I bet you’ve heard that if you burn more calories than you eat you’ll lose weight. It’s that simple right? Wrong! When people ask how many calories are in my recipes, I say….no clue! I gave up counting calories when I gave up eating processed foods, and here’s why?
Confession time….
I used to count calories like a demon, and it was exhausting. Every meal required a knife, fork and a calculator, leaving me feeling deprived and hungry. And if I blew my calorie count watch out… I would eat an entire pack of Tim Tams, and back it up by starving myself the next day. Basically, I had one seriously unhappy relationship with food.
I stopped counting calories, when I gave up sugar and committed to eating less processed food. You can read more about that here and here. I was so sure I would put on weight. I gave it a month and watched the scales like a hawk. But guess what? I didn’t put on weight, and I was eating cheese for the first time in years. Turns out when you feed the body what it needs, it will take care of the rest.
So why didn’t I put on weight?
Well it turns out not all calories are created equal. Sure 100 calories from cake and 100 calories from kale have the same amount of energy. But there is a huge difference in the way your body processes calories from different types of foods.
Healthy nutrient rich foods like vegetables, nuts, chicken and eggs provide your body with long lasting energy, stabilise your blood sugar, and keep you fuller for longer. Processed foods like soft drink, muffins, and french-fries have the opposite effect. Those foods spike your blood sugar, throw your hormones out of whack, and leave you hungry and unsatisfied. A guaranteed ticket to eating more and storing fat more easily.
You can’t trust the numbers…
Turns out, the calories on a nutrition label, may not be worth the paper they are written on, because the number of calories you actually take in will depend on how food is cooked and how your body reacts to it. Who would have thought raw vegetables have less calories than cooked. And foods that are harder to breakdown, like protein, well they actually end up having fewer calories, because you use energy digesting them.
If you focus on calories you might not be getting all the nutrients you need…
Just because food is low in calories it doesn’t mean its good for you. Low calorie drinks, yoghurt and biscuits, supply little or no nutritional value. So by eating these foods, in place of nutrient dense foods, you are just depleting your body of the vitamins and minerals it needs to stay in tip top shape.
High calorie can be healthy…
I used to think that fat was public enemy number one. True fat is higher in calories than other foods. But, good fats from fish, eggs, cheese, butter, avocados, nuts and seeds are chock full of vitamins and minerals and keep you full. So even though you’re eating more calories, you actually end up eating less overall, and be healthier to boot.
So what do I do instead of counting calories?
Its simple really…
- I eat nutritionally balanced meals made with real food…well most of the time anyway, hello Friday night dumplings!
- I eat when I’m hungry, and stop when I’m full.
- Whether its steamed greens or a big bowl of pasta, I listen to my body and give it the foods that it feels like.
Do you count calories? I would love to hear what you think in the comments below.
I had the same experience! Once I gave up processed foods and started eating more fat, I started to lose weight. I haven’t thought about a calorie in so long, it’s liberating!
Couldn’t agree more, it’s food freedom! Thanks so much for taking the time to read my post and share your thoughts.
You got it! I wish more people would come over to the dark side with us!
Hi There Insta friend,
I never actually counted calories but at one time in my life I did weight watchers, myself! It was the worst thing I ever did, ruled my life. Sure I lost unecessary weight and looked terrible. But bel rubes bring skinny was what was in! I’m now the owner of good freedom and would never ever go back! Eating cashews, plunging my teaspoon in to peanut butter is now my favorite thing to snack on, yet I too stay the same weight AND I used to feel utter guilt before. Nor be able to stop my hand from going back and back! Now I’m satisfied and feel so healthy and good about myself, purely because I eat wholesome and nourishing good fat foods. Thankyou, I lived reading this xxx
Leanne Hewitt xx
Hi Leanne
I am so glad you could relate. It was actually really hard for me to let go of calorie counting, but now I can’t imagine living any other way! Oh and your not wrong about the peanut butter, I keep a jar in my desk at work. Thanks again for taking the time to read the post and share your story.
Rani x
I too struggled with giving up the LOW FAT fight, plus I had eliminated do many things out of my diet that I too had back lashes with food and struggled with without timelessly. I still remember stumbling across Sarah’s blog at least 4 years ago and thinking Yes! This chick gets it, she sounds like me! Do giving the Original IQS book a go really opened my eyes up to so many foods I never thought I COULD eat, or was ALLLOWED . But I found my food freedom and I’m glad to solid too my friend . Sounds like we found happiness too xxxx
Sure did! Have a great day Leanne xo