As someone who's tinkered on the edge of an eating disorder (many years past), you are right that documenting everything you eat does play a role in obsessive behavior.  So long as you remain in healthy control, I don't think it's too much of a threat.  My opinion is that you do need to keep track of everything you eat, but not solely for the sake of counting calories.  It will also help you monitor hunger pains and identify foods that will keep you fuller longer.  It's really about awareness, not punishment.

I think writing down everything you eat, at least in the beginning (eventually you'll have all of this wonderful information stored in your brain ), is very important and helpful.  It is really the only thing that has worked for me.  

I have this app on my phone where I can write in whatever I eat and it counts the calories and all that jazz. But I've quit using it, because I often forgot to use it. Then there were times when I realize I've eaten too many calories and then I sort of feel worse about the whole situation. I suppose it's just better for me not to use it.

I think keeping a food journal is a great idea.  I don't see it as punishment at all, just a bit of a drudgery.  I never kept a really detailed diary, but it's helpful to have a record of my eating habits-knowing what I ate when and even a little bit of the 'why'.

I'm currently on a diet and I find keeping a food diary very helpful.

it's harmful for me.  it makes me very obsessive and i lose more of the little bit of sanity i still have.  but if i'm successful, when i'm closely monitoring my intake, i feel very in control and confident.  but that's obsessive too.  i'd like to make healthy choices in a more natural, automatic way, rather than being sooo intentional about it.  let's see if i can ever do that.

would you continue? i mean.. yea, u'll write everythign down in the beginning. but i guess until one point, u just wont be bothered writing it down anymore..

it might be useful. but what if u eat a whole bag of chips? would you write it down? how would u feel if u do? regret? bla bla?

it works for some n it doesn't. I personally think it's a bit too hassle. just control your portion and think before you eat those fatty food.

I relate to so much to the title! Did you or the healthkicker editor think of it?

And for me, writing down what I ate (and calorie counting) turned into an eating disordered behavior. But now I've been debating if it's worth the risk if it's an effective binge deterrent.. (So far, it's not...)

I'm not sure. Writing has never worked for me, not because of the effect of awareness, but simply I cannot bother to put pen to paper everything I come across. Too cumbersome.

What's more helpful is using exchanges, if you don't want to count every calorie. Instead of writing down, "sandwich, 300" you could write down that you had carbs and (probably) protein. I like this method WAY better, especially considered I'm recovering from an eating disorder where I obsessively marked every single calorie online. It's much easier to think, "Okay, today I need to have such-and-such amount of carbs, protein, veggies, fruits, etc" than it is to think, "I need to eat less than X amount."

I think seeing a nutritionist if you have the money/time would be really helpful as well, and then he/she can give you a personalized meal plan (probably written in exchanges, but with suggestions for what to eat).

@o_perfect_zen_o@xanga -  It's more important to focus on overall nutrition than it is on ONLY calories. If you're eating the right things in the right amounts then you don't have to worry about calories.

I have been in the same dilemma you are explaining. I used to struggle with eating, and the first thing the therapist told me to do, was write everything down! I hated seeing the NUMBER of things i ate as I was being forced to eat more. It was just daunting.

Now, I have a fairly healthy mentality (I don't think disordered eating thoughts ever leaves the mind) but I am using myfitnesspal. It SERIOUSLY made me more aware - especially after I struggled for so long. I wasn't eating enough, then eating too much (because i thought it was "mentally healthy") then having to lose weight, then scared of falling into bad habits.. it's been a journey.

In the end, I feel keeping track is healthy. With myfitnesspal, I can enter items in right on my phone, they have a barcode scanner (which is typically correct) and it's just easy. It also makes you consider your choices. It's like.. man, I really don't want to put a donut in there... I really have to get my workout in... and it encourages healthy living more than anything.

It's not like it takes an excessively long amount of time. It keeps you mindful. It won't work for everyone, but as long as you can stay away from being obsessed with not passing a certain number, it can be a good thing. I've done it before, but I tend to give up easily because I try to use websites instead of pen and paper. If I'm not near a computer within the next couple of hours, I forget.

Side note: I want the person's handwriting from that picture. So much.

We had to keep a food diary during one of high school PE classes.  I think I faked half of it.  Shh, don't tell the school.