I've long been the type of "dieter" who jumps on fads or "extreme" diets to accomplish my goals. I've been vegetarian. Vegan. Low-carb. Paleo. Raw. I've done 5/2, intermittent fasting, etc. I've tried training for races. I've tried 100 push-up challenges. When it comes to diet and exercise, I like a plan and I like rules.
But none of that is working for me anymore. Maybe it's because I lack the self-control these days. Maybe it's because my metabolism is out of whack. I don't know.
But I do know that any diet that doesn't allow for the occasional spaghetti and meatsauce is NOT for me!
So I've decided to give calorie counting a try. I've never really tried it before, mostly because I am just too lazy to count calories and measure foods. But I think I've come up with a plan that might work. Maybe it will give me the freedom to eat what I want without binging, which is a problem for me.
My goal is to strive for anywhere between 800-1,200 calories per day of NON-VEGETABLE food. I will eat a heaping portion(s) of veggies at every meal which will bring up my total calorie count, but I won't go through the hassle of measuring/counting veggies.
My reason for this is because I mostly eat the same proteins over and over again. The thing most likely to vary is the vegetables I choose and the quantity of veggies I eat. By not counting them (but striving for a little lower calorie count than normal), I may actually be able to stick with calorie counting for the long haul. And let's face it: the calorie difference between three cups of raw lettuce and two cups of raw lettuce is negligible. If I ever get to the point where I need to consider those calories that carefully, this WOE will never work for me. I'm just too lazy to do it. So I figure I'll give it a go like this and see what happens.
I've already made a list of my standard proteins and carbs, noted their calorie counts, and posted it on my fridge.
Also, I am only 5'0" with a small frame and I'm sedentary, so my calorie needs are a bit lower than average. I've got about 28 lbs to lose.
I'm going to try to add in some exercise for health reasons, but I just don't have time to do anything extensive right now.