You're sitting there at the table with your dinner plate in front of you looking at what you are about to eat and instead of getting excited to stuff your face, you are counting in your head the total number of calories your meal has and if it doesn't go over your calories for the day.
In today's society we hear more about what celebrity just lost 40 pounds in three weeks or that new fad juice diet everyone is trying, rather than more important topics such as politics, environment, or technology. Body image has always been a major issue and struggle that girls deal with every single day. Not saying we all have eating disorders but raise your hand if you ever tried a fad diet, took weight loss supplements, or even counted your calories? *Raises hand*
It is OK.
If you have done it before or you are doing it now, stop while you are ahead. Yes, you may be trying to lose weight or manage it but it is as simple as maintaining a healthy lifestyle that will get you there, trust me good things really do take time. Continuously obsessing over what you just ate or what you will be eating will take over your life, and can even lead to an eating disorder. Living a healthy lifestyle will not only improve your physical health, but your mental health. In my life, attending college I have dealt with the pressures of trying to look as good as the other girls I see showing off their bodies on social media or at the gym and that made me want to look like them so badly. I felt bad about myself, so I began to stress and go on a restricted calorie diet thinking that it would make me have abs like they do. No. Not only did that not help me lose weight, but it hurt me mentally. Non stop thinking about what to eat and trying not to go over my calorie count made me paranoid. So learn from my mistakes, do not do it.
Instead of counting calories learn to enjoy yourself while being healthy at the same time. You will feel less miserable, and losing weight is all about feeling good about yourself and enjoying the journey. I admit it is easier said than done to stop calorie counting so thankfully there are many tips and tricks that you can help you learn to healthily indulge and not worry about what you just ate, such as the infamous 80/20 rule.
So delete those calorie tracking apps, stop going on your calculator, and enjoy that dinner in front of you. Always remember that your body does not define who you are and it's okay if you don't have killer legs like Carrie Underwood or abs like Jillian Michaels. If you want those things then more power to you, just do it in a way that is healthy for your mind, body, and soul.
You can do it girl!