Confession: I am a blockhead

Food that I eat while putting leftovers away doesn't count

Heh. Yup.

My biggie was thinking that because I'd become active (though overweight/obese), that was enough to "be healthy". Also, since I honestly was really more active than others my age (but fat), I thought I must have a "slow metabolism". Um, nope.

Once I started counting calories, it was clear that I was overeating. Many people don't realize that eating a mere 100 calories over what we need daily on average - half a serving of peanut butter, or a blop of creamy salad dressing - is around 10 pounds of gain in a year. It's easy to eat that much surplus, and more. Those calories may creep in that way, or as one restaurant meal in a week (or two) that has apps and drinks and rich food and desserts. It adds up. It's sneaky.

This may be discouraging, and it won't be needful for everyone, but 8 years later, I'm still logging and counting calories most days. For 7+ of those years, I've been at a healthy weight. That few minutes daily of logging is a small price to pay for all the benefits - many of them unexpected - of being at a healthy weight.

Best wishes: I send blessings to your club, President @misterscott!

I would like to join the club!
Everyone's responses resonate with me for sure. Too many years of ignoring the obvious, that an extra serving of dessert, extra muffin with breakfast, etc would add to weight gain.
Well where I am now is looking back at 'fat' photos of myself from years past and thinking oh my god that would be an 'after' photo for me as of right now!
But, there's no time like the present. So, a few days ago I committed to changing my behaviour, changing my lifestyle, changing my future. I long to be healthy, fit, trim, living life much more fully than I am able to now.
Cheers everyone!