Tracking Calories to Maintain Weight Loss

I’m sure there are many people who would roll their eyes if I told them I have to watch every calorie I eat.

I track it all day long in an app I downloaded to my phone. From my greek yogurt at breakfast to my midday snack of almonds, I know how many calories I put in my mouth at every meal.

I don’t need to lose any weight – today. My body mass index is in the healthy range. I do at least three hours of vigorous cardio exercise every week in addition to lifting weights twice a week.

But not too long ago, I wasn’t working out at all. I was eating whatever I wanted, whenever I felt like it. I was overweight.

I couldn’t blame it on pregnancy or an injury. I was just eating too much. So I stopped.

Everyone has their own weight loss journey. For me, I lost most of my excess pounds by eating healthy foods in the right amount. It took several months. I learned how to keep a food journal and how to pass on dessert. Along the way, I became a fitness instructor, which has definitely helped me maintain my weight loss. I can’t blow off going to the gym just because I’m feeling unmotivated.

But the biggest lesson I’ve learned is that even though I’m thin today, I still cannot eat whatever I want, whenever I want. Those unwanted pounds appear pretty quickly.

To be honest, I’d rather watch my calories than my expanding waistline.

You see, there’s nothing sweeter than the good health that comes with weight loss.

Alice Warchol is freelance health blog writer and fitness instructor. 

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