One of my biggest mental challenges is going to be counting calories. I'm going to be using the LoseIt! app. The app itself isn't the problem. It's actually a pretty slick way to keep track of food intake and includes a bar code scanner, which is super convenient.
It's not the tool, but the process of counting calories itself.
Counting calories is tedious and time-consuming and I resist it like my cats resist my putting them in their carriers, feet braced and muscles taut, scrabbling at every opportunity to get away.
But *deep breath* I have learned there are really two ways it works for me to keep a steady eye on my diet:
1. Eat as much as I want, but only of certain foods. This can mean no sweets, no carbs, no meat, no whatever. As much as I really want this strategy to work for me, it just doesn't. It doesn't take long until I get bored and feel restricted. Then I rebel, which leads me to...
2. Count calories. I don't believe this is something I need to do forever, but I do know I'll be doing it throughout this challenge. There's no way I can keep myself on track to lose 21 lbs. over the next six months without have numerical assurances.
And I know I need to re-wire my brain. I have zero idea what proper portion size is anymore. In my past calorie counting ventures, I've been upset at how many calories there are in EVERYTHING and how few I would have left by the time the work day is over.
Yep. It's time to suck it up, buttercup.