Why I Don’t Count Calories
Hi, it’s Monique here and today I want to bust the myth about Calorie counting.
At any given time, you can choose what you want you want to eat. You’re a grown up. You rock. You got this. However, like any amazing grown up, sometimes we make choices that may not serve our health……even though we’re trying to be good right?
For me, I was completely calorie obsessed and like some power crazed maniac, I could sum up the calorific value of any meal or snack and then manipulate my own diet plan to only eat treats, while staying with in my daily allowance. So, how come I gained weight? Because of the way those treats were processed by my body. Basically the calories were right, but their effects were wrong.
Most conventional diet plans give you guidelines on what to eat based on some nutritional value and mostly calorie counting. But if you’re like me and you’ve been kicked out of weight loss clubs because you learnt how to basically ‘game the system’, chances are the foods you’re choosing may be calorie right, but nutritionally wrong. This is why I no longer count calories.
Let me show you an example:
Here’s 188 calories or just under half a standard lunchtime allowance of food or an afternoon snack or dessert.
You could choose almonds or candy. Same calories right? NO.
Let’s talk about sugar.
- Your brain responds to sugar the same way it would to cocaine.
- Eating sugar creates a surge of feel-good brain chemicals, dopamine and serotonin. So does using certain drugs, like cocaine.
- Just like a drug, your body craves more after the initial high.
- Your insulin spikes to regulate your blood sugar and it’s job is to absorb the excess glucose in the blood and stabilise your sugar levels. A little while later you get that familiar sugar crash.
So what do you do? Reach for more? Even if you don’t, a massive chemical reaction has happened and long term, this can lead to insulin resistance and weight gain.
Let’s compare that to almonds.
- Almonds can actually help with weight-loss.
- The mono unsaturated fat found in almonds prevents overeating and the dietary fibre contributes to the sensation of being full, despite eating only a small amount.
- They’re good for the brain, they’re a fantastic source of antioxidants, they can help control blood sugar and they’re great for your skin!
Same calories and quite a different reaction right?
Since learning all of this (and this study has been happening for over 20 years!), putting it into action and understanding that it’s more important to count nutrition and make sure you eat a balanced plate of MOSTLY PLANT, SOME PROTEIN, and A LITTLE FAT, life has certainly become a heap easier. No more obsessive calorie counting. I look better, feel better and the weight has gradually and naturally fallen away. AND I don’t have those insane cravings any more.
So there you go: myth busted. Say no to calorie counting. Eat a balanced diet, learn to listen to when your body is truly hungry, and gently full, and make better choices.
It’s not rocket science, but it works.
Are you struggling with your sugar cravings or looking at how to re-jig your eating plan? If so, let’s talk!
Book a Skype chat or in real life catch up and not only can I share some strategies on how to overcome those crazy cravings, but work with you to create a pathway for success!
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Hi I'm Monique Bradley.