For our first month, I thought I’d make it easy by taking something off your plate rather than add something new.
Not All Calories Are Created Equally
I wish someone had told me this years ago. If I could have back all the hours I spent logging foods and calories on an app, I’d have time for so many other things. The idea of counting calories makes a lot of logical sense: if you spend more calories than you consume, you will lose weight! Right?
Turns out, not necessarily. This method depends on the idea that all calories are created equally. Which they most certainly, are not. It won’t come as a surprise that 100 calories of broccoli is not the same as 100 calories of Doritos. Not just in the amount of food, but the quality of the food, and what that food does to your body from the inside. Broccoli is full of heart-healthy fiber and nutrients; Doritos are full of inflammatory chemicals and additives. On top of that, some of the highest calorie foods are the best for you (when eaten in moderation). Think avocados and nuts.
Exercise Doesn’t “Earn” You Junk Calories
Back to the counting. I mean, I used to work out, tracking how many calories I’d burned, and that was how many extra calories I could eat that day in order to maintain my weight. The problem? Those “earned” calories I ate usually came in the form of cookies, ice cream, or other junk.
This is why I have a beef with programs like Weight Watchers*, which assigns points/calories to foods, and you just have to stay within your allotted points for the day. For one person, that could (and should) look like 3-4 meals of whole, natural foods. Or for another it could be one incredible binge of Krispy Kremes–even though it’s still technically within the calorie limit. Which person do you think is healthier? Which person feels energized, is not bloated, and is less likely to develop cancer or heart disease? Yeah, we all know.
*As an aside, if you have had success with Weight Watchers, no judgment here. There are people who do it right, and people who don’t. Rock on with your points if that’s what works for you!
Focus on What You Eat, Not the Calories
Bottom line: calories don’t matter. What matters is WHAT you’re eating, i.e. the ingredients listed on the label. Avoid added sugars, artificial sweeteners/colors/flavors, and anything with the word hydrogenated, as a start. The fewer ingredients, the better. The very best? Food items that don’t even have an ingredient label, like a head of cauliflower or an apple (I see you, person who just ripped the ingredient label off the bag of Chips Ahoy!)
So, focus on whole, unprocessed foods, take out calorie counting and go use that extra time for something that will make you feel good! Notice how freeing it feels to trust yourself and your body–and how vibrant you feel physically and mentally as you develop a healthy relationship with food. And eat like your life depends on it!
Healthfully Yours,
Nicole
PS: If you already enjoy the freedom of not counting calories, go you! If you want one thing to work on this month, I suggest focusing on my last paragraph above: reading ingredients on labels.
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