to regain close to my pre-babies weight.

    So I say, go for it! Be obsessed, just maybe not talk about it unless someone asks. Hard though isn't it when you want to rejoice or whine...

    I stopped logging my food and went up in weight. Yesterday I logged my food at the end of the day and was shocked to see how badly I'd done. I thought I'd eaten well, but in fact was eating to gain 3 pounds in 5 weeks. Tip - stay away from spider roll Sushi and fresh squeezed Carrot Juice/apple is not as low calorie as you think!

    Good luck
  • Mamakatspokane
    Mamakatspokane Posts: 3,098 Member
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    I wish and long for the day that I can eat healthy without obsessing (focusing) but I'm not there yet. Maybe one day eating healthy will be a habit and I'll only have track my cals once a month or so to make sure I'm on track. My mind doesn't work the way that naturally healthy eaters minds work. I have to be thinking constantly about it....if I wasn't I'd still be constantly thinking of food...just the bad things to eat and lets face it I didn't say those obsessions out loud so people didn't know that obsession. As long as your doign it healhty and you feel like your being healthy and not spinning down the hill towards eating disorder then obsess away my friend!
  • kaylou
    kaylou Posts: 375 Member
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    I say how cares what they say! My friends did the same thing for a couple months. But now that I have a handle on it (it took about 6 months) and I can guage what I have eaten in my head....its not so apparent to them anymore.

    There are days if I am on a weekend getaway or family outing that I don't have to freak out if I did not log my food. I can tell if I am somewhere around 700-800-900 calories or getting close to my max alloted calories.

    Sometimes friends are jealous of your success....they really don't mean to. But its easier to justify what they are eating if EVERYONE is eating it!

    And I no longer say I have to exercise before I go.....I just say I will be there at 7 or 8. Allowing myself to get home, workout, then get ready to go.....its my time!! When I used to say I had to exercise they would say "oh you'll be fine just come straight from work" Now I don't even open that door!

    When you reach your goal they will be the first to ask "what are you doing to look so great" :)
  • rheign
    rheign Posts: 56
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    OBSESSED is just a word the LAZY use to describe the DEDICATED. ~ Russell Warren
  • bellinachuchina
    bellinachuchina Posts: 498 Member
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    I am obsessed, I can't help but be that way when I set my mind on something! It is that obsession that has allowed me to reach my goal. Don't allow other people's insecurities/jealousies influence you! I have had many people tell me 30lbs. ago, "You need to stop losing weight, you don't have a butt anymore", yada yada yada! Stay focused on what you want for your own life and don't let anyone get in the way of it! Keep up the good work!

    obsession is the wellspring of genius and madness...LOVE IT :)
  • mcohan
    mcohan Posts: 116 Member
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    My sister is trying to lose weight, too. She talked to her doctor about the fact that if she doesn't obsess, she doesn't lose weight. He basically told her that if that is what she has to do, then obsess away!!

    I know I obsess, I don't really care. This is what works, so I'll keep doing it. I just have to hope that once I get all the weight off, I can relax about it a bit. If not, oh well!!! I find more joy in life now than I did before I started losing weight and that's all that really matters.

    Yeah, what my sister said. LOL!


    in my opinion there is a fine line between being aware of healthful eating, and obsessing. in my case, it was necessary to get help for this obsession because it was taking over my life. i would cut my nights short, miss out on social events, and refuse to go out to eat because i needed to log everything and watch every morsel of food that i ingested. it is more important to LIVE than to count calories, and friends and family are more important than being skinny.

    it is being healthy that matters, both physically and emotionally. i reccommend nutritionists and therapists to anyone that has a questions about whether they are obsessed. dont hesitate to call and just get a consultation because there are alot of people willing to help (even for free/ cheap $$).

    although i do feel that we should all do what makes US happy, not everyone else, we all just need to make sure our priorities are in the right order.

    sorry if i got a little preachy but it is a sensitive topic for me...
  • awagner1
    awagner1 Posts: 4
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    I can talk from experience. As a person who uses food as an addiction unless we deal with deeper issues the diet can become one too. I didn't want to except that. On the other hand, as we give up addictions in life we will need safe activities to replace them until we adjust.

    Don't get me wrong, losing the weight is great but at some point we have to wean off the obsessive focus. Its a juggling act. All emotions freedom comes from giving up any obsessions. Not easy but it can be done. I use excercise to relieve the stress now.

    At the deepest levels all distractions and obsessions are used to distract from feeling uncomfortable.
  • mcohan
    mcohan Posts: 116 Member
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    well said!!!!
  • CrystalT
    CrystalT Posts: 862 Member
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    I guess what we are missing in the discussion is why readyforchange's friends feel like she is obsessing. Is she truely obsessing to the point where it actually affects her life (avoiding social situations, friends, family, etc.) or is it just thei friends' view of her focusing on the new habits she forming? Kinda like if there is a birthday party, does she avoid the party altogether or just the cake?

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