I had this huge post ready to go today that was a follow-up of my Living Healthy post last week. I wanted to rant about how even though I said this:
“I don’t knock calorie counting at all, in fact, I think it’s the BEST way to lose weight. When it comes down to losing weight it’s a simple science after all; calories in vs. calories out.”
I don’t believe in calorie restriction (diets that have you eating under 1,500 calories a day are calorie restriction diets to me!) or cutting certain things out of your diet i.e. no-carbs, no-fat diets.
But then I stepped on the scale before heading out for a run this morning and I was five pounds above my happy weight. While running I started second-guessing myself.
Should I start tracking my food an counting calories again?
My mind and body instantly rebelled against that idea. I like being able to eat intuitively. I like not feeling like I have to restrict myself at dinner because I’ve already ate a certain number of calories that day. I like not analyzing every little thing I eat.
I kind of expected to gain a bit of weight, that always happens when me and Eric first start living together again. I think I just need to smarten up with my portions again and stop eating when my body is full. I was getting really good at reading my bodies signals for awhile there and then lately I’ve been stuffing myself until I have a food baby again. Not good!
I tried to make a small change this morning and instead of my usual oatmeal I decided to go with a green monster and peanut butter toast.
Speaking of peanut butter, remember when I bought my two new jars of peanut butter and was trying crunchy PB for the first time? Well clearly I liked it!
I did a speedy 3-mile run this morning and other then a bit of sharp pain at the very beginning of the run (like the first 1/2 mile) my shin felt great. So I don’t think it’s a stress fracture because I’m pretty sure a stress fracture would hurt all the time wouldn’t it? It COULD be a shin splint but the pain is centred in one area and also it’s only the one shin. Whatever it is, I’d really like it to GO AWAY!
So what do you guys do if you start to get above your happy weight?
{ 28 comments… read them below or add one }
I’m glad your run went pretty well!
I think when I notice myself creeping up a pound or two, I still try to eat intuitively, I’m just a little more focused on the specific kind of foods going in… if that makes any sense?
Crunchy pb rocks my socks off! :p
I am definitely above my happy weight right now, and I am back in the gym trying to lose some weight. one of the best things that works for me is writing down EVERYTHING I eat for a week or so. I don’t count the calories, but it really helps me to see “3 pieces of candy” and “2 cookies” all before 3 pm… then I remind myself that I don’t need a treat after dinner, as I’ve already had plenty of junk throughout the day. Sometimes I don’t realize what I eat, so writing it down really helps.
I’ve been chowing Easter candy like wow the last few days and over the weekend bumped about two pounds above my happy weight. It’s not fun for sure, but it’s not the end of the world. Once the Easter candy is gone things will normalize. I think it’s the same for you. Once you adjust to living with Eric again, once you get your portions back under control your body will respond. Not overnight, but eventually it will even out. So I wouldn’t kill yourself to count the calories. Just go with what feels right and everything will even out.
Yum, your breakfast looks good, it’s making me hungry! Did you make that green moster in a Magic Bullet? I swear I have those same cups!
Yup - magic bullet! LOVE that thing!
After enjoying a few too many Easter chocolates this weekend (I love mini eggs!), I have that “full” feeling all the time. To hopefully get rid of it, I have been going for walks after work and watching what I am eating.
Wouldn’t it be nice if you could just eat everything you wanted and it never showed on your body?!
I actually haven’t owned a scale or weighed myself in years - I just try to be at a happy SIZE. I have a really small frame so if I put on the smallest bit of weight it’s really noticeable - and I’m bad, I usually switch my diet for a few days to all water and salads. I don’t think I have the motivation to count calories - but in general I know I eat pretty healthy.
I think it’s possible you have a shin splint; when I used to get them there were always centered/concentrated in one area only and only on one leg.
When I get above my happy weight I simply watch portions and exercise more or try a different kind of exercise for awhile to get the initial weight off. I don’t like to calorie count/watch every single thing I eat. I’m responsible for what goes in my body so being aware is important, at least I think it is
I don’t own a scale, which is a good thing but a bad thing. I probably weighed myself a month ago and I was slightly above my happy weight, so that means just forcing myself to go to the gym more. I couple never cut out my favourite foods or count calories.
When I get above my happy weight, it’s usually because I haven’t been diligent about working out… so I get back into working out and it usually takes care of itself. And I am also more mindful of what I am eating. i try to remind myself that each meal isn’t ‘my last supper’. Sometimes i eat like i will never get to eat again. Which is just ridiculous!
Don’t be too hard on yourself. You have a lot going on right now with the end of the semester coming to a close. Stress doesn’t help the whole eating thing usually! And being crazy busy doesn’t help either!
I hope the shin thing gets better soon but I am glad you were able to get a run in today w/out much trouble. Hopefully we are both painfree soon!!
I guess I just start paying attention a bit more. When dating a guy who likes to eat, it’s easy to just eat a bit more than you need because they are eating more. I’m trying to refocus and stay on track with healthy eating. It can kind of snowball out of control when you’re running a lot bc you just think “my body needs it.” I also have been trying to get back to running more in the morning rather than just walking the dog. I figure hey, if I can burn an extra 100 cals in the am, that helps!
I tend to stick my head in the sand for a long time and deny I have put on weight (or convince myself I don’t need to be thin to be beautiful - which works for a while) and then eventually I start to do something about it. This is my current situation, where I’ve finally accepted I’m practically the weight I was when I first lost weight 10 years ago, and now I need to lose it all over again - AND KEEP IT OFF!
i actually have no idea what i weigh. But ironically enough I’ve really been increasing my calorie intake. a couple of bloggers that read yours, I got to theirs, and found some other girls that are working towards building muscle. and HOLY cow. I’m addicted. so i’m slowly increasing my calorie intake and making my work outs a bit more crazy and fun!
I’m actually trying to stop calorie counting. Once I start, I tend to get OCD about it and stress and am constantly trying to make my total less for the day (which is ridiculous and unhealthy, I know). It definitely helps me lose weight when I need to, but I have a problem getting obsessive about it. And seeing as I’m above my happy weight now, it’s a big struggle for me to not start counting again. I’m trying to eat more during the day when I get busy and forget to eat so that I don’t binge when I get home. I’m also limiting the snacky foods I have in the house.
Quick question: what kind of blackberry do you have? I really need a new phone and I know you love yours!
I have a blackberry curve! I DO love it BUT if you can swing it you should get an iPhone. I’ve heard nothing but amazing things about them. That will be my next phone for sure!
Thanks! An iPhone is out for me since I can’t switch networks and my network doesn’t have it. I can get the curve though!
I go through PB fast too. Crazy. I have one jar at work and one at home lol.
I got on the scale this morning and I had gained 2 pounds but i have noticed that my weight fluctuates so much, by as much as 5-6 pounds depending on so many things. Seeing the higher numbers still causes me to kind of freak out but i have to remember that I gain weight when I get to that time of the month, etc etc which I really hate but I guess its just a fact of life.
I’ve never been one for calorie counting…but lately I am trying to change my approach towards eating. I don’t like the word “diet” or the thought depriving myself, haha. So instead, I am taking a sort of nutrient approach. I have started eating much healthier without paying too much attention to exact calories. I’m eating lots of whole grains, dairies, fruits and vegetables, and protein. I’ve been paying a lot more attention to the nutrient count in my food than the calorie count. Does that make sense? This makes it fun for me, a challenge, and instead of depriving myself I feel like I am nurturing myself. The thought of calorie counting just makes me miserable, and I know I couldn’t do it! So I am basically just attempting to be more aware of what I put into my body. It makes me feel great! And I loved this post…a lot of this stuff is stuff I am dealing with at the moment and it just makes me feel awesome to see all this getting-healthy inspiration everyone in the blogosphere. It’s really motivating and just furthers the changes happening in my outlook already!
I’m currently above my happy weight, but that’s because I’ve been eating unhealthy foods and not exercising. I’m sure counting calories would help, but for me, it’s just starting to live a healthy lifestyle. I tend to go on tangents… I’ll be eating healthy and working out for a month, then have about 2 months of being lazy.. then back at it. Nasty cycle!
After I get out of denial, I usually go back to calorie counting. It’s the only thing that works for me. When I just try to have a general attitude towards being healthy, I make too many concessions. Moderation is a real challenge for me. At certain points, I’ve found calorie counting really miserable, but now that I do it much more reasonably (like 1500-1600 cals a day instead of 1200) and I have apps to make it easier, I don’t find it to be so emotional or annoying.
I’m not disciplined (or motivated) enough to do exact calorie counting, but every now and then when I’m really out of whack I’ll do it just to make sure what I think is healthy and what I’m eating are in the same ballpark.
For me, exercising and making sure I’m getting enough protein and am not living on carbs (oh, being a vegetarian has funny challenges) is a big thing, but mostly I just try to eat sensible portions of meals that are mostly vegetables and keep my perspective in check. How I look, or how my weight varies from day to day is far from the most important thing in the world and if I’m down on myself no amount of calorie counting or running will boost my self confidence. Healthy eating is my friend =)
I don’t calorie count, but I also can’t intuitively eat either. The problem with me and intuitive eating is that if I eat an extra 100 calories at each meal one day, I start to feel like I need that at other meals- it’s almost like my stomach expands and it takes me longer to get full. Therefore, it can get out of control pretty quick. Plus i’m hungry a lot so I can’t always listen to my cues especially if I ate what should’ve been a filling meal 10 minutes ago haha. What I do instead is having an approx eating schedule- breakfast, snack, lunch, snack, dinner, dessert snack. Each has an approx amount of calories I’d like to consume but it’s by no means exact since I don’t count calories- but obviously some stuff like my morning snack yogurt I know is about 110-130 calories depending on which one I eat. I definitely don’t count the calories in my meals since they often contain lots of fruits or veggies and I find those impossible to deal with- I just try to keep it all reasonable. For me, I’ll gain weight because I keep going back for more and more (especially around dessert time) so I just have to keep my portions and how often I’m eating in check. Easier said than done since I’m over my happy weight at the moment. But I’m determined to get back to my happy weight in April before my first dress fitting! This week is going well so let’s hope
Like Lisa said, don’t be too hard on yourself- you have a lot going on right now, worry about it after Europe- I gained like 5 pounds on my trip (though you shouldn’t worry- I had no concern for healthy eating back then- I didn’t like how they ate dinner there so late so I’d eat a LOT of pringles around 5pm and then eat a full dinner…oops)
Hi! I’m new to your blog.. sort of. I’ve been reading for a few days now and just kind of lurking until today. :p
Right now I’m actually about 14 pounds above my happy weight.. lol. I’ve been trying to work out more and calorie count but I’ve been really slacking so I haven’t made any progress. I think the thing that will get me down to my happy weight is for me to be consistent with exercise, incorporate more strength training, and just watch what I eat. I’m a binge eater so this is difficult but I know that with time, things will work out.
*sigh* This is a hard one! How does one eat intuitively and also lose weight??
Right now I’m about 4lbs above my favorite weight. A few years ago if this would have happened I would have stepped up my cardio - running intervals seems to do it for me and I enjoy it. We’re trying for a baby though now so high intensity cardio isn’t recommended. (I think running is ok, but not full-out RUNNING.) And I’m also wary about restricting my calories too much because then I feel deprived and then I binge and then I’m sad and mad. So! I’ve been eating the amount of calories that someone at my favorite weight eats. 1900. My 4lbs seems to be creeping away. But yes, it involves counting…
I’ve been at my favorite weight for about three years now, so I’m not sure what’s with the sudden increase. But I would like it to GO AWAY!!! :0)
I should say that 1900 cals is what someone at my goal weight can eat per day and still maintain. (To find this number I used a calculator at fat2fitradio.com) All the best, Amber!
I don’t calorie count - I am way too obsessive with it. For the amount of training I do, I really just try to eat clean and listen to my body. Luckily after most really hard workouts, I crave ‘clean’ foods like veggies and not junky stuff.
If I gain a couple pounds I just eat healthier for a week or two, and eat smaller portions and it always evens out.
I’m not at my happy weight yet… but I would say that as long as you make some changes when you realize you’re not at the happy weight, then you’re doing something right! As long as you don’t let it get out of control (aka waiting years) then it’s all good in my book!
I lost 2 lbs in FLorida and gained them back since
It’s very depressing… and I’m not even following my own advice: I’m actually still eating Easter eggs!!! I think once they’re gone I may have a chance at losing those lbs again lol!