Weaning myself of calorie counting...while still needing to gain.

I'm a full time university student and I have two part time jobs. There are some days where I'm at school/work from 8.30 am till 7 or 8 pm (not including the commute :S). Thus far, I've been planning my whole days meals in advance to make sure I get my cals in and get a relatively balanced diet.

This is getting harder and harder. I find myself staying up till 11 or 12 just planning and preparing my meals. I think I've gotten to a point in my post-ED mentality where I can deal with having a few days a week where I don't count my calories.

My question is, how can I ensure I get enough many calories? How can I convince myself on days that I'm not counting that my sodium is not too high, my sat fats are just right, etc, etc? Many days I find myself eating to the point of being very, very full, so at the moment, I can't rely on intuitive eating.

I already eat atleast one suppliment a day (usually a Clif/Lara bar). Any advice would be really, really appreciated. (:

Hi izzyy. I think part of recovery is realising that you don't actually need to micromanage your intake in order to be healthy. The vast majority of healthy people in this world (although websites like this have distorted proportions) don't do a nutrient analysis for what they eat every day! Luckily, our bodies are very adaptable and don't need to be fed 100% of the daily recommended intake for every nutrient each day - so long as it works out that you are eating enough of the right stuff over time, you'll be just fine.

Almost all the people who have EDs that I know of, have an almost encylopaedic knowledge of nutrition - whether they put that knowledge into practice is another matter entirely. Still, it means that you are likely well educated about making good food choices and getting a good range of healthy nutrition. This means you have nothing to worry about in terms of eating a healthy diet when you stop doing nutrient analyses and very detailed meal plans.

I'm not sure how many calories you're eating, but I'll guess 2500. Instead of working out exactly what you need to eat, how about just aiming to eat 3 main meals of around 600 calories, and 3 snacks of around 200-300 calories each. Alternatively, you could eat meals of around 400-500 calories and have a large glass of juice/chocolate milk/smoothie with each meal.

I'm giving you an idea of calories even though you asked for advice on how to stop counting... just to give you an idea of how big your meals should be. I'm sure you have a fair idea of the amount you would have to eat to reach those numbers, but you don't have to actually count it. For example: I might know that a big chicken sandwich with cheese and mayo + a yoghurt and an apple is going to be enough for lunch, but I don't need to count the calories of every cheese slice or piece of lettuce to check.

You could check for a few weeks that you are getting some protein + fat + carbs at each main meal, and then try to relax about snacks... that could also be one way to let go of calorie counting.

Be careful to check your progress in the next few weeks and go back to calorie counting if your weight gain slows or stops. Intuitive eating is a fantastic long term goal, but weight restoring should be your first priority.

Hope this helps!

I dont think i could give any better advice than meryl . have you tried posting your meal plans ? then people can help you , or how about writing down several meals and snacks that are the calories you need and picking one each day , sometimes if we give ourselves to much to think about it just gets harder to progress

Thanks very much for the tips, ladies (:

My only thing is that I know that even though deep down I want to suceed in gaining, I'm going to underestimate my portions. Subconciously, or something - maybe out of fear of going over? But if I count 2-4 of the other days in the week, I can keep up my gaining even if I am down a little anyway. I'll defs keep track of my weight.

Thanks again xx

Izzy,
Calorie counting was actually a method I took on in order to be able to have a freer life and a crazy college one for that matter.  When I was in treatment for my ED we had preplanned meals based on exchanges, but that was wayyyyyy too much thinking.

Still, you need some sort of standard to keep your intake in, so the calorie backup is a great way to eat "as works with your schedule and then just get it in. 

Now as I go back to counting I can't imagine preplanning all the details, though I do [as anyone trying to make a change must] have to take care to sufficiently pack or I will underestimate and end up with way too much catch up at night. 

It IS easy to slowly but surely slide into "I'm busy just a bar" or "never mind the side" so it's important to hold yourself accountable!  But that doesn't mean you have to preplan it all out.

I thought I had responded but may be not or on another thread about an exchange meal plan. Each meal and snack is for example like 3 carbs/3protien/2fat/fruit/2veggies. You leanr serving sizes for ex a cup is like a fist. This adds up to your calorie needs. Now the sodium etc I think unless you have a medical condition is part of the OCD that can come along with ed. If you choose balanced food and some fun foods it will all fall in place.