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#1
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Points plan vs eating disorder?
Hey Carol,
I think the issue with a lot of people is that they turn to food for comfort. While Weight Watchers may help with "behavior modification" I think the "lifelong changes" promoting healthy eating can also haunt you in a way. I think we are so obsessed with thinness and looking good that overeating just a little bit can be scary. Considering you are on the WW plan still, how do you react to a "bad" day where you eat too many points? Natalie "Carol in NC" wrote in message m... Hi Nathalie, That is an interesting thought. It probably is, but I figure that I'd rather have this disorder (which will allow me to stay slim when I get there) than the one I had before (compulsive overeating/medicating myself with food) which kept me obese for most of my life. Carol -- .................................................. .......... 318/254.6/169 63.4 lost since December 2002 I am a slim person in process. .................................................. ............ "Natalie" wrote in message om... Do you ever think that keeping track of points causes some kind of eating disorder? I've been off of the Weight Watchers plan for a year now and every food item I look at still automatically registers as a point value, and even though I know it is ok on the points plan to eat certain foods in moderation, I look at an item with "too many points" and will not eat it at all. I feel like an anorexic might, counting calories in salad. I am interested in doing some research on this and am wondering if anyone else is feeling the same way? Thanks, Natalie |
#2
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Points plan vs eating disorder?
Joyce-
I am interested in what you have to say about OCD being part of the point-counting process? I totally agree with you and this seems like a good way to describe it. .. almost my question entirely ... so are you on the WW plan? or do you count the points in your head for the food items you think about consuming? How would this work? Natalie .................................................. ......... 318/254.6/169 63.4 lost since December 2002 I am a slim person in process. .................................................. ............ "Joyce" wrote in message ... Trust me Carol, you would not rather have an eating disorder (been there, done that). Anorexia does not allow you to stay slim, not within healthy limits. You are totally unable to maintain a heathy weight, due to the inability to eat anything (and I do mean anything). Thinness is more of what I would call a side effect of the disease. Along with it, comes tons of other health problems (physical as well as psychological) - none of which are fun to deal with. The problem with the thinness is that you never really see it, you have such a distorted view of yourself. At one point in my life I had dropped to 100 pounds, yet I did not consider myself thin (I am 5' 6"). I never realized I had a problem until forced to seek medical help for other reasons. My friends and family referred to me as a walking ghost. Now ... I'd rather deal with the possibility of OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder) and continously count my points. Definitely not anorexia though ... don't even want to think about it. Joyce WW starting weight: 228.8 - 2/5/02 current weight: 133.3 Lifetime: 4/4/03 On Sat, 20 Sep 2003 21:11:25 GMT, "Carol in NC" wrote: Hi Nathalie, That is an interesting thought. It probably is, but I figure that I'd rather have this disorder (which will allow me to stay slim when I get there) than the one I had before (compulsive overeating/medicating myself with food) which kept me obese for most of my life. Carol |
#3
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Points plan vs eating disorder?
Debbie-
do you think that in the lifestyle-changing process I will ever be able to "get over" the points counting in my head? Do you think it is OCD or is it something I will always be consciously aware of because I was once overweight? Granted, I will always watch what I eat because of the fear of gaining weight , but I have not been able to sit down and enjoy a piece of cheesecake or a cheeseburger without thinking of how I can balance my points throughout the day/week. In reality, I probably wouldn't gain weight if i ate those items sporadically, but I have been so busy counting points of the food that I do enjoy on a regular basis that I do not find room in my "budget" to incorporate these foods. This, I assume, is not healthy. Natalie "Deb in Northern California" wrote in message ... That is living the lifestyle change that you have learned and will continue to loss to maintain your weight loss. If you are still losing and are underweight, then it is a problem, otherwise you are living the way you should so that you make good choices. Debbie "Natalie" wrote in message om... Do you ever think that keeping track of points causes some kind of eating disorder? I've been off of the Weight Watchers plan for a year now and every food item I look at still automatically registers as a point value, and even though I know it is ok on the points plan to eat certain foods in moderation, I look at an item with "too many points" and will not eat it at all. I feel like an anorexic might, counting calories in salad. I am interested in doing some research on this and am wondering if anyone else is feeling the same way? Thanks, Natalie |
#4
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Points plan vs eating disorder?
Brenda-
How can you convice yourself that assigning a point value is not a bad thing, and how do you know that you are not obsessive? Even if you eat these foods in moderation, how do you keep yourself from eating as much "healthy" food as you want the rest of the day because they add up points as well? Natalie "Brenda Hammond" wrote in message ... I find myself automatically assigning a point value to everything I eat or see, but I don't think it's a bad thing. I'm not obsessive about what I eat as I still do eat food with high point values. I'm just more aware of how healthy/unhealthy those foods are and eat them in moderation if they are unhealthy. -- Brenda 209/175/150 SWWC goal 165 "Natalie" wrote in message om... Do you ever think that keeping track of points causes some kind of eating disorder? I've been off of the Weight Watchers plan for a year now and every food item I look at still automatically registers as a point value, and even though I know it is ok on the points plan to eat certain foods in moderation, I look at an item with "too many points" and will not eat it at all. I feel like an anorexic might, counting calories in salad. I am interested in doing some research on this and am wondering if anyone else is feeling the same way? Thanks, Natalie |
#5
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Points plan vs eating disorder?
Hi Nathalie,
Well, I don't want to sound like I'm bragging, but I haven't yet had one bad day since March 11. I lost some weight before I started WW, and then promptly gained 1/2 of it back. My new years resolution, this year, was to tackle everything in my life with moderation...from work, to eating, to playing, to relationships, etc. (I'm a classic overachiever and I wanted to try to just settle my life down.) I did a lot of inner work on myself between January and March, and it was just the right time for me to start when I did. I've been totally relaxed about the program (except when I had a few maintains, or when my weight loss started really slowing down.) Then, I wasn't eating enough. (the overachiever in me again) I slowed down...took a look at the plan and how I was doing it, and just decided to relax. Yoga and exercise helps to keep me in a good frame of mind. The biggest thing that I've done to help me stay on track with my eating is dealing with emotional issues as they arise, instead of using food to medicate myself from the feelings. It is a work in progress, but I've made a lot of progress in this area, because I know how much it has hurt my self esteem in the past not to deal with hurtful things. I have days, now, where I eat a lot in a day, but it's still always within my point target, or adding exercise points of Flex points. I never feel guilty about anything I eat now...and I think the reason is because I'm not denying myself anything...I just fit what I want to eat into the plan and eat it in moderation. Before, I always denied myself the things I loved, and I never lasted long on any program. A VERY long answer to your question, and sidestepping it a bit, since I didn't have a direct response...but I think that really looking at WHY I eat has been my biggest help. I do agree that I am obsessed with staying on the plan, but it really isn't to look good, so much as to feel good. I've hurt for so many years because of my weight (back, knees, neck, ankles, etc). Not having that pain in my joints is a very strong motivation to keep eating well, and exercising a lot. Best of luck to you, Carol -- .................................................. ........... 318/254.6/169 63.4 lost since December 2002 I am a slim person in process. .................................................. ............. "Natalie" wrote in message om... Hey Carol, I think the issue with a lot of people is that they turn to food for comfort. While Weight Watchers may help with "behavior modification" I think the "lifelong changes" promoting healthy eating can also haunt you in a way. I think we are so obsessed with thinness and looking good that overeating just a little bit can be scary. Considering you are on the WW plan still, how do you react to a "bad" day where you eat too many points? Natalie "Carol in NC" wrote in message m... Hi Nathalie, That is an interesting thought. It probably is, but I figure that I'd rather have this disorder (which will allow me to stay slim when I get there) than the one I had before (compulsive overeating/medicating myself with food) which kept me obese for most of my life. Carol -- .................................................. .......... 318/254.6/169 63.4 lost since December 2002 I am a slim person in process. .................................................. ............ "Natalie" wrote in message om... Do you ever think that keeping track of points causes some kind of eating disorder? I've been off of the Weight Watchers plan for a year now and every food item I look at still automatically registers as a point value, and even though I know it is ok on the points plan to eat certain foods in moderation, I look at an item with "too many points" and will not eat it at all. I feel like an anorexic might, counting calories in salad. I am interested in doing some research on this and am wondering if anyone else is feeling the same way? Thanks, Natalie |
#6
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Points plan vs eating disorder?
"Natalie" wrote in message
om... Debbie- do you think that in the lifestyle-changing process I will ever be able to "get over" the points counting in my head? Do you think it is OCD or is it something I will always be consciously aware of because I was once overweight? Granted, I will always watch what I eat because of the fear of gaining weight , but I have not been able to sit down and enjoy a piece of cheesecake or a cheeseburger without thinking of how I can balance my points throughout the day/week. In reality, I probably wouldn't gain weight if i ate those items sporadically, but I have been so busy counting points of the food that I do enjoy on a regular basis that I do not find room in my "budget" to incorporate these foods. This, I assume, is not healthy. Not Debbie, but I'll chime in here anyway. Why is doing the balancing in your head not healthy? I balance out over a week rather than a day, so I'll have the cheesecake one day and lower my points the next. I figure this is how thin people do it, even if it is unconcious. Where you get into trouble is when you stop balancing out the good with the not-so-good. Pre-WW I would have chocolate cake (or slice, or a bar, or whatever - you get the idea), and a Coke almost every day. There's no balance and no "making up for it" in that plan, and obviously I gained weight. With WW, I can have the cake and Coke *one* day in the week, so long as I balance the points so I end up on budget by the end of the week. I think this is a perfectly healthy way to eat. I get to have what I want, and so long as I budget the points out over the week I know I won't gain weight. We know that we can't eat whatever we like and still lose weight, so this way is the best compromise for me! -- Julie. 93.5/73.2/72 kg 205.7/161.0/158 lb |
#7
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Points plan vs eating disorder?
Why would assigning a point value to food be a bad thing. As I see it, I am
still trying to lose weight and in order to do that I need to count points and assign a value to the foods I choose to eat. If I don't count those points and stay within my range, then I'm not following the WW program, am I? Right now I choose to follow it, so that's what I'm doing. It doesn't make me obsessive, but it does make me aware of what I'm putting into my body and allows me to make better choices if I choose to. Are you still maintaining a year after being off WW? -- Brenda 209/174/150 SWWC goal 165 "Natalie" wrote in message om... Brenda- How can you convice yourself that assigning a point value is not a bad thing, and how do you know that you are not obsessive? Even if you eat these foods in moderation, how do you keep yourself from eating as much "healthy" food as you want the rest of the day because they add up points as well? Natalie "Brenda Hammond" wrote in message ... I find myself automatically assigning a point value to everything I eat or see, but I don't think it's a bad thing. I'm not obsessive about what I eat as I still do eat food with high point values. I'm just more aware of how healthy/unhealthy those foods are and eat them in moderation if they are unhealthy. -- Brenda 209/175/150 SWWC goal 165 "Natalie" wrote in message om... Do you ever think that keeping track of points causes some kind of eating disorder? I've been off of the Weight Watchers plan for a year now and every food item I look at still automatically registers as a point value, and even though I know it is ok on the points plan to eat certain foods in moderation, I look at an item with "too many points" and will not eat it at all. I feel like an anorexic might, counting calories in salad. I am interested in doing some research on this and am wondering if anyone else is feeling the same way? Thanks, Natalie |
#8
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Points plan vs eating disorder?
I didn't miss the point of your previous disorder, but also didn't pick up that
you'd rather have a *point counting* disorder ... I thought you meant you'd rather be anorexic. My mistake, I apologize! I'd also much rather suffer from counting points obsessively than deal again with an eating disorder. g Joyce WW starting weight: 228.8 - 2/5/02 current weight: 133.3 Lifetime: 4/4/03 On Sun, 21 Sep 2003 14:49:26 GMT, "Carol in NC" wrote: I think you missed my point, Joyce. I DID have an eating disorder...I was a compulsive overeater who used food as a medication to keep me from dealing with the problems in my life. My point was, if counting points is a disorder, I'd rather have THAT one than the one I actually did have. Carol -- ................................................. ........... 318/254.6/169 63.4 lost since December 2002 I am a slim person in process. ................................................. ............. "Joyce" wrote in message .. . Trust me Carol, you would not rather have an eating disorder (been there, done that). Anorexia does not allow you to stay slim, not within healthy limits. You are totally unable to maintain a heathy weight, due to the inability to eat anything (and I do mean anything). Thinness is more of what I would call a side effect of the disease. Along with it, comes tons of other health problems (physical as well as psychological) - none of which are fun to deal with. The problem with the thinness is that you never really see it, you have such a distorted view of yourself. At one point in my life I had dropped to 100 pounds, yet I did not consider myself thin (I am 5' 6"). I never realized I had a problem until forced to seek medical help for other reasons. My friends and family referred to me as a walking ghost. Now ... I'd rather deal with the possibility of OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder) and continously count my points. Definitely not anorexia though ... don't even want to think about it. Joyce WW starting weight: 228.8 - 2/5/02 current weight: 133.3 Lifetime: 4/4/03 On Sat, 20 Sep 2003 21:11:25 GMT, "Carol in NC" wrote: Hi Nathalie, That is an interesting thought. It probably is, but I figure that I'd rather have this disorder (which will allow me to stay slim when I get there) than the one I had before (compulsive overeating/medicating myself with food) which kept me obese for most of my life. Carol |
#9
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Points plan vs eating disorder?
Yup, I am on the ww plan and will be on it for the rest of my life. I don't think
OCD is a part of the point counting process. I was saying that I think if someone is totally obsessing over what they can and can't eat, then they may be suffering from OCD. I believe in your original post you had said you would count points over and over, refusing to eat certain items because they contained too many points. To me this seems to be a bit obsessive/compulsive - something that maybe you don't have a lot of control over, something that you feel you NEED to do even though you have already done it 6 times in the past few hours. g I do count points in my head, I also journal. I almost always do figure out the point content of an item before I eat it, it helps me to decide if I really want to have it ... or where I can fit it into my current lifestyle. What I don't do is tell myself that I can never have a particular item because it's too high in points. If I want that 25 point hot fudge sundae, then I'm going to have it. I can exercise, I can shave points another day, I can deal with it. It's all about choices. I am obsessive to a point, ask anyone in my family .... they swear I can tell them the caloric count of any item in the grocery store. g I know when I eat breakfast how many points I have consumed, or will consume. I count 'em up in my head as I'm preparing. The same routine with lunch, the same routine as I decide what to fix for dinner. When I get around to journaling in the evening, I am usually within 2 points of what I have in my head. To answer your question ... yes, point values are always in my thoughts - making me think about the choices that I make. If you feel you are out of control with this though, feel that it is ruling your life - then you may want to talk to your physician about getting some help. I don't think that this process should totally take over your entire being. I do think it is a good thing to be concious of those choices we make, and to be able to get back on track if we make a bad choice. But I do think the ability to let loose and make a bad choice on occassion is ok too. Joyce WW starting weight: 228.8 - 2/5/02 current weight: 133.3 Lifetime: 4/4/03 On 25 Sep 2003 08:25:03 -0700, (Natalie) wrote: Joyce- I am interested in what you have to say about OCD being part of the point-counting process? I totally agree with you and this seems like a good way to describe it. .. almost my question entirely ... so are you on the WW plan? or do you count the points in your head for the food items you think about consuming? How would this work? Natalie .................................................. ......... 318/254.6/169 63.4 lost since December 2002 I am a slim person in process. .................................................. ............ "Joyce" wrote in message ... Trust me Carol, you would not rather have an eating disorder (been there, done that). Anorexia does not allow you to stay slim, not within healthy limits. You are totally unable to maintain a heathy weight, due to the inability to eat anything (and I do mean anything). Thinness is more of what I would call a side effect of the disease. Along with it, comes tons of other health problems (physical as well as psychological) - none of which are fun to deal with. The problem with the thinness is that you never really see it, you have such a distorted view of yourself. At one point in my life I had dropped to 100 pounds, yet I did not consider myself thin (I am 5' 6"). I never realized I had a problem until forced to seek medical help for other reasons. My friends and family referred to me as a walking ghost. Now ... I'd rather deal with the possibility of OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder) and continously count my points. Definitely not anorexia though ... don't even want to think about it. Joyce WW starting weight: 228.8 - 2/5/02 current weight: 133.3 Lifetime: 4/4/03 On Sat, 20 Sep 2003 21:11:25 GMT, "Carol in NC" wrote: Hi Nathalie, That is an interesting thought. It probably is, but I figure that I'd rather have this disorder (which will allow me to stay slim when I get there) than the one I had before (compulsive overeating/medicating myself with food) which kept me obese for most of my life. Carol |
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