Sort-of-Newbie!
 

hi all!

my name is em, and while i have been around 3FC for a while, i haven't yet posted in the calorie counter forum. a quick introduction...i'm 24 years old, with about 30 pounds to lose. i lost about 40 pounds last year when i took up running, then several life events caused me to lose focus and 30 pounds crept back on.

last year, i wasn't counting calories, which worked well for me because i tend to get overly obsessive about staying within my range, to the point that it takes over my life. i enjoy healthful food, and don't eat much processed food. so, i know what to eat, i am just eating too much of it! the weekend alcohol consumption isn't helping either. anyway, for some reason, i am having trouble this time around with just trying to make good food decisions, and think that i need some more structure and accountability until i get a better sense of what amount of food is going to help my weight loss efforts.

i think i know the calorie count and serving size for just about every food under the sun...lol...and i know the range of calories i need to eat to lose weight and fuel my running. i am just wondering if any others have struggled with feeling obsessive about calorie counting, and what strategies you have used to deal with these feelings? i enjoy calorie counting for its flexibility in food choices and as a healthy method for weight loss, but i also don't want to turn into a nut about it either! ;)

thanks for any suggestions!
-em

Umm...prolly most of us? For me - food is an obsession. I have chosen to turn my energies to planning healthy choices. Sometimes that even works for me. :dizzy: My other option is not to plan, make bad choices and gain the weight back...I'm not gonna go there.

I'd rather get a little nutty about logging what I eat than follow someone elses eating plan. :D

Welcome - I know the obsession. I have gotten to the point now where I can get through lunch without logging and be pretty much on track for the day. When I first got started (my first time losing significant weight and this most recent time). I would be in a panic and afraid to eat unless I could log it immediately and see the impact on my day.

The only time I feel that way now is when I am having a crazy day at work and I find I am taking far to many bites of this and nibbles of that. At some point I have to just force myself to take time and log because I feel like I am losing control.

Lori

I'm pretty similar to you in that I know portion sizes and tend to eat pretty healthy... but my weekend drinking kills me. I'm big on logging everything, so unfortunately I don't have much advice about how to not obsess. Like others, I try to be healthy about it (I've taken up cooking so I can obsess about various flavors and recipes). However, I still definitely think about food more than most people I know.

Good luck!

Hi Em Im in the same place you are I lost 30 lbs about 7 yours ago its been back for a few years now I get sort of crazy with the calories to but i love the flexibility of it Im looking for a buddy to check in with and help keep each other on tract
Jill

thanks for the helpful advice everyone! :) i am looking forward to getting to know you all better...i think counting calories is going to be my best bet for now. maybe i will just have to limit the number of times i log each day, and plan a variety of options for each meal...ironically even though calorie counting gives the most flexibility in food choices, i have a tendency to eat the same thing every day once i find a combination that adds up to my ideal calorie intake...not healthy, and really boring!!:dizzy: hopefully having this forum will help me make calorie counting an enjoyable lifestyle habit...
have a great day!