I’m on a diet, but counting calories makes me feel like a robot. On one hand, I’m happy that I’m in control, but on the other hand, it feels like this is turning into an obsession. Should I stop counting calories for better health, or do I have to keep going and calculate everything? I feel like I’m crossing the line with this. I need your advice.
I had this situation too; I was tired of calculating everything one by one. For a while, I tried eating intuitively, eating when I was hungry and stopping when I felt full. But honestly, once I found a balance, I felt more at ease. I think it’s better to have a more flexible approach rather than completely giving up.
When I stopped counting calories, I felt a sense of relief at first, but then I gradually started eating too much again without realizing it. After all, we're human, and sometimes it's easy to go overboard; I had to go back to it. Like you said, it shouldn't be an obsession, but it's also hard to let go completely.
But here's the thing, you say checking makes you feel good. So why are you considering giving it up? I think these things are personal, we can't always say they're bad or good for everyone. Really question what is disrupting your motivation.
Tracking calories isn't actually a bad thing, but as you said, it can become dangerous if it turns into an obsession. You can set a broad range without strict limits and control it that way. For example, instead of having a specific calorie target, aim for an average range. It tends to be more sustainable.
Let me add this too, at some point, as I calculated calories, I started to feel guilty about everything I ate. I mean, okay, I'm not overeating, but counting every gram just doesn't let me relax. It's especially tough in social settings; I literally get tense when someone offers me something.
The main issue here is the pressure on you. It's very common in society for women to be forced to control their food intake. Calorie tracking is presented as a personal choice, but is it really just your decision? I suggest you think about it. It's no coincidence that you feel like a robot.
I felt this way too at one point, especially during social activities. When hanging out with friends, constantly counting things can be mentally exhausting. For example, the other day we had burgers, and even calculating the calories while eating was ruining my enjoyment... After a while, I just said, 'oh, forget it.'
Honestly, things like this didn't exist in our time. But I think weight control should be in a person's own hands. It seems to me that calorie counting is something that not everyone knows about. You pay attention, don't overeat, and that's it. But if you insist on counting, you shouldn't stress about it.
As far as I'm concerned, the issue here isn't just calorie tracking. When you talk about feeling tense in social situations, it seems like there's another issue at play. For example, could you have a big fear related to gaining weight? Or maybe someone has criticized you about this... Think about it.
