Summary

Christina, a married mother and writer, briefly quit her 12-week calorie-counting challenge due to frustration but recommitted after being inspired by Leila Hormozi and experiencing the negative effects of overindulging in unhealthy foods.

Abstract

Christina, chronicling her journey in a 12-week calorie-counting challenge, encountered a setback in week 6 when she quit due to feelings of futility and a desire for unrestricted eating, such as indulging in Halloween candy. However, her resolve was restored through two pivotal events: motivation from a Leila Hormozi video emphasizing the importance of persistence, and the physical discomfort caused by binging on Voodoo pretzels. Despite a significant calorie overage on Saturday, Christina managed to end the week on a positive note, reflecting on the wisdom that consistency in healthy habits is more important than occasional lapses. She acknowledges her ongoing struggle with protein intake but remains committed to the challenge, recognizing the psychological benefits of maintaining control over her dietary choices.

Opinions

Christina initially felt that the calorie-counting challenge was not yielding results and was a waste of time.
Leila Hormozi's advice on focusing on a plan and avoiding distractions resonated with Christina and motivated her to continue the challenge.
Overindulging in Voodoo pretzels led to physical discomfort, reinforcing the value of calorie counting for Christina.
Christina believes in the principle that what you do most of the time is more impactful than what you do occasionally, which she applies to both calorie counting and life goals.
Despite difficulties in meeting protein goals, Christina is content with her progress and the discipline gained from the challenge.
Christina values the sense of control that comes with calorie counting and is determined to complete the challenge.

Calorie-Counting Challenge Week 6 Breakdown (I Quit!)

I quit the challenge, but then here’s what happened…

(In case you missed it, I’m doing a 12-week calorie-counting challenge. You can find everything here.)

My headline isn’t clickbait.

I really did quit.

Last week I had the thought, “I’m not getting anywhere with this. Why am I wasting my time?”

I was so disgruntled by mid-week that I ended up quitting.

“I want to eat Halloween candy without thinking about it!”

But then two major things happened that put me back in my place.

1. Leila Hormozi kicked my ass.

I was listening to a YouTube video from Leila Hormozi for my article about shiny object syndrome.

6 Ways to Combat Shiny Object Syndrome (Before It Kills Your Dreams)

Don’t let your good ideas be bludgeoned to death

medium.com

In the video, she says in order to be successful, you have to stop being distracted. You have to stick with the plan even when it gets tedious and boring.

“Gosh darn it, Leila! I was happy not worrying about my calories.”

2. I stuffed my face with Voodoo pretzels.

When I stop counting calories, it unleashes something in my brain. “You can have all the Voodoo pretzels you want now”, says the little devil in my head.

And I sure did.

These bad boys right here:

I had a LOT of these. With cream cheese. 😬

I couldn't stop eating them. But once I did, they made me feel terrible. (Because they are full of MSG and other “stuff”. That’s what makes them taste so damn good.)

The Voodoo pretzel incident happened on Saturday. Once I put all my calories back into LoseIt that I missed when I quit, here’s what Saturday looked like:

Ouch!

But it’s OK. I got myself back on track (thanks, Leila!) and now I’ll show you how my week ended up.

Final Results for Week 6

As you can see, even with that Saturday incident, the week was still good.

In the book Body for Life by Bill Phillips, he says something like:

“It’s what you do most of the time that matters, not what you do some of the time.”

That’s a quote that’s stuck with me throughout the years.

And it’s so true. For calorie counting and everything else you’re trying to accomplish in life.

I haven’t figured that protein thing out yet. Let’s be honest. I probably never will.

I weighed in last week at 138.6. So, I’m still hanging out in the same weight range.

Final Thoughts

It’s easy to quit. Until you’re face-first in a bag of Voodoo pretzels. Then you realize counting calories is more than just about weight loss. It feels good to have some control over the little devil in your mind. I’m happy to be back on board for the rest of the challenge.

About the Author

Hey! I’m Christina. I’m a married mom to two teenagers (and 3 cats and a dog). I love drinking coffee, listening to rock music 🤘, and reading murder mysteries. I also love creating quick, easy-to-digest newsletters to help busy people find simple side income ideas online.

When you sign up for the free Intellectualists newsletter, you’ll receive a short list of ideas and resources each weekday. Come on over. I’d love to have you! 👉 intellectualists.com/newsletter