Calorie counting

I have to admit that over the last 15 years or so, I have been a yo-yo calorie counter. I really don't like to "diet," but whenever I started to get over a certain weight, I would start to be more conscience about what I was eating and either start counting calories or keep a food journal. I have used The Daily Plate app, but I didn't love it. However, after a few days or weeks of counting calories, I would get sick of it and quit. When I started eating clean I totally changed my whole relationship with food. I started to eat to live, not live to eat. I continually reminded myself that this is a lifestyle, not a diet. As a result, the weight just fell off. I lost over 10 pounds in about 6 weeks. Then I hit the inevitable weight loss wall that it seems everyone eventually runs into. My weight has stabilized these past few months and although I'm still seeing changes in my body, I have had to really be more conscientious of everything that I put into my mouth. Now, I don't want to be a liar. I still have days that I make poor choices. On Saturday, for instance, I was at my daughter's gymnastics competition for 13 hours. I packed veggies, homemade trail mix, fruit, cottage cheese, protein powder, Greek yogurt, and carrot protein bars. I made really good choices until about 5 pm, when I broke down and ate chocolate covered pretzels. Was it worth it? Nope, it never is. Although, I made this poor choice, I feel that I made some other excellent choices, such as packing my own food.

This is the dinner that I packed for myself. I have a bag that looks like a black purse but is actually a cooler. My daughter and I went shopping at the Gateway mall in Salt Lake City the night before the competition and we ate our dinner at the food court. Being prepared allows me to eat healthy no matter where I am.








I knew when I started this fitness challenge, 6 figures, that the main focus would be what I ate. I have been using the fitness pal app for a few months now. I like Fitness Pal so much better than TDP. It is so easy to use and since it's an app on my phone, I can track my calories anywhere. So far, the trainer working with me (Evelyn) hasn't been super specific about what to eat or what not to eat. This last week she gave me some guidance on my calorie intake. The other 5 participants have a set number of daily calories, but I do not. This is from a text that she sent me:

"If you get asked about your calories, you are unique in the sense that you don't have a set daily amount. Yours depends on the demands of your workout. Long days require more fuel for energy reserves, and more nutrition to catalyze recovery. HIIT days also require a little more nutrition and calories. Recovery and cross days should be around basal metabolic rate. That is why you have a weekly deficit goal, rather than a daily target, and also why a body bugg would be really useful. Anyhow, if you have to explain yourself thats why. Looking for around 3500 calorie deficit/week. The [bodybugg] display is nice to see your calories accruing throughout the day. Plus a good way to know how to plan your higher cal days. I.e. You burn 1000 calories. You can plan to eat 500 above basal by 200 post workout, 200 during workout, and 100 more onto your breakfast. Helps to plan your future workouts and meals."

Since I had to buy a new washer and dryer this month, I didn't feel like I wanted to fork out another $150 for the body bugg. However, I am the kind of person that once I get it into my head that I need something, I obsess about it. Which is why I recently bid on a body bugg on eBay at 2 am. At 2 am my decisions are never stellar. So now I am the owner of a body bugg v3. It isn't the newest model and not what I would have picked had a done some more research at a more reasonable hour. I'm going to start wearing it this week. I'm really excited to see what I'm burning each workout and day. Hopefully it will be useful and I won't regret my 2 am decision. I'll report back on it next week.