A calorie is a calorie

I went to an eating disorder treatment center where the meal plan was all about counting calories.... and it wasn't the healthiest way of eating. We ate only processed foods that had calorie counts on them to make sure the calorie counts were "accurate." Even 5 calories short of our meal plan goal we had to add a mini pretzel or saltine cracker... yes one pretzel! Crazy right? Right.

But I did learn a lot at that program about calories and food and how to look at food realistically. Food has different nutrients.... and that is important. But when it comes to eating and gaining weight, the truth is a calorie is a calorie. It doesn't matter if you eat 100 calories in carrots or 100 calories in cookies, it is still 100 calories. You can get your hundred calories and be super full and uncomfortable and gassy, or you can eat a small cookie and get the same nutrition count. A calorie is a calorie is a calorie.

Another thing I learned is diet food is stupid!!! REALLY stupid! First of all, diet food just isn't satisfying. For example: two women go to a restaurant and order dessert. woman #1 orders a weight watchers little dessert, trying to be "good" and "healthy." The other woman orders a slice of cheese cake, eats it, and feels satisfied. Well woman #1 is unsatisfied with her dessert and gets hungry an hour after she's eaten. Woman #2 is satisfied and stays full until her next snack/dinner. The woman who ordered the cheese cake actually made a better choice for her body! Sounds crazy right? And also, diet foods have extra sugar and salt and other crud to add flavor. Moral of the story: choose the real food! It tastes better and it's better for you.

Basically, eat what you are hungry for, and eat what makes you feel good. Your body will do what it needs to balance everything out and make up for "extra." Eating is a normal, healthy thing to do. Bodies need food to survive!!! Food is good. Food is food. A calorie is a calorie. Eat and feel good!

Stop calorie counting!

So I found myself looking at my meal plan for the day and calculating the calorie counts  on my phone. And then found myself short of breath, panicking about the number. It's a A LOT higher than  comfortable with. I do this all the time... Make myself panic over something that really isn't important.
Why do I make myself miserable?
Cause really, what is a calorie?

It's the energy needed to raise the temperature of 1 gram of water through 1 °C (now usually defined as 4.1868 joules)

So why are we obsessively counting units of energy?? It's silly.

Reasons not to count calories:
- labels aren't 100% accurate anyway!
- there's no way to count the exact 
calories in a food as it changes with ripeness, season, etc
- not all calories are absorbed in the body
- waste of time!
- makes healthy foods seem "bad" because they are high calorie - we forget they are great for the body and full of nutrients!

Things to do instead of counting calories:

- listen to your body's hunger signals. Eat until you are satisfied
- eat foods that taste good!
- focus on your meal in front of you, stay In the moment
- eat slowly and enjoy your food
- eat everything in moderation
- focus on tastes and textures that you enjoy
- choose healthy nutrient rich foods and treat yourself to something "unhealthy" when you want it!
- follow your meal plan, use the exchange system if you need

Things to count instead of calories:
- the people who love you
- your blessings
- the hours to something exciting

NEVER STOP FIGHTING!!!