cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/3286611

I lost almost 50 pounds by calorie counting back in 2015, then stopped counting and spent the next six years slowly putting it all back on. I’ve used Libra to track my weight, and you can see the half-hearted attempts over the years to halt that upward progress.

I’ve been sick of being overweight, of feeling sluggish and unattractive, and of having a hard time doing things l love like hiking and rock climbing. I stress eat a lot, and not to jinx things, but I’ve finally reduced the stressors in my life where I’m feeling really good about this latest weight loss spree.

Fingers crossed I’ll be posting here sometime in the new year about having hit my goal weight!

[Image description: a line graph with the x-axis from 2014 to 2023, and the y-axis from 108 to 160lbs, the charted line showing a steep drop, and a jagged climb, with the last couple years hovering over an “overweight” demarcation.]

  • MrsDoyle
    3•1 year ago

    Are you me? I used calorie counting to lose weight too, back in 2019, and since then have put most of it back on. Calories showed me my problem areas: portion control and snacking. Like you I’m active, and extra weight is literally a drag. But I can’t bear to go back to counting - I used an app, but even so it made for an unfortunate daily focus on food. I would think about food all the time. Now, though I’m heavier than I would like, I’m not obsessing on food.

    Do you have similar issues? If so, how do you counter them? Do you use an app for counting?

    Congratulations anyway, and I look forward to reading about your victory lap!! Onward and downward, lol.

    • thrawnOP
      3•1 year ago

      Yeah I developed some disordered eating patterns during that first large weight loss, started obsessing about food and my next meal. Those thoughts would come back every time I tried starting up the diet again, which made it such a struggle these past few years.

      I haven’t noticed an uptick in food obsession in this latest attempt. I wish I had some concrete reason as to why, but the only thing I can think of is that I’ve been generally feeling less stressed the past couple months, and I have had the bad habit of reaching for sweets when stressed. I know that I’m happier dieting if I can resist spending calories on sweets, and use them on real food instead.

      As for a counting app, I used to use myfitnesspal until they paywalled their barcode scanner last year, which is when I switched to loseit, which I’ve been mostly liking (with a few minor quibbles).

      • MrsDoyle
        2•1 year ago

        I eat most when I’m relaxed, sadly. I absolutely love food, especially savoury things, and I’m a decent cook. I lost weight ahead of knee surgery, to aid recovery - and it really did help. I used myfitnesspal too, though it sort of hurts to look at now, after the backsliding. I’ll check out loseit, thanks. Most recently I tried intermittent fasting, where you eat only between 8am and 8pm for example, but boy that did not work for me!