stop counting calories

How I did it: I've been micro-managing my calorie intake since the start of college...over four years ago!  I thought losing weight was entirely calories in vs calories out but I made myself miserable limiting myself to 1200 calories a day at the most (which, by the way, is the LOWEST you're ever supposed to go in a day)!  If I wasn't counting my calories, I was thinking about what I was not allowed to eat, and how in the world other people ate them without the guilt and without gaining weight.  After several bouts of differing eating disorders, I finally decided I didn't want to be thinking about food and calories all day every day like I had been.

I had no idea where to start, so I turned to the one thing I know and love - books!  I read When You Eat At The Refrigerator, Pull Up a Chair and Breaking Free From Emotional Eating (both by Geneen Roth).  Even though I still hadn't started the process of letting go of watching my calories, they immediately made me feel better because Roth clearly understands the battle, having gone through it countless times herself.  She points out ways in which we perpetuate the battle without being conscious of it.  I was amazed!

I started following her advice - taking account of my emotions before I eat, rating my hunger before I started eating, and eating WHAT YOU WANT to eat.  She even has a list of questions to help you figure out what taste, texture, and temperature of food is going to satisfy you the most so you eat less and you don't make up for denying yourself by eating later.

It's a slow process.  Every day I had to remind myself to think about my emotions and hunger before I ate, but eventually each day you need to think less about it.  I'm an emotional eater, so there are times I need to pull her books out again because I feel out of control and I know there are going to be times like that in the future. The big thing is, I haven't counted calories for almost three weeks AND I've lost weight.  That's a combination I never before thought was possible.

Lessons & tips:

• Make sure you're prepared for possibly gaining a couple pounds before you get in tune with your body and your weight stabilizes.
• Read some literature about it and realize you're not alone.
• Don't hesitate to pull out materials that helped you whenever you feel that you need a reminder or are having a particularly difficult day.
• Forgive yourself.  Eating that cookie won't make you gain 50 pounds overnight (even though sometimes it feels like it will), and punishing yourself for eating it won't change the fact that you did - let it go!
• If there are certain foods that always give you troubles, throw them out and don't keep them in your house.  If you have a craving and the food isn't around...you're probably not going to drive to the store just to get it.
• Exercise.  Working out lets you burn off the pent up frustration and gives you time to think about something other than food (like just catching your breath) to show youself it IS possible.
• I didn't have this...but if you're lucky enough to have someone that understands and supports you in this - talk it out!
• Once a week or once every other week COMMIT to a guilt-free treat.  Mentally prepare yourself to refuse to feel guilty and then enjoy every single bite of what you're craving until it doesn't taste as indulgent and delightful (sometimes this is even after one bite).

Resources:

• Breaking Free From Emotional Eating -Geneen Roth
• When You Eat At The Refrigerator, Pull Up A Chair - Geneen Roth

Jul 16, 08:34AM PDT | 0 comments | 2 cheers