All of your comments on self-sabotaging and intuitive eating made me think. A lot.
Oh yeah, in case you’re wondering, I am now enjoying the wonderful heat and humidity of Washington, DC. Goodbye, California.
Anyway, I wanted to let the intuitive eating ideas sink in a bit more before I wrote about it, but I do want to address calorie counting and why I’m reverting back to it for now.
Calorie counting has always worked for me.
Not because I set a caloric limitation for myself, because I don’t. I range anywhere from 1200 to 2200 usually, but some days will be higher depending on what I’m training for.
Calorie counting keeps me mindful of my eating.
It makes me aware of just how much food I’m actually consuming. It forces me to monitor my portion sizes. I don’t eat the entire bag of pretzels because I’ll recognize the servings.
It is anal retentive.
But at this stage in my journey, I am still looking to lose weight.
I stress the think healthy, not thin mentality and I still believe that. I’m not focusing on a specific goal weight, but I know, feel, and see that my body fat percentage exceeds the recommended amount.
Counting calories keeps me focused on my goal.
Intuitive eating is great when it is done correctly, but at this point in my journey, my attempt at intuitive eating sometimes transforms into uncontrollable, mindless eating.
The great thing is that I got to practice intuitive eating for two months.
I did well for sixty percent of the time. That’s pretty good, but because I cannot maintain a level head during this process, I am resorting back to my safety net, and that’s calorie counting.
I think it’s a positive thing that I can switch between the two. When something isn’t helping me reach my goals, I switch it up.
I go back to what works one hundred percent of the time for me.
This is a personal thing, though.
I like calorie counting because it is like a guideline for me.
It’s like how some people have half and full marathon training plans.
I don’t, but that’s a different story.
I don’t limit myself on what I can and cannot eat. I don’t set a specific target caloric goal every day, but because I write things down, I am aware of what I’m putting into my mouth. When I calorie counted, I listen to my hunger cues more than when I tried eating intuitively.
However, I know that I will go back to intuitive eating at some point.
I like mixing things up. I like learning. For now, intuitive eating isn’t beneficial for my mental sanity, so I’m putting it on hold and going back to calculated eating.
Side note: my scale is in postal service purgatory. No weigh-in this week. But watch for a post concerning weigh-ins.
What are your thoughts on calorie counting?
Do you set a specific limit for yourself every day?
Do you like Weight Watchers’ point system more?
If you count calories or points, would you like to eventually switch to intuitive eating?
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Female. 25 years old. Chinese. Cook. Foodie. UCLA grad. Traveler. Musician. Scuba diver. GWU Law. Runner.
LOVE that you explored this. and looked inside. and realized right now IE is NOT for you.
its totally as i always yammer: we are the experts of our own bodies, Jess.
it may never be for you—-and thats ok.
Carla
Wow, this is the first entry in your blog I’ve read. And I agree with you 1000% percent.
I also tried intuitive eating based on listening to the 2FC blog and decided that for me, for now, calorie counting is the way to go. Although I’m still trying to incorporate intuitive eating into my calorie counting lifestyle.
I guess what I’m trying to say is, thanks for so clearly saying things I’ve been thinking!
I love this post but I wonder….can’t it be intuitive eating and calorie counting? I mean I eat according to what I really want now and now I’ve explored new foods that is usually healthy but I always log what I ate and gauge the calorie count. It helps me to see if maybe I could alter the recipe into something even healthier or to see if maybe this is something that I should consider paring with something lighter during the day to even out and not wake up feeling full and heavy the next morning.
I’m glad that you are doing what works for you. I know that you’re going to continue to do awesome!
Jess I count calories….I find it a great way to gauge where you are throughout the day.
I used to live by WW points but its really the same thing. Both teach portion control and after a while you do it without even knowing.
I think I’d like to stick with knowing my caloric intake….I try and stay under 1,200 calories when I am trying to lose…but when I’m just eating regularly I still keep it under 2,000.
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I counted calories religiously for the first 7 months of this journey. It helped me tremendously. I’ve stopped counting calories for the past month and it too has helped tremendously. I know that if needed I can go back to counting any time I think its necessary. You tried for two months and now you know its back to what works. That’s what make you awesome Panda! You’re not afraid to try something, fully explore and then make decisions.
That’s why you’re always going to win on this journey!
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Jess, this post brought tears and set me free. I know that sounds pretty crazy, but very very true. I battle because I think I should eat intuitively, but at this point I CAN’T. It doesn’t work for me. It just feels good to hear this from you. It is still my goal, but I have to own up to the fact that I can’t do it right now. I’ve tried and failed. I have to do what works for me to lose weight. I’m trying just portion control, but if that doesn’t work you make me feel free to go back to calorie counting (if I can do it without obsessing, another struggle). Crazy I felt I needed permission!!
I went a few months without my BodyBugg which meant no calorie counting … which led to no tracking at all … which led to no thinking … which led to gaining. Sure, I still gain sometimes even with my Bugg and my counting and my tracking but I typically know it’s coming.
I have just started reading your blog and you seem to be completely on the same page as me! I count weight watchers points, and I just recently started recounting. I feel guilty when I count weight watchers points, I feel as though I should have enough self control to just do IE. BUT, much like you that does not work for me. I like weight watcher points more than calories because if I go out to eat it is much easier to estimate WW points than calories in a meal
The journal aspect of counting did more for me than the actual counting. Being aware of what I ate because I was writing it down helped me to understand that I wasn’t really hungry when I had just ate and was reaching for a cookie. Instead I was trying to feed emotions.
As others have said, if it works for you, it works! Calorie counting worked for me on a limited basis…it helped me be aware. But it also frustrated me and made me feel obsessed after a while. And sad. And scared. And rebellious. And the fact that we’re all different is what makes the world go ’round!
I count calories with Sparkpeople, and I love it. I can do it online or via my iPhone, so it’s super easy and convenient. I think it’s really helpful to know not only where I’m at with my caloric intake for the day, but also with the balance between protein, carbs and fat and my sodium intake (which is usually way too high) and my fiber. I like having it in front of me so I know what to be working on.
Someday I’ll switch to IE, but not until after I reach my goals and maintain for a while. It takes time to learn the new skills of living healthy and consciously…I know that my history with IE had me intuitively eating fast food and chocolate chip cookies for dinner. That’s how I got to where I am now, and it will take time to unlearn those habits. I think if we beat ourselves up into thinking that we should be doing IE before we’re ready, that’s what leads to the didn’t track-so I didn’t think-then I gained sort of cycle.
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I think I’m with you, Jess. I’ve been trying the intuitive eating thing for a couple of weeks, and I don’t think I’m doing a great job. But I’ll probably give it until the rest of the month to see how it goes. I’m also still trying to lose some. I’ve done a great job of maintaining my weight, but I’m not where I want to be just yet.
I look forward to seeing how your Calorie Counting works for you this time around.
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You’re right. I’m in NC and the heat lately has been horrible. Anyway, I didn’t enjoy calorie counting because honestly I get lazy more often than not. Keeping a food journal was a little easier for me because I still had to write stuff down (keeping me aware of what I was putting in my body) without keeping track of the actual calories.
I look forward to the day where a little machine can analyze / log our food and tell us EVERYTHING we need to know (how lazy is that)
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Counting calories just doesn’t agree with me. I’ve tried to do it a number of times. I will start off good, but as soon as I come across something that I don’t know the calories of I get demotivated. I hate estimating and when I have a random snack from a friend or I make something out of individual items I find it so hard to stay on track.
I still struggle with keeping my eating under control so I’m still experimenting with trying to find out what works for me.
My body just doesn’t do intuitive. I need something more structured. I like that you’re counting calories and staying reasonable, without micromanaging the whole thing.
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For me, mindful eating is my ultimate goal and I think I’m taking steps towards that, even with calorie counting and food logging. I use sparkpeople too and also keep a chart on my blog, and I want to eat between 1400 and 1800 calories each day, although I go over sometimes. I think having flexibility is important. Also, paying attention to how certain foods made me feel later is helping me to be more mindful and pick better foods that are fuel rather than filler.