to think you have to be a little obsessed if you want to lose a lot of weight?

[lola88]

I have 2 stone to lose i'm on weight watchers and have lost 11lbs so far and am really into it, i count everything i eat for example ds and i shared a cake so i put in 1/2 fairy cake = 2 points. A few people have said that counting everything is a little obsessive but i think thats the whole point. It's kind of bothering me that people can't be suppostive they need to see it as a problem.

Also i don't have scales at home to resist the temptation to weigh in all the time so i walk up to my grans house on a sat morning to get weighed DP says this is crazy going all the way there (15 min walk) just to get weighed, i usually go and stay for the morning but have went up twice just to weigh in on my way somewhere else.

TBH i'm a little worried that maybe i am taking it to far but on the other hand if you don't follow the program correctly it's not going to work. I've lost 1-2lbs a week on average which is the recommended amount. So AIBObsessive?

[talkingnonsense]

Tbh I agree- when you are making new habits it has to be important to you and therefore does take a lot of time and thought. Daresay it shouldn't make you obsessive, but I reckon it does!

[haggisandneeps]

YANBObsessive

Like you say if you don't count everything its not going to work. I lost 10 and a half stones on Slimming World and you don't get that level of weight loss without making sure you log everything you eat and your exercise etc.

Well done on your amazing loss so far and good luck for the rest of your weight loss journey

[princesssmartypantss]

i think you do need to write down everything you eat, if you have watched secret eaters tv programme then you will understand why! i did weight watchers a few years ago and found once i got into the swing of things you start to know what to avoid, i ate fewer carbs and almost no cheese as just too many points for not enough fun!
as for walking to your grans, the exercise is probably doing you good!
best of luck.

[BrianCoxandTheTempleofDOOM]

I agree. My mum lost 6 stone at WW, she was a nightmare to live with.

Every morsel that went to our lips was met with "do you know how many points are in that?" OR she would check her book and give you a full run-down of the point content or how many sins (or whatever they are) the offending food equated to.

We were supportive, don't get me wrong, but she was a nightmare.

Once the obsession lifted, due to massive change in life circumstances, she couldnt keep the focus and so slowly put on some of the weight.

You have to be totally focused/obsessive to lose weight IMO.

[BigBoobiedBertha]

First of all well done on your weight lose. It is great you are half way to your target.

I think inherent in all diets is the need to be obsessive. It is either that or give up. However, I think it is also the reason why they don't work in the long term. You can't live your life forever, counting points/sins/calories etc. It is unsustainable. Better that you find a way of living healthily without following some plan. Thinking long term, when you have reached your goal, how do you plan on keeping at your goal weight? Can you see yourself doing this forever? Surely it is better to find a way of losing weight that encourages you to eat healthily so that you don't have to worry about what you are putting in your mouth at least 80% of the time (if you follow the 80/20 guideline for example).

I don't know what your DP has a problem with a short walk to your grans though. That seem to be a bit mad. He should be encouraging exercise and so long as you are going every day solely for a weigh in I don't see the problem. I am sure your gran appreciates your visit too.

[LaurieFairyCake]

People are just arses.

They wouldn't say you gardened obsessively if you read a few magazines, thought about plants a few minutes a day and walked for 15 minutes to a garden centre once a week

I have no idea why people think its ok to comment on what you do to look after yourself.

Being 'mindful' of eating is good anyway - you enjoy it more and you enjoy the relationship with the food more.

Good luck with your weight loss - you're doing fabulously.

[BrianCoxandTheTempleofDOOM]

Sorry, that souned negative - I didnt mean it to

I shall be joining the ranks of the obsessive in a month or so, I have 3 stone to lose.

[SoulTrain]

10 and a half stones?!??

[EhricLovesTeamQhuay]

Yanbu
If I don't get a bit obsessive then I don't lose any weight! I lapse and eat unplanned food and it all goes to shit. If it's important to you then obsess away!

[BettySwollocksandaCrustyRack]

Well done....I would say you are more dedicated than obsessed and that is the only way a diet will work.

1-2 lb per week is a perfect weight loss so well done and just keep with it.

:)

[aldiwhore]

YANBU.

It's usually why so many 'diets' or weightloss schemes fail, because it's a complete change, and if you're prone to eating too much then whatever you do you'll have to count something!

It's why I failed at even the best weightloss plans. Whilst being obsessed, I did really well. Then I got to a point where I just didn't WANT to plan every single mouthful, and slowly I was over eating again. Not massively, just that extra glass of wine on a friday, a sausage with my breakfast on a saturday, pudding on a sunday... and then gradually the weight piled on again. My lifestyle is quite sedantry to be fair, and though I make an effort to exercise, it IS an effort, I have to concentrate on planning it.

I'd be successful with a total lifestyle change I know. But completely changing youur lifestyle isn't possible.

KEEP AT IT. Keep tabs on it, and even when you're where you need to be for your own wellbeing, don't give up some planning.

The only way I lose weight is to become a diet obsessed bore, so at present I'm trying to be obsessed without mentioning it all the time.

I also haven't told my DH that I pay 'to get weighed' - being in a group really helps me, though I understand his logic - he's simply not overweight, and if he does put on a few pounds he cuts down slightly and loses easily. It's a massive MASSIVE issue for me and a struggle, so I'm trying doing it more quietly.

Good luck and keep on trooping.

[Undertone]

Also agree you have to be very a bit obsessive to lose weight.

It's almost like the ritualistic aspect of analysing the content is like a positive reinforcing mantra.

BTW I am 5 stone down, and a size 12 at 5'7", and I am desperate to lose 1 more stone and get to the magical size-10 finishing line of 10 stone. Losing the first 4.5 stone took just over a year, losing the next 0.5 stone took 6 months, and I have wavered and plateaued for nearly a year now. I've run 5 half marathons, I go to the gym 4-5 times a week. 70% of weight loss is down to diet, and I have been too soft on myself and unfocused.

I got myself a personal trainer who is also great on advising on diet. She is helping me but it is still painfully slow. My friends "want me back" after all this time saying no to treats, so they're not great at things like ringing me up and inviting me for some vino. 3 glasses later and that's the day totally ruined in terms of healthy diet. Just a little compromise, every day, is enough to cancel out all the good.

People at work who bring round cake and say "go on just a little bit" are all bastards, too. Some cunt brought in biscuits today and has left the tray for people to help themselves next to my desk - AAAARGH!

[Mrsrobertduvall]

Dh and I are doing the 2 day diet at the moment, and being very evangelical about it. This is the third week...I have lost 6 lbs with 5 more to lose, so not a huge weight loss but enough to make me look less menopausal.

I can see such a difference and it really motivates me.
I have just had a huge salad, and this evening will be having a piece of salmon and veg. Oh and sugar free jelly .
I find the rest of the week i don't want to eat crap after really sticking religiously to the 2 day diet. I've had no bread or pasta for 2 weeks now.

You're not obsessive at all...well done on your weight loss!

[ButternutSquish]

well done you! Keep going! I have lost 9st over two years and for the most part you have to be slightly obsessive about it and put yourself first. I have a food diary that I do 5 out of 7 days a week and it really helps to keep on track, especially if you're having a difficult day.

So YANBU to be slightly obsessive about it, but YABU if you were to force it down the throat of others

[carabos]

I'm obsessive about food, not because I want or need to lose weight (I don't), but because I'm trying to change some bad eating habits and improve the quality of what I eat as I approach the menopause. I don't want to end up one of those dumpy little older women who is perpetually a stone or two too heavy, huffing and puffing through hot flushes and all the rest of it.

I exercise properly every day and am meticulous about eating class A protein with every meal. I don't drink and I'm trying to wean myself off my major downfall - sweets and biscuits. I aim to eat no more than 1500 good quality calories and do 300 cals of exercise and the only way to stick with that is to obsess a bit.

Completely agree with what was said upthread - no one would bat an eyelid if your new "interest" was gardening.

Well done, keep at it and enjoy educating yourself about nutrition, it's fascinating.

[HeathRobinson]

What you're doing sounds fine to me. Including the 15 min walk to your gran's house. Walking is supposed to be one of the best things you can do to lose weight.

Well done on your weight loss.

[shewhowines]

Agree. Dedicated is a better word than obsessive and you need to be to succeed. The day you stop being dedicated/obsessive is the day you stop losing weight.

Keep on with the obsession. Perhaps just shut up about it though and obsess quietly

[Sallystyle]

Yes you do..

5 stone loser and had to be dedicated and slightly obsessed to achieve that.

And now I have to be pretty obsessed to maintain it

[Sallystyle]

Also, well done on your weight loss. You are doing very well :)

[StuntGirl]

Well done! You do need to think very consciously of what you're doing at first. But after a while it will become second nature and you won't even need to think about it, in much the same way people of a healthy weight won't often think of their weight/how many calories they've eaten/how much exercise they need to do this week. But when you've overweight, you need to do those things to make the changes needed to reach your goal!

I'll be honest, it sounds a little to me like your partner is not being very supportive. It's this kind of behaviour and mind set that can lead to attempting to sabotage someone's progress. Please keep doing what you're doing and don't let him de-rail you.

[pollyblue]

I think it's a really good idea to write everything down - it's so easy to forget about the odd couple of biscuits here, extra slice of cake there.....making a note of everything means it's easy to see where you are slipping up, and keep tabs on your calories intake.

I'm a couple of days into a plan to lose half a stone - for the first time i'm noting calorie content and it's been an eye-opener. There are 100 calories in just two custard creams No wonder i can't get my bloody jeans done up any more...I'm with carabos - it's about staying healthy and fit as i head into my 40s.

Keep it up OP It sounds like you've got off to a really good start, well done.

[Areyoumadorisitme]

YABObsessive but you have to be, you're right. I previously lost 5.5stone by being obsessive then put it all on again but not being obsessive!

I am 3 stone down again and am being fairly obsessive BUT I think most of my obsession is in my head. I have the WW iphone app and point everything I eat and record it there, but I only talk about it if other people ask me. I will never put my points into the app when I'm with people, if I'm in a restaurant I have usually worked out beforehand what I'm having, if not I'll put in the points when I go to the toilet or when I am on my own at the table.

I cannot stand people who talk about it all the time, it is just boring to everyone and I really want to tell them to get a life. My DC don't know I'm doing it, my DH knows I am but I don't think I've ever told him how many points is in something even though I know most things in my head. I may say, when having a treat, oh I saved enough points for x or y but that is it. DH asks me each week how I got on but that is it.

I think obsessive in your own head is fine, obsessive out loud is a pain for all concerned.

[Undertone]

Wellll... If you have good friends who you can lean on a bit, then being obsessive out loud can help - because then you have added pressure to succeed due to their expectations.

Yeah just eating healthily - never mind losing weight - you have to be a bit nuts too. Every item of processed food in the shops is basically delicious and easy... but it's terrible for you and is like a calorie bomb.

And i would pay good money to go to a restaurant where the food wasn't full of oil, cheese, cream, butter... And restaurant salads always have 'treat' stuff in them like croutons or mayo or bacon. And the portion sizes are always huge and skew perceptions of what is a normal portion.

I'm surprised we're not all waddling round like spherical flumps. It's SO EASY to put on weight.

[nenevomito]

I agree - I've lost 3st over the last year and I got started by using MyFitnessPal and counting absolutely everything. It helped me learn exactly what was in my food and by adding in all of the little extras - like your half a fairy cake - it allowed me to see how easy it was to have extra calories without even thinking about it.

DH thought I was bonkers to count things like tomato ketchup - but it all adds up.

[Coristarz]

YANBU - I agree with you.

The times I've lost weight succesfully, I was very determined and disciplined. You need to be like that to change your habits.
I've started tracking calories with the MyFitnessPal app as I have post-baby weight to lose... If I don't track everything then I'm cheating myself.

Well done on your weight loss btw!