I Quit Tracking My Calories
Meal tracking is not sustainable long-term
For over two years, I tracked my calories using the Noom app.
Tracking Will Initially Help You Lose Weight
I started using Noom in January of 2019, because I wanted to lose weight. I followed the rules and tracked everything — absolutely every bite — and lost 17 pounds in three months.
In order to keep it off, I kept tracking. If I stopped or missed a day, I would start to gain weight again, so I continued to log my food.
Everything. For over two years.
It was exhausting.
In March of 2021, I had enough. I was so tired of logging my meals that I knew it couldn’t do it any longer.
Since I work out every morning for 1–2 hours, I would be pretty hungry, and need a substantial breakfast and lunch. In order to stick to my calorie limit, I could only eat a small salad for dinner, or a protein shake.
Imagine sitting with your partner at dinner. She has made you a nice meal, which you are trying to enjoy while she sits across from you eating a tiny salad.
That’s what my partner has had to put up with for the past two years.
On weekends, I would dread going out to dinner, and make excuses why I couldn’t socialize, so I wouldn’t “sabotage my progress.”
I traded being with my friends for a number on the scale.
The problem was, meal logging had become a crutch for me, and taken away my ability to trust myself.
Eventually, Meal Logging Becomes a Crutch
Tracking calories took away my ability to trust myself. My app was like a punishing monitor that I had to answer to. A food boss, only allowing me to have eleven M&Ms, or ten crackers. Forcing me to measure out my raisins with a tablespoon. Or drink those nasty “skinny girl” wines.
A Big Brother, who made me want to avoid my friends, so I wouldn’t be tempted to eat too much.
I had to stop. All the joy of life was being sucked out. Counting calories had become an obsession.
Food Freedom
When I stopped tracking my food, I felt giddy.
Ha ha! I can eat this Cosmic Brownie and not log it! I can eat as many chips as I want because they won’t be “counted.” I can pour maple syrup right from the bottle and cover all of my pancakes!
Initially, I gained about ten pounds. I panicked, and started to track again, but every time I could only keep it up for a day or two.
I hated it.
Going back to logging felt like a punishment that I wasn’t willing to endure.
Instead, I decided to trust myself to eat what I wanted, using a little common sense and portion control.
Yes, I want to eat this entire bag of chips. But instead I’ll have some and then put the bag away.
If a want some M&Ms, I pour myself a small bowl and eat them without counting them out.
Counting candy was insane. I couldn’t enjoy the sweets, because with each piece I ate, I would be counting down, knowing I only had 10 more, 9, 8…
What if, instead, I eat what I want, but not too much?
Not measuring or counting or logging.
Just enjoying my food.
Imagine that.
Since I’ve stopped tracking my calories, I’ve lost two of the ten pounds that I gained.
I’m learning to live with that. I’m convinced the weight I was trying to maintain was thinner than what my body wants to be.
If I can’t eat dinner, and must track calories to keep a certain weight, then it’s not worth it. It’s not healthy for my body or my mind.
This morning, I got a text from a friend asking me if I wanted to go to dinner tonight.
On a Tuesday.
When I was tracking, I would have made an excuse not to go.
Instead, I immediately replied yes.
After over a year of not going out, I am not going to miss any opportunities.
Life is too short.
I just finished my breakfast. Homemade banana bread and some cherries. I didn’t weigh or measure or count or log any of it.
I just ate it. Enjoyed it.
It felt so good.
Thanks for reading!
You just read another post from In Fitness And In Health: a health and fitness community dedicated to sharing knowledge, lessons, and suggestions to living happier, healthier lives.
If you’d like to join our newsletter and receive more stories like this one, tap here.