Stop Counting Calories! Yes... that's what Adam said to me. Until now, my food journal has been my bible. Everyone who knows me is accustomed to seeing me toting it around, making notes, weighing/measuring my food, looking up calorie counts on my
BlackBerry. Well, starting this Monday, that ritual has changed!
I'm still keeping a journal, but it is a much looser version from what I had before. Basically, all I write down is:
- Time I ate
- Hunger level (this is VERY important)
- Food Description
- Food Amount (not how many grams or ounces... more like "One handful" or "Two servings")
So... why the sudden change in my record keeping method? Well there were several reasons, I suppose. The first reason was that I was out of touch with my hunger level, and was just eating because it was "time" to eat or I had calories "left over." This new way deciding whether to eat or not based on my hunger level may seem overly obvious to some, but to me it is actually quite a novel challenge!
Another reason for this new method is that eventually it would be nice to get rid of the journal altogether. Since I have a very compulsive personality, in some ways I've just traded one obsession (food) for another (the journal). Neither should be allowed to replace the actual task of dealing with my emotions in a more productive manner, right?
I've only been trying this new method for 5 days, and there has been no change in my weight. I also feel a little nervous about not counting my calories, but I think as I see success, I will slowly forget about the days when I was SO focused on the numbers on the page.
If all this talk about food and counting calories has made you hungry, too, get up and move a little (and not just a walk to the fridge)! See if you're REALLY hungry or possibly just bored. You just might be surprised!
However, if you really are hungry, well, go have a nice healthy snack. Fruit and cheese, almonds, whole wheat bread & turkey ham, etc. WE CAN DO IT!!!!!!!!
-Mindy
AKA The Red Tornado
I'm still keeping a journal, but it is a much looser version from what I had before. Basically, all I write down is:
