2/3rds The Answer
I thought about seeing a dietitian. I wanted professional guidance on what I should be consuming in a day. I brought it up with my doctor and she said that with most insurances, I would be able to see a dietitian once or twice within a calendar year. She told me that a dietitian would want to know exactly what I was consuming, so I would have to write it down. I was instructed to measure and write down everything I ate for 2 weeks, then call and schedule an appointment to see the dietitian. I didn’t want to make an appointment, have a co-pay, go to my appointment and be told, “Come back in a month after you have recorded your eating habits.” No one wants to pay for an unnecessary appointment.
I am frugal. I do not want to spend money when I don’t have to. I had no extra money to spend at the time I was contemplating seeing a dietitian. My insurance would cover most of my appointment, but I would still have a co-pay. I wrote down all of my intake and realized just how many calories I was consuming. It was insane! I believe most of the United States does not understand portion sizes. When I would eat something, I didn’t realize I was actually eating 4 servings of something. Not just munching on a snack. So I started eating true portions, not what I grew up thinking was portions or what restaurants told me were portions. I never went to go see the dietitian because I decided that I could get my caloric intake under control for free and before I went to go see the dietitian, so that way when I ran into another snag I would have the first road block out of the way, which was controlling what I ate.
When people ask me what I did to lose the weight, I answer “There are a lot of small things and changes that I have made, but the biggest thing I did was calorie count.” Sure, I would walk my dogs and try and stay physically active, my neighbors would comment on how often they would see me with the dogs. But calorie counting was the key for me. I need to be aware at any point in the day, what my current consumption is at.
There was a summer that I decided I didn’t want to calorie count any more. I was losing weight. It was summer. I was walking my dogs heavily, averaging about 10k a day, 5 days a week. I was working my literal ass off. I felt confident enough in my abilities to stay in control. I had been portioning out food for about a year and I figured I had a good grasp at what I should be eating. But it is easy to forget what you eat. It is easy to have 1.5 servings instead of 1 serving of anything. It is easy to give in to hunger – even if you are feeding your hunger with healthy food – regardless of what your current caloric intake is for the day. From April 5th, 2017 to September 26th, 2017, I lost exactly 3 pounds. I was furious! I had a lot to lose! How could I have only lost 3 pounds?! Because I was eating when I was hungry. I was walking my dogs all of the time, which meant I was hungry all of the time.
I need to be accountable for my intake, so I write it all down. I use pen and paper. Not many people like that option. It is cumbersome and time consuming, but I like to literally write it down. Most people have an app to track their intake and those that stick to the plan feel an app works out fine. It was not something I was faithful to, so I carry a notebook in my purse. I write everything down.
I started measuring my food by volume and that worked for a while, but I switched over to measuring by weight and found it easier and I saw improved results. My husband purchased an electronic food scale that I use at most meals. I have taken it to family gatherings, picnics and on vacation. Do I feel ridiculous? No. I felt ridiculous in the state I used to be in. I need to keep close eye on what I am consuming, otherwise I will easily go back to old habits and gain the weight back. Now that I am at my goal, are there days that I don’t weight my food out? Sure. I spent last week not measuring my food out. I was on the go a bit too much and it was easier to just grab produce and go as opposed to weight it and individually pack it for each person. But when I was in the process of losing weight, I weighted everything. It drove my mother nuts that I would weigh my lettuce in my salad. 100g of lettuce is 15 calories and I wanted, no needed, to know what I was eating and needed to keep track of everything.
Calorie counting is 2/3rds my success. It was an annoying hurdle to get over but now that I do it, it is just a natural part of my day. I think of food in calories and nutrition and what I will get out of it more than how it will taste. I know I have a healthier relationship with food now compared to any other time in my life.
I am in a strawberry mood lately. Per Google, the average strawberry has 4 calories and 100g of strawberries has 33 calories. They are in season right now and I am loving them! What is one of your favorite “low calorie” foods?
Half A Human 