Simplicity and minimalism are related systems but they are not the same. Simplicity says to do things as simply as possible. Minimalism says to decide what’s important to you and get rid of everything that keeps you from that.
With both of those in mind I started thinking about weight loss systems.
Most diets work.
As long as you follow the rules for that specific diet including their rules for a maintenance program once you reach your goal weight.
Weight Watchers works because their points system causes you to eat fewer calories.
The rice diet works because when you can only eat those few foods you tend to eat fewer calories.
South Beach, Paleo, and Keto work because they limit your consumption of carbs which usually results in eating fewer calories.
Residential food programs work because their limited menus mean you eat fewer calories.
Beginning to see a trend here?
If calorie reduction is the common denominator of all weight loss programs, why not just focus on the calories?
So I decided to get rid of the clutter of special programs and go for simplicity.
Back in April, I told FitDay.com I want to lose 100 pounds in two years (that’s a safe rate which tends to result in keeping the weight off) and it told me I need to eat 1384 calories per day.
When I was at Structure House they gave me a formula for figuring out your calorie needs. It says when I reach goal weight I will need about 1300 calories per day to maintain that weight.
So the simple diet for me is to eat 1300-1384 calories per day.
Of any food I want.
Cheesecake? Sure, just count those calories.
Potato chips? Sure, if that’s how I choose to spend my calories.
FitDay lets me enter what I eat into their database and it tells me how many calories I am consuming.
And there will be no transition to a maintenance program since by the time I reach goal weight I will have been eating the right number of calories for two years.
Easy. Simple. Not cluttered.
And working.
TTYL,
Linda
you never fail to inspire me.
and you never disappoint! thank you.
Thank you for sharing this. I was wondering how low carb was going with counting calories. I have been doing low carb, alternating with extremely low calorie and I’m no longer able to lose weight on low carb even with low calorie. I am going to try keto also watching the calories…starting at 1200 and going up. I’m tall with a large structure; so I know I need more than that if I also want to be active.
Thank you also for recommending the Feeling Good workbook! I am going to get it. I would like to work on some old childhood scars and not let them have power over me by creeping out when I least expect it…like when I see the relatives who wounded me decades ago. I want to be able to actually move on and not fake it. Thank you! I hope the book helps you again!