[mkendrick]

I was considering giving in and treating myself to a Snickers bar, 271 calories isn't thaaaat much, right? But then I thought about it. I burn 50cal for every 5 minutes of jogging I do. So between 25 and 30min of jogging for about 1 minute of pleasure while I ate the Snickers bar. So not worth it!

Before I started caring about what I ate, and even while I was just calorie counting and not exercising, I don't feel like I had a good grasp of what a calorie was. I took it for granted. Aim for 1500cal/day, who cares if I go over by 50? Now that I've been exercising and I realize how much effort is involved in burning even 50 calories, I'm "learning the value of the calorie," so to speak.

Kind of like when kids get allowance for no reason, they don't really get what that money amount means. But as soon as they have to start doing chores for specific amounts of money and then having to buy things with their own money, they realize what it means to make a dollar. Well I have learned what it takes to burn a calorie.

Anyways, the analogy just popped into my head, thought I'd share, haha.

[ValentineNicole]

That's brilliant! I'm the same way - I think "What's 100 calories?" But when you think that that is like two HOURS on the exercise bike.. You really just don't want that extra bit of candy

[Shannon in ATL]

I've thought that before. Makes it mean a lot more if I decide to have that ice cream for 800 calories.

[Onederchic]

Thanks for posting this. It is a great idea and plan for those of us who do have food "weaknesses"