we broke up...

Dear MyFitnessPal,

It's been fun...really, it has. Logging into you every single day, recording my every snack, and worrying about whether or not you have every piece of food info for the day. I will miss typing in my New Zealand food brands that aren't already inputted into you because of the majority of people dating you are American. I will miss the end of the day where I check my "worth" based on the amount of calories eaten vs calories burned vs total calorie goal. It will be hard to get used to not being stressed out over whether or not I'm hitting my "calorie goal," or "staying on track." The guilt will be a tough thing to let go, but I think for both parties this is the only way to go. And by go, I need you OUT of my life. Your harassing won't harm me anymore cause this negative thought pattern of calories vs worth has sailed.

Sayonara Bitch!

Jess  

There's been a break-up in the house, and guess what I'm not even sad about it. The tissue pack is as full as ever cause there are no tears here....no sad journal writing, no feeling bad, no doubting thoughts over whether or not this is the right thing to do. Calorie Counting and Jess Smith are OVER. I was calorie counting a lot when I was doing Jamie Eason's LiveFit Program because I wanted to follow the food guide 100% full-out. Including 5-6 meals per day. (Which in the end I found didn't really work for me as it was laid out, see more here - third paragraph) Towards the end of the program we were incorporating carb cycling which required a lot of calorie counting, food logging, and just plain ol keeping track of whats going in your body...the macronutrients, the calculations, the logging....you get what I mean...

I've never been good at math, unless there's a 30% off sale at Forever 21- that is about the only time my math skills kick into high gear. Other than that, I don't want to have to do big ol equations on whether or not I'm getting the exact macros for the day based on my weight, height, physical activity etc. etc. After calorie counting for a while I have a general idea of what foods have what macros so I'm a-okay with that!

With calorie counting I found myself stressing over whether or not stuff went into MyFitPal. When I would have a few things on my mind I haven't put in, I'd end up eating more extra stuff because, "Well, I already have forgotten to input all those, so this day is to shi* no need to keep logging." It was sabotaging me! No good. So from this point forward, unless I'm preparing for a photo shoot (oo-la-la), wedding (don't get your hopes up..wait me or you? HA major kidding), or vacation (okay, this could happen) then I will no longer be logging, ticking, tracking, recording, marking any kind of food that goes into my body.

There, I said it. **huge weight lifts off the back of my shoulders**

It's a good feeling to focus more on putting clean nutritious food in your mouth than obsessing over how many calories is in it and whether that toast, veg, or fruit fits into my calories for the day. It may work for some, but not for me. For a general clean food guide check out my page here or find it in the upper tabs: "eat-clean diet."

This break-up is a direct example of why it is so important to be GOOD to YOURSELF.

You know what's best for YOU, you are WORTH it to experiment with certain foods, find what works for YOU and go with YOUR gut. No one knows you like YOU do so...be GOOD to YOURSELF & honor that. Being GOOD to YOURSELF no matter WHAT program you are following...food guide, book layout, blogger - try not to compare and focus more within YOU.

End rant.

Oh you can feel the passion?

Good.

Did I (almost) kill it?

Yikes.

Time for some WIAW - most of these eats are from today, but one meal is from last night, I just have to feature it because it was so damn delicious. 

 

m1: protein chocolate peanut butter oats

I had a real big sweet tooth this AM

I needed something to wash the oats down with - sooo vanilla protein shake it is

my usual. 

m2: raw almonds & brazil nuts

m3: baked fish, leftover black beans from last night's dinner (you'll see....)

w/ roasted green beans topped with (of course) sriracha

 m4: what's it look like....

m5: last night's masterpiece - black bean burgers!

 m6: chocolate peanut butter protein pudding topped with raw almond butter

hmmm looks like the sweet tooth continues

How's everyone doing with their 'Eat More Green' March? I made green beans in bulk this week for lunches, awesomeeeee. We do what we can people! And guess what? I didn't count a single freakin calorie on any of them. Booya!

What are your thoughts on calorie counting? Do you do it? 

Does it work for you? Pros/Cons?

Have a rad one...

be GOOD to YOURSELF

(nope wasn't getting away without oneee moree reminderr)  

for the love of kale's IG: heather waxman

Came across this photo today on IG, totally appropriate
Okay okaay and yes one final reminder.

I finally killed it?
Damn.