How I changed my ‘lifestyle’ in 2008: Part 2-Counting Calories

Here’s a few things you maybe didn’t know:

The average woman should be eating between 1500-2000 calories a day, depending on their body type, height and level of activity. Experts estimate that you need to cut approximately 500 calories a day in order to lose one pound a week (one pound = approximately 3500 calories). They recommend you cut 250 calories from food and the other 250 through exercise.

Full Disclosure: Because I had such bad eating habits I did not have to work very hard to lose 20 pounds. Seriously. I cut down on portions and added more fruits and veggies to my meals to fill me up-that’s about it. For example, before I would have a large bowl of cereal with a cup of 1% milk, two slices of toast with peanut butter and one banana for breakfast. Sounds healthy right? That breakfast cost me about 700 calories. Yikes! Now I try to eat things like oatmeal and egg-white omelettes for breakfast, but if I’m having cereal and toast I make sure I only have 1 cup of cereal with 1/2 cup milk and 1 slice of toast with 1/2 a tablespoon peanut butter and 1/2 a banana. I save myself about 350 calories.

I also used to regularly eat JUNK: chips, chocolate bars, ice cream snacks. I always resolved to cut those things out of my diet, sure that they were the problem, but I never would. Once I started to understand the concept of calories I realized there was no way in hell I was going to sacrifice 250 of my days calories for a measly little snickers bar that wouldn’t even fill me up. I finally started to cut that stuff out because I realized just how bad it was for me.

I’ve done the BBG program three separate times now (it’s 12 weeks long) and I usually take a break from it for a month or so, like I am right now. This doesn’t mean I let my eating go completely to hell, I just take a break from logging my food for awhile. But I always start it up again because I truly believe it is the best way to lose weight and MAINTAIN weight loss.

I am far from perfect (seriously, I’m eating chocolate macaroons right now-it’s the holidays people!). Ideally I should be eating approximately 1500-1600 calories a day. I am able to do that for three-four days a week, but I often go overboard, way overboard three-four days a week. By eating well HALF the time I have lost 20 pounds, but I have been plateauing since last July. In the new year I’m hoping to stay within that range six-seven days a week and lose another 10-15 pounds.