My Breakup With Calorie Counting
Last night was a weird one! I got home from work and immediately set to work unpacking. Again, I basically just took everything out of boxes in order to break them down, then chipped away at the clutter. It’s still a WIP, but at least the kitchen is completely organized! Phew.
Also, we’re looking into building a loft area in our bedroom in order to maximize space. We have 10.5 foot ceilings, and I’m thinking that a big, sturdy loft area with stairs going up the side of the wall (so the kitties can come up!) would be ideal. This will require some major planning, but I think we’re up to the challenge.
In the middle of our cleaning spree, we decided to reward ourselves with some fro yo. We went to a place down the street but it was FILTHY, two flavors were out, and it just felt grimy, so I insisted we walk out and go to Hagan Daaz instead. We both got salted truffle caramel (or some combo of those words) and sat, chatted, and people watched for a while. 
The ice cream fueled us for a couple more hours of unpacking, and it was 11:30 before I realized neither of us had eaten an actual dinner. Oops! Since I’m so in love with the farm fresh eggs we have in the fridge, I whipped us up a couple quick breakfast sandwiches with an egg + muenster. Better late than never!
Despite our late night cleaning spree, both of us woke up this morning ready to run. The last run I did was a 10 miler last Wednesday after work, so I was in dire need of a shake out, pre-BK half run.
One lovely loop around Prospect Park was just the thing my legs needed!
I felt great, listened to some good tunes, and got myself wicked psyched up for the run on Saturday morning!
Breakfast was an over easy egg (obviously!) on Ezekiel whole wheat sprouted bread, parm cheese, and a heaping dash of Frank’s red hot.
And a nice hot cuppa coffee with almond milk!
I can’t get over how much the kitties love the new apartment. Penny has been soooo nice and snuggly lately, and they both love to meow away at the birds outside the window. They just so happened to arrange themselves in this cute little pose this morning, which reminded me of a yin yang.
And to top off an already wonderful morning? Getting off the subway and seeing a farmer’s market posted up in the plaza!
Thoughts on tracking food
During the past week, I’ve had somewhat of a revelation. I’ve noticed for a while that I’ve bounced around gaining and losing the same 2 lbs for about a month. I know some of this is due to not running as consistently as I was before (2-3 times a week as opposed to 4-5), but I also think that calorie counting has been wreaking havoc on my metabolism as well as my psyche!
In the beginning of the year when I actively started trying to lose weight, it just seemed to fall off. I was running, lifting, and eating healthily. I figured hey, this is working so well without really trying…why not start tracking food to give myself an even bigger boost!?
Wrong. You know the saying…if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
Well, I tried to “fix” something that wasn’t broken and in the process sorta screwed myself over! I just deleted my two calorie counting apps, and am reverting to what was working for me before. Making smart choices!
I wanted to see if my hypothesis was correct, and whaddya know, the same week (3/18) that I started actively tracking calories is the same week that major weight fluctuations started. I was eating too few calories and then overcompensating because I wasn’t eating enough to fuel my body for all the working out! Also, working out became more of a chore…something I had to do in order to track calories burned. No bueno!!
So yeah, this is my official breakup with calorie counting. It’s been real, but see ya never!
Question: Do you track calories? What’s your stance on it? Do tell!
10 comments
I got into some major eating disorder trouble a long time ago when I started calorie counting, I say stick to what works and doesn’t drive you crazy!
I just started counting again because working out has taken a back seat to studying for CFA and I was feeling fat and gross. I have mixed feelings. It’s definitely been eye opening and helped me realize that I was eating too much (even if it was good stuff). But I think most of the calorie counting things underestimate needs. Pretty sure I’m going to keep doing it just to stay AWARE, but not to try to meet any goals. If I’m hungry, I’m going to eat. It does keep me accountable though, and limits mindless snacking.
I’m with Kaitlyn. I used to count calories, and it was very successful for me as a weight loss method… but it made me completely insane and awful to be around. I remember snapping at my mother when the scones she baked (from scratch!) for breakfast didn’t have a calorie count on them, and I refused to eat them until I could see the recipe and figure it out myself. OOF. Bad news.
I will take a few extra pounds over being crazy.
umm all that food looks SO good right now, haha! hope you are getting all settled in, sounds like you like Brooklyn so far! See you Saturday?! What corral are you in?!
I’ve tried counting calories, but it just doesn’t work for me. I end up limiting myself way too much during the day then eating a ton at night because I’m hungry and angry that I didn’t eat all day. I try to be conscious of what I eat and I feel that works better for me than tracking every bite.
Speaking of ice cream, there’s a place called Blue Marble near Prospect Park that I’ve been wanting to try. It was on a list of the best ice cream in the US!
yeah, i can see how things could spiral out of control easily. I was driving myself crazy always fixating on it!
i think that counting alone isn’t bad, just to become more aware of how much you’re eating. but i was going a little overboard. and yes, the cal counting app i was using was waaay underestimating what i needed. i can’t survive on 1400 calories while working out 4-5 times a week!
i hear ya! ugh, i was starting to drive myself crazy with it. calculating cals on recipes i would make, not making things because they wound up being “too many calories”. oy vey!
not sure what corral yet! gotta pick up my bib tonight
YES! same here. oh my gosh i’ll have to check Blue Marble out
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