January 3, 2020

150 Days and Counting

How I’ve lost extra pounds counting calories and you could too.

by Ellen Terron

Throughout the years, I’ve tried many different types of diets and eating plans to lose weight, be more healthy and feel good. From Keto to Paleo to Weight Watchers, low-carb to intermittent fasting, I’ve tried them all. Every plan is different for every person and it has been trial and error, but I’ve finally found one method that works for me. I workout regularly and live a relatively active lifestyle. I travel almost every week, being in airports and restaurants for every meal, I needed to take a hard look at what I was eating to stay healthy, in shape and feeling good. No matter what I tried, I felt like I was never satisfied, it got too hard or there were too many restrictions. The one thing that has worked for me is calorie counting.

Now it may not work for everyone but, for me calorie counting has enabled me to make better choices and to know what’s going into my body. It helps me plan out my food for the day but, it also allows me to have things that I like to eat. I use a free app called Lose It! to help me track my calories and keep me accountable for my daily caloric requirements and budget. I can enter the food in myself by searching for it, but there are tons of foods and restaurants to choose from or I can scan the food in which is super convenient. There’s a bunch of other apps out there that do similar things, just find one that works for you. I was also able to confirm my BMR and caloric needs with the InBody at HIITCore which has really helped me shape my goal.

When I first started to track my calories, it was eye opening to see what I was eating and how some of the food that I thought were healthy, were the exact opposite.

Take eggs for instance. Two scrambled eggs are 160 calories, not bad right? Well, four egg whites are 68 calories. With just a different way to prepare it and you cut more than half the calories out. Another tasty example is a bagel. If you’re like me and like to eat a bagel every now and then, try a bagel thin. You’ll go from 270 calories to 110 calories. Same great flavor to keep you satisfied, but much less calories going into your body.

In my opinion, the easiest thing about tracking your calories is knowing what’s going into your body. The hardest is the weighing and measuring of the food. It’s sometimes the last thing I want to do when I’m hungry and all I want to do is eat. It takes a little time to get used to, but there comes a point when you know exactly what calories are in certain foods and you’ll be able to make smarter choices when you eat out or cook your own meals. You’ll become an expert in no time and Google will become your best friend when you need to make quick choices. Many restaurants have the calories right on the menu to help you make the best choice possible.

I’ve found that it’s helped to drink lots of water alone or with lemons, limes, any fruit by keeping me full without expending a ton of calories. I’ve learned quickly that my Chai Latte with skim milk and a shot of vanilla was 250+ calories as shown here on this chart by @thefitnesschef_ which I was consuming a few times a week just because I liked the taste!

With the support of friends and family, I have made it over 150 days counting calories and working out consistently. Something I thought could never be possible and I’ve done it one day and one meal at a time. I am down 11.6 pounds and feel amazing!

Above all, get a good group friends and family who will be your support and share your goals. My friends, coworkers and family have been great and have gotten used to me talking about “my cals” which has really helped me make better choices and cheered for me along the way.

If you want to take it to the next level and need a little bit more motivation, see Carlos or Alyssa to help plan your goals. Step on the Inbody and figure out where you need to be calorie wise and start counting. Below are links with some items to help you get started.

Reach out to me via email, ellen@hiitcorefitness.com with any questions or if you’d like recipes, help making better choices or just to chat about it all. Have fun and good luck!

Measuring cups and spoons: Here

Food scale: Here

Free Lose It! App: Here