My yearlong eating plan
requires that I NOT count calories,log food or read labels. Since I am supposed
to eat REAL food I shouldn't have to worry about labels J
Our mind is all about
the numbers – grams of fat, calories, how much the scale says – we obsess about
the numbers and not what our bodies are really trying to tell us. How many
times have I had a bad day because I didn't like what the scale said in the
morning? How many times have I beat myself up because I ate something and then
looked at the label to find the calories much higher than I thought? How
many times have I gone to bed hungry because my points for the day/week were
spent? Oh the games I played with my WW points!
I have come to believe
that we sabotage ourselves by attaching values to “the numbers” rather than
considering what really matters. Are you hungry? Do your clothes feel good?
When you look in the mirror are you satisfied with what you see? Are you eating
wholesome food? Do you enjoy the food you eat? Why are you eating?
Not weighing or reading
labels or counting calories does not mean that you ignore an obligation to your
health – quite the opposite. Instead of focusing on numbers I consider menus
and balance my proteins, carbs and fats. I have foods that I don’t eat, but
that is my choice. I am letting my subconscious determine what my ideal weight
should be, and I guess it will reach that set point when I stop having to buy
smaller sizes… I know I won’t just continue to lose weight indefinitely…
The first few months on
this plan produced a lot of anxiety-I had to trust. It was weird to not count.
It was weird to not weigh. It was almost a reflex to check calories and it took
a while to break the habit. It was weird to not want cookies or chips (though I
think that’s the hypnosis part).But now it feels freeing – I don’t even think
about the numbers. There are times when I feel fat, and I think “those pants
just came out of the dryer –they are going to be tight…” but they zip right up;
and this is still strange to me. I think constantly about maintenance… Is this
really how I will eat forever? Will I ever feel tempted to eat things I have no
desire to eat now? This is where my mind wanders.
Should I carry this
practice through to my exercise? I have not kept track this whole year, but as
I start to develop a solid weightlifting routine I need to record my
reps/weights and type of exercise. I can’t just go to the gym and just start
lifting things… How will I get stronger? How will I get an effective, efficient
workout? I hate to waste time. I ran 6.2 miles Saturday and I felt AWESOME. Was
it fast for me? I have no idea… and I really want to know! When I finally
decide what events I’ll do next year I’ll have to train; I’ll need a plan; I’ll
need to track my results.
I’m thinking about a
FITBIT…
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