Iāve started counting calories, at first everything was great but for a while now itās been feeling strange. I used to not pay attention to what I ate, but now Iām calculating every bite, and at the end of the day, when Iām in the negative, I feel this odd pressure as if I should be eating less. Is this normal or is something wrong?
I experienced the same thing, honestly. At first, everything seemed fine, but at some point, I found myself questioning whether I ādeservedā what I was eating. In my case, this situation was diagnosed as the beginning of an eating disorder, and I sought support. If you find yourself questioning like this, you might consider seeing a specialist.
I think this feeling is honestly very common. Constantly thinking about numbers and calculations can be exhausting. But it doesnāt mean thereās necessarily a problem. Sometimes, by getting so involved, we blow things out of proportion in our heads; if you try to relax a bit, you might feel lighter.
Donāt put so much pressure on yourself, my girl. If you keep trying to control everything, this stress will wear you out. If she were my daughter, Iād say, āHold on a second, do you really have to do this?ā
My friend went through the same thing. He kept opening and closing that app on his phone, calculating how much he ate everywhere we went. After a while, he stopped and said, āNo, Iām stressing myself out too much.ā So maybe it would be better not to hold on so tightly?
You clearly mention that you feel an above-normal level of control pressure over your eating habits. This can develop into a behavioral condition like orthorexia. Of course, you need to consult with an expert to say anything definitive, but it might be more sustainable to aim for flexibility rather than calculating eating behavior.
Iāve just realized that I actually feel this pressure the most after dinner. During the day, itās not a problem as long as I do everything āas plannedā, but when things shift, I feel like I need to compensate for it.
Systems that teach you to cope with what you eat want you to solve your body like a math problem. If this has started to stress you out instead of serving you, I donāt think itās sustainable. The order that forces you to control your body this much should wear down the system, not you.