Dieting is depressing me: I am fed up of... - Weight Loss Support

Weight Loss Support

115,043 members61,283 posts

Dieting is depressing me

16 Replies

I am fed up of writing all the stuff i eat down and then feeling bad if i eat anything else, even something small like a slice of toast.

I am still just over a healthy range (about a stone) i am trying to not count calories and would rather just eat what i want when i want in moderation and let my apetite tell lead me. will i fail?

16 Replies
Zest profile image
ZestHealthy BMI

HI Storm4mozza,

Depending on how confident you are feeling about judging your portion sizes on the basis of the knowledge you've already gained from the calorie counting you've already been doing, then your plan to eat 'in moderation' should be potentially effective.  

I note that you said you'd like to let your appetite lead you - but I guess that a potential difficulty with that is that sometimes we're not necessarily fine-tuned to know when we're feeling 'hungry' and when we're actually thirsty (as an example) and therefore the signals could be potentially confusing. 

But essentially having healthy balanced meals doesn't have to involve calorie counting.  It really does depend on appropriate portion sizes for your level of daily activity, and if you get that balance right, then you'll be successful in your wish to lose weight.  

Maybe trial it for a week or so, and adapt your plans as necessary?  

Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

Have a great week.

Lowcal :-)

in reply toZest

thanx so much hun

IndigoBlue61 profile image
IndigoBlue61

Hello Hidden  

I also find calorie counting a chore, although I am using MFP at the moment as trying to be extra strict prior to a holiday. 

I generally count portions, and stick to fruit for breakfast, bread once a day, small helping other carbs at dinner, small helping protein twice a day, etc etc let my eyes as well as my appetite be my guide. 😊 After all, do we expect to count every single calorie for the rest of our lives? Think it's important to create good eating habits now we have learnt where the wasted calories go 😊

Like Zest  suggests, maybe trial if for a week or so and see how you get on 😊 Good luck! 

in reply toIndigoBlue61

thanx so much hun

henlady profile image
henlady

I think the answer is probably yes. You sound just like me and I'm failing miserably.  I think until we have a really good routine and have our eating under control we need to keep logging and counting.  Sorry if this sounds all doom and gloom and I hope I'm wrong and you do really well. Good luck. 

in reply tohenlady

thanx so much x

DartmoorDumpling profile image
DartmoorDumplingRestart Feb 2024

You could try restraining yourself a little during the week by using healthy swaps and then relaxing a little at weekends, if that suited your lifestyle.

DownwardSpiral profile image
DownwardSpiral

It depends on how fast u want to lose and how much I guess. I don't mind calorie counting for now as it won't be forever and its working well for me. Once I get to my desired weight then I will ease off the counting and just b guided by my new habits. 

maiziepops profile image
maiziepops

Folk on here are going to get sick of me droning  on about exercise but I really do think it's the biggest  ingredient to losing and maintaining weight,  I have always said, folk who are not overweight indulge and gain weight but they don't know cos they are not weighing themselves all the time. They just have a night out eat what they want then go back to eating normally and the small gain goes unnoticed. 

For me exercising means I have very little desire to eat rubbish and if I do fancy something sweet then I exercise to earn it. 

I think you need to try at least and see what works for you. There is no such thing as failure of you keep trying different things till you find what suits you. Good luck 

LessToLose profile image
LessToLose4lbsRestart April 2024

I suppose if you are confident that you can judge your portions accurately, you will be fine, but if you are anything like me, a person who tends to under-estimate the weight/calorific value of foods, then it would be a little more difficult.

I know it seems a chore and is difficult to balance everything in a busy life, but your health is worth it and think how happy you will feel once you are at goal - and you are so close, it would be a shame to scupper your success now.

I stopped logging my food on myfitnesspal a while ago for the same reason. It was so crucial when I was re-educating myself and getting things under control. But no you won't fail if you stop logging everything, I've found it perfectly manageable to lose the last few lbs just through following a few bits of common sense. Stick to groups of foods that you know are healthy, tried and tested meal combos and snacks, try to only eat at mealtimes and planned snack times and listen to your stomach not your emotions, it's all good practice for maintaining, which is close at hand if you're only 1 stone away from goal. Good luck, and listen to your instincts if you're finding it all dragging you down. Sounds like it's time to test your newly honed healthy eating instincts too - are you spotting a theme? It's all about creating better instincts isn't it? We can't keep writing everything down forever, and we're not machines :)

in reply to

thanx so much

kantara71 profile image
kantara71

I think that the initial time on the plan is, as others have said, to teach you good habits, portion sizes and the foods to avoid. Once you are comfortable that you can manage the portion sizes and have a good idea of your daily intake etc then it should work.

I am in week 12 and also thinking the same as you. I am more aware of portion sizes etc now and maybe in a few months, when I hope to be in maintenance, I will be confident enough to stop weighing and counting and go by the scales each week :-)

in reply tokantara71

thanx so much

elliebath profile image
elliebathMaintainer

Keeping to the same calorie limit every day is not easy, and is probably impossible long term. But it's not the only way to lose weight.  We just have to create a calorie deficit over a period of time, a reduction of 20-25 %  equals weightloss.

 So don't beat yourself up over that slice of toast, try changing your calorie quota so that some days you "allow" yourself extra and some days less.  It is the AVERAGE  amount over a week that matters. 

It certainly worked for me and many others, but slowly steadily it took a year to reach my target.  I still follow a similar principle one year later to maintain, and have kept the weight off ....BMI 23 age 63. If I can, anyone can 😊

lindag49doverrd profile image
lindag49doverrd

Hi, I know what you mean about writing everything down it is so tedious, it keeps you accountable though especially if you ate something you know you shouldn't have and you have to write it down lol. Well done for being in a healthy weight range and keep it up. I on the other hand have around 3 stone to lose after quitting smoking and it seems like a huge mountain to climb.Every pound is hard it is going to take me a long time .

Not what you're looking for?

You may also like...

Dieting

I started a diet 3 days ago for my health but mainly cause my fella got fatty liver disease and I...

1st Day of student dieting

1st day of my diet has gone well, drank 2 liters of water, snacked on healthy snacks and kept my...
AVB1 profile image

New to dieting

Hello everyone :) My title says I'm new to dieting but I'm actually not, I have started lots and...
sandraknight profile image

Difficulty dieting.

Hi I'm Ian and 43 years old and am nearly hitting 19st. The lowest I have been was 14st 7lb many...

Lack of sleep and dieting

Hi For the first time of the many that I did diet or kept better look at my food intake, I am not...
diadhuit profile image

Moderation team

See all
TheTabbyCat profile image
TheTabbyCatAdministrator
TeamAdmin profile image
TeamAdminAdministrator
BridgeGirl profile image
BridgeGirlAdministrator

Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.

Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.