I don’t know why I didn’t think of this sooner.
I’m really good at budgeting. I like working with numbers, setting goals, sticking to it and then seeing results. In my book, Year Ahead Year in Review, I share ways to handle paying for things you want to buy, like calculating your ‘real’ hourly rate and taking money from one line item and moving it to another. It’s really not as boring as it sounds, and, it really works.
So when I thought I’d like to lose a few pounds, a light bulb went off – I realized I can do the same thing. I can ‘budget’, by saving and spending calories. I listed as one of my goals this year, lose 7-10 pounds, and I’d rather not wait until the end of the year to see how I’m doing. (because I know how I’m doing by dressing myself everyday) So for the first time in my life, I thought I’d count calories. Its numbers, it’s measurable, it’s easy, and dare I say – its fun!
I have a relatively healthy diet – 90% vegetarian and organic, but I say relatively, because I like beer, wine, pie and ice cream. I also have a relatively healthy lifestyle, I walk nearly everyday, I go to the gym 2-3 times a week and take yoga and pilates classes, but I say relatively, because on the weekends, sometimes I lay on the chaise lounge – and have a beer.
Today I took in 360 calories at breakfast and 303 at lunch. Then I went out and ran errands and found myself at the bakery buying a slice of lovely, couldn’t-be-more-in-season, 400 calorie per slice, peach pie. I really had no idea how fattening a piece of pie is! I mean, it’s not cake, its fruit and, well, a double crust and some sugar and I’m not sure what else…
But I bought it, and plan to split it with Mark after dinner, so I’ll be only eating 200 calories. But if I skip a beer before dinner, then I can have the ½ piece of peach pie and that’s where the magic of budgeting comes into play.
The other way I can balance my budget is exercising more. I walked my usual 30 minutes this morning which saved another 150 calories (no, I’ll still share the pie with Mark) but I didn’t go to the gym today. Tomorrow is yoga which will burn off the pie for sure.
Since I’ve never had a weight problem, and never dieted, this is all new to me – including adding pounds as I get older and my metabolism changes. But I like knowing I have control over my weight. If I want to eat, or drink alcohol, I have to exercise more – it’s relatively simple. I say relatively because I’d really like a glass of wine with dinner tonight, and I’ve spent all my calories for the day.
