Logging VS Portion Control?

xViccas27

Before I start, I would like to say that I was pretty much a pro at logging my food from September until the end of November last year. On November 28, a suburban pulled out in front of me (who happened to be driving one of the smaller cars available -- an Eagle Talon) and I slammed into the side of her going about 55 mph. Thankfully, I was absolutely fine other than some really nasty bruises that I'm still trying to get to go away and being a tad sore...and needing a new car. However, I wasn't able to exercise per doctors orders. Zero weight lifting, walking my driveway once a day if I was lucky, and sleeping nonstop. I stopped logging my food, started eating crappy, and I even stopped logging onto MFP because I didn't want to see what I currently was unable to do. Stupid, I know...I don't need that criticism for that because I know it was stupid when I gained back the 8.5 lbs I had just lost in the two months before that wreck.

But looking back at all of my logging and being ecstatic about the weight I lost...I was absolutely consumed by it and I had nothing else on my mind but logging and exercising and making sure everything was right or close to right. I stopped actually having fun because I was so concerned about doing everything by the book. Yay being a perfectionist?

My question is: If I'm doing cardio (mainly walking/jogging) 2-3 days a week, lifting weights 3 days a week, and doing a work out video before my college classes Mon-Fri...is it necessary to count calories religiously? I feel like it'd be easier to just watch my portion sizes, and opt for the healthier choice and ignore the "boredom hunger". I feel like portion sizing will be less time consuming and less worrying, giving me more time to actually live instead of waiting to live when I'm "thin and happy" like some people seem to do. As someone who is a perfectionist, I feel as if it would still allow me to live without worrying constantly...but is it really?

Just in case someone says I'm being too enthusiastic with my exercise: I haven't reincorporated my weight lifting yet, I'm starting that on Monday, but I've already restarted my cardio and the video. I do feel like my exercise plan sounds like a lot, and if it does end up being too much for me to handle I'll be cutting the video. I love the feeling I get while and after I run, and lifting weight makes me feel like the strongest person in the world too much to cut those...but I'm not much of a video person. I'm not trying to overload myself, and I will cut things out if it does wear on my body/mind.

xViccas27

Darn it, this was meant to be in the "General" section. Sorry guys.