Help -- Calorie Counting Break?
 

Is this just asking for trouble?

I've stopped counting for almost two weeks now. I lost 2 lbs. anyways, which is good for me, I never lose more than 1 pound a week.

But still -- is this a bad idea?

I don't know what happened, I just got tired of counting. I used to LOVE it and now I feel burned out. It feels so meticulous and joyless.

What do you guys think?

Calorie counting (writing & watching every day) is a way to keep track of what you eat - because we often eat more than we think we do, or snack here & there without thinking, or because we are unaware of the possible high calorie counts that we are consuming!

If you are mentally aware of what you are consuming - still eating healthy & just keeping in mind where you stand on your daily food intake without going overboard (even if not exact) then you are probably fine....

Not everyone continues to count calories by logging them physically someplace forever. IMO it's a stepping stone in learning how to handle your food & educate yourself as to what you're actually eating & not required forever & ever (unless thats what you want!) We need to be able to handle ourselves even if our daily logging place (book or online) isn't available- without panicking & totally consuming the wrong things.

But over-eating risks aside - be sure you are eating enough as well! (and healthy stuff) Undereating is also not a good thing.... but again, but counting your calories in the past, perhaps you are well aware of what & how much (in general) you are consuming & will be just fine 'on your own'. I don't think you're asking for trouble unless you are just eating blindly whatever you want. Be a smart & healthy 'educated eater' who doesn't count calories

Good luck! :)

I think if not counting works for you, then that's fine! I think being AWARE of what you eat is important, and not everyone needs to track forever to do that.

I find when I don't log I tend to somehow take advantage of that and eat more. Unless I can address that issue, I will have to keep logging, at least most of the time.

My advice is to watch yourself over time. If you think you're eating well and can lose or maintain, then you're fine. If you find you're weight creeps up or you aren't eating healthy, then you may need to rethink... and may need to go back to logging food, at least from time to time.

good, sensible advice -- much needed -- thank you

Flossing is boring and joyless so I only floss the teeth I want to keep.

;-)

Point taken. But do you plan on counting calories for LIFE?

Ultimately, I just want to have a healthy, happy, joyful, BALANCED attitude towards food. I consider calorie-counting a helpful tool, but I doubt I will use it everyday for the rest of my life. Although, If I get off track and stop losing, I'm glad to know it's always there to help guide me back.

That being said, I went back to counting today.

I actually really just missed it! I like the sense of satisfaction I feel at the end of the day when I see I'm eating healthfully and within my correct calorie range. Not to mention all the other nutrients. I guess I just needed a little break.

so, I'm back :)

I think I would miss it, too.

I just stopped for two days because of traveling and NYE but I'm back to it today b/c I feel a sense of accomplishment when I can look back at a weekly or monthly report and see averages or patterns.

I probably will. It does not feel at all burdensome to me. If it did, I wouldn't do it. But my greater concern would be that if I stopped counting calories, I'd be back to 154, and I'm telling ya... I am NOT going through this journey again.

No way!

Once is enough for me!

How long have you been counting for?

I started December 11, 2006. I always thought it would be so complicated and just a general pain in the butt, but I find it quite easy to do and very entertaining.

Hmmm.... maybe I need to get a life. LOL

Anyway, I weighed 154 on November 1 and I knew I had to do something soon, and after researching every stinking diet out there, I came back to this. It's the ONLY thing that made sense.

nineteen - I dont know if I can count for life. This is the longest I have managed to consistantly count. I think the only reason it is working right now is ..well I have simplified it as much as possible. I am less concerned about every single crumb. I use "similar" foods for most low caloric foods. (i.e. "steamed veggies" instead of "steamed broccoli" and "steamed peppers" etc.etc.etc.etc.)

I started logging my calories a few months ago, and only then did I start losing weight more consistently. Before that I was "watching what I was eating" and counting calories (rounded off) in my head. Obviously I was undercounting in a lot of instances and I needed to really know what was going on (how much I was eating) to figure out why I wasn't losing any weight. On the other hand, most of my life I've been a maintainer (always had to watch what I eat to not become overweight) and that's what I did: I counted calories in my head, rounding off numbers and guessing on size and number of calories; I wasn't obsessive with counting or eating (if I wanted to eat a lot for a few days, I would usually just slow down for a few days after that). I didn't track fat, protein, carbs or fiber like now (on fitday.com so its easy). I managed to stay between a size 6 and 10 for all of the years I was a maintainer, so obviously loosening up can work - on average - to keep your weight down, but may not be enough to actually lose a large amount of weight.