Kaye's Days

I mentioned briefly in my last post I started dieting in an attempt to lose weight. Part of dieting is counting calories, so I count the calories in everything, no matter how small. Well, they say small things come in big packages, and counting calories makes me agree!

How many calories are in that apple?! Wait, that banana has how many?? The amount varies by size, which makes sense, but it still surprises me how many calories are small foods. Even if they are healthy, I limit them, so I’m not eating six bananas (630 calories) in one day unless I intend to burn off four of them.

One of my housemates made turkey sandwiches for me to eat later. After a few of counting calories, I knew there would be more in those sandwiches than I expected, so of course, I searched it. 22 (one slice of turkey) plus 158 (two slices of white bread) plus 104 (one slice of American cheese) equals 284 calories total. Yeah, those sandwiches didn’t enter my mouth when I read that. I’ll eat half of one when I return from work, and that’s my sandwich-limit for the day. I’d rather eat the turkey slices single they have the lowest amount and a vast difference to the others.

I went a step further and made a small list of how much of certain nutrients (carbs, fat, sugars, and sodium) is recommended per day and set the limit there. So, I count that in addition to calories. If it’ll put me over one of my limits, it won’t go in my mouth. Water has zero calories, so if I don’t want to eat at the moment, I use that to stave off the hunger until I’m ready to eat. Downside is it makes me want to use the bathroom more than once in a few hours, but they say water is good for you.

So, where’s the silver lining in all of this? The “burn” I reference in the title of this post. Yesterday, I went to the gym. All I did was walk on one of the treadmills for an hour, but in that hour, I burned 340 calories. Before I went to gym, I consumed 365, so burning off 340 left me with 25. According to every weight loss preacher everywhere, you’re supposed to burn more than you eat, so I didn’t do that. But if it means I consumed only 25 calories for the day, I consider that close enough. Of course, I ate when I got home, but I didn’t ruin it by eating 340 calories again. I ate 105, so that left 235 still burned, and 130 consumed for the day. Lovely!

I’ve been at this diet for only five days. I definitely miss soda and chocolate, but I love fruit, so that helps. And it turns out a healthy diet doesn’t mean a lifetime ban of treats and eating out. I love going to restaurants with my boyfriend for holidays, so I’m very glad I don’t have to give that up. Going to have research the calories like crazy, though.