no more counting??

have any of you had to stop counting for some reason? not just, you went on vacation and couldn't. like, you actually HAD to stop.

my therapist says that i'm not allowed to anymore (i started during my ED). i'm counting now to make sure a eat enough, but she says i need to learn intuitive eating: eating when i'm hungry, stopping when i'm full.

anyway, has anyone stopped counting and gained a bunch, or lost a bunch, or anything like that? was it hard, were you still counting in your head?

let me know =]

You can do it.  A good idea is to cut out all the nutritional labels in any product you buy.  Or black them out with marker.  Or anytime you find yourself mentally counting, tell yourself loudly to STOP and try to deflect and think of something else.  

A good book is 'intuitive eating'.  It helps you learn to eat by hunger and get rid of the 'diet' rules.

thank you for the advice, and the support.

i'm about to start reading "eating in the light of the moon", so hopefully that'll help some. do you know who "intuitive eating" is by?

thanks again for_zev!

just make sure youre eating the right foods and you wont feel the need to count

It is possible to eat without counting calories.  If you eat good quality food, savour it, eat at regular times and  stop eating when you feel satisfied you can start to enjoy it again.

I'd also recommend a book... a light-hearted examination of why 'French Women Don't Get Fat' by Mireille Giuliano... on how to eat for pleasure.

i had to quit counting because i just went obsessive with it, couldnt focus in class at one point! seeing the numbers on CC makes me feel like im overeating or something and that'll just make me keep eating less. im still unconsciously counting sometimes but i eat the same thing when i was in a diet-- just fitting light snacks in to slowly increase intakes. my weights maintaining so far but we'll see how that goes (:

and i think intuitive eating is the best way to eat good portions and without counting. good luck with that!

thanks for all the comments and advice everyone =]

i had breakfast this morning, and i realized i was counting as i put things on my tray. i managed to stop though, which is good. hopefully i'll be able to eat without counting at all soon.

i had the hardest time with stopping counting last year. it really did take over my life. i forced myself to eat things i didnt know the calories for but then i would way over estimate. i got thin and depressed. it wasent about my appearence anymore it was about proving myself i had control or something. i only gained wieght when i stopped counting because i had to eat more to try to get my period back. and i did! im much happier now that i can actually enjoy food instead of just think about it constently all day and worry.