I am getting into the swing of things. I have noticed that the hardest moments are when I am hungry. (Duh). But no, it is not really that simple. The thing about counting calories is that every bite you take subtracts from your daily allotted total. I'm all about addition baby...don't much like subtraction.
But you start off with x number of calories per day, and then you set about eating, and that means subtraction. I could play around with semantics and say I'm adding up my calories, but when there is a limit looming at the end of the day, you know very well you are really subtracting.
I am eating real food, with a few diet-y choices that I happen to like to smooth out the edges. I eat fried eggs and toast for breakfast, something left over from last night's dinner for lunch, and then I try and make a good meal for the family most evenings. So far this week, I've made Caprese chicken, spaghetti, and tonight chicken tortilla soup. All very good and reasonably healthy. My meals (making smaller portions) tend to be around 300-500 each. I throw in a few low calorie snacks to round out my day...and I find that I am eating a generous number of calories per day, with no real deprivation. The weight loss will be slower than if I reduced them to 1000 calories per day, but I'm just tryin' to keep it real here.
I do so hate to see the diminishing number of calories on my LoseIt! app. But I'm learning to relax, there really are plenty to work with in my day, and I can make it through comfortably if I am reasonable and sane in my choices. And I'm learning to not make any sudden decisions to ditch the diet an hour before I eat. Those moments when you are getting really hungry are when your mind seductively whispers, "Why don't you do this diet thing another day?"And then I realize, I'm going to be doing this for a long time. Really forever. There is no such thing as starting another day, because all the days I have left will leave their mark on my body, whether I chose to acknowledge that or not.
It's best to make peace with the fact that, like money, I have a limited amount and if I don't want the consequences of overspending (money or calories) then it's best to put it down on paper and stick to it.
