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Depends on your definition of obsessed. I used to keep a spreadsheet and that really helped me become more aware of how much I was eating. But now I'm at the point where I can just wing it. But this is something that takes time to learn. Beginners really should get in the habit of writing down calories.

Weight loss does boil down to calories but it's not that simple. If it were simply about calories, then you could eat 1000 calories worth of pizza each day and nothing else and still lose weight. Calories are the starting point, not the end. Once you have an idea of how many calories you need, you need to figure out where those calories should come from (carbs, protein, fat), how much to have, in what combinations, and when. And then of course there's the exercise part of the formula.

I would encourage you not to do this. What I've learned the hard way is that if you have cravings, it's better to give in to them early rather than let it build up. The problem with spitting it out is that you're not really satisfying the craving. You're just teasing yourself and the craving will get worse. Plus it's a very slippery sloap you're getting on. Today you spit it out. Tomorrow you may swallow it and then force it back up.

It's very common to see wild fluctuations between days. The amount of water and glycogen you're retaining can cause shifts as much as 5 pounds. You should weigh yourself once a week at the same time on the same day under the same conditions.

There is no nutrient ratio that applies to everyone. You need to experiment to figure out what works for you. Some people are more carb sensitive than others. I personally can't lose weight unless I follow a 40% protein, 40% carb, 20% fat plan. But others can get away with as much as 65% carbs.

Any multi-vitamin will do. As far as supplements go, that and maybe flaxseed oil are the only ones you should ever need. Always choose real food over supplements. If you're eating enough, you should get enough calcium. Otherwise pick foods that are good sources. I would avoid a calcium supplement cause you could get kidney stones if you take too much.

The brain is actually pretty slow in telling your stomach that it's full. I've read that it can take as much as 20 minutes for your brain to tell you that you're no longer hungry and should stop eating. This is why you should eat slow and sip water between bites. Other ways to feel full are by adding more lean protein and fiber to your meals. Try not to finish your plate unless you're hungry. This is hard since most of us are told to clean our plates. That's why you should never put too much on the plate at once. Put a small amount and if you finish it and are still hungry, then you can go for more.

Not necessarily. If what you're doing is not working, then you need to see what areas you can improve. Are you exercing enough? Can you clean up your diet some more?

If you're convinced that your metabolism has slowed down, then eating a little more will tell your body you're no longer starving. Just don't add the calories back too quickly.

Like I said above, if what you're doing is not working, then see what you might be doing wrong. You may be exercising and eating healthy, but too much of any food, even healthy food, and you won't lose weight.

There is no such thing as a healthy dessert. A dessert by definition can't be healthy. Treat desserts as cheat food, something you can have occassionally or as a reward for eating healthy. In general, you should not eat less than 3 hours before going to bed. There's a very high chance of that food turning to fat.

In order to really help you, you need to tell us exactly what you're doing. What's your typical day look like as far as meals, exercise, etc.? Tell us what you eat and at what time. Tell us when you exercise and for how long and how intense.