A New Plan

So, I threatened to stop counting calories if the weight doesn't start coming off yesterday and this morning I lost 0.4 lbs. This is at least the third time, maybe the fourth time, that I've threatened to find a new weight loss method because calorie counting wasn't working only to wake up in the morning and have a small loss. So now, I've decided that every day I'm going to post about how I am going to stop counting calories and do something else. That seems to lead to the loss better than anything I've tried in recent weeks. SHHH...don't say anything, I don't want the blog to find out, I'm on to it.




Actually, inside of me, I know this is the right way to eat. I don't feel deprived. I even at cake a little while ago. (More about that later.) Sparkpeople has made me more aware of all nutrients not just calories & carbs. I've focused on those things, and carbs in particular so long, that I've vilified certain foods. If ate something like white bread, I felt like I was cheating. I'm still not making white bread my first choice, but I know eating it isn't the horrible tragedy I once thought. I want this to work. Some tweaking is still in order. I almost never make my protein range, and have to be careful about going over with fat. I'm learning and that is always a good thing.



BTW, does anyone know if there is a way to look up foods in a certain category on sparkpeople. For instance, if I wanted a high protein food could I do a search and get a list? I plan my meals out for the day and enter them. I get the feed back and make whatever changes I need to, but sometimes I'll see that I need several more grams of protein and calories. If I could put in those search criteria someplace and get a food that matches those needs, I could just add it rather than guessing. Most of the time, I change the portion size to get things the way they need to be. Don't worry, though, I'm not getting all upset about getting all nutrients just so every day. If I'm close, I'm good. If there is an easier way, I'd like to know.



Now for the cake...every month we celebrate the birthdays of those in the office having a birthday that month. Generally, my practice has been to wish the celebrants a happy birthday and slip out. I really have developed a distaste for store bought bakery cakes. It hasn't been much of a hardship to pass up the cake. This month, however is my birthday and those with birthdays get the first slices. I had been prepared to graciously accept the cake, take a small nibble or two then need to go back to my desk to discreetly toss the vile matter. The precious lady that volunteered to bring the cake this time actually made a cake from scratch. She's good too! She even made two cakes, one with fruit in it and fat free topping. She did this especially for me!! It was a very, very considerate thing for her to do. I couldn't pass it up. So, I had a very small serving and added it to my calories for the day.



I really don't feel bad about it. It tasted good, and easily fit in to my calories (or so I think). I like the freedom calorie counting gives me to have a small piece of cake every now & then and still be on plan. That is how I want my life to be. I don't want to live the rest of my life without cake every once in a while.



If this doesn't work though, I'm quitting, I mean it!!