I've been reading the thread about how often people weigh themselves. Many freely admit to weighing multiple times a day. I know that CAD recommends daily weighing and then averaging (and even graphing!) the loss. Frankly, I don't want to be that preoccupied (could we say obsessed?) with my weight. Some people are dieting for health, but I don't think anyone checks their blood pressure several times a day.

Is there a point where a dietary way of life, no matter how beneficial to the body, can become an obsession that unbalances our mental health?

I wouldn't worry about weighing if you don't already do it. Dots on a graph aren't going to change anything. For some people, they help. Seems like more people are trying NOT to weigh every day (or at least are aware that weighing too often is a bit "off") than the other way around.

The bigger question--is it the WOE that becomes obsessive, or that some people are naturally obsessive and this WOE provides a relatively healthy outlet? Maybe otherwise they'd be checking the stove all day long. Let 'em count and weigh...

I wouldn't worry to much about it Quest. All things die down with time. When I first started this WOE, yes I weighted myself several times a day. Now a bit over 6 months later, there are times when I skip stepping on it at all in the mornings. Now I more or less make myself step on in, just to keep myself in check.


Now if one must know the truth, I have been obsessed with far worst eating styles than this one! And yes, did the scale dance with them all to. I could tell you how much you weight differed if you didn't eat anything all day and then cut the grass if you wanted! If you look at it that way, Atkins has actually helped my obsessive dieting patterns. Now to work on not checking the ketosis strips every night!

Anyone with weight management issues has to be a little bit obsessed. I just call health and fitness my "hobby." It doesn't cost me any more time and money than the average "normal" obsession with things like sports, car racing, stamp collecting, knitting--you name it!

Just don't bore "non-believers" talking about it too much! Then they will call you "obsessed." Personally, I'm a little bit addicted to message boards.

Many people have obsessions - they are usually called hobbies when we approve of them and obsessions when we don't!

I guess it depends on your mindset.

I personally had a 7 month lb stall but continued to lose inches so I know that the scale isn't always even 1/2 the story.

That being said I do check the scale every morning to see how I am doing. I now know my water fluctuations, TOM, when I had lots of salt, when I tried a higher glycemic food, and that I jump each night 4-5lbs from the morning.

Ie., for me it is informational how the body works.

Now if my pants were getting tight I might flip out....

There are good obsessions and bad obsessions. Weighing oneself often is probably one of the least bad ones around.

BTW I check my blood pressure eveytime that I go to the grocery store.

some people are obssesive by nature. It could be the diet, or washing hands, or whatever... I do not believe that this WOE by itself will cause someone to develope an obssesion or an eating disorder..

I think that this WOL does feed OCD. I'm a *weigher* It nags at me to get on the scale and check it out. Had to quit Fitday..it was becoming too much...frustrating me to no end, typing in all the foods and trying to figure out what I was doing. That did take over my free time.

Now I've been LCing long enough that I know what I should & shouldn't eat..so Kiss Fitday goodbye

I just have to stop weighing myself all the dang time!

I am definitely obsessive with the scale AND the ketostix! But, I am just so excited to see the results, and I can't help myself! I did notice when I first started that I was not eating enough, and caught myself. That is destructive, as for weighing myself and the ketostix, I am just going to consider "kooky" for now. I am working on it though!

I am still a newbie, and I do find I'm much too compulsive about all of it! I was just thinking about this the other day, but decided it's ok for now. I weigh myself daily and log it at fitday, along with everything I eat. I'm hoping that as time goes by and I know more, that I can just do this WOE more or less naturally!

I remember another thread a while back where I was worried about this... only the ones I worry about aren't the ones (myself included) doing the "scale dance", but the ones who obsess over a TENTH of a gram of carbs and ask for our prayers when they "cheat" that they'll be "okay"... and, yes, even the ones who feel completely justified in living on nothing but oil for days to see if they can speed their weight loss.

A person prone to disordered eating will manifest their disorder in whatever way they choose to eat (or starve). Sometimes I think there's a fine line between impatience, overzealousness, or garden variety enthusiasm and a real cause for worry. I try not to judge others on the boards, but when someone's goal weight is 98 lbs...RED FLAG! I may not be popular for remarking (by PM if possible) but to gently draw out someone who seems to be in danger, IMO, is an act of kindness. (..and a sure way to get a nasty PM back or get ignored altogether!)

So I'll tell you when YOU'RE crazy if you let ME know if (when) I go nuts! Deal?

I spend a concentrated bit of my day filling out fitday, figuring out what to eat at work, or at a reataurant, surfing this site... It certainly adds up, but..
and it's a big BUT...
I am doing this because it keeps me focussed on my goal, reminds me that I'm not alone, educates me about the foods I put in my mouth and it gives me hope.
I 'obsess' less now than I did two months ago and I feel great about it. Allowing myself this luxury of time focussing on my own goal has been eye opening and even liberating.
I have a history of eating disorders and even though it's been a long time the emotional issues are still there. Healthy control is alot different from what many of us have done in the past and although I am putting a lot of energy into this WOL, I am OK with the balance I've found.

Now, I'm not a psychiatrist, but I do work in the field...
As far as obsessive compulsive disorders go...
If you find yourself thinking about it all the time, at inappropriate times in your life, or when you don't want to be thinking about it, you may have a problem. Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) has specific symptoms and they can relate to any activities or thoughts. It has a lot to do with intrusive thoughts about the thing you're thinking about, as well as feeling you HAVE to step on that scale, count those carbs, or other behaviour. Not only do you have to do it, but you need to do it RIGHT NOW, or in a specific order, or within the context of a very specific routine.

If you're worried...
educate yourself via your Doctor, the internet (lots of sites concerning OCD) or someone who KNOWS what they're talking about.
Then go see someone who can provide a professional assessment.

I hope this bit of info has been helpful!

When I first started I was totally obsessed weighing myself constantly during the day... up to 13 times or more!! Now I weigh myself every other day or every third day and do not really worry about it anymore, I know eventually I will reach my goal weight. What I see now that is obsessive is that I get stuck on a particular food and need to eat it everyday or twice a day I went thru a mock danish phase and now am doing cottage cheese with sf jelly powder. I will eat that constantly until I tire of it and move on to something different.

judi

Hmm...

Before any of us started low-carbing, I highly doubt that we jumped on the scale everyday. It was probably more like every couple of months or whenever we had our yearly checkup at the doctor. Maybe we were fat and miserable but I think it's safe to say that we believed that the way we ate was "normal".

When this WOE we are on becomes normal - what seasoned low carbers call a way-of-life - the need to obsess over all the details like scale hopping, ketostix checking, fitday logging and worrying over a slice of onion fades away.

I don't think that most people obsess over what is normal and routine in their lives. Eating a can of tuna becomes as normal as eating a donut or a bagel used to be. You never give it a second thought...

Karen