Lowering obsessive tendencies

[Thinkingofthree]

I think I definitely have the character trait that leads to wanting to be in control or obsessing about things which may sway blue. I think constantly tracking my protein/carbs/fat/etc may be leading me to obsess. I was thinking of stopping tracking and just trying to make good LE choices. My guess is by not tracking I may be more likely to go over my limits by a bit.
Does stopping for the sake of less stress/obsessing seem like a good idea? Or is diet SOOOO important that it warrants being obsessed over?
Thanks

[mandyp85]

How long have you been tracking for? Do you have a good handle on the diet now? During my first sway (I got an opposite) I was very obsessive over everything to do with my sway and I can honestly say that I personally think that contributed to me getting a boy that time, although I love him dearly and wouldn't change him for the world. This time around I just cut out breakfast, didn't snack and made better food choices, so lots of veg, salad, fruit, little to no meat etc. I'm sure there were days where I was over limits but days where I was under limits and I just kind of let it go but still followed the principles of the diet, I didn't track but sort of mentally added up what I was having which worked better for me as it did stop me obsessing. I don't know if my sway worked or not but I was certainly much more relaxed this time round. You cant force yourself to relax but if you can I would just do what you can do and let go of everything else, easier said than done I know. I'm sure other people will chime in with helpful advice. Good luck.

[Eighme]

How long have you been tracking for? Do you have a good handle on the diet now? During my first sway (I got an opposite) I was very obsessive over everything to do with my sway and I can honestly say that I personally think that contributed to me getting a boy that time, although I love him dearly and wouldn't change him for the world. This time around I just cut out breakfast, didn't snack and made better food choices, so lots of veg, salad, fruit, little to no meat etc. I'm sure there were days where I was over limits but days where I was under limits and I just kind of let it go but still followed the principles of the diet, I didn't track but sort of mentally added up what I was having which worked better for me as it did stop me obsessing. I don't know if my sway worked or not but I was certainly much more relaxed this time round. You cant force yourself to relax but if you can I would just do what you can do and let go of everything else, easier said than done I know. I'm sure other people will chime in with helpful advice. Good luck.When I started my sway I was obessive over hitting my numbers, which sways boy. I've been on the diet 9 months now and basically feel like I have a grip on it. I've cut snacking, little to no meat, and mostly veggies and pasta. I just check the calories, do simple math, and go from there. It becomes more counterproductive to hem and haw over every minor detail! Once you get comfortable with the diet, you see it isn't as big of a deal to hit the numbers as much as it making sure your getting enough nutrition.


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[Blushpinkbabyxx]

I get the same way about things, so I completely understand. I would think though, that by stopping tracking every detail diet wise that it would be better for your sway because you wouldn’t be obsessed and therefore wouldn’t be “swaycessed”.

[Thinkingofthree]

How long have you been tracking for? Do you have a good handle on the diet now? During my first sway (I got an opposite) I was very obsessive over everything to do with my sway and I can honestly say that I personally think that contributed to me getting a boy that time, although I love him dearly and wouldn't change him for the world. This time around I just cut out breakfast, didn't snack and made better food choices, so lots of veg, salad, fruit, little to no meat etc. I'm sure there were days where I was over limits but days where I was under limits and I just kind of let it go but still followed the principles of the diet, I didn't track but sort of mentally added up what I was having which worked better for me as it did stop me obsessing. I don't know if my sway worked or not but I was certainly much more relaxed this time round. You cant force yourself to relax but if you can I would just do what you can do and let go of everything else, easier said than done I know. I'm sure other people will chime in with helpful advice. Good luck.

Thanks for your thoughts! I started the diet a month ago and tracked all of March. I feel like I have an okay grasp on the diet. My biggest issue is that I understand the LE diet in concept but I have a bit of trouble doing it in practice. For example, we’re big meat eaters so figuring out things I can cook for my family that work is difficult.
I hope your second sway worked!


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[Thinkingofthree]

I get the same way about things, so I completely understand. I would think though, that by stopping tracking every detail diet wise that it would be better for your sway because you wouldn’t be obsessed and therefore wouldn’t be “swaycessed”.

Thanks! Ha yes I’m nervous about becoming swaycessed. I think I’m leaning towards trying to do what I can to cut out the obsessiveness and stress.
By obsessing I don’t want to give myself too much false hope that this could work and then have massive gender disappointment if it doesn’t. Hopefully if I’m more relaxed about it the disappointment would be lessened if I have another boy.


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[mandyp85]

When I started my sway I was obessive over hitting my numbers, which sways boy. I've been on the diet 9 months now and basically feel like I have a grip on it. I've cut snacking, little to no meat, and mostly veggies and pasta. I just check the calories, do simple math, and go from there. It becomes more counterproductive to hem and haw over every minor detail! Once you get comfortable with the diet, you see it isn't as big of a deal to hit the numbers as much as it making sure your getting enough nutrition.


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Thats exactly how I was last time, obsessed about every tiny detail (ended up with a boy) this time I was completely relaxed, I stayed away from the forums as well, which I think helped, but I don't know what I'm having yet, pregnant with twins so hoping to have at least one girl in there. I cant agree with your advice more, its very counterproductive to obsess as I do think it seriously undermines your sway. Good luck to you.

[mandyp85]

Thanks for your thoughts! I started the diet a month ago and tracked all of March. I feel like I have an okay grasp on the diet. My biggest issue is that I understand the LE diet in concept but I have a bit of trouble doing it in practice. For example, we’re big meat eaters so figuring out things I can cook for my family that work is difficult.
I hope your second sway worked!


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Personally if that was me I would still cook the meat as you normally would but just not put any on my own plate, I would just have the veggies, pasta or whatever but maybe add a jacket potato on mine to bulk it out and "replace" the meat. Or I would just make a completely different meal for myself. Does your DH know your swaying? Thank you I will update when I know :-)

[Throwaway_panther]

So the advice would be to try and get as good a grasp as you can and then let go. Obsessive tendencies sway boy.

I do like to come into these posts and stress that I am about as quintessential a boy mom/Martha/obsessive crazy person there is, and was REALLY obsessive right before my DD about diet and exercise. And clearly I had a DD. But I also had a LOT of other girl sway things in there too, including some more extreme ones (I wasn't trying to sway girl -- I was having an eating disorder relapse!). So I don't recommend doing all of that! I just try to relax the girl swayers I see have this question by saying that I still had a girl despite how obsessive I was!

But really, try and let it go! Drop more meat and fat from the diet and focus on carbs and lower calorie items and incorporate exercise, and I think you're golden.

[atomic sagebrush]

It is fine to give up on tracking once you have a feel for how much you're eating. That is perfectly fine to do. I like you guys to track for a week or two at first so you understand how it all works and then it's fine to let it go. But DO be very careful you're erring on the side of too much, rather than too little, because that's the tendency people have when not tracking. People start to get more and more restrictive without really realizing how little they're actually eating and then suddenly they end up on a starvation diet without really even knowing they are doing that.

[Thinkingofthree]

Personally if that was me I would still cook the meat as you normally would but just not put any on my own plate, I would just have the veggies, pasta or whatever but maybe add a jacket potato on mine to bulk it out and "replace" the meat. Or I would just make a completely different meal for myself. Does your DH know your swaying? Thank you I will update when I know :-)

Thanks that’s a good idea. I should do more replacing instead of just trying to eat a smaller amount (which doesn’t always happen). DH does know I’m swaying and he’s supportive although I don’t think he’s thrilled with the logic behind LE but whatever [emoji39].


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[Thinkingofthree]

It is fine to give up on tracking once you have a feel for how much you're eating. That is perfectly fine to do. I like you guys to track for a week or two at first so you understand how it all works and then it's fine to let it go. But DO be very careful you're erring on the side of too much, rather than too little, because that's the tendency people have when not tracking. People start to get more and more restrictive without really realizing how little they're actually eating and then suddenly they end up on a starvation diet without really even knowing they are doing that.

Okay thanks I’ll try to aim for a bit too much instead of too little. How important would you say it is to give up meat? I’m still eating chicken or beef in smallish quantities probably 4x a week and fish twice. [emoji51] The small meat portions are where I’m getting the vast majority of my protein.
I am trying to add in daily exercise now too. I’m not always able to get up to 60 minutes but I’ve averaged about 50 minutes/day so far.


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[atomic sagebrush]

Thanks that’s a good idea. I should do more replacing instead of just trying to eat a smaller amount (which doesn’t always happen). DH does know I’m swaying and he’s supportive although I don’t think he’s thrilled with the logic behind LE but whatever [emoji39].


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Can you explain why? Because often when people "disapprove" of LE Diet they don't realize that the recommendations are based on the World Health Organization's recommendations for a healthy pre-pregnancy diet for women of childbearing age and the recommendations of reproductive endocrinologists for a healthy level of food intake for women who need to lose weight prior to pregnancy. Some people misunderstand and think it's an unhealthy or starvation diet, which it absolutely is not.

[atomic sagebrush]

Okay thanks I’ll try to aim for a bit too much instead of too little. How important would you say it is to give up meat? I’m still eating chicken or beef in smallish quantities probably 4x a week and fish twice. [emoji51] The small meat portions are where I’m getting the vast majority of my protein.
I am trying to add in daily exercise now too. I’m not always able to get up to 60 minutes but I’ve averaged about 50 minutes/day so far.


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All foods are allowed on LE Diet, including meat. I don't think it's super important to give up meat for the sake of a sway, provided you are within the limits for the day. The thinking behind cutting out meat is really more of an issue of practicality - it is because meat is both low calorie and high protein, so people end up eating a fairly small piece of meat, immediately getting their entire day's protein allotment in one fell swoop, and yet have only eaten a few hundred calories. Then what do you have to eat the rest of the day? Grains, dairy, nuts, legumes, eggs, and any other meat are all off limits and so when people hit it with meat they end up devolving into this awful starvation diet where they are eating chicken and cucumbers and gummy bears and it's really not healthy or balanced. So while meat is allowed, I do find it overall makes it easier to stick in the limits of diet while still eating healthfully, if people don't put an emphasis on meat and treat it as an occasional thing rather than something that they have very much of at any given point in time, particularly daily. :) But if you can make it work without depriving yourself of other foods yes meat is still fine and allowed

Anything longer than 45 is still good. If you can eventually get up to 60 even better.

[Thinkingofthree]

Can you explain why? Because often when people "disapprove" of LE Diet they don't realize that the recommendations are based on the World Health Organization's recommendations for a healthy pre-pregnancy diet for women of childbearing age and the recommendations of reproductive endocrinologists for a healthy level of food intake for women who need to lose weight prior to pregnancy. Some people misunderstand and think it's an unhealthy or starvation diet, which it absolutely is not.

I probably shouldn’t have said that. I wouldn’t say he disapproves of the diet. I only explained it to him VERY quickly. He’s supportive and not concerned I’m starving myself or not eating super well.


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[Thinkingofthree]

All foods are allowed on LE Diet, including meat. I don't think it's super important to give up meat for the sake of a sway, provided you are within the limits for the day. The thinking behind cutting out meat is really more of an issue of practicality - it is because meat is both low calorie and high protein, so people end up eating a fairly small piece of meat, immediately getting their entire day's protein allotment in one fell swoop, and yet have only eaten a few hundred calories. Then what do you have to eat the rest of the day? Grains, dairy, nuts, legumes, eggs, and any other meat are all off limits and so when people hit it with meat they end up devolving into this awful starvation diet where they are eating chicken and cucumbers and gummy bears and it's really not healthy or balanced. So while meat is allowed, I do find it overall makes it easier to stick in the limits of diet while still eating healthfully, if people don't put an emphasis on meat and treat it as an occasional thing rather than something that they have very much of at any given point in time, particularly daily. :) But if you can make it work without depriving yourself of other foods yes meat is still fine and allowed

Anything longer than 45 is still good. If you can eventually get up to 60 even better.

Okay thanks for your meat thoughts! I’ve just always gotten my protein from meat so I don’t even know where else it would come from in my diet ha. I’ll probably stick with it but maybe try to seek out some other sources of protein too so I don’t risk overdoing the meat.
And then I’ll try not to think about it too much after that so as to not obsess. [emoji4]


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