Should you count calories?
I hate diets. Diets are just a list of foods that people tell us not to eat. Well, I want to eat whatever I want. If I feel like having a mouth-watering, spicy Popeye’s fried chicken sandwich one day, what’s the big deal? If I need a Dove sweet, dark and delicious chocolate bar, is it OK? I gotta say – YES! IT’S MORE THAN OK – IT’S NECESSARY!
Depriving ourselves of the things we love is not fun. Granted, waddling away from the all-you-can-eat buffet isn’t fun either!
Here are 3 tips to eat what you want, not count calories and Really Live in a body you love:
1) Make your food fantasy list.
I talk about this in my book, Fit Enough, and it’s the #1 rule I live by. List the 5 foods you would fantasize about if you were stranded on a desert island. Those are the foods you should definitely indulge in when you have the opportunity. My list includes: my mom’s magic cookie bars (the recipe is in Fit Enough and they really are MAGIC); Popeye’s spicy friend chicken; Alessandro’s pizza; breakfast burrito from Jimmy Carters in San Diego; my hubby, Mike Shina’s homemade tequila ice cream. Obviously, these aren’t available all the time SO they make great comparisons for anything I might eat out of mindless boredom or even PMS. I think about these before choosing something crappy and totally subpar.
2) Set the timer for 20 minutes.
It takes 20 minutes for your stomach to tell your brain you are FULL. Set the timer and make whatever you have on your plate last for 20 minutes. Pay attention to the experience, listen to music instead of watching TV or reading, chew your food 20-30 times, and put your fork down in between bites. Eat whatever you want, just ENJOY it.
3) Indulge early in the day.
If you eat most of your food before noon, your body can burn it off before you go to bed. Studies show people who eat a big breakfast and small dinner are naturally thinner than people who do the opposite. Make breakfast the biggest meal, then eat a medium lunch and end it with a really small dinner. Check out ‘The Breakfast Quiz” here!
With these 3 tips, I’ve maintained a size 6 for more than 5 years without dieting. Oh, so I guess my answer to “Should you count calories?” is “not if you want to enjoy your life”.
THIS WEEKS ACTION ITEM:
Eat a king-sized breakfast in the morning, a regular lunch, and cut your dinner in half. It’s opposite of what we usually do, just try it.
