Should I continue counting calories? Pros & Cons

Jasminka91

I have been frustrated this week because I kept going over my calorie limit. Overall, I've been doing fine with calories except for this week. This week, calories have been frustrating me and stressing me out so I'm not sure if I should continue counting calories or not. Here are my Pros & Cons on counting calories:
PROS:
*The foods I eat help me be watchful of my calorie intake
* Watching what I eat helps me understand if there is a food group I should eat more or less so the next day I eat more or less of that food

CONS:
*It keeps me stressed out
*It takes too long to apply the calories onto MFP unless I log in the food after each meal.
* It messes up with my metabolism thinking that the day I overeat is the day I don't workout but the day I workout is acceptible to overeat.


I just want to enjoy food without stressing out so much. I believe that just watching how much I eat and being careful of my portion sizes will be enough me. Being watchful of all foods and the intake of all foods is important. Most importantly, adding in vegetables and fruits in every meal is very important.

My goal is to lose my tummy by the summer and be toned. Overall, my results are great not so much of the calories I eat but more of the food I eat and the exercises I do. I do cardio such as HIIT or Aerobics for 30 minutes if not more 2-3 times a week and I do strength training after my cardio for about 10-20 minutes also 2-3 times a week. I also clean daily for about 30-60 minutes 3 times a week.

Anyway, what do you all think? Should I stop counting calories?

lizzyb83

Your calorie count might actually be low on here. Right now, my "goal" is 1260, and I know I need more than that. So when I go over, it's not a big deal, as long as my fat or carb % isn't crazy. I eat almost the same thing every day, which makes it so easy to track. And one heavy workout days, I know which snack or 2 to add so I don't go too far off balance. So maybe just not worry so much about it.
Also, you might want to think of adding some more strength training to your routine. Building muscle burns a lot more fat, that will help trim your tummy down! Plus, you will get nice and toned by this summer!

Good Luck!

katieaott

I would HIGHLY recommend reading the book "Intuitive Eating- A revolutionary program that works." It might help you have a happier relationship with food

I was just required to read this for a nutrition college course and you may find it helpful!

tilmoph

Are you still losing weight? If so, are you losing at you minimally acceptable rate, better than minimal, or below minimal?

If you're losing at or above the rate that makes you happy, try upping your calorie limit so you don't feel so pressured/stretched to try and fit into a goal that's too low. If your below...well, crap, you have a problem beyond calorie counting.

What would worry me is your statement "I just want to enjoy food". That sounds like someone who wants to eat way over maintenance. Best case scenario with that statement is what I noted above; you've sat your limit too low and are losing faster than you need to to feel happy about things, which brings us back to upping your calories.

If you really, honestly think that tracking calories is making you stress too much (not the restricted amount of food, but counting the calories themselves), and you are absolutely sure you can manage your portion sizes and daily amount of food without noting your caloric intake, then by all means, ditch the math. Don't stress yourself unnecessarily. But if the stress if from restricting food, not counting calories could snowball, since you won't have the judging eyes of a number staring you in the face, which may sabotage your efforts to lose your belly fat as your brain plays tricks on itself to justify overeating.