Calorie Counting Woes

ninjabox

Hi just wanted peoples advice on this,

For the past few years I've been eating a healthy paleo-style diet i.e. plenty of veg, fish, meat and nuts and some dairy. I know I am eating healthily but I started to slowly gain weight (not to the level of being overweight, just not fitting into my jeans anymore) because to put it bluntly I eat like a horse.

I always wanted to be able to eat so healthily that I didn't have to restrict how much I eat, but now I've taken a new approach. I'm still eating the same food but I'm also calorie counting.

The problem is that while the calorie counting is working very well in some respects (I've lost half a stone), its affects me in other ways. I have become obsessive about counting calories, and I feel very stressed when going out for dinner or lunch with friends.

Should I try to eat roughly the same foods when at home and stop calorie counting? Has anyone else found they become obsessive?

Also when I feel very upset over the restrictions I put on my eating I sometimes binge on really bad foods that I never used to eat.

Orla K

If it's making you binge on unhealthy crap then it might be best to focus on quality food for now and be more aware and limit eating like a horse.

vanessa171

do not calorie count. do not diet ! just eat healthy. i read a book a few days ago and it was very good, it said to stay away from diet labels as they are not healthy and will not help you loose weight properly and they have sugar ! what you want to do is eat essential fatty acids(fish,nuts,seeds) slow releasing carbs( brown rice ,paste, wholewheat..no white ), veg,fruit,and vitamins are great ! stay away from caffeine! coffee, tea.. drink herbal tea like chamomile and lemon water , it did say to stay away fro wheat but this can be quite difficult as alot of food has wheat.you can buy pasta and other products that are gluten free. also eat slow ! try have your meal last at least 15 minutes.. and eat little meals but often.. eat every 3 hours, so breakfast,mid morning snack, lunch ,snack, dinner, snack. Just dont diet it leads to a lot of bingeing and it wont help you keep of the weight just loose it short term.

doctorwhogirl

I calorie count and it's very easy to get obsessed. I still do it but now I listen to my body more and if I feel like a need a wee nibble on something healthy I often don't put it in my food diary, once it's something I know is good for me and it's genuine hunger I'm feeling and not boredom!

I know how you feel about going out with friends but you have to enjoy yourself too. One meal out with all the trimmings won't make you fat just like one meal out where you sit there stressed and miserable and panicking about what to have won't make you skinny. Usually when I go out I get a healthyish option but I always make sure it's a tasty one too that I know I'm going to enjoy and I get lots of extra veg/salads with it because I love them. Other times I go and have what I want.

If you feel it's really becoming an issue just leave it for a week and listen to your body. You know what's good/bad for you. Trust yourself more.