Reality slap.... do you need one? Part 1.

 

Before logging became a way of life.

So the bottom line is because we are humans and no one is willing to sacrifice their children, or themselves for that matter, for a quality, long term study on nutrition; AND we are a VERY FLAWED species when it comes to discipline and following directions so there is no scientific research on nutrition.  The best they can do is look at nutrition through epidemiology research, which is the study of incidences and connections to each other.  A HUGE problem with this is it is incapable of distinguishing between correlation and causation. What has been strongly shown is that most of us need to eat less and make better food choices.  

Some very strong epidemiology research HAS shown that eating FEWER calories tends to lengthen life span rather than over feeding ourselves.  This should not be read to starve ourselves or go to an extreme.  We do know THAT is NOT the best option for improving our health.  

I have talked about it before but I am going to reiterate it here... counting your calories consumed is the fastest way to see what the reality of YOUR situation is.  I consider it my reality slap.  Days I feel like I haven't eaten very much add up real quick based on the choices I made those days.  There are SO MANY apps out there to choose from.  Yes it is time consuming and a pain in the ass, but it is also sooooooo incredibly helpful and necessary if you are trying to get a grip on your body composition.  I use My Fitness Pal... I use the free version.  If any of you would like help setting this up I am more than happy to help you.  It's not overboard if you have ever struggled with your weight.  It is not "unhealthy" to give a shit.  It is so freakin' important.  It is the only way to get a clear picture of where you need to get a grip.  

I am writing this on Saturday night... I just logged my last food of the day, my serving size of thin mints, 4 cookies worth 160 calories... I have 139 calories left to meet my daily goal, adjusted based on what my exercise looked like.  I have been logging for... a long time.  I have found it is the best way for ME to stay on track and not have my 20-pound swing I would each year for most of my adult life.  It is no longer a pain in the ass, it has become a habit, a part of my life like brushing my teeth or taking a shower.  I NEED it.  I am by nature an over eater, I struggle with moderation.  Logging my food hasn't changed that, it simply lets me know what that looks like in a math equation for my health and wellness.  If I eat a bag of chips, I have to log that bag of chips, all 7-800 calories of it and then I make choices about the rest of my meals that day based on that.  Don't get me wrong, my blowout days are logged too. When I finish my day 5-700 calories over my allotted daily goal.  It happens. But logging my food daily helps me make up for that blowout in the days after so things don't spiral.  We don't gain weight, well we technically do sometimes, over an indulgent weekend, rather it takes weeks, months, and years of overeating the calories we are burning to gain weight.  So we should consistently work to eat 100-300 calories less than we are burning each day to maintain or lose weight over the long haul safely.  

I am hoping you will read this on Sunday.  A perfect day to get yourself set up to log your food starting on Monday.  Do a little research to find the app that works for you.  My Fitness Pal has the largest food database which makes it best for me.  There are other really good ones out there too.  Shoot me a text if you need help getting set up.  I will help.  Don't make up some bull shit excuse that you will do it when you see me or "later".  Start your food journey NOW if you haven't already... 

Imma tell you what I am starting on Monday in Part 2...