I have mentioned once or twice or 8,000 times that I have a slight case of OCD. I need order and structure and I thrive on discipline. I mean, it's not like you run 50 miles a week or reduce your wardrobe down to 35 items without discipline.
It's also through discipline that I managed to get my eating habits in check. And it's how I dropped 70 pounds. When I was in high school, I ate a Burger King Bacon Double Cheeseburger with fries and a Dr. Pepper EVERY DAY. I'm not kidding. We were allowed to go off-campus for lunch and BK is what I chose (Note: You couldn't pay me to eat at BK now.)
At some point, I decided to change my ways and my discipline kicked in. I changed my eating habits and kicked my exercising into overdrive. Eventually, I got to this point. I became a pescatarian, endurance athlete. Or as the people around me would say, "an exercise addict."
The thing is, though, I'm not addicted to exercise. I love running. I love being active. But, it in no way controls my daily activities. I don't sacrifice anything but my free time and sleep to get my workouts in. I don't miss out on anything because "I need to workout." And I most definitely do not freak out if I miss a workout. Yes, I would prefer to complete my entire schedule, but I know it's not the end of the world to skip a few sessions.
I am so NOT obsessed with exercise. But, if we are being honest here, I think I am totally obsessed with food. I am positive that if I wasn't so disciplined with my exercise, I would balloon up quickly. Portion control is not my strong suit. Food is always on my mind. I plan out what I am going to eat for dinner before I've had breakfast. I don't like to share what's on my plate. I calorie count with the best of them. I NEVER eat out without checking the nutritional facts first. I measure or weigh the vast majority of what I eat. I have zero self control when it comes to indulgences. If there is junk in the house, I will eat it. Even if I am already full. And I am 100% aware of this fact.
I know being obsessed with food is completely crazy. But, I know I can't possibly be the alone in this. We've all got our thing, right? So, what are you obsessed with?
36 comments:
I have the same issue with food. It's so easy for me to be out of control. This week I have really been focusing on weighing and measuring and counting my points. It's hard, but I know I need to do it! And if I can get in the habit, I know it won't be so bad.
I plan my meals crazy in advance too. I use them a something to look forward to during the day. I used to seriously hate my job and I used meals as daily milestones, like "two more hours til I eat again." Sad, but it worked!
I don't really count calories, but I never buy junk food because I will eat it all and very quickly.
I can be obsessive about food. I think if I didn't exercise as much as I do, I could have a weight problem. I've never been over weight, but I've always always been very active and I've never been skinny either. I enjoy eating, try very hard to listen to my hunger ques, but sometimes stress eat (like to relax). It will probably always be something I have to watch.
I am so obsessed with food... in both the healthy (reading labels, eating clean, measuring out) and unhealthy (NO SELF CONTROL) sense.
I would probably call myself obsessed with running also... I'd like to think it's in a healthy way. I do structure my days and weeks and months and years around running - making the training plan work, planning parties around long runs, planning vacations around race season.
I am glad I came across your blog today.
Some people would say I am super disciplined and organized, but I know the truth. I am just more disciplined and organized than those people.
I will be checking out the "wardrobe down to 35 item post." I need this!
At least you can identify it as an issue. I would have to say I am obsessive about exercise. If I don't workout, I feel it mentally. Just sort of blah. I have a hard time controlling the food thing which is why I might obsess on the side of exercise. It is so hard to eat right sometimes.
Funny (frightening) story about BK.. My friend's husband ate there immediately before doing a blood test for their marriage license. They called him in alarm because there was so much fat in his blood sample. Yuck!
I am not overly obsessed with food that I know of. BUT if you were to ask those around me (mostly the ppl I work with and my hubby's fam) they would say that I am. There is a difference though in how I eat compared to how they eat so I think that is why they view my eating habits as an obsession rather than a lifestyle. They don't live my lifestyle so they just don't get it. So, maybe I am obsessed but even if I am at least it is for my own good health! Sometimes I do fail though and do occasionally eat a bad thing or two but I don't let it consume me when that happens.
Oh good lord. I'm totally food obsessed. I can exercise, run, whatever (as long as it's cardio) every day of the week. I rarely DON'T feel like exercising. But I so love to eat. I don't really like to control my portions, though I do it ... not as religiously as I should, probably. I don't know when I've had enough and I simply put do NOT have a healthy relationship with food. Period. I am constantly trying to change that and I have my checks and balances in place to keep myself under control, but without it and without exercise ... well it's not pretty. I'm 5'0" and I've been above 200 lbs. And I'm still probably a good 30-40 lbs from where I should be. But I think being self-aware on it is a lot of the battle. I wasn't for a long time.
I am obsessed with being on time, perhaps. I hate hate hate hate HATE being late. However, I have come to terms that if I don't allow 5 extra minutes to the already allotted 15 minutes to get somewhere (or however long it takes to get somewhere) my kids will not be ready.
I am totally obsessed with food. I definitely don't weigh it out or anything like that. but I always spend my workout planning out what I'm going to eat for my 12 meals that day. And definitely throughout the day, I count down to the next time I'll eat.
I'm also obsessed with training. 100 percent.
You described me to a T except that I don't weigh food - anymore.
Iknow edactly what you mena. I calorie count, know what I am eating all week long3, meals a day. I try (my hardest) not to keep junk food in the house, because I will eat it, too. You're not alone.
i'm obsessed with food but not in the calorie counting 'good' kind of way. I hid in our office eating ice cream last night because I didn't want anyone to comment. how sad. must change that.
I'm obsessed full stop. ;)
I love burgers way to freaking much.
With you on the food thing, and the eating-crap-while-full.
I make myself meal-plan & grocery shop on Sundays so that I'm not thinking about meals every.single.minute, and it's helped a bit. Being able to put in recipes into SparkPeople & get calorie counts has also helped, as I'm able to better manage my calorie intake throughout the day.
But then Red Robin comes along and Helloooooooo cheeseburger.
Sigh.
You hardly strike me as someone who has much trouble with controling yourself in any department. I mean you hold yourself to a "cupcake quota!" You are the disipline queen!
I am obsessed with running. Before one run is completed I am already planning the next one. It used to be exercise of any kind but over the years it has become more focused on running. I know that it is a control issue or lack of control in other areas of my life that makes me want to control at least this one element.
As for food, I can't stand to think about food. I really dislike it when someone askes me what we are having for supper when they haven't even finished breakfast. Drives me crazy! I think most people think about food too much and that does lead to the weight issues many have. In my family my husband makes a big deal out of meals. For me it's about fueling the body to help it grow and accomplish all it needs to do. Rarely is food more than that to me. BUT I do admit that I over-indulge by not watching when I get stressed. That is the one time that I have to make sure I have the proper foods on hand so that I don't easily reach for something "easy" and unhealthy.
Obsessed with working out for sure... maybe because I have lost over 90lbs, maybe because I love food.
I think a mild food obsession is probably healthy. I mean, look at how much "delicious" crap is out there, and how easy it is to get. And, paying attention to what you eat is, to most people, being "obsessed." I tend to read the ingredients of everything I buy. And I won't buy anything with HFCS, or stuff that has dairy added for no reason.
Obsessed with time. Hate to be late for anything.
Obsessed with being clean...okay with sweat but can't stand dirty fingernails or BO.
Will syill take BK over McD...Wendys over both
I... Love... Food!
I've always had a fast metabolism (so far), but I honestly think that half of the reason I work out so much is because I never want to hit a point where I need to watch what and how much I eat.
I had to count my calories for a health class in high school - on average, I ate 6-7000 calories a day as a swimmer (24+ miles/week).
I grew up very much able to eat anything and however much I wanted and never worry about weight. My training is geared towards never having to ever worry about that for the REST of my life.
My diet has changed a lot in the last five years, but aside from a vegetarian experiment, it is never out of force, only out of taste and balance.
If I make eggplant parm, I might just eat it all that night. I don't even think twice about portions, I just eat and I very much enjoy that fact!
I am obsessed about food.I wish I could just shut of my mind off sometimes. It not that I am even hungry I just plan like food. I like the taste, texture,crunch or no crunch.
Eating junk food has nothing to do with being hungry! If only.......
I still think of you when I look at my closet, knowing I can cut it down to fewer items!! I also mentioned you (your TMB sticker) in my post today.
I am obsessed with green food--I like to have smething"green" ith every meal and feel healthier if I do so! ha!
I think what matters is that you are aware of your obsession with food and what it takes to keep yourself healthy. Lots of people just live in denial.
I love food, and when that post-run hunger kicks in, it is almost impossible for me to not shove stuff in my mouth, so I have had to make sure that I always have something healthy and easy around. And i try to avoid buying stuff that I am "weakest" around... like chips... and brownies... :)
I too am obsessed with food. And I will eat a dessert when I'm full, and sometimes even when I feel like one more bite will make me sick. And it seems the bloggy gods are trying to help me out. I was doing great with healthy eating and keeping within a consistent and healthy calorie range until the past 3 weeks. A lot of the blogs I've seen over the past few days have given one tip or another to get back on track. And I need the help getting back on track. I really like your idea of planning out every meal BEFORE eating; this way I know exactly how many calories I'm ingesting.
"I have a slight case of OCD. I need order and structure and I thrive on discipline." - ummm...are you my long lost twin sister? =) I so get you!
from BK to BQ?
you are awesome!=)
Oh my goodness. I am so obsessed with food. I have an awesome boss who buys us lunch EVERYDAY. So as soon as I wake up in the morning I am thinking about what awesome things I am going to eat for lunch. Oh my.
um, food. i love food. nom nom nom.
I am extremely cautious about my food and generally aware of the food products I consume if they aren't straight produce. BUT..I don't THINK I've gotten obsessed with it yet. I'd like to be obsessed with running so I get speedier. I think I'm mostly obsessed with all things at a certain time.
i think i am just the opposite ...i am so controlly about the exercise, down to the minute. but not that way with nutrition. i want to be. i cld lose 10 pounds but b/c of food i can't. i am going to do a cleanse on march 10th and hoping to see results and see what foods i need to stay away from...
Food! I have the same problem. Only, I don't calorie count all the time. I do it sometimes when I am having "normal" days. I do it to check my nutrition and it has helped me to see what my diet is lacking. But I don't like to work too hard when I eat out or at a party where it will be more difficult to know what I am eating. That is just too much for me!
Thanks for sharing.
Wow, and I just eat to survive! Okay, with the exception of Girl Scout cookies.......... LOL
agreed, i think about food wwwwway too much and mostly because I know that I need to not eat that cookie unless I am going to run another mile... then I eat it and think oh well I like running :) even when my focus is choosing healthy foods, I do feel like i spend too much time thinking about it.
my husband just seems to decide he is hungry, locate food and eat...wow that's easy!
I have a pretty unhealthy obsession with food. i love to eat and have little self control...or at least I am not a fan of the huge amount of effort it takes to watch what I eat. At least you are aware of yours and try to channel your energies in a healthy fashion.
I have a serious food addiction. I love it and think about it all the time. I also have a slight obsession with my weight. I used to weigh a good forty plus pounds more than I currently do. I lost it all a few years ago and have maintained ever since then. I use running to help with this- I run a lot so I don't have to feel guilty about the dessert I eat like every night. If I start to lag on a run I use dessert as a motivator to keep going- just another couple miles and then I can have a brownie sundae tonight...yum!
Food. Chocolate. Beer. Not really. Well, sort of.
Winks & Smiles,
Wifey
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