[taurushead]

i give up. seriously. on the counting thing. because im obviously clueless. when i eat what i think is a small amount of calories, i gain weight. when i eat a large amount..i often lose it. its mainly been the switch from packaged products to ones where i have to guess the values. im either over estimating or underestimating constantly and i can't tell which. so i quit. its too frustrating and i feel like crap because its always on my mind.<br><br>
thing is..doesn't everybody watch what they eat, a bit at least?? its normal and even healthy? <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/yes.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=":yes:"> when i started counting i definetely got healthier because i made sure i was eating enough!! if i stop, i might end up just..not. because often i feel as though ive eaten more than i have until i count it up and then have to eat more.<br><br>
so i feel like i should be counting more for that reason than for fear of weight gain reasons!<br><br>
guys, so confused <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/dozey.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=":tired:"> please, PLEASE help me with this.<br><br>
i have no idea how much the dinner im having tonight is 'worth'. i dont know whether then i can eat more or less, or just..aa. i hate numbers now. im tired of them.<br><br>
im not even 'making up' for yesterday, so i feel even MORE out of control.<br><br>
please..please somebody flood wisdom my way? coz the counting ..is now <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/rifle.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=":gun:"> , wihtout packaged stuff its impossible to know.

 

[misq17]

Normal and healthy watching what you eat means eating when you're hungry and stopping when you aren't and making sure that you're getting fruits, veggies, etc. and not too much junk. As you've already discovered, counting is just going to stress you out.

 

[DefyAuthority9]

If your doing mustle building exercise then the reason your scale says your gaining weight is mustle weighs more then fat so if thats the case your doing great!

 

[jeneticallymodified]

i think you can count till you're blue in the face, and unless you measure everything down to the milimetre measurement of thickness of each slice of bread, and calculate your own bodyweight and fat percentage and water content with complex medical machinery and assess your every move and projected move, on the hour, every hour, you'll never get your numbers to be 'perfect'.<br><br><br><br>
and even if you do get it spot on, who is to say that your individual body makeup is processing nutrients to the exact specs that the nutritional breakdowns assume they will? i think its really futile to be counting calories and nutritional content of everything so excessively- you'll just get a headache from all the math (wow, i hate math so much- i come out in a cold sweat at the thought of it, lol!), and freak out over whether you ate one peanut too many, or if there was too much salt on it, constantly, which is neither normal or healthy behaviour.<br><br><br><br>
i think that its normal to eat a range of foods, and to give yourself permission to have and enjoy a few cookies (or even a whole box, lol) and some fries every now and then, without freaking out over it. its normal to think 'hmmm, i feel like peanut butter and jam AND a banana on my toast today, and not so normal to automatically think 'but i need to balance it out by doing 60 starjumps and having less cheese in my lunch later (or whatever). its normal to know the basics of what the suggested general healthy balance of foods from the different groups is, but to also allow yourself the flexability to eat what you fancy, when you fancy, and to enjoy it, and not sweat over whether you ate 1 slice of bread too many this morning, or spread too much margarine on your toast last tuesday.<br><br><br><br>
have you seen a dietitican about this? what about talking to one, and explaining your problem with the numbers and the stress of keeping to them. perhaps she could write you a nice meal plan sheet, with suggested minimum amounts laid out- with say... an example of 6 good breakfasts, 6 good lunches, and 6 good dinners, that all meet your minimum numbers, but with options for things to swap in and out, and without the numbers written next to the foods. i think the idea of trying to think of food as just good fuel, as aposed to sums to add up, is a better way of going about it.<br><br><br><br>
also, some peoples weight just floats up and down a little bit, too- things like hormones and stress affect things in subtle ways- i put on a few pounds one week and then its gone again the next- what counts is that you can steadily and surely get to, and maintain a healthy weight- and i'm sure you'll get there!

 

[taurushead]

thank you SO much.<br><br>
those replies were too awesome.<br><br>
HCJ...wow. blew me away. your right. completely right. so many brilliant points that id somehow evaded. and i break out in a sweat when it comes to maths too so how'd i end up like this?!? ehahaha.<br><br>
ok...day one, not counting. is now.<br><br>
xoxoxoxoxo

 

[zoebird]

read The Yoga of Eating by Charles Eisenstien.

 

[Libellula]

taurus: it's normal to watch what you eat, by how Misq said. dont' count calories or obsess about getting the right amount of protein, carbs, fats, fruits, veggies, in EACH meal, but by being healthy overall. i watch my calcium intake, but only because if i get a minimum of 1400 mg a day, i have less problems at that time of the month.

 

[ketivnilloc]

I find it's easier to just count serving of stuff. ie: fruits, veggies, grains stuff like that. It may not be as scientific as calories and all that, but it works for me.

 

[taurushead]

hmmm ok<br><br>
libellula- yeah i started watching calcium for the same reasons. makes a diff huh ?! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/smiley.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=""><br><br>
zoe- ill check it out today!!<br><br><br><br>
this morning has been strange. biggest breakfast in ages, not at home, normal stuff not around :/ but oh well. plus had a lot of fruit..which is GOOD ..just a lot of sugar..not that im counting it<img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/smiley.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=""> this..is gonna be more tiring than i thought.<br><br>
but priorities were sliding. school etc. can't be having that now!

 

[Gita]

Taurus, I think that counting calories is easier if you eat approximately the same kind and amount of food every day, or at least each week. For example, each Wednesday for dinner you could have lentil/tomato stew with a piece of bread and a salad. I recognise that some people with eating disprders simply cannot tell when they are hungry or full, so you need to go by measurement. The way I would do it for myself is to measure the calories of a meal, like the Wednesday meal above, and when they are perfect, take a digital picture of the meal. Put it in a folder in your computer. When you are about to eat that meal again next Wednesday, look at it on the computer and you will see how much you can eat.<br><br><br><br>
Okay it is a strange way to do it, but it does not require math or counting.<br><br><br><br>
good luck!

 

[Lunchie Munchie]

I personally think that stress causes you to put on pounds or slow your way to your weight loss goals. .<br><br><br><br>
Don't worry about it and eat within reason and you will be fine. Vitamins and a little bit of exercise will help a lot. Make sure you drink lots of water.

 

[kpickell]

How many times a day do you weigh yourself? Lets first change that to weighing yourself only at the doctor's office. Like, throw away your home scale.<br><br><br><br>
Now stop counting calories for real. Don't flip that package over! Don't go onto a calorie counting website. No fitday. Don't even guestimate the number of calories in your apple.<br><br><br><br>
It's only tiring because you can't drop the numbers.<br><br><br><br>
(To the person that bumped this thread, taurus does not need to lose more weight.)

 

[taurushead]

hmm. well..considering you were right about the dinner thing...maybe you're right about this, oh wise kpickell <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/smiley.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=""><br><br>
this other way isn't really working.<br><br>
but SURELY..SUUUURELY i need a ball park. like..do i need a lot of food? or..ok. no ill be quiet. ill just eat when im hungry. and see what happens. my guess is ill end up losing weight, coz thats what happened last time :/ but it beats the hell outta counting the crap out of evvvverything.<br><br>
and don't have to throw away scales..they broke last night. ahah.<br><br>
i only weigh myself once every 2 days or so these days. but even thats not necissary. housemate's obsessed with her weight this year (she's gone from overweight to compulsive excersiser..its horrible to watch, actually <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/sad.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=""> but she just won't listen. she makes me feel like a cow for eating as much as I do, as well. she doesn't eat enough.) so she's replacing it, but i just won't partake)<br><br>
aaa...nervous, how lame is that? just one day with no counting (guestimating was usually my idea of no counting) literally makes my stomach hurt. ahah..

 

[taurushead]

gorgeous puppy, by the by.<img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/hamster.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=":hamster:">

 

[kpickell]

<div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>taurushead</strong> <a href="/forum/post/0"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style=""></a><br><br>
but SURELY..SUUUURELY i need a ball park. like..do i need a lot of food? or..ok. no ill be quiet.</div>
</div>
<br>
Eat 3 full meals a day and some snacks in between and you should be okay. This will mean eating even when you're not hungry sometimes until your body gets used to eating normal. Instead of counting calories, you can pay attention to the types and amount of food you're eating, without getting obsessive. Make sure you're getting 5 or more servings of whole grains, 3 or more servings of fruit, 3 or more servings of vegetables, and 2 or more servings of beans or legumes. (<a href="http://www.vegsource.com/food_groups.htm" target="_blank">http://www.vegsource.com/food_groups.htm</a>) It's also fine to ask for peer review. You can still post what you ate that day and ask other people if it looks reasonable.<br><br><br><br><br><br><div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">gorgeous puppy, by the by</div>
</div>
<br>
Thanks <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/smiley.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="">