Is calorie counting obsessive?

heavenseventeen

heavenseventeen

0
I was thinking of starting to count calories, but I feel like I would be leaning from the "healthy lifestyle" to the "fanatic dieters". I just hate/scared/worry about the idea of counting calories for the rest of my days...it would feel like the "diet" was controlling me.

I don't know what to do. The only reason I'm complaining it because it's taken me 8 months to lose 30lbs, but if I counted calories this would progress faster...I think.

I know that after you're maintaining, or after a while, you might be able to estimate again, but I would be too scared of estimating wrong and seeing the scale start to rise again.

Can anyone give me their personal, honest experience of calorie counting?
 
Hello and counting calories isn't bad at all.I have been counting
calories since July and it really works and it's not difficult,after
a while you can just look at something and know how much to eat
so your not constanly reading lables.
I would say it is obssestion it is just controling your portions in a
healthier way.Goodluck to ya you can do it.Tammy:)
 
I am in the middle of counting calories. I just started a week ago and it is hard. I do feel obsessive. I write everything I eat down so I can put it into my calorie counter website and make sure I am where I need to be (fitday.com). It is easy for me to do this but hard to have it not be automatic. I have only been at it a week though and have lost 10lbs since I shot up to 205! I feel better and I am eating so much less than I used to. It is worth it to me to eat a normal, healthy portion!
 
ahh im with niapage on this. For the first month i checked everything before i put it in my mouth.
Now 6 months later i know exactly most foods off pat and its great. I can even guestimate fairly accurately how many calories are in things.
I found it particularly good because there have been foods i would have put down as high cal which were not and vice versa.
So i found out the truth about stuff.
Oh yeah, and you CAN eat McDonalds or whatever your fav take aways are, just so long as you can fit the cals in.
Thats partially why i love it. you dont have to deny yourself any particular foods, just watch the quantity (which is a LOT easier).
You find you will naturally tend towards lower calorie foods because you know the exact cost of what you are eating.
 
From my experience of counting over the months, I have come up with a low calorie set routine of what I eat almost everyday and throughout the day, turkey breast meat/slice of cheese on double fiber whole wheat bread and baked chips(about 350-400 calories), it does get old at times but I manage to still eat it.
When I go out to eat or eat something which I have no idea what the cals are, I just make up for it with extra exercise that day. I too am a believer that everything's permissible, but it comes at a price when done often.
 
Thanks for the replies. I think I already sort of count calories already, just I estimate in the morning and hope for the best at dinner time. Maybe I'll just continue as I have been. Today I hopped on the scale and I think I've lost another 1-2lbs. I'll definitely use your feedback if I ever reach another plateau!

Good luck everybody and well done on your weight loss!:)
 
I was pretty hardcore the first month, but now it's all habitual....I mainly thing about the calories now when I'm making my lunches for work. I basically eat what I came up with initially, but I'm always substituting things and mixing it up.
 
Can be obsessive if you have an obsessive personality lol.
Its not for me, i usually just get home, type in on my calculator what ive had so far and plan my evening meal. Simple.
 
Personally, I don't think it's necessary, as long as you eat healthy foods. Most people know when they've had enough or even have eaten too much, or when they are truly hungry and not just got the munchies. Those bodily cues are much more important than adding up calories. Biggest problem is that if you eat processed, unhealthy food, you can consume more calories than you realize. If you avoid this situation and just listen to your body, that's really all that's needed.
 
I never calorie counted - too lazy. I simply changed to eating a healthy diet, avoided bad foods, and started exercising. Hey presto, the weight fell off! However, horses for courses - if it helps you into a routine, then feel free to use it.
 
I'm probably more obsessive about it than i should be but it works for me... most of the time...

I like the approach to just eat healthier - well I would have sworn I did eat healthy - and just couldn't lose weight - I haven't had fried foods or fast food in years... Until I forced myself into measring and weighing everything and counting every calorie (especially the tbs plus of olive oil -but EVOO is healthy - yah right, it still has 1900 calories a cup) I didn't get it -

I know what I'm doing for themost partnow -the calorie couting is just a security blanket for me...
 
I think that it becomes obsessive after you do it for a while. I get a little carried away myself. If I could eat rationally without counting I would.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top