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Targeting a calorie value for maintenance of my desired weight (after wading through countless sites) of 1800 +/- 200 calories per day, I've been keeping a tally for about a couple weeks. Low and behold, my gradual weight gain accompanying my increased frequency of visiting the gym was from eating too much. Sounds obvious, but I didn't realize how significant seemingly harmless foods were. I'm now on track for a gradual change to the weight I'd like to be, but the exercise of counting the cals was great. Reducing calories wasn't nearly as painful as I thought, it just takes a bit of thought to make the calories you do eat, satisfying ones. Here's some of my observations:
• I have come to appreciate the sweet potato as one of the best foods on earth.
• Kroger brand saltines are only 10 cal / cracker. This is cool.
• I love tuna, sardines and any other helpless canned fish, but too much protein is not satisfying.
• Breakfast food is the most calorically dense food ever. Breakfast can give you 60% of your calories by 8 am. We're doing lots of grain cereals for breakfasts these days.
• Why are vending machine treats all TWO onces these days? A slip or two to the vending machine in the afternoon can push anyone into a few pounds per month. Vending machines are expensive and deadly.
• Bread is still a great food, just gotta budget for it.
• I have a care free meal once in a while. No counting.
• Knowing calorie counts hasn't ruined my enjoyment of eating at all.
• I actually make my own popcorn for the movies and smuggle it in because:
a. the movie chains extort money,
b. I'm cheap,
c. my popcorn is good enough for the gods,
d. I'm cheap, and
e. see c.
• Beer and wine are calorie bargains at 150/12 oz and 100/5 oz respectively. Woohoo!
• Legumes are perfect proteins; ethnic markets have so many more to choose from than Bush's sells. La Preferida "small red beans" are my new favorite.
• I still make lots of bbq; I'm counting, I'm not ending my life.
