I am OBSESSED with food and exercise!

E

elaineyue

Cathlete
Does anybody else feel this way? I realized that am consumed with thoughts of food and working out constantly. (That's why I'm always checking into this forum!) I skimmed through the new book "French Women Don't Get Fat" and I am so jealous of the laid-back attitude French women have about food, fitness, and life in general. It's all about moderation for them. And they don't exercise just for the sake of exercising, they do physical activity for enjoyment. They walk everywhere! And they look forward to a large variety of good food. The author made a good point: French women think about what good things to eat, American women think about what bad things not to eat! Our attitudes seem to all or nothing.

I wish I had this attitude, life would be so much more relaxed. Instead, I constantly think about what I should and shouldn't eat, making sure to eat enough protein, making sure NOT to eat too many carbs, blah blah. And when I let myself have a cheat meal (or cheat weekend!), I go overboard. Then I berate myself for it. It seems as if the more obsessed I am about not eating certain things, the more I want it!

And the same with working out: every day, I have to psych myself up to work out. Yes, I like the way working out makes me look, but I would not work out half this much if I didn't have to.

Is anybody else sick of this?

Signed,
Frustrated!
 
Dear Frustrated,
I feel your pain. It is crazy how we are so obsessed with every morsel that enters our mouths. In most cases I think this way of thinking backfires. One can only deprive themselves for so long.

I am intrigued with the European, mainly French and Italian, way of life. They are laid back and don't obsess about food, although their lives are centered around enjoying good food, good wine, and good company. Lunches are 3 hours long. They are the ultimate "clean" eaters. Everything is fresh.

It is true that the French smoke more, but that is on the decline. They are more physically active on a daily basis, and T.V. and computers are not a fixture in their lives.

I respect athletes, I think it is wonderful to be physically active, and to enjoy exercise. The French envy Americans because we think "health is so hip".

I recently read the book Entre Nous. It was a fun little read. There was a part where a French woman asked, "Why do American woman want to look like men? Why do they want wash board stomachs like men?" I don't want to get flamed for this. I love the 6 pack look, but it is a good point in many ways. Not everybody can attain this ideal, and not everybody desires to be "muscular".

I think if people stopped worrying and obsessing, and counting, and hating themselves because they ate a piece of bread or cake, they would be a lot happier, and a lot thinner. I am guilty of regretting overeating.

And that's the thing, the French don't stuff and binge. They have one or two pieces of bread, not the whole loaf.

It's hard to change ones attitudes towards food, but I think it can be done. :)
 
I think of it more as a trade off kind of thing - if I want to be thinner and fit in little (sizes)clothes, I HAVE to eat less and exercise more. No guilt involved, it's a choice that I made. I happen to like going to the closet and knowing that everything fits. So no matter how loud the ice cream in the freezer calls my name, I ignore it because of my choices.

You don't have to be obsessed. Just change your thinking.
 
I too am obsessed, but I truly enjoy working out. I was an obese child & teenager and HATED any form of exercise so now it's a joy to get my heartrate up and blood pumping!! I do think about what I'm going to eat all day every day and it's very frustrating.x(
 
I find being a single mom...I have to think about my food, otherwise i am left scrambling at the last minute when I am starving...I kindof make a challenge out of it and try to find new ways to eat clean...I get such a kick when I find something I end up really liking and it is healthy...

I find if I look at things as a challenge, i kinda get more excited than bummed that I can't eat something...maybe I am a little to competitive, but it kinda meets that need in me...

Like I love ceviche...

tomato cut up, little onion, little cilantro chopped, little cerrano or jalepeno chopped, avacodo diced, and then take some bay shrimp (the little ones that are already cooked) marinate them in a little lime juice...then toss it all together and add a little garlic salt...yummy....very refreshing in the summer...can eat with lite tortilla chips or on lettuce...

but life is about living and enjoying the experience...so you should be enjoying it not a slave to it...So I totally understand the frustration...good luck ...:)
Samantha
 
I agree, it's definitely a choice I've made to be healthier and look better, but the more I tell myself I can't eat something, the more I think about it. And the guilt comes from giving in to those cravings. But unfortunately, the less weight you have to lose, and the more cut you want to be, the more strict you have to be. It's a vicious cycle. Maybe if I just decide to live with these extra 5 pounds, I would have more peace of mind.
 
I wouldn't call myself obsessed. Being fit is a hobby & a habit for me. I know I'm in it for the long haul so I don't beat myself up or lose sleep if I miss a workout or cheat on my diet.

That said, I do feel much better about myself when I stick to the schedule. But that's more a matter of discipline than concern about losing strength or gaining weight. It just makes me feel good to know I have the discipline to do things most others don't. I hate feeling like a slacker!
 
I'm not sick of it because I don't do it, though it's easy to get to that point.

The title of your thread brings up a good point. It IS possible to become too obsessed with exercise and diet. Ever heard of exercise bullemia? It exists.

I think exercise and eating well are an important part of our self-care (and in the long run, we are all responsible for taking care of ourselves).

Exercise can also be a hobby, one that is shared by people who come to forums like this. It also becomes a habit, like brushing your teeth.

I don't obsess about food, but I am vegan, and make sure that all my food is. I just prefer the taste (and the effect) of whole foods. Yesterday, a colleage brought in two store pies to celebrate my birthday. Vegan, yes, but full of sugar, white flour, fat. I didn't even want any, but because she went to the effort, I took a slice of each. They weren't bad, but not something I even want to eat more often than once a year, LOL!

And carbs? Bring 'em on as long as they are from whole foods!

It seems to me like diet/exercise may be giving you as much stress as benefit. I can see how your way of dealing with them would be stressful to you.
 
So tell yourself you can have "something" on Saturday. Don't give up your goodies forever - that's a sure way to set yourself up for defeat.
 
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