To Count Calories or Not to Count Calories?

When I first started my fitness journey on New Year's Day 2014 I didn't know anything about health or fitness. I ate whatever I wanted and my exercise mostly consisted of the walk from my car to work and back. I couldn't tell you what complex carbs were or how many servings of fruits and vegetables I was supposed to have in a day. I knew nothing. Luckily, I am the type of person that loves to research and when I decide to dive into something I dive in full force. So when I decided to change my life and become the healthiest version of myself I could be, I read all of the nutrition books I could get my hands on. I completely overhauled my diet, and through trial and error over the last year and a half I've learned a few things about counting calories.

1. The biggest thing I can say is if you haven't ever counted calories before, try it. I learned a ton in my first few weeks. I learned that bananas are the original 100 calorie snack, and that eggs are nutritional powerhouses. I was also absolutely shocked at the calorie count of some of my favorite foods. Obviously, I knew that my usual at Olive Garden wasn't nutrition packed, but I had no idea that it was nearly all of my recommended calories for the day. Needless to say I learned that soup, salad, and a breadstick made for a much more balanced meal. 

2. Counting calories does not need to control your life. When I first started counting calories, I allotted myself 1,500 a day, and at the end of each day I was still starving. I started to feel like I couldn't/shouldn't eat more because I had already hit my calorie count for the day, but that's ridiculous. I'm now a firm believer that if you're hungry, you should eat. No exceptions. So, I raised my calories to 1,750 a day, which allowed me a healthy snack when I was super hungry every evening. 

3. I don't believe you should count calories for the rest of time. Humans are creatures of habit, and we tend to eat the same foods over and over. Once you've learned the number of calories in your favorite meals, it's pretty easy to have a good handle on how many calories you're eating in a day, even without keeping count. It's the gift that keeps on giving. I haven't counted calories in over a year, but I still make healthier choices because I'm educated. 

So yes, I'm an advocate for counting calories if you feel like your nutritional knowledge could use some expanding. With tools like MyFitnessPal, it's super easy and can be a catalyst for weight loss and healthier choices in general. However, I don't think it should prevent you from eating when you're hungry, and I don't think it should be something you do for the rest of your life. You should never let calorie counting control you, but instead consider it a tool you use to build a healthier life. So go ahead, give it a shot! Odds are you'll learn a lot, and encounter some surprises along the way.

p.s. I don't count calories on holidays ;)