Calorie Counting

As you know, I've been working since Memorial Day weekend to start losing the weight I put on last December - May. I know I haven't been perfect, but I feel like I've been working harder than the scale shows. That is super frustrating, but I also know the scale isn't everything. Still, losing the weight is part of the goal! The other part is to tone back up and feel like I have the strength and fitness I did back in 2014.

I finally gave in and decided to try counting calories. Honestly, this first week or so won't be so much for the purpose of cutting calories or changing anything (even though I know there are things I can change) but rather to really get an honest picture of how many calories I am consuming each day. I think sometimes we think we know how many we are eating, but underestimate accidentally.

Plus we all know that by purposefully counting calories, we are more inclined to eliminate a snack we don't really need or make a healthier choice because we are going to have to write it down. So whether it be on purpose or not, I am likely going to make some subtle changes.

I am going to share what the first few days have looked like. I am not sure if I am going to continue to share or not. I know it would be good to share for accountability, but how boring to read daily food logs! Maybe I will make it part of my weekly training recaps? I'll figure it out!

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Thursday:

• Breakfast: Yoplait yogurt - 150 calories,
• mid-morning: granola bar  - 150 calories
• oops - I also forgot I snuck 2 thin mints on the way out the door - 80 calories
• Birds Eye microwavable noodles and veggies for lunch - 460 calories (2 servings)
• string cheese - 90 calories
• Pepsi and PB sandwich calories during afternoon prep - 360 calories total
• slice of pizza for dinner - 330 calories
• 2 more thin mints on the way out to Ava's dance class - 80 calories
• 2nd Pepsi of the day - 150 calories
• TOTAL - 1850 calories

Friday:

• Kwik Trip cream-filled long john (a Friday indulgence!) - 420 calories (hoping that's an accurate count)
• Birds Eye veggies in cheese sauce for lunch - 175 calories (package was 3.5 servings)
• string cheese - 90 calories
• yogurt (that I didn't eat for breakfast) - 150 calories
• Pepsi and PB sandwich crackers - 360 calories
• Granola bar - 150 calories
• Grapefruit (sprinkled with sugar) - 200 calories
• Pepsi - 150 calories
• 1/2c Frito scoops - 220 calories
• TOTAL - 1915 calories

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So far both days have been higher than I thought they would be. I thought I was closer to 1500 than 2000 most days. Obviously the one area I should easily cut is one Pepsi instead of two per day. I just like my Pepsi! Friday especially didn't feel like it should've been that high. I was hungry most of the day!

Hopefully I can stick with counting to get a baseline, and then figure out where I can start making different choices and eventually start seeing some movement on the scale.

Here's this morning (Saturday) so far:

• pancakes - 190 calories
• syrup and butter - 235 calories

The pancake count is estimated, but I did eat about half of what I made, so I'll go with it. I am probably going to eat extra calories today (will eat again before I get out for my long run, plus lunch and supper!). However, I am also going on a long run ...

We'll see what happens from here and if it makes a difference.

What have been your tried and true methods to break through a rut?