So lately I’ve been focused on my overweight, but not what to do about it. I need a plan that’s simple, sane and sustainable.
Do calories matter? I’m so sick of counting calories. The keto camp will tell you they don’t matter and cite this guy or that guy who ate 10,000 calories per day and still lost weight.
You know what? Every statistic has an anomoly. I’ve done both low carb and keto, and I both lost weight and gained weight on them.
Does low carb help with food cravings – and thus allow a person more appetite control? Absolutely.
Can a person continue overeating, calories be damned, as long as it’s keto, and still lose weight? Not in my universe.
I’m sick of dieting. I’m sick of deprivation and calorie restriction and tasteless diet food. I’m tired of weighing, measuring and tracking every bite I put into my mouth.
I’m totally over wondering if my toothpaste is going to spike my insulin levels and if my nightly melatonin is breaking my fast.
Life is short and time’s running out. I’m in my sixth decade of life, dammit. Today I’m attending a funeral for a beloved neighbor that passed too soon.
It’s Friday today. Jack & I are headed out for a weekend getaway (after the funeral), and it’s the wrong time to start a new eating plan.
But I finally do have one! At least, I know where I’m going to start.
Beginning next Monday, I’ll start TRE (time restricted eating) – or fasting – with a four-hour eating window every day. I’m thinking I’ll do around 2-6pm or so. I’ve done it before and can manage it pretty easily.
That stops the morning meal that revs up my appetite and leads to all-day grazing. “Breakfast the best meal of the day?” Please. Not according to my hunger signals. Breakfast only opens the buffet for an all-day free-for-all.
Fasting also limits the time I have to shove calories down, so I don’t need to monitor every bite that goes into my mouth.
I’m NOT going to worry about my night-time melatonin calories. I AM going to continue with 2T of unsweetened cream in my morning coffee. First cup only, but dang, I get out of bed for that stuff.
Black coffee is fine the rest of the day, but Coffee #1 is my sacred cow. Thou shall not interfere. I’ve done that and I’m over it.
BUT… TRE 20:4 (time restricted eating, 20-hour fast, 4-hour window) can get old. And it can be hard socially. So my plan is to take weekends off. Or at least broaden my window to an 18:6 or even 16:8. The point is to eliminate the constant grazing and unchecked appetite.
From doing 20:4 in the past, I know it automatically stops my relentless food (carb) cravings and regulates my appetite.
I’m looking forward to that.
And exercise? It certainly has its place, and that’s coming, too.
But first we start with the runaway food train.
Monday, Oct 6, I’m coming for you.
xo Jane
