10th Grade Math?

Often we lose our minds and slip into that person we don’t want to be. I have found myself slipping into that calorie obsessed girl, that I once ignored as the sweetness of a piece of milk chocolate melted in my mouth. “Calories…yep…” I would mumble as my taste buds soaked up the luscious flavor. Those girls would be jotted down how many almonds they had and rationing calories like the last drops of water, while set adrift upon an endless sea.




Today as I calculated the number of calories in a peanut butter cookie, trying to decide if I should partake in the office goodies, I called on the forces of 10th grade math trying to percentage out that cookie to fit the complicated calculations of ONLY in taking 1750 calories a day to stick with my plan. Was the cookie worth it? Could I substitute that cookie for my lunch? Should I?



As I sat there rationing how that cookie fit into my dietary needs; “There are eggs, which are protein, in the cookie…” it dawned on me, “When did I become a calorie counter? When did I live and die by how many calories were in something? How did food lose its joy and become a Math lesson?



Now, I am not saying calories aren’t important. It’s VITAL to know what you’re consuming. However, isn’t it more important to take in the WHOLE picture? Yes, I could have broken off a piece of that cookie and indulges in its sweetness or I could have eaten a piece of fresh fruit and some almonds giving me more benefit for those same calories. Should I measure my diet simply by calorie intake? Is 1750 calories a day of all the bad stuff better than 2000 of all the right stuff?



While the fewer calories will help in weigh loss, it won’t help sustain my weight loss. If I am training my mind to measure in calories, I’ll always pick the lower calorie option. That’s not necessarily the best. For example while reduced fat peanut butter has less calories and fat, it removes all the good fat found in regular peanut butter and adds WAY more sugar. Shouldn’t I be stressing less about calories and more about substance?



The answer, of course, is yes. Substance should trump calories any day. If my calories exceed 1750 (not be a HUGE amount) but provide my body with the proper nutrition to fuel my exercise and metabolism isn’t that the most important thing? For the record I did not consume the cookie.



I choose healthy options to make up my eating for today:

Piece of Whole Wheat Toast with Tablespoon Nutella

Soy Milk

8 bottles of water

2 glasses of water

Grande Mint Green Tea Iced

Grande Hot Peppermint Tea (black)

2 Cups Protein Plus Cereal

2 Appels

2 Bananas

Single Serving of Almonds

Yogurt

Cup of Steamed Veggies

Two spoon full of Spaghetti O’s

Grilled Turkey Burger with Swiss (no bun)

Bowl of Chocolate Lucky Charm for a dessert with 2 percent Milk



I found that I had a day full of taste and healthy foods that fueled my body for my day and 40 minute workout. While calories are important, it’s important to measure your diet in more than the total number of calories in something. I need to look beyond the calories. For example that 100 calorie pack of Oreo’s is not going to provide me with the same benefits of those 150 calories of almonds or piece of fruit.



The lesson here is read more deeply into those labels that say Low Fat, Fat Free, or Low Calorie. Read those labels and compare them to the original. You might find that those labels are deceptive in telling you something is good for you remember. Remember 20 less calories might seem good, but what do they add/take away in the other areas? Calorie counting is NOT the answer!