How to stop counting?

Beside...just stop :)

It's becoming obsessive...I have an app on my Ipod, and I plan out every meal every day....which of course is annoying to myself and others.   I have a big weekend coming up, and I don't want to waste it counting

(I'm 5'3", 112, 31 yr old....trying to maintain, but flirting with the idea of losing 2 more.....eat around 1300-1400 cal a day)

I've been arguing with myself about this for awhile.  Finally I think I have a handle on it.  I eat a majority of protein throughout the day and low on the carb intake.  If I'm running then I eat more carbs.  I've actually lost weight over the last 2 weeks and I haven't had to count anything!! It's been great.  I also workout every day and only take one day off a week unless I'm sick or something.

i'm not maintaining, so i am not totally sure. but i read another post which mentioned 'practiced maintaining' - where you maybe give yourself a day inwhich you don't count, or breakfast is never counted.

it sounds like it should work.

As for your weekend- perhaps have a rough idea of what foods might be availalble, but don't write a plan down. eat consiously, but if you go over your limits, its fine. you are maintaining, so if you go over, never mind. you go straight back to your normal calorie count.

but i admit, it must be hard. we spend our time being so careful to loose the weight, that the feeling of 'letting go' almost seems wreckless. but i don't think it is, i think it just enourages a healthy relationship with foods.

best of luck, and enjoy your weekend.

all the best. 

Really and truly 'just stop doing it' is actually the best policy.  Use your weekend as the place to start.  It won't stop 100% whilst you've still got the numbers flashing around in your head but if you can stop logging calories and planning out meals that would be a good start.  Lose the application on the Ipod...

What you'll find is that you automatically tend towards the same kinds of foods and similar sorts of portion-sizes.  So your weight really won't change and, in fact, shouldn't change even if you were to get 1800-1900 cals a day (the  maintenance amount for someone your size & age who is lightly active)

As you demonstrate to yourself that your weight doesn't change when you stop counting your confidence will increase.  So just make the break.... see how it goes. 

Thanks everyone :)    I'm ditching the iPod this weekend when we hit the Big E....it'll me the ultimate test!