Why I quit counting calories.

For the last week I have not counted calories. I have been counting calories since April 18, 2012 and even though it has been apart of helping me lose 40-ish pounds I believe now is the time to end my friendship/obsession with the MFP (my fitness pal) app. 

For several months now counting calories has caused me to be anxious/stressed, over eat, under eat, its made me moody, not able to actually enjoy my food, and to just be depressed and even cry if I went over my calories. 

I would even skip meals even if I was starving to keep within my calorie limit.

I feel like no matter how many calories MFP advised me to eat I just felt like I was always eating the wrong amount of food. I would modify the calories often so that I could confuse my body but still felt like I was eating the wrong amount. If I worked out more than once a day it would bother me to see the "extra calories" that I would eat or drink from the protein bars or shakes. I need those so I don't lose my gains, bro. But the numbers just messed with my mind.

Losing weight and getting fit is mostly mental! 😉

The first two days of not counting I ate everything but the kitchen sink but other than that I have been eating healthy when I'm hungry and not feeling any guilt. It's been quite nice! 

I'm not going to say that I won't ever count again but I did lose 50lbs 9years ago in high school (gah that makes me feel old!) and all I did was eat less, make healthy food choices, stop drinking pop, not eat out, and walk on a treadmill 5days a week! I didn't count one calorie, I didn't lift weights, I didn't run, I didnt do any strenuous activity, I didn't stress and the weight melted off in only 3months! 

Yes I was younger and Yes my metabolism might have been faster then but I am doing more now than I did then so my metabolism might be the same if not better now so we will see where this not counting business leads me!