Why you should ditch your calorie trackers

If you ever want to get rid of the incessant chatter in your head regarding food - what can I eat, when can I eat, how many calories is this, I wish I could eat like that (you know the drill) - you MUST ditch your fitness apps and start listening to your body!  

This came up in my emotional eating group (Think. Change. Sustain.) this week.  And I think it’s really important to talk about why you shouldn’t be using a calorie tracker - and what you can do instead - to take the weight off and have eating become effortless.

Here’s the deal, when we rely on external cues - your fitness app, your trainer, Weight Watchers, the internet - you give your personal autonomy to someone/something else.  You also miss the opportunity to listen to your body. You are waiting for someone or something, other than yourself, to tell you if that food works for you or if the quantity is right. Instead, ask yourself: does it make me feel good?  Do I like it? Does it sustain my energy? A food app - or anyone else for that matter - cannot give you that information. Only you can!

When you start paying attention to how the food makes you feel, making good choices becomes so much easier!  

Now I know what you may be saying….  “But I can’t be trusted to make my own decisions! Every time I stop logging my food, I go off the rails and gain weight!”

I get it, I used to do the same thing!  Until I learned to stop judging my decisions and start paying attention to my results. And eating accordingly.

For all of you who are afraid to stop logging your food, start by planning your food for the day.  It’s a slight difference, but it is a massive mental shift! Here’s why it works:

1. It comes from you and can be changed by you if any part doesn’t work. Meaning you should add foods that you actually want to eat.

2. It makes you proactive instead of reactive with your eating choices

3. You avoid decision fatigue and making poor choices at the end of the day when you are tired or stressed

4. It teaches you to show up for yourself. By making a realistic eating plan and following through, you prove to yourself that you can honor your commitments.

DO NOT plan your food then run it thru a calorie counting app to double check it!!  LOL! Trust that you can learn by observing. (I like to use these metrics: Does it make me feel good, do I like it, and does it keep me satisfied for about 4 hours). If it doesn’t work, adjust.

By putting yourself in the driver’s seat, you are gaining back control.  You now know exactly what you can eat and how it will make you feel. When you have that information, and the confidence that comes with that, you can make the right decision for you no matter what situation you are in.  

P.S. If you decide to try planning, meet yourself where you are...not where you aspire to be!  Don’t plan a salad if you normally eat a burger. Plan the burger and figure out how to make the choice a tiny bit better.